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.
Zack Greinke ($10,700 DK/$9,100 FD)
Greinke comes at a discount on DraftKings despite a great matchup against the Marlins. Miami has a 24% K-rate, .296 OBP, and a 77 wRC+ on the year against right-handed pitchers showing that they’re one of the softer matchups that Greinke will have faced this season. His 12.5% Swinging-Strike rate for the season is fantastic, and he also ranks inside the top-15 in Whiffs/Swing% since May 1. He should have an advantage over most, if not all, the Marlins hitters in the lineup, so for this price on DraftKings, he’s a very safe (and chalky) option.
Garrett Richards ($7,100 DK/$8,000 FD)
Richards is another pitcher who seems to be underpriced and in a good strikeout matchup. The Rangers are striking out at a nearly 27% clip against righties over the last month while ranking inside the bottom-10 in the MLB in ISO and OBP against RHP in that span as well. Richards comes with some risk as he’s prone to blow up innings, but against a free-swinging Rangers team that is projected to have 6 lefties (28.6% K-rate vs. LHH) in the lineup, it’s tough to pass on him at this price.
Mike Montgomery ($7,300 DK/$6.900 FD)
If you’re not comfortable with Garrett Richards chalk, Montgomery makes for a great pivot in GPPs as he may not have the upside that Richards does, but the matchup is similar. The Mets against lefties this year have been an abomination against lefties, posting the league’s worst wRC+ (69), ISO (.097), and OBP (.291), while trailing only the White Sox in K% (26.8%). He threw 76 pitches against the Pirates (with an impressive 14.5% Swinging-Strike rate and 47.9% O-Swing%), so if things go well, an 85-90 pitch performance out of Montgomery is not out of the question. Keep an eye on his projected ownership compared to Richards, because if there is a big discrepancy, he becomes an even better tournament play.