MLB Pitching Primer: Thursday, June 21st
Everything in the sport of baseball comes down to the hitter-versus-pitcher matchup – which makes pitching the most important element of MLB DFS play. Without an understanding of the best pitching plays on the day, your DFS efforts will be sunk! Each day, the Pitching Primer will provide you with some of the top pitching plays on the day – taking a close look at the “why” behind these picks, and helping you to identify pitchers others might overlook.
Thursday, June 21st
Arms To Trust
Max Scherzer vs Baltimore Orioles
Scherzer is the top pitcher on this slate, and quite possibly the top pitcher in all of baseball right now. His K/9 is the best in the league at 13.59, a full strikeout per nine innings higher than the second-best qualified pitcher, Chris Sale at 12.35. Scherzer’s 2.19 SIERA is the best in the league, and his 0.84 WHIP ranks third in the league.
On top of all of that, his matchup tonight, the Baltimore Orioles, rank 28th in wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, and 7th in K% against righties. And on top of all of that, the Orioles will play tonight without their DH, as they are facing the Nationals in DC. There is a serious risk of rain in this game, and that is just about the only reason to question Scherzer as the top pitcher tonight. He is priced as the highest-priced pitcher across the board tonight at $12,200 on FanDuel, $14,500, and $28,500, but that is a fair price for the best pitcher in the game, particularly on FanDuel where you only get one pitcher spot.
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