DFS MLB Pitching Coach: August 21

So today I want to try something new. A complete reboot per say. But here is the thing, I want feedback. My job as a fantasy analyst is to provide the information to you in the best format possible to help you succeed. I am of the old school; I like to read a nice article while I drink my coffee so I write the kind of article I like to read. I do my research on an actual computer and set my lineups the same way. For some reason it never dawned on me that some of you just read this on your phone really quick while you throw a quick lineup in. My article certainly is not quick. So today, I am making this article for the jet setter -- the DFS player who just wants the answers without all the explanation. So, send me feedback, tell me if this is how you want it, or, if you want it like I usually do it. I will even take it one step further, perhaps a combination of the two of some sort. We are getting down to the end of the MLB DFS season so I really would like to get this figured out for next season. You subscribers are what drive Fantasy Alarm and your opinion matters to me, so if I do not get any feedback, the old Jerry Colvin will be back next week.

By the way, outside of Max Scherzer, the Pitchng Coach was awesome yesterday.

So with a new concept and severe hesitation, I bring you todays Pitching Coach Article.

Possible weather concerns

I only see two games right now with any possible weather ramifications. They are in Atlanta and Baltimore.

The weather in Atlanta calls for the rain to start up around 2 p.m. and run until around 7-or-8 p.m. Hitters at this time should be ok, but, I would monitor this closely if you are using a SP.

Baltimore today is really, really, ugly. We have rain and thunderstorms starting around 9 a.m. and staying right up until 9 p.m. or so. For me at this time, this game is a complete fade.

Keep in mind, it is 4 a.m. and weather has a funny way of changing.

Want MLB weather dates? Tune into the Fantasy Alarm Show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 4-to-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, hosted by Jeff Mans and Ted Schuster. Also follow our weather updates on Twitter @MLBDailyWeather.

Afternoon Slate

With the sites on the same page once again we have a decent slate with a few good matchups to take advantage of. We do however also have a ton of risk today with a lot of the starting pitchers holding down the back of the rotation. The real beauty of this slate is that the Coors Field game is on the night slate.

Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals (Cash)

In case you haven’t noticed Danny Duffy in last three starts has a 1.54 ERA with 17 strikeouts over his last 23 1/3 innings while facing three tough opponents in the Tigers, White Sox, and Blue Jays. The Twins although looking like they are showing life are still batting .235 with a .290 wOBA over the last seven days while striking out 22.3 percent of the time. Duffy has a 9.75 K/9 to compliment the highest swinging strike rate on the slate (14.8 percent) and is a nice -170 favorite. The current Twins lineups is batting .233 (27-for-116) with one HR (Trevor Plouffe), and 21 strikeouts versus Duffy. I am all in on Danny and I say the Duff is too tuff.

Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox (Cash)

No way Jose! I say yes way Jose. Today Quintana is facing the Oakland Athletics who are notoriously strikeout stingy. Or at least they were. Over the last seven days the A’s are batting a measly .242 while striking out a whopping 25.2 percent of the time. Even though the park shift is not historically favorable Quintana pitches well at home with a 2.90 ERA and is a -165 favorite. Over his last six starts facing monster teams like the Indians and Tigers Quintana also has a 1.80 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 40 innings. He does have a 2.85 ERA compared to a 3.86 xFIP which suggest he may have been lucky, but, for a whole season? He has historically dominated the A’s and is one hell of a fine play today.

Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals (SP2 or GPP) (Weather concerns!)

I do not find a lot of cash game options I am comfortable with but if the weather is a go Gio Gonzalez although risky is among the elite today. The Braves struggle with a .307 wOBA (25^th in MLB) versus LHP on the season and are 28^th in home wOBA at .303. The Braves as of late cannot hit their way out of a paper bag, how bad is it? How about a .279 wOBA and wRC+ of 72 over the last seven days. Although Gio has struggled a bit as of late he historically handles the Braves well. They are batting .257 (36-for-140) with four HR (Freddie Freeman (2), Matt Kemp, and Jeff Francouer), with 20 RBI, and 38 strikeouts. Gio is still Gio and bad things can happen, but, I would rather take a chance with Gio who Vegas has deemed a -162 favorite rather than a player like Justin Verlander versus the Red Sox.

Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays (SP2 or GPP)

I believe Marcus Stroman is really undervalued right now. Do not get me wrong, he may give up a few runs, but, on today’s slate you want a SP2 who will produce even though he lets a few go. Stroman is a -170 favorite today and certainly gets a negative park shift pitching in Cleveland. Also, keep in mind, attacking the Indians at home is right up there with the Red Sox and Rockies, quite often foolish. Stroman seems to have figured things out as he has a 2.73 ERA with 38 strikeouts over his last five starts spanning 33 innings. In this span he faced a few monsters like the Diamondbacks on the road and the Astros everywhere. The Indians do strikeout 20 percent of the time versus RHP and although risky, with the current Indians batters hitting .200 (10-for-50) with no HR, three RBI, and nine strikeouts versus Stroman, I am willing to take the chance. Not to mention, he has the Blue Jays behind him.

Chad Green, New York Yankees (GPP)

The first time I used Chad Green he sent my lineup to bed early. I hope that is not the case today. Although the Angels are strikeout stingy doing so only 16.1 percent of the time versus RHP they are in a major funk right now. Over the last seven days they are striking out 21.1 percent of the time with a low .276 wOBA, wRC+ of 74, and only batting a measly .205. Can you think of a better time to throw a pitcher at them in a GPP? Green in his last start was filthy versus the Blue Jays at home striking out 11 batters over six innings while surrendering zero earned runs. Not bad eh? Vegas has him a -122 favorite today and I have him as my favorite GPP play.

Not going to go crazy here but Anthony DeSclafani has looked pretty darn good. He has 11 strikeouts over his last 11 innings which spells fantasy points, even if he did have a 4.09 ERA over this span. Even though he gets a negative park shift at home in the Great American Small park he actually pitches better at home. He has a 2.12 ERA versus a 3.86 ERA on the road. Cueto could do it, why not the Italian stallion. The Dodgers are more than dangerous coming in fourth in wOBA in MLB at .340 versus RHP but are batting .249 while striking out 22.1 percent of the time over the last seven days. For a few bucks, why not?

Evening Slate

This slate is far from cash game friendly, if you are that cash game guy, then take a night off. If you like to play light in some GPPs like me, this is the slate. Quick note, look at the wOBA’s on the spreadsheet tonight, when they are that ugly, GPP time.

Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets (GPP)

Thor is the only real superstar pitching on this four game slate tonight. Too bad he gets the Giants. They only strikeout 16.7 percent of the time versus RHP and are absolutely mashing the ball right now batting .340 with a .391 wOBA over the last seven days. Noah has struggled as of late allowing five earned runs over his last 10 2/3 innings but he does have 14 strikeouts in this time. Although he has been on a slightly steady decline he is still the best pitcher on the slate with only eight to choose from, and gets a great park shift pitching in San Francisco. The current Giants in a very small sample size are only batting .233 (7-for-30) versus Syndergaard and he will be in my lineups tonight on all sites.

Braden Shipley, Arizona Diamonbacks (GPP)

The last time I used Shipley things did not go as planned, much like Chad Green. He surrendered six earned runs over five innings while putting up a big fat zero in the strikeouts department versus the Mets in his last start. Tonight, he gets the Padres, game on. The San Diego Padres are 30^th in MLB in wOBA versus RHP (.298) and 25^th in home wOBA (.312). They also get the pathetic team of the week award batting .197 with a .259 wOBA and wRC+ of 60 over the last seven days, while striking out a killer 29.1 percent of the time as well. Prior to his last debacle he had only allowed two earned runs over his last 19 innings and that is the guy I expect to be on the mound tonight. The big bonus is at his price you can load on them Cubs bats again tonight.

Jason Hammel, Chicago Cubs (GPP)

I honestly believe the Cubs starting pitching is better than Coors Field right now. That is why I told you to start Montgomery yesterday. So, if I had confidence in Montgomery, why not Hammel? He has not allowed an earned run now in three starts. Yup, three starts. He also has 16 strikeouts over these starts spanning 20 innings. He is the -165 favorite and is a great GPP play today. Just remember, the Rockies have a .376 home wOBA, which is numero uno in MLB, but today, I believe their bark is worse than their bite.

Hope you enjoyed this shortened edition. Please email me, Tweet at me, tie a note to a pigeon if you so choose, but let me know.

Jennifer and myself decided that after almost two years Kitty Colvin is family and we will exhaust all the options including medication before we give up on him. We love the little bastard, even if he is a jerk. But hey, I can be as well.

Good luck today. Check your catchers if they played last night.

Follow me on Twitter @RealJerryColvin or email me at TheRealJerryColvin@yahoo.com

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