DraftKings and FanDuel Spotlight Pitchers of the Day 4/18

There are few pitching options that I’m excited about outside of the two top guys, so I’ll be keeping it pretty simple once again even in GPPs. If you want more analysis on each game, check out the MLB Strategy Video from this morning. Awesemo will update this article later with notes so make sure to check back before lock!

Robbie Ray ($10,000 DK/$9,500 FD)

Ray is my favorite pitcher of the night despite what should be hefty ownership in tournaments. We just saw the Giants get dominated by fellow lefty Patrick Corbin, and Ray’s K upside is even higher, as he’s striking out both righties and lefties at an over 30% clip on this season. The Giants are still top-7 in Swinging-Strike%, Swing%, and O-Swing% and Ray seems underpriced on both sites for this matchup. I’m not expecting another CGSO from the D-Backs pitcher, but Ray can afford to give up a couple runs at this price because of his huge strikeout upside.

Gerrit Cole ($11,900 DK/$10,600 FD)

Cole’s matchup is not as good as Ray’s, but he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2018. He’s gone exactly 7 innings in all three of his starts, striking out 11, 11, and 14 hitters in those outings. Cole trails only Ohtani and Corbin in Whiff/Swing% this season and has yet to give up over 30% hard-contact in any start. The Mariners are a disciplined team and there aren’t many strikeouts in the top of the order, but Cole is on another level and there isn’t a pitcher below Ray that I’m crazy about. If I can make the Cole-Ray combo work on DraftKings while getting in some bats, that will likely be the route I go tonight.

Tyler Skaggs ($6,900 DK/$7,600 FD)

Skaggs is in a scary matchup against the Red Sox who just put up 10 runs last night, but he’s pitched well this season and the under-4 total for Boston is encouraging for him. He’s reached a Swinging-Strike rate over 11% in each of his 3 starts this year and has posted a solid 26.7% Whiff/Swing rate. Cole and Ray will be very popular tonight, but paying down for Skaggs in your SP2 spot on DK gives you the chance to take your pick with any of your favorite stacks (Astros, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Nationals) so he’s someone I will consider at low ownership.

Awesemo’s Notes
I agree with Jake that Ray and Cole are the top options on the night. Skaggs looks like a decent value but he’s not coming up in my crunches because there’s not much need to play a low priced guy tonight. I think that makes him an interesting option, because having him will not only differentiate yourself (on DraftKings) at pitcher but the other positions as well if everyone is paying up for pitchers tonight.