Pitching: Cease (Optimal), Schlittler (GPP 1), Henderson (GPP 2), Painter (Value)
Hitting: ATL (Optimal), BAL (GPP 1), SF (GPP 2), COL (GPP 3)
Stand: Elite Pitchers, Giants Value Stack
Weather: ATL/COL (rain issues but only an issue for pitchers)
Welcome to a Friday slate of baseball as we discuss our favorite pitching options and hitting stacks on the slate!
The optimal pitcher of this slate is Dylan Cease who takes on the Seattle Mariners. He has strikeout rates of at least 35% to both sides of the plate. He’ll get to take on a whopping seven batters with strikeout rates above 21% which feeds into his upside. The xStats are also elite for Cease as he holds lefties to a rate of (.100/.257) and righties to a rate of (.079/.252). This is the ideal spend up option for cash game contests.
The next pitcher we like is Cam Schlittler as he takes on the Boston Red Sox. He has strikeout rates of 34% to LHH and 25% to RHH. Those are elite strikeout rates to overcome a team with only 3 batters that carry a strikeout rate above 22%. The xStats are why we love this play as he holds lefties to a rate of (.137/.272) and righties to a rate of (.110/.255). This is one of our favorite pivots in GPPs to spend up for.
Logan Henderson makes our list next as he takes on the Texas Rangers. He has strikeout rates of 29% to LHH and 32% to RHH. He’ll get to take on a whopping seven batters with strikeout rates above 22%. The xStats solidify this play as he holds lefties to a rate of (.149/.277) and righties to a rate of (.091/.218). This is one of the more interesting options on the slate to choose from as a spend up option.
The value of this slate resides with Andrew Painter who takes on the Los Angeles Angels.The Phillies seem to have unlocked something with Painter as he has now averaged 20.4 DK FP in his last 4 outings excluding his 08/16 start against Minnesota. In the last 30 days, Painter has had strikeout rates of 20% to LHH and 27% to RHH. He’ll get to face a whopping seven batters with strikeout rates above 22%. The xStats also meet our criteria as he held lefties to a rate of (.109/.309) and righties to a rate of (.181/.304) in that span of 30 days. This is a fantastic way to free up salary to spend elsewhere.
The Atlanta Braves are the optimal stack of the slate as they take on Tomoyuki Sugano. The sinker and fastball of Sugano are two pitches that have been destroyed by both sides of the plate. Dominic Smith, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris, Matt Olson, and Drake Baldwin have had success against the fastball this year. Ronald Acuna, Mauricio Dubon, and Mike Yastrzemski have had success against the sinker this year. Ronald Acuna and Drake Baldwin are our favorite options.
The Baltimore Orioles are on our radar next as they take on Jacob Lopez at Sutter Health Park. The fastball has been a primary pitch for Lopez and the Orioles can hit that pitch very well. Jackson Holliday, Pete Alonso, Coby Mayo, Christian Encarnacion–Strand, and Christian Franklin have had success against the fastball this year. Assuming they can chase Lopez out early, Gunnar Henderson, Leody Tavares, and Colton Cowser are solid options to have success against the Athletics bullpen. Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo are our favorite options.
The San Francisco Giants make our list next as they take on Kohl Drake. The problem for Drake is that his fastball has been hit hard by both sides of the plate. Rafael Devers, Bryce Eldridge, Shay Whitcomb, and Andrew Kizner have had success against the fastball this year. Jonah Cox and Turner Hill are viable due to their success against LHP. Christian Koss and Osleivis Basabe are viable values to help you round out this stack. Our favorite options are Rafael Devers and Shay Whitcomb.
The last stack to discuss are the Colorado Rockies who take on Grant Holmes. The problem for Grant Holmes is that he has struggled with his fastball to lefties and sinker to righties. Jake McCarthy, TJ Rumfield, Willie Castro, and Mickey Moniak have had success against the fastball this year as LHH. Connor Norby and Hunter Goodman have had success against the sinker this year as RHH. Cole Carrigg and Zac Veen are viable due to their success against RHP. Our favorite options are Connor Norby and Mickey Moniak.