Taylor Cole Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

The Angels will throw a very mediocre bullpen (4.28 FIP, 11.8 K-BB% last 30 days) at the Rangers today in the most positive run environment on the board. They'll start with Taylor Cole, who hasn't exceeded 50 pitches in any major league outing. Shin-Soo Choo (137 wRC+, .241 ISO vs RHP last calendar year) is the clear overall top bat here. The two through eight hitters for the Rangers all are between a 96 and 108 wRC+ vs RHP over the last calendar year, Joey Gallo (.262 ISO) and Elvis Andrus (.127 ISO) are the only two in the group outside of a .170 to .208 ISO vs RHP over that same span. On DraftKings, most Texas bats are expensive with the exception of the returning Nomar Mazara in the cleanup spot ($3.8K). He's also one of the cheapest bats on FanDuel at $2.5K.

On a seven game slate on Thursday night, no pitcher reaches $10K on either site. Clay Buchholz is the most expensive pitcher on either site ($9.5K DK). Two pitchers exceed a 22% strikeout rate. One is Taylor Cole, who has a grand total of 18 major league innings, one start and has not exceeded 48 pitches in a major league outing. The other is Jon Gray (27.1%) with the .337 BABIP, who is facing the Braves (20.4 K% vs RHP). While he did allow four runs to the Dodgers last time out, in 35 innings since returning from the minors, he's allowed just nine ERs with a .204 BABIP and 52.4 GB%, but just a 21.5 K%. However, the arsenal has included more sliders, fewer fastballs and a 14+ SwStr% in four straight games. Anywhere outside of Coors is a park upgrade and he's gone at least seven innings in four of his last five starts. It's hard not to consider him the top pitcher on this board. At .299, his xwOBA is also best on the board among those with more than one start. Another arm to consider tonight is Tanner Roark. Though it comes with just a 9.4 SwStr%, his 24.1 K% over the last month is best on the board (more than one start). His .240 xwOBA over this span is best on the board by 40 points. He's gone at least seven innings in four straight starts with just an 18.3 Hard%. His 86.8 mph aEV for the season is second best on the board to the pitcher he is facing (Luke Weaver 86.7 mph aEV). Ironically, both Gray and Roark are facing offense's who's high powered leadoff men were plunked last night and both questionable tonight. The fact that St Louis will run out a predominantly right-handed lineup plays in Roark's favor as well. Weaver (21 K%, 4.30 SIERA, .335 xwOBA) is probably a spot where some players will land for $7K in one of the most negative run environments on the board and he is a reasonable choice with at least six innings with five or more strikeouts and two runs or fewer in four of his last six starts, but Washington at full health is a difficult lineup to navigate (10.6 K-BB% vs RHP) and he will throw in a stinker every once in a while. Buchholz (20.9 K%, 4.12 SIERA, .327 xwOBA) can be considered too in San Diego (82 wRC+, 18.0 K-BB% vs RHP).