FanDuel Pitching Primer: Thursday 10/1/20
In daily fantasy baseball, success starts with nailing the starting pitcher spot in your lineup.
When compared to hitters, pitching performance tends to be much more predictable and stable throughout the course of the season. You know what you're getting from a top-level ace when you roster him: probably a dominant effort with only one or two implosions per season. In contrast, even the game's best hitters have days at the plate when they go 0-for-4.
As a result, lineup construction should begin with the starting pitcher. Which pitchers should you consider on today's main slate?
High-Salaried Option
Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs
Vs Miami Marlins
FanDuel Salary: $11,000
Yu Darvish was an absolutely dominant hurler in 2020, and he will look to save the season for the Chicago Cubs as they face elimination today in the Wild Card round.
The Miami Marlins claimed Game 1 of the series, but it's clear they have struggled recently at the dish. They are one of the worst offenses in the postseason, logging a .308 wOBA and a hefty 24.8% strikeout rate in 2020.
Over 76 innings on the year, Darvish logged a 31.3% strikeout rate with a beautiful 4.2% walk rate, so expect Darvish to lead with a big day.
Mid-Salaried Play
Ian Anderson, Atlanta Braves
Vs Cincinnati Reds
FanDuel Salary: $9,200
If you want to get a little saucy from a GPP perspective, Ian Anderson of the Atlanta Braves is a very intriguing play against the Cincinnati Reds, as the Braves try to advance to Round Two of the playoffs.
As we saw yesterday, the Reds really struggled at the dish. They can get a little saucy with a .191 ISO, but they struggled with a .312 wOBA and 25.2% strikeout rate.
Anderson was brilliant with a 29.7% strikeout this year, and if he can continue that excellence, he makes for a very sneaky option.
Low-Salaried Play
Sixto Sanchez, Miami Marlins
At Chicago Cubs
FanDuel Salary: $7,600
While he struggled down the stretch, Sixto Sanchez of the Miami Marlins looks to continue on a sparkling rookie season and eliminate the Cubs.
Sanchez baffled opposing hitters with an arsenal leading to a 58.0% ground-ball rate, including a 28.6% hard-hit rate. He's done this by mixing equal parts a fastball, sinker, slider, and change, and it's led to major success.
Interestingly, the Cubs continued their poor offensive showing again yesterday. On the season, they sported a woeful .309 wOBA and 25.7% strikeout rate, so there is an upside scenario here.
Matt Kupferle is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Matt Kupferle also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username MKupferle. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
