Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Sunday, May 15, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Welcome to our new daily article breaking down some of the other pitching targets on this slate. We covered our system's top value plays in our daily picks article and our updates articles but here we will look at other dudes to consider.
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Stacking in DFS MLB is such an important concept if you’re looking to take down a big tournament on FanDuel or DraftKings. It’s also a good way to diversify cash games because the variance in baseball can mean wild swings (ahem) in the scoring on a particular slate. The concept is easy. You want to pile players from one or two teams into your lineups because those guys compound scores by helping each other score runs when the going is good.
Pitching Targets
Note: We discussed Corey Kluber and Jake Arrieta in the Main Article. And will be going over a few more options below.
Early Slate
Opponent - SD (Shields) Park - @SEA
FD - 34.79 DK - 18.95
Don't trust Corey Kluber in the early slate? Then I recommend going with Hisashi Iwakuma. Iwakuma is always a risky play, but you got to love his matchup against the Padres.
The Padres have struggled tremendously this season. They are coming into this contest owning a .126 ISO (29th in MLB) and .272 wOBA (30th in MLB). They have had their troubles getting base hits and hitting for power, which should help Iwakuma in this contest. This matchup also provides him with some upside. I know Iwakuma owns an 18.1 K% (which doesn't indicate any upside), but the Padres sport a 24.3 K% (4th in MLB) against right-handed pitching. Iwakuma is always a risky play, but I'm just going with the pitcher with the best matchup on this small three-game slate.
Main Slate
Opponent - PIT (Cole) Park - @MIA
FD - 37.29 DK - 21.71
It's Jose Day at Marlins Park ladies and gentlemen! I know it's not the best of matchups going up against the Pirates, especially after winning 10-0 last night, but Jose is Jose! He has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season and a matchup against the Pirates won't scare me away.
Jose has been lights out in his career at Marlins Park. He owns a 21-1 record, 0.94 WHIP and 2.20 FIP. Those numbers are just unreal, so a matchup against a good Pirates' offense wont scare me away from him.
Jose also has a ton of upside (I know I'm stating the obvious, but it's true), he sports a 36.7 K% (not a typo) this season which is the highest K% among pitchers. So if you are looking for some upside tonight, Jose is definitely your guy.
Opponent - WSH (Ross) Park - @PHI
FD - 32.72 DK - 18.71
This might be a name you are surprised to see, but I love Nola as a tournament play tonight. With some great pitchers taking the bump, many people will pass right by the young right-handed pitcher. He has been great for the Phillies this season and draws a favorable matchup going up against the Nationals.
On the year, the Nationals have struggled against right-handed pitching. They are coming into this contest owning a .304 wOBA (22nd in MLB) and 87 wRC+ (25th in MLB). I know they have Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy on their squad, but besides those two guys -- no one is getting the job done when a right-handed pitcher is on the bump.
Aaron Nola doesn't have Jose Fernandez upside, but he sure has some upside of his own. He is coming into this contest sporting a 0.92 WHIP, 2.56 FIP and 26.8 K%. This guy has just been spectacular for the Phillies and doesn't get the recognition he deserves. I love a Fernandez and Nola duo for tournaments! Wow -- does that duo have some serious upside or what!
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View Comments
Thinking about paying for premium but I don’t see a way in your tutorial on how to upload teams to DK. With the other optimizer I pay for I can upload 100’s of lineups to DK. Can I do this here as well? And, yes, I understand it goes to a CSV first and then to DK.
We are close on this functionality.
Thoughts on McCullers for the early matchup?
Love McCullers today just waaatch
Thoughts on peavy for late slate. It's his bday
Don't mind McCullers for tournaments because of his upside.
I don't trust peavy.... The matchup is solid and the bday I guess gives it a little extra juice lol
Nola just got a huge boost. No Harper today and if they are smart they will pitch around Murphy