| Date | Opp | DKSAL | FDSAL | DKFPTS | FDFPTS | k | ip | ab | sho | w | hra | l | er | cg | ha | 3ba | bba | sba | ibba | whip | hbp | qstart | 1ba | k/9 | 2ba |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-22 | @ LAA | $6.5K | $6K | 4.25 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2021-09-21 | @ LAA | $6.3K | $6K | 3.65 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2021-09-16 | @ TEX | $4K | $6K | 6.25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2021-09-15 | @ TEX | -- | -- | 1.65 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 2021-09-04 | @ SD | $4K | $6K | 1.85 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 1 |
| 2020-10-15 | vs. TB | $7K | $6.9K | -0.95 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-10-13 | vs. TB | $6.2K | $6.9K | 10.5 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.5 | 0 |
| 2020-10-07 | vs. OAK | $8K | $6.9K | -6.15 | -6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-09-22 | @ SEA | -- | -- | 6.25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2020-09-19 | vs. ARI | -- | -- | 1.05 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-09-17 | vs. TEX | -- | -- | 9.15 | 14 | 3 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16.27 | 0 |
| 2020-09-16 | vs. TEX | -- | -- | 5.65 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| 2020-09-12 | @ LAD | -- | -- | 7 | 10 | 0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-09-09 | @ OAK | -- | -- | -0.3 | 2 | 1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.64 | 1 |
| 2020-08-20 | @ COL | -- | -- | -1.55 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020-08-17 | vs. COL | -- | -- | 2.9 | 5 | 1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.64 | 0 |
| 2020-08-15 | vs. SEA | -- | -- | 3.65 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 2020-08-10 | vs. SF | -- | -- | -6.15 | -6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| 2020-08-07 | @ OAK | -- | -- | 1.05 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020-08-02 | @ LAA | -- | -- | 2.55 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2.33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2020-07-27 | vs. SEA | -- | -- | 5.35 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2.67 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 |
Josh James Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections
You Have To Play Somebody
This is far and away the worst slate we've had for pitching so far this season. The only two pitchers with above average strikeout ability are Houston's Josh James and Tampa's Tyler Glasnow. Both have pitch count concerns, and on a normal slate, would barely crack the tournament list. But tonight, there is no upside outside of them, and I'll be starting with James at home against the Mariners. While it was out of the bullpen, his 2019 strikeout rate of 37.6% gives him clear per inning upside. Even if he can't top 4-5 innings, there just isn't anything else out there tonight to feel good about.
A 37.5 K% through 64 batters and relatively cheap
Players should strongly consider paying up for their pitching tonight as the mid and lower tier options do not provide much. Only Vince Velasquez (26.1%) is above a 25% strikeout rate (more than two starts) and he's at Coors. David Price (24.5 K%, 3.80 SIERA, .325 xwOBA) is facing the Orioles (77 wRC+ vs LHP) in a game that's destined to be postponed. Jesse James might be the interesting exception. He has struck out 24 of the 64 batters he's faced and had a 35.2 K% in 92.2 AAA innings. He is up to $8.1K on DraftKings in Toronto (104 wRC+ vs RHP, but with a now depleted lineup). He costs $1.6K less on FanDuel.
Cheaper Option With Big Time Strikeout Upside
Josh James has an electric fastball and has shown big time strikeout ability at every level he's pitched at. In 17 starts (92.2 IP) in AAA this season, he's posted a 35.2% strikeout rate with a 14.3% swinging strike rate. The biggest concern with him and really any young pitcher is the walks. The Blue Jays projected starting lineup has a .218 ISO with a .368 wOBA and a 21.1% strikeout rate. The wOBA and the ISO are very solid, bit it's a smaller sample size on some of these bats. They have five starters with strikeout rates over 23.5% against right-handed pitching this season.
A 24.9 K-BB% at AAA and min-priced on DraftKings
Players are more likely than not spending up for pitching tonight. On DraftKings, that may also necessitate moving to the bottom of the board for an SP2. Josh James is making just his second start and doesn't have a very appealing matchup (Mariners 20.2 K% vs RHP). However, he pitches in one of the most negative run environments in baseball, had a 24.9 K-BB% in 17 AAA starts, and costs the minimum on DK. Joey Lucchesi is an affordable arm in the $7.5K range, who may be used as a compliment or even on his own against the Giants (80 wRC+, 15.9 K-BB%, 10.5 HR/FB vs LHP). He has a 25.4 K% and 3.78 SIERA with a matching ERA. His workload is a bit erratic though, going over 100 three starts back, but below 90 in three of his last four overall. Anibal Sanchez (24.1 K%, 3.92 SIERA, .291 xwOBA) is in a decent spot against the Cardinals (95 wRC+, 14.0 K-BB% vs RHP) at a reasonable cost around $8K. A bit more expensive are Jameson Taillon (22 K%, 3.84 SIERA, .299 xwOBA) hosting the Royals (93 wRC+, 10.8 HR/FB vs RHP) and Derek Holland (23.8 K%, 4.12 SIERA, .328 xwOBA) in San Diego (89 wRC+, 15.5 K-BB% vs LHP).
Elite Strikeout Upside at Min Salary
James will be making his second career major league start tonight against the Mariners. He is min-priced on DraftKings ($4,000) and brings some serious strikeout upside to the table. In 17 Triple-A starts this season, he posted a 3.39 FIP with a strikeout rate of 35%. The issue is that his last two outings have come out of the bullpen. His last start was on September 1st when he threw 91 pitches. We need to keep an eye out for what his pitch count will be tonight. Anything above 75 and I’m in.
Too Cheap To Overthink It
Josh James has all kinds of talent, with a huge 35.2% K rate at Triple-A this season, and nine strikeouts in five innings in his one major league start. He has been in the bullpen the past couple weeks and we need to assume there is a pretty limited pitch count here, but the low ceiling for innings is more than baked into his minimum salary price point. Even in his last two relief appearances, when he threw just 38 and 41 pitches, his strikeout ability allowed him to post 8.95 and 13.40 DK points. Even if we only see 3-4 innings here, I'll take that even in cash games as the cheap SP2 tonight.
Strikeout Upside With A Great Price
When trying to fit in bats tonight, we can actually fit in a top tier pitcher with some big bats if we play Joshua James. I wish we knew what his pitch count looked like for tonight, it's something I will be looking for all day. James has been electric in the Minors. He had a 14.3% swinging strike rate with a 35.2% strikeout rate in 92.2 innings this season in AAA. It's not the greatest matchup, but at this price with this kind of strikeout stuff, it's hard not to take a shot on him in tournaments. He has a very good fastball with an above average slider.