Top Tier
Dylan Cease, CWS - Baltimore certainly has some bats that can do damage, but I love the strikeout upside here with Cease who has 111 strikeouts over 87 innings pitched this season. In his lone matchup against the O's this season he allowed one run on four hits over six innings while striking out 10.
Robbie Ray, TOR - We have seen this matchup three times already this season with Ray largely dominating, despite being 0-1. In the three matchups he has a 2.70 ERA while striking out 22 over 20 innings. The last two starts against Tampa he has allowed just three runs over 14 innings while striking out 13.
Chris Bassitt, OAK - This is my Cash Game starter at a nice price tag. Bassit has faced Texas twice already this season and is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA while having allowed just one run over 14 innings with 11 strikeouts.
Mid-Tier
Jose Berrios, MIN - I am very confused by this price tag on Berrios here as he faces off against the lowly Detroit Tigers. Berrios has faced the Tigers once this season and held them to just two runs over six innings though surprisingly only had one strikeout which is unlikely to repeat itself given that the Tigers rank among the league leaders in strikeouts as a team and Berrios himself has 106 strikeouts over 101.2 innings this season. Core play for BOTH Cash and GPP at this level.
Nick Pivetta, BOS - Little revenge narrative in play here. Pivetta had maybe his best outing as a pro in his last start, allowing just two runs while striking out 10 over seven shutout innings against Oakland. In two of his last three starts he allowed zero earned runs over 13.2 innings while striking out 18. The start in between those two he allowed six runs on nine hits to the Royals of all teams. So, as you can probably guess, Pivetta is better suited for those GPP lineups.
Value
Pablo Lopez, MIA - Ok, well, at least we know Acuna isn't going to play so we don't have to worry about Lopez getting ejected after just one pitch this time around. Atlanta has tagged Lopez up this season for 11 runs on 15 hits over seven innings so this play is certainly not for the faint of heart. That said... I love these home splits, as I have touted many times before with Lopez, as he sits with a 2.03 ERA and a .204 batting average against over 10 home starts this season. GPPs only here.
Wily Peralta, DET - More dart throws! When I first saw that Wily Peralta was back starting games, I couldn't wait to stack against him and each time the man has pitched incredibly well. Over his last two starts he has allowed zero earned runs over 12 innings while striking out 11 and walking ZERO batters. The Twins lineup certainly has the power to do damage here, but the price is CRAZY low on DK at just $4,600.