Plenty of excellent top tier pitching options so it’s easy to look past Danny Salazar ($11,900). Salazar has been dazzling for the Indians this season, boasting a 10.27 K/9 and 22+ DraftKings points in five of his six starts this season. Always an electric strikeout machine, Salazar will get the high strikeout Houston Astros who have struck out the third most in the league this year and the most in the league last season. I don’t love that this game is in Houston, but Salazar owns a 51.2% GB rate, so I have high hopes that he can keep the ball in the park. Sandwiched in pricing between two studs, Salazar may get overlooked in terms of ownership.
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Plenty of value in Juan Nicasio ($6,000) tonight. As with anyone in this range, he’s been a bit volatile but has scored 19+ in three of six this season, including games of 28 and 33 DraftKings points. He has been really match-up dependent this season, but it appears he’s great a good one tonight. The Reds are striking out at the fourth-highest rate in the last seven days. Nicasio’s season-high in DraftKings points is 33.4, which came against these very Reds just two starts ago.
I was vaguely optimistic for Eric Surkamp this season, but that sentiment has long since disappeared. He held the wheels on the bus for awhile, only surrendered two runs in each of his first three starts. However, it was in the midst of giving up a ton of hits in those games. Then, finally, the Blue Jays busted him wide open in his last start before being sent down to the minors. Well, Surkamp is back and sporting the worst xFIP on the slate, the lowest K/9 and the second-worst BB/9. Did I mention that he has to face the scorching Boston Red Sox? The Sox are owners of the second-best wOBA in the L7 while pounding out 13 HRs in the stretch. It’s a tough lineup to get through with Bradley Jr, Bogaerts, Ortiz, Holt and Hanley all batting over .300 this week.
That’s all folks! Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more player analysis and news as starting lineups are released! Commentary based on DraftKings strategy and scoring.