Below you’ll find my DraftKings and streamer rankings for May 31. I rank the pitchers in vacuum, but I try to write about the value of each pitcher by format type (i.e. Pitcher A would be better in a GPP than a 50/50). You’ll find the pitcher’s name, the salary and where the game is being played.
Madison Bumgarner: $10,300, ATL
Bumgarner is easily the best pitcher starting on Sunday and he’s appropriately priced considering the Braves have the second lowest wOBA against lefties for the season. If I’m playing at DraftKings tomorrow he’s going to be one of my pitchers.
Tanner Roark: $6,000, @CIN
If I knew for a fact Roark could throw 90-plus pitches I’d have ranked higher. Since his price point is so low I would take a chance on him in all formats. In his first start of the year he threw 66 pitches, which I have to assume gets bumped up to at least the mid-80s. He’s a ground ball pitcher, which negates the hitter friendliness of the ballpark. Roark and Danny Salazar are the two best options after Madison Bumgarner. Roark’s price is so low I would use him above Salazar in a GPP, but I’d use Salazar in a 50/50.
Danny Salazar: $8,500, @SEA
For some Salazar is the clear second best pitcher going on Sunday (excluding the two late games), but I nurse doubt. It’s hard to argue against him. He has 66 strikeouts in 49.1 innings and he’s finally starting to limit the walks. On top of that the Mariners have the fourth lowest OBP in the majors (.296). What has me a little worried he’s allowed six walks in his past two starts. In his first six starts he had six walks. Odds are he’ll likely limit the walks and have a very good outing (especially if he doesn’t allow walks) to a Mariners offense that is below average without Nelson Cruz.
Drew Hutchison: $7,500, @MIN
Hutchison is the biggest wild card of the day as he could strikeout 10-plus in seven scoreless innings or give up five earned runs in four innings. I wrote a week ago in the Week 8 pitcher rankings I said I loved Hutchison’s matchup against the Twins and I still feel that way. The Twins are a mediocre offense against righties (14th in the majors in wOBA) and Hutchison is limiting walks and is still missing bats. Also, the Twins ballpark should suppress fly balls from leaving the ballpark. Hutchison is more of a GPP play than a 50/50 double up.
Jake Odorizzi: $7,400, @BAL
A lot of fantasy players are going to want to use Odorizzi, but on a day with so many good pitching matchups I’m staying away. The primary reasons why is the ballpark and how he’s a fairly fly ball heavy pitcher. To his credit he’s increased the ground ball rate (at the expense of the fly ball rate) this season, but at his price point I want more of a sure thing. If Tanner Roark was not pitching I would be much higher on Odorizzi.
Jason Hammel: $7,900, KC
The perception is the Royals offense has sputtered in the month of May, but the data doesn’t indicate that. In May they are 19th in the majors in wOBA so they’ve been below average, but not too bad. Since the game is in Chicago the Royals will most likely be without Kendrys Morales, which makes Hammel’s matchup more attractive. Hammels has pitched great, but other than his first in Colorado his opponents have not been very good. His start against the Royals will likely be against the best hitting lineup he’s faced all year, which at his price point, makes this is a trap game.
Chase Anderson: $5,500, @MIL
Anderson has put up great numbers, but even at his price point I’m avoiding him. On paper this looks like a good matchup. The Brewers are struggling to score runs and the Brewers will likely use a low level Triple-A pitcher, which makes the opportunity for a win much higher. However, he doesn’t have overpowering stuff and relies on generating weak contact to be successful. Usually this profile doesn’t project well in a very hitter friendly ballpark.
Carlos Martinez: $7,300, LAD
My analysis on Martinez is dependent upon the lineup the Dodgers will use. If Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier are in the lineup (as well as the other lefty hitters) then I wouldn’t use him as my second pitcher considering how many good pitching options there are.
Jesse Chavez: $6,500, NYY
Chavez has put up great numbers since joining the rotation (2.80 ERA and 1.089 WHIP) and is pitching at home, but his numbers have been dependent upon not giving up any home runs (4.3 percent HR/FB rate). Obviously he pitches in a ballpark that limits home runs, but that HR/FB rate isn’t going to sustain itself as the season progresses. Also, the Yankees are tenth in the majors in wOBA against righties.
Bartolo Colon: $6,900, MIA
Whether or not you use Colon is dependent on whether you believe the first six starts of the year or the last four. I believe he’s somewhere in the middle, which is why I’m not high on him despite the really good matchup. At his price point he doesn’t offer enough upside, especially in strikeout potential, to warrant using him considering his downside is extremely high.
Brett Anderson: $6,400, @STL
For the year Anderson has reverse splits, which is the opposite of his career numbers. Similar to Carlos Martinez, I want to see the lineup before making a recommendation on whether to use him or not. The Cardinals have been mediocre against lefties (13th in the majors in wOBA), but Randal Grichuk is making a lot of hard contact and the middle of the order mashes lefties. Anderson fits into the J.A. Happ class of pitcher in that Anderson has more value in traditional fantasy formats as a stream option.
J.A. Happ: $6,700, CLE
Happ has had a pseudo renaissance with the Mariners, posting a 2.05 ERA and 1.025 WHIP at home compared to 5.33 ERA and 1.407 WHIP on the road. However, I’m still weary of starting him. The Indians, against lefties, are tenth and fifth in the majors in wOBA and hard-hit average respectively. Happ is a fly ball pitcher and he’s pitching in a ballpark that suits his skillset means he has more value as a streaming option in traditional fantasy formats than DFS.
