This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Wednesday's nine-game main slate features at least six rosterable high-priced pitching options, which means that prospective owners will need to be careful in selecting their first hurler. On the offensive side, we have standard value against mediocre pitchers, as well as a potentially sneaky stack against someone who is still trying to find his footing after an injury.
Pitching Overview
Gerrit Cole ($12,500) has ridden a phenomenal 37 percent strikeout rate to a 3.23 ERA in 20 starts this season but he does come with some risk, having tallied a 1.5 HR/9 rate over that span. The Angels will be a compromised offense for as long as Mike Trout is out of the lineup but if he returns Wednesday, Cole will be dealing with all the might of a team that holds the sixth highest wOBA against righty pitching this year.
Chris Paddack ($10,900) has been a revelation for the Padres in his rookie season, posting a 2.84 ERA in 15 starts. Paddack is another pitcher who has trouble keeping the ball in the yard (1.3 HR/9) but that's less of a concern for the matchup against the Marlins, as they hold the lowest ISO in the league against right-handed pitching (.120).
Domingo German ($10,500) has been incredible at Yankee Stadium in 2019, posting a 1.98 ERA and striking out 50 batters in 36.1 frames. The Rays have logged a .186 ISO against righties, which should test German's troubles with the longball but he has more than enough upside to be worth a look in most formats.
Robbie Ray ($10,100) comes with a few more warts than we usually see on a high-priced option, as he features a sky-high walk rate (12 percent) to go along with a 1.3 HR/9 rate in 111 innings. Ray deserves to be in our player pool in a matchup against the Rangers, however, as they have logged a bottom-10 wOBA and a whopping 28 percent strikeout rate against lefty pitching in 2019.
After two disastrous outings following a stint on the injured list, Mike Clevinger ($9,900) is showing that he can still be trusted, having allowed just one run with 15 strikeouts over his last 11 innings (two starts). He will face a Tigers offense that has logged the lowest wOBA in the league against right-handed hurlers (.284).
Eduardo Rodriguez ($9,500) is coming off what may be his best start of the year against the Dodgers when he struck out 10 batters en route to seven innings of one-run baseball. Rodriguez possesses the strikeout and groundball prowess to trouble an offense like the Blue Jays, who have logged a bottom-5 wOBA against southpaws this year.
Trevor Richards ($7,300) doesn't quite have the strikeout rate we would like to see against the Padres but he keeps the ball in the park well enough to be an interesting play, as the Friars have logged a bottom-10 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year.
Key Values
Max Muncy ($5,100) has been a force on the road in 2019, logging a .358 ISO in 165 at-bats. Meanwhile, Nick Pivetta has struggled mightily at home this year, allowing a .540 slugging percentage and a .376 wOBA at Citizens Bank Park.
Lourdes Gurriel ($4,700) has been incredible against his opposite hand this season, tallying a .408 ISO against southpaws in 76 at-bats. Rodriguez has thrown the ball well against righties so far this year but it will be hard to pass on Gurriel at this price.
The Nationals will have the benefit of a designated hitter at Camden Yards on Wednesday, meaning that Matt Adams ($4,400) will take the .271 ISO he has logged against righty pitching into a matchup against Aaron Brooks, who has allowed seven homers to lefty hitters in 26.2 frames.
Yonny Chirinos has thrown the ball well against righty hitters in general but has had a problem keeping the ball in the yard, as evidenced by the 1.8 HR/9 rate he has kept in 55.1 frames. This gives us an opportunity to play Gary Sanchez ($4,300) and the .305 ISO he has logged against right-handed pitching at a reasonable price.
The injury to Tim Anderson has allowed Leury Garcia to fill the void. He will take a .354 wOBA against lefty pitching into a matchup against Danny Duffy, who has kept an xFIP over 5.00 to both sides of the platoon this year.
Stacks
Red Sox against Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays)
J.D. Martinez (OF - $4,800) Andrew Benintendi (OF - $4,500) Brock Holt (2B- $3,900)
Sanchez has been absolutely walloped on the road in 2019, resulting in a 6.79 ERA in 50.1 frames. Holt is an interesting under-the-radar play in this matchup due to the .372 wOBA he has logged against right-handed pitching.
Indians against Spencer Turnbull (Tigers)
Oscar Mercado (OF - $4,500) Jose Ramirez (3B - $4,400) Tyler Naquin (OF - $4,000)
Now seems like an excellent time to pounce on Turnbull, who allowed five runs (four earned) in just three innings during his last start after battling shoulder fatigue. It is well worth seeing if he has recovered, as an Indians stack may not be on the radar of too many DFS players.
