The following Spotlight Pitchers were selected by Awesemo.com writer Jake Hari. For more analysis on the slate, check out the MLB Strategy Video and Night Shift Podcast.
Trevor Bauer ($12,400 DK/$11,200 FD)
Bauer has been incredible over his last four starts, striking out at least 11 hitters in each of those games with at least a 13.3% Swinging-Strike rate in each of them as well. He just dominated the White Sox a few days ago on the road, and now will get a chance to do it with his home crowd behind him. On the year, the White Sox have a strikeout rate against righties near 25%, so the K matchup for Bauer is about as good as it gets, and when he’s in his current form, he’s an incredibly tough fade even at his increased price tag on DraftKings.
Jaime Barria ($8,100 DK/$6,800 FD)
Barria has passed every test so far, allowing over 2 earned runs in just one start which was at Yankee stadium, and he’ll get a nice home matchup tonight against the Diamondbacks. Arizona is striking out 25% of the time against righties with a .297 OBP on the year, and even though they’ve been hitting for more power lately with Paul Goldschmidt’s bat waking up this month, they’re still striking out at a similar rate, so a pitcher like Barria who can both get strikeouts and be efficient should be able to take advantage of them. Prior to his last start against the Mariners (who are one of the toughest matchups in terms of missing bats), Barria rattled off 4 straight starts with a 13.5% Swinging-Strike rate. At home in a big park for a mid-tier price tag, Barria will likely go overlooked, but he makes for a fantastic option in tournaments.
Nick Pivetta ($7,300 DK/$7,500 FD)
Pivetta his coming off a disappointing outing against the Rockies at high ownership, but this is a good spot for a bounce back against 7 Cardinal righties. Pivetta’s numbers against RHH are phenomenal, as he’s posted a 29.5% K-rate, 1.15 WHIP, 2.87 xFIP, and just a 27% hard-contact rate despite a few blow-up starts this year. The weather in Philadelphia will play favorably to hitters and may be enough to scare most owners off of going to a chalky Pivetta once again, but if he has his “A” game, the Cardinals will have a tough time putting the ball in play to begin with, so the upside (and, frankly, the downside) with him here is tremendous.