Josh Winder Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Among pitchers below $7K tonight, the biggest standout is rookie Josh Winder. He is an older prospect (25), who will be making his second major league start for the Twins. He struck out seven of 20 Rays in his first after striking out five of 41 in relief, but he does have a 12.2 SwStr%. Winder is an intriguing prospect (#4 in org, 50 FV grade via Fangraphs), who only reached AA last year for the first time due to the pandemic and then was shut down at AAA with a shoulder injury. He’s generated a K-BB above 17% at every level of minor league play. Winder’s thrown four pitches more than 30 times at the major league level with only his four-seam fastball lacking a 30+ Whiff% and sub-.200 xwOBA. He gets a great matchup with the Twins hosting the A’s (76 wRC+, 18.9 K-BB% vs RHP). When you add it all up, Winder is currently a top three projected point per dollar value (PlateIQ) on either site tonight.

As far as other sub-$7K pitchers that players may want to consider in their secondary slot on DraftKings, Vince Velasquez threw 5.2 shutout innings at the Angels last time out and even though the Twins previously touched him up for five runs over 3.1 innings, he’s struck out 12 of his last 39 batters with just a single walk. Once again though, the issue is an awful contact profile that includes a 92.1 mph EV and 15.1% Barrels/BBE with just three of eight barrels leaving the yard. A 6.23 xERA is more than a run and a half above all other estimators that go as low as a 3.83 SIERA. We’ve reached the point where we have to believe in the contact profile for this pitcher though. With Velasquez, you play with fire, but the upside is not lacking against a Boston offense with just a 79 wRC+ vs RHP.

Lastly, we have to mention Jordan Lyles, but only because he is so cheap ($5.1K). Considering the alterations to Camden Yards and the team that will be visiting it tonight (Royals 79 wRC+, but just a 19.9 K% vs RHP), Lyles projects as tonight’s top DraftKings value. He is producing the expected numbers through five starts. That includes a 9.2 K-BB%, 10.6% Barrels/BBE with an ERA and estimators all between a 4.26 SIERA and 5.26 xERA. This is purely a matchup and price play for those who are okay with punting this spot in their lineup for offense.