Well folks, it’s been one heck of a season, has it not? Some highs, some lows, but overall, we hope you finished in the black for your MLB DFS season. This is my final Pitching Coach of the year as Jerry Colvin will take you home in tomorrow’s edition. Some tough match-ups today and tomorrow with so many teams out of contention, but if you’re still playing, we’re still analyzing. Here’s a look at who I like for today’s slate:
| vs L | vs R | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Tm | Hand | H/A | Opp | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 | BAA | SwStr% | ERA | xFIP | WHIP | GB% | FB% | GB/FB | wOBA | wOBA | $FD | $DK | $Aces |
| Yu Darvish | TEX | R | H | TB | 94.1 | 11.45 | 2.77 | 1.14 | .220 | 13.6% | 3.53 | 3.12 | 1.15 | 41.7% | 38.3% | 1.09 | 0.277 | 0.294 | $10900 | $12700 | $7700 |
| Madison Bumgarner | SF | L | H | LA | 219.1 | 10.10 | 2.17 | 1.07 | .209 | 12.4% | 2.71 | 3.25 | 1.02 | 42.1% | 38.9% | 1.08 | 0.228 | 0.281 | $10700 | $11700 | $8300 |
| Rick Porcello | BOS | R | H | TOR | 217.0 | 7.59 | 1.24 | 0.91 | .227 | 8.9% | 3.11 | 3.68 | 0.99 | 45.2% | 35.6% | 1.27 | 0.264 | 0.287 | $9900 | $11100 | $7000 |
| Rich Hill | LA | L | A | SF | 105.1 | 10.74 | 2.73 | 0.34 | .158 | 12.1% | 1.53 | 3.11 | 1.77 | 48.8% | 31.7% | 1.54 | 0.195 | 0.252 | $9400 | $11300 | $7200 |
| Carlos Martinez | STL | R | H | PIT | 188.1 | 7.88 | 3.25 | 0.72 | .235 | 10.7% | 3.15 | 3.82 | 1.24 | 58.9% | 23.2% | 2.54 | 0.329 | 0.248 | $9300 | $9200 | $7000 |
| Carlos Rodon | CWS | L | H | MIN | 159.0 | 8.95 | 2.72 | 1.30 | .277 | 10.8% | 4.08 | 3.86 | 1.41 | 46.0% | 33.8% | 1.36 | 0.258 | 0.353 | $8400 | $10700 | $7000 |
| Michael Pineda | NYY | R | H | BAL | 171.1 | 10.61 | 2.57 | 1.31 | .264 | 15.4% | 4.68 | 3.24 | 1.33 | 47.3% | 30.1% | 1.57 | 0.344 | 0.327 | $8400 | $9400 | $6750 |
| Yordano Ventura | KC | R | H | CLE | 180.0 | 6.80 | 3.70 | 1.15 | .262 | 9.6% | 4.40 | 4.51 | 1.44 | 52.7% | 29.2% | 1.81 | 0.323 | 0.336 | $8300 | $5500 | $6600 |
| Marco Estrada | TOR | R | A | BOS | 171.0 | 8.48 | 3.26 | 1.21 | .203 | 12.1% | 3.53 | 4.24 | 1.12 | 35.0% | 46.4% | 0.75 | 0.271 | 0.297 | $7800 | $8300 | $6600 |
| Taijuan Walker | SEA | R | H | OAK | 128.1 | 8.14 | 2.10 | 1.82 | .252 | 11.0% | 4.35 | 3.91 | 1.24 | 46.5% | 34.5% | 1.35 | 0.317 | 0.346 | $7500 | $8900 | $6350 |
| Jordan Zimmermann | DET | R | A | ATL | 101.1 | 5.68 | 2.04 | 1.15 | 0.283 | 7.7% | 4.88 | 4.77 | 1.36 | 43.5% | 38.5% | 1.13 | 0.312 | 0.363 | N/A | $7,100 | N/A |
| Robert Gsellman | NYM | R | A | PHI | 38.2 | 8.15 | 3.03 | 0.23 | .252 | 10.1% | 2.56 | 3.66 | 1.27 | 57.9% | 19.6% | 2.95 | 0.271 | 0.298 | $6900 | $6600 | $6750 |
| Matt Wisler | ATL | R | H | DET | 152.0 | 6.63 | 2.61 | 1.36 | .254 | 9.9% | 4.86 | 4.51 | 1.30 | 42.6% | 35.4% | 1.20 | 0.337 | 0.300 | $6600 | $5800 | $6450 |
| Andrew Cashner | MIA | R | A | WSH | 127.3 | 7.61 | 3.87 | 1.20 | .264 | 7.9% | 4.77 | 4.50 | 3.09 | 50.1% | 29.5% | 1.70 | 0.380 | 0.336 | $6400 | $4300 | $6300 |
| Alec Asher | PHI | R | H | NYM | 21.2 | 3.74 | 1.66 | 0.00 | .215 | 6.3% | 1.66 | 5.19 | 0.97 | 39.4% | 39.4% | 1.00 | 0.278 | 0.205 | $6000 | $4700 | $5650 |
| Chad Bettis | COL | R | H | MIL | 179.1 | 6.68 | 2.66 | 1.05 | .276 | 9.7% | 4.92 | 4.19 | 1.41 | 54.9% | 24.1% | 2.27 | 0.307 | 0.362 | $6000 | $5700 | $6650 |
| Tyler Duffey | MIN | R | A | CWS | 131.0 | 7.56 | 1.92 | 1.65 | .297 | 9.4% | 6.18 | 4.02 | 1.47 | 49.4% | 27.5% | 1.80 | 0.303 | 0.429 | $5900 | $5300 | $5350 |
| Matt Andriese | TB | R | A | TEX | 122.1 | 7.58 | 1.69 | 1.10 | .263 | 11.5% | 4.34 | 3.79 | 1.21 | 44.7% | 36.1% | 1.24 | 0.296 | 0.315 | $5800 | $6300 | $5850 |
| A.J. Cole | WSH | R | H | MIA | 35.1 | 9.42 | 3.31 | 1.78 | .231 | 11.3% | 5.09 | 4.39 | 1.27 | 31.3% | 56.6% | 0.55 | 0.330 | 0.329 | $5700 | $6900 | $6550 |
| Edwin Jackson | SD | R | A | ARI | 77.3 | 6.55 | 4.15 | 1.38 | .279 | 9.6% | 5.75 | 5.07 | 3.36 | 43.3% | 35.5% | 1.22 | 0.353 | 0.375 | $5700 | $4600 | $6150 |
| Yovani Gallardo | BAL | R | A | NYY | 112.0 | 6.59 | 4.42 | 1.29 | .283 | 7.3% | 5.63 | 5.01 | 1.62 | 45.4% | 32.7% | 1.39 | 0.360 | 0.359 | $5700 | $4800 | $5700 |
| Daniel Wright | LAA | R | H | HOU | 33.2 | 4.16 | 2.14 | 1.87 | .417 | 6.8% | 7.62 | 5.47 | 3.63 | 41.9% | 32.3% | 1.30 | 0.440 | 0.424 | $5600 | $4400 | $5600 |
| Raul Alcantara | OAK | R | A | SEA | 20.1 | 5.75 | 1.33 | 2.21 | .300 | 7.0% | 5.75 | 4.97 | 1.33 | 39.7% | 38.2% | 1.04 | 0.293 | 0.469 | $5600 | $4500 | $5900 |
| Ryan Merritt | CLE | L | A | KC | 6.0 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | .150 | 6.2% | 1.50 | 3.65 | 0.50 | 61.1% | 16.7% | 3.67 | 0.177 | 0.143 | $5500 | $4000 | $5200 |
| Brad Peacock | HOU | R | A | LAA | 27.0 | 7.67 | 3.33 | 1.67 | .170 | 9.5% | 2.67 | 4.10 | 0.96 | 42.3% | 43.7% | 0.97 | 0.296 | 0.275 | $5400 | $6500 | $5950 |
| Braden Shipley | ARI | R | H | SD | 65.0 | 5.54 | 3.46 | 1.80 | .291 | 8.8% | 5.26 | 4.94 | 1.52 | 45.2% | 32.4% | 1.40 | 0.371 | 0.396 | $5400 | $5600 | $5400 |
| Brent Suter | MIL | L | A | COL | 16.2 | 6.48 | 2.70 | 1.08 | .238 | 8.8% | 2.16 | 4.53 | 1.20 | 41.7% | 39.6% | 1.05 | 0.424 | 0.213 | $5000 | $4000 | $5000 |
| Jake Buchanan | CHI | R | A | CIN | 1.0 | 9.00 | 0.00 | 9.00 | .250 | 12.5% | 9.00 | 4.27 | 1.00 | 0.0% | 66.7% | 0.00 | 0.000 | 0.690 | $4400 | $4000 | N/A |
| Tyler Glasnow | PIT | R | A | STL | 18.1 | 9.82 | 4.42 | 0.49 | .284 | 11.7% | 4.91 | 4.32 | 1.64 | 47.2% | 24.5% | 1.92 | 0.377 | 0.337 | $4400 | $7300 | $7400 |
| Josh Smith | CIN | R | H | CHI | 54.2 | 7.74 | 3.95 | 1.65 | .254 | 11.6% | 4.77 | 4.44 | 1.45 | 47.5% | 35.8% | 1.33 | 0.396 | 0.299 | $4000 | $4000 | $5200 |
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Yu Darvish, TEX – The Rangers have already clinched the division, but a win (or a Red Sox loss) today locks in home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Rays have been swinging the sticks a little better as of late but they still have that high strikeout rate. The 24.6-percent K-rate they’ve posted over the last week is right in line with what they’ve done against righties all season long.
Madison Bumgarner, SF – The Giants need the win today to lock down the wild card so MadBum is primed and ready to go against the Dodgers for what could preview as a potential NLCS contest. His 3.91 ERA against them this year isn’t the prettiest, but the last time he faced them was two starts ago and he shut them out for seven innings and fanned 10.
Marco Estrada, TOR – The Jays need a win to lock themselves into the AL wild card and with Boston clinching the East and a longshot for home field advantage, the lineup might be riddled with some back-up names once again. His 3.47 ERA over 23.1 innings isn’t terrible, but much the way CC Sabathia handled them yesterday, so could Estrada.
Taijuan Walker, SEA – The A’s just don’t look good right now and they’ve struggled with run production a lot lately. Their .302 wOBA over the past week ranks 28th in the league and they have the identical mark against righties this season and that ranks 27th.
Jordan Zimmermann, DET – He’s still working his way back and trying to find a groove so there’s tremendous risk here. But if you’re looking for a second hurler on Draft Kings, he might fit the bill. The Braves are back to their struggling ways, posting just a .305 wOBA with a .129 ISO and 20-percent strikeout rate over the past week.
Robert Gsellman, NYM – The Phillies have struggled against righties all season and over the last week, as a team, they’ve posted just a .296 wOBA with a 23-percent strikeout rate. Gsellman’s wOBA splits look pretty tasty and the rivalry with Philadelphia is always a fun one for the Mets.
A.J. Cole, WAS – The Marlins bats have been pretty quiet throughout most of the season and over the last seven days, they’ve posted a 25th-ranked .309 wOBA with a strikeout rate just under 20-percent. As a dart for a low-cost GPP, he should be able to turn in a decent outing.
Braden Shipley, ARI – Another dart here with a nice match-up as Shipley gets everyone’s favorite punching bag, the Padres. With a .297 wOBA and 25-percent strikeout rate over the past week, Shipley should be able to return a decent value your way. Not to mention, think of the bats you’ll get to use!
Best of luck today and thanks for another great season!
Player News
Kyren Paris hit a two-run homer in Wednesday’s win for the Angels over the Blue Jays.
That’s the first homer for Paris since April 9 when he went deep twice against Tampa Bay and caused everyone to lose all sense of rational thought. The 23-year-old did also single and walk to improve his on-base percentage to .311,, while the homer bumps his slugging mark to .378. There is long-term upside in Paris with flashes that suggest he can be a fantasy option. Fantasy managers should still absolutely looking elsewhere for options up the middle.
Jorge Soler hit a three-run double in the bottom of the ninth to give the Angels a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Trent Grisham went 1-for-1 with a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning of a 4-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday.
While the Yankees won this game on a walk-off in the 10th inning, Grisham’s game-tying home run in the eighth was the biggest moment. He came on as a pinch-hitter for Jorbit Vibas against the usually stout Jason Adam and smashed a two-strike changeup into the right field seats. This clutch shot will only continue to push Grisham’s playing time in the right direction after he just started eight of the last 10 games, hit either first or second in each, and already has 10 homers in 31 games played this season.
Jeff Hoffman blew a save and picked up a loss Wednesday against the Angels.
Devin Williams struck out three batters with one walk and hit another in a scoreless 10th inning to earn the win against the Padres on Wednesday.
The Yankees entrusted Williams with the all important 10th inning and the inherited ghost runner on second base after their dramatic comeback. While he loaded the bases and had some tense moments, he left the inning unscathed and opened the door for them to win it right after. It should be noted that Luke Weaver came on for what were the most important outs of this game at the time, after Ian Hamilton walked two to begin the eighth inning and Weaver allowed both of those inherited runners to score. He was called upon as the fireman though and will likely get the next save opportunity. Still, this was a massive step in the right direction for Williams.
Max Fried allowed five hits and one run with no walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision against the Padres on Wednesday.
Fried’s excellent season continued as he set down the Padres easily besides for a mammoth solo home run by Jackson Merrill. It was no matter though, as they rarely threatened otherwise and Fried continued to find his strikeout stuff. This was his fourth outing of the year with at least seven strikeouts, a mark he only hit 10 times last season in 29 starts. Fried with a strikeout rate that’s better than league average – which is where he’s at right now – is a clear top-10 pitcher in fantasy baseball. He’s set for a two-start week coming up against the Mariners and Mets.