Below you’ll find DFS and streamer rankings for Monday, June 8. Specifically, pitchers playing in the night games, I classified the pitchers by category and they’re ranked from best to worst in each category. I didn’t write about all the pitchers, but I chose the best options available. You’ll find the pitcher’s name, the DraftKings salary and where the game is being played.
With a short slate of games there are two aces, a few ground ballers and a couple of high risk, high reward pitchers. In my lineups I’m going to go with Chris Sale and another lower tier pitcher because Cole Hamels isn’t very safe in a tough matchup against the Reds.
Must Stats
Chris Sale: $11,400 – HOU
After struggling to begin the year Sale, in his past five starts (38.2 innings) has 53 strikeouts, 1.40 ERA and a 0.647 WHIP. With a lot of power right handed bats some fantasy owners may be scared to use Sale, but the Astros have the third highest strikeout rate against lefties and are only 17th in the majors in wOBA against lefties.
A.J. Burnett: $9,500 – MIL
Burnett is clearly the third best pitcher. He has the eighth highest ground ball rate among qualified starting pitchers and his FIP (2.87) suggests he hasn’t been all that lucky. Some fantasy players may be reluctant to use him because he has struggled in his past two starts, but I’m not worried. During those two games the ground ball rate, strikeout rate and walk rate are similar to his first nine starts. The only difference is the last two starts he had a .405 BABIP. The BABIP should positively regress.
Cole Hamels: $10,400 – @CIN
Similar to Chris Sale, Hamels began the season slow but has been dominant in his past six starts. In 44.1 innings he has 46 strikeouts, 1.83 ERA and a 0.902 WHIP. Unlike Sale, the Reds can hit lefties. Example, they have the 13th lowest strikeout rate and have the sixth best wOBA against lefties. Hamels is probably much better than 90 percent of the lefties the Reds faced this year, which means those statistics may not apply to Hamels. However, at his price range I nurse doubt about his ability to return the ROI with his high salary.
Almost Starts
Mike Bolsinger: $7,000 – CHC
Bolsinger is almost the same type of pitcher as A.J. Burnett, but without the long track record of success. In the past month the Cubs are 24th in the majors in wOBA and having the strikeout rate against righties. Bolsinger doesn’t miss as many bats as Burnett, but he generates more ground balls. His ground ball rate is the seventh highest among starting pitchers. The reason why I have Bolsinger rated ahead of Kennedy is because of the higher strikeout and win potential.
High Risk, High Reward
Ian Kennedy: $7,700 – @ATL
Kennedy’s biggest problem this year has been the long ball. In nine starts he’s allowed 12 home runs (25 percent HR/FB rate). The strikeout rate, walk rate and BABIP are almost identical to last year. Most surprisingly the swing and miss rate is three percentage points higher than last year. Therefore, if the HR/FB rate positively regresses (and it should because the Braves ballpark is a pitcher friendly park) he’s good enough to be the last starter on a 12-team mixed league team.
Shelby Miller: $8,400 – SD
I’ve watched Miller’s starts and he doesn’t pass the smell test. He’s generating a lot of ground balls, which is great considering how good the Braves shortstop is defensively. However, he doesn’t have impeccable command and he doesn’t miss a lot of bats. His ERA has been aided greatly by a .215 BABIP and 85 percent strand rate. He currently has a 3.55 FIP and by the end of the year he’ll have an ERA around that. In the last month the Padres are 27th in the majors in wOBA against righties so it’s possible Miller will be able to have good start, but his price point is too high considering his skillset.
Lance McCullers: $7,400 – @CWS
McCullers, in his first three starts had a strike percentage of 59.6 percent, which would make the second worst among qualified starting pitchers. In his last start he threw strikes 68.2 percent and had 11 strikeouts. I have no what kind of pitcher we are going to get, but his price point suggests the command has to be better than his first three starts. If you’re able to watch his bullpen session before the game and you can tell his command will be good then I would definitely use him
Jimmy Nelson: $6,700 – PIT
Nelson was really good in his first three starts, but since then he has been very bad. In his last eight starts the strikeouts have been there (20.4 percent), but he’s given up a lot of hits and home runs, which has led to him having a 5.89 ERA and 1.458 WHIP. Also, the Pirates in the last month have the highest wOBA against righties. However, since it’s a short slate and Nelson has shown he can be dominant means he’s at worth a look.
No Thanks, But I’ll Pass
John Lackey: $7,100 – @COL
Lackey has pitched great this season and since he generates so many ground balls he has a puncher’s chance of doing well, but the Rockies have a .353 wOBA at home.
