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MLB Top Pitchers 6/5/24 Early Slate
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Welcome to today’s MLB DFS Top Pitchers preview. We’ll break down the top three DFS pitchers for today’s slate, providing key insights into their matchups and explaining why they are prime choices for your lineups. Additionally, we’ll highlight one under-the-radar play that could offer great value.
1. Nick Pivetta (Red Sox) vs. Braves
Why He’s a Top Play:
- Matchup: Pivetta faces the Braves, a powerful lineup, but his strong strikeout ability makes him a valuable DFS asset.
- Stats: Pivetta has a 31.0% K rate against lefties and 30.8% against righties, coupled with a low xwOBA of .303 against righties.
- Recent Form: In his last start, Pivetta struck out nine batters over 5.1 innings, showcasing his strikeout potential.
Key Points:
- High strikeout potential (14.56 DK points per game).
- Solid recent performance against tough lineups.
- Fenway Park’s conditions today are favorable for pitchers.
2. Ronel Blanco (Astros) vs. Cardinals
Why He’s a Top Play:
- Matchup: Blanco faces the Cardinals, a lineup that can be vulnerable against pitchers with good strikeout rates.
- Stats: Blanco has a 25.3% K rate against righties and a 21.8% K rate against lefties, with an overall .300 xwOBA against lefties.
- Home Field Advantage: Minute Maid Park is generally pitcher-friendly, which should help Blanco maintain control.
Key Points:
- Consistent strikeout ability (14.69 DK points per game).
- High K% and lower BB% make him a reliable option.
- Solid performance in recent starts, including a 7-inning, 8-strikeout game against the Athletics.
3. Aaron Nola (Phillies) vs. Brewers
Why He’s a Top Play:
- Matchup: Nola faces the Brewers, who struggle against pitchers with high strikeout rates.
- Stats: Nola has a 22.9% K rate against lefties and a 26.6% K rate against righties, with a low xwOBA of .298 against righties.
- Recent Form: Nola’s recent form includes a dominant 9-inning shutout against the Mets, where he struck out eight.
Key Points:
- High strikeout upside (12.5 DK points per game).
- Favorable matchup against a strikeout-prone Brewers lineup.
- Strong home-field performance at Citizens Bank Park.
Under-the-Radar Play
Miles Mikolas (Cardinals) vs. Astros
Why He’s a Sneaky Play:
- Matchup: Mikolas faces the Astros, a challenging lineup, but his recent form and control make him a potential value play.
- Stats: Mikolas has a 17.2% K rate against righties and a 15.7% K rate against lefties, with a decent .327 xwOBA against righties.
- Value: At $6300, Mikolas offers salary relief with a potential for a solid outing.
Key Points:
- Consistent innings eater (averaging around 6 innings per start).
- Control and groundball rate (42.5% GB against righties) can limit damage.
- Recent form includes a 6-inning, 6-strikeout game against the Cubs.
Conclusion
These pitchers offer a mix of high upside and value for today’s MLB DFS slate. Nick Pivetta and Aaron Nola are the top-tier options with significant strikeout potential, while Ronel Blanco provides a solid middle-tier choice. Miles Mikolas serves as a reliable under-the-radar play for those looking to save some salary. Good luck with your lineups!
