MLB

FanDuel Pitching Primer: Monday 7/26/21

Matt Kupferle  —  @MKupferle Jul 26th, 2021
Joe Ross returns from the injured list, and at a low salary, he is a very tempting option. Who else should we think about on Monday?

In daily fantasy baseball, success starts with nailing the starting pitcher spot in your lineup.

When compared to hitters, pitching performance tends to be much more predictable and stable throughout the course of the season. You know what you're getting from a top-level ace when you roster him: probably a dominant effort with only one or two implosions per season. In contrast, even the game's best hitters have days at the plate when they go 0-for-4.

As a result, lineup construction should begin with the starting pitcher. Which pitchers should you consider on today's main slate?

High-Salaried Play

Luis Garcia, Houston Astros

At Seattle Mariners
FanDuel Salary: $10,000

With a shortened main slate on Monday, there aren't many big-name options to choose from, but Luis Garcia certainly is a stand-out.

First, let's consider the opponent -- the Seattle Mariners have struck out at nearly a 26% clip against right-handed pitching in 2021, and that pairs well with Garcia's 28.5% strikeout rate so far this season.

And let's not forget -- this Seattle offense isn't exactly crushing the ball. They rank third-worst in team wOBA (.295). We project Garcia as the top arm tonight, so if you're spending up, he's your best bet.

Mid-Salaried Play

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs

Vs. Cincinnati Reds
FanDuel Salary: $8,700

Quick -- name the MLB leader in wins, who has gone a whopping 12-1 since May 1st?

It's Kyle Hendricks fam, and it's time to dial him in.

He got off to an egregious start, I get it -- in March and April, he logged a 7.54 ERA and he was pounded left and right. Since then, he's posted a sub-3.00 ERA in three consecutive months.

The Cincinnati Reds are a scary opponent (.324 wOBA, eighth-best), and Hendricks won't strike out the world -- but if you are looking for a medium option that is likely to garner a win and quality start, this is your guy.

Low-Salaried Play

Joe Ross, Washington Nationals

At Philadelphia Phillies
FanDuel Salary: $7,400

After returning from the injured list to start tonight's game, can we put our trust in Joe Ross?

Here's a few things to consider -- the Philadelphia Phillies are a good-but-not-great offense, clocking in 15th in team wOBA (.312). They are below average in terms of ISO (.159), and they sport an elevated strikeout rate (24.6%).

While Ross struggled early in the season, he was brilliant prior to hitting the IL. Over his last 44 frames, he posted a 2.86 ERA and 0.98 WHIP spanning his last seven starts. For a cheaper option, Ross makes a lot of sense.


Matt Kupferle is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Matt Kupferle also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username MKupferle. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.