MLB DFS Top Pitcher Breakdown Strategy | Fanduel and DraftKings Friday August 19th, 2022 MAIN SLATE

MLB DFS pitching breakdowns are key to starting a winning lineup. Finding the best matchups form the foundation to a cash game lineup, and the sneaky matchups exploiting deeper dives find those under-the-radar pitchers capable of winning huge tournament money.  But, knowing which pitcher is best suited for which DFS game format sets you apart from the rest of the casual, fishy players out there just lighting their money on fire nightly.

Our MLB pitching guru, MDell (Matt), walks you through the strategy and metrics for today’s slate.  For an even deeper dive into timeless MLB Pitching Strategy, click here.  And, for proper definitions of the many stats used below, head to Fangraphs.com.  They are easy to find and learn.

 

MAIN MLB DFS Slate (14 Games)

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Shane McClanahan vs KCR

McClanahan has struggled a bit of late. Not striking out as many hitters and allowing some runs. But before his last 3 starts, he has been a really good starter for the Royals this season. KCR isn’t striking out all that much against LHP, but he should still be able to manage some K’s here. Before his last 3 starts, he rolled off 13 straight QS, butting up some really good fantasy numbers. I don’t think this Royals lineup is really dangerous. He’s expensive though so can be used with caution. ALL FORMATS

Aaron Nola vs NYM

I feel that Nola is facing the Mets a ton this year. He has gone 6+ innings though in 14 straight starts. Though he’s struggled at home this year, he has allowed more HR, but he isn’t giving up as many baserunners as he is on the road. So far in 2 starts in August, he has tossed 14 innings and allowed just 2 ER with 13 K’s, limiting hitters to just a .184 BAA. This is his 5th start against the Mets this year, and despite being 0-3 against them, he has allowed 8 ER in 24.1 innings (2.96 ERA) and he has well over a K per inning. I think he still has upside here in this matchup. LEAN GPP, but don’t mind ALL FORMATS

Blake Snell vs WSH

Snell has really turned his season around. Outside of his start at Coors Field, he has been absolutely amazing. After a really tough May and June, July and August have been amazing for Snell. In those 2 months, he has 8 starts and allowed just 10 ER in those 8 starts and 5 of those ER came in 1 start Snell has not allowed more than 1 ER in 7 of his last 8 starts. Washington’s lineup isn’t that dangerous anymore and Snell should not have a problem navigating this lineup here tonight. ALL FORMATS

Chris Bassitt @ PHI

Bassitt has faced the Phillies 3 times this year and he has not allowed more than 1 ER in any of those starts. He also has not allowed an earned run over his last 3 starts, one of which being against these Phillies. He doesn’t always have the big strikeout stuff, but he does a good job keeping runners from scoring. If he’s able to go 6+ innings he is definitely in store for a QS and can still get about a K per inning for the Mets here tonight. GPP

Martin Perez @ MIN

Outside of his start against MIN last and his start against Houston, Perez has been really good for the Rangers. He hasn’t faced great offenses where he has had success, but he has been a good pitcher this season. On the road he has a 2.97 ERA and his last start against HOU really hurt some of his numbers, but overall for the season they aren’t bad. He bounced back against the Mariners to throw 6 innings of 1 hit ball. MIN hasn’t been striking out a ton against LHP, but I still see some upside for Perez here that we can use them in GPPs. GPP

Tyler Anderson vs MIA

Normally I wouldn’t be recommending Anderson here, but the Marlins have the highest strikeout rate against LHP in the last 2 weeks at 34%.The Marlins are also hitting just .175 as a team and have a .105 ISO. Though Anderson isn’t a bit strikeout guy, he has been able to limit the damage to offenses this year and has just a 2.30 ERA at home while allowing a .204 batting average against. The Marlins usually have been good against LHP, but over the last 2 weeks they have struggled against lefties and I want to take advantage of that here. LEAN GPP

Kevin Gausman @ NYY

The Yankees have been struggling, and being a Yankee fan, I have followed them like crazy all the time. Gausman has been up and down this year, but the Yankees offense over the last 2 weeks are hitting just .207 against RHP with a 26.2% strikeout rate. The one time he did face them this year, he tossed 5.2 innings and was able to strikeout 9 hitters. The Yankees offense is in shambles right now and he does have massive upside against them here tonight. GPP because they can still be dangerous.

Triston McKenzie vs CWS

McKenzie has been pretty good for the Guardians this year. He has faced the White Sox twice this year and tossed 10 innings with 8 K’s and a .147 batting average against. Outside of 2 starts against BOS and ARI, McKenzie has not allowed more than 2 ER since July. He did have an amazing July but his numbers have gotten a bit worse in August, albiet the start against ARI has hurt those numbers. The White Sox come into this with only a 22.5% K rate against RHP, but have had their struggles. McKenzie has also being throwing the ball much better at home this year.

Patrick Sandoval @ DET

The Tigers are such an annoying baseball team, they can single you like crazy or just not hit at all. Over the last 2 weeks they have a 25.5% strikeout rate against RHP while hitting just .213 and an ISO under .080. Sandoval hasn’t really been all that great, but this is a perfect matchup for him to get it back together. He has shown us at times this year that he can garner up the strikeouts to produce good fantasy scoring games. GPP

Brady Singer @ TBR

The Rays have been up and down of late. We know that Singer has been pretty decent this year for the Royals too. over his last month, he’s allowing just a .184 batting average against in 5 starts. His one bad outing was against the White Sox. The Rays come into this game with just under a 23% K rate to RHP, but are hitting just .227 with an ISO of .132. Singer has shown us some upside though of late with more than 6 K’s in 5 of his last 6 starts and some were against some really good offenses. I can see him turning in another good start for the Royals here. GPP

PITCHER RANKINGS MAIN

1. Blake Snell
2. Shane McClanahan
3. Chris Bassitt
4. Aaron Nola
5. Patrick Sandoval
6. Brady Singer
7. Triston McKenzie
8. Tyler Anderson
9. Martin Perez
10. Kevin Gausman

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Top MLB Stacks: MAIN DFS Slate

1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Angels
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. Houston Astros

Plenty of other stacking options on this large slate on a Friday. These are just some of my favorites on the night tonight with the Cards being way above everyone else.

 

DINGER OF THE DAY 

Manny Machado

Machado was my dinger of the day call last night and he hit one out, and I’m going right back to him here tonight too against Espino. Espino has allowed 11 HR to RHB so far this year with a .365 wOBA. Machado has been on fire of late too and I’m going to go back to him here tonight.

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