If you had to take one pitcher for your DraftKings lineup on Friday, it would have to be the New York Yankees' Michael Pineda. He comes into his start against the Kansas City Royals with a 5-0 record, 2.72 ERA and 1.51 WHIP this season.
Pineda has also struck out 54 batters in just 46.1 innings pitched. He's allowed more than three runs in just one start, and he's coming off a 16-strikeout effort against the Baltimore Orioles in his last start.
The Royals are the top offensive team in the majors, but Pineda has developed into the type of pitcher you can trust against any lineup. While his DK salary isn't exactly a bargain at $8,800, it is still significantly lower than the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw's $11,900 salary.
With Kershaw struggling to live up to his high expectations all season, Pineda seems like the smarter selection. Kershaw is averaging 19.1 fantasy points per game compared to 25.1 for Pineda.
Let's take a look at two mid-range choices and two bargain picks among hurlers on the mound on Friday.
Mid-Range Options
Bartolo Colon ($7,700) vs. Milwaukee Brewers
The 41-year-old Bartolo Colon has been solid everywhere this season, but he's been really good at home. He's 3-0 at Citi Field with a 2.18 ERA and 19 K's in 20.2 innings pitched. The ageless wonder has gone at least six innings in every one of his starts. It's hard to believe we'd be counting on a player this old, but Colon has been a model of consistency all year.
If you don't want to spend to get Pineda, Colon should be the choice to anchor the pitching in your DK lineup.
Jered Weaver ($6,900) at Baltimore Orioles
The Los Angeles Angels' Jered Weaver has had a tough year overall, but he showed some definite signs of breaking out in his last start. Weaver tossed a complete-game six-hitter against the Houston Astros, as the Angels won 2-0. Weaver only struck out six, but the outing still earned him a season-high 37.7 fantasy points.
Weaver is too good to struggle all season, and his last start is evidence he's finding his stride.
This is a slightly scary pick because Weaver is a fly-ball pitcher playing in hitter-friendly Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Weaver has also had some rough outings at the park in his career. In five starts, he has an astronomical ERA of 7.09 in Baltimore.
That said, this is baseball, and recent performances will often trump historical numbers. Weaver may not throw another shutout, but he should at least keep his team in the game for seven innings.
Bargain Picks
Carlos Rodon ($5,600) at Oakland Athletics
The Chicago White Sox will run their prized prospect out to the mound again on Friday night on the road against the Oakland Athletics. Left-hander Carlos Rodon was sharp in his first major league start on May 9. He went six innings, allowing just four hits, two earned runs and striking out eight.
Rodon is just scratching the surface of what he can do on the mound. By making Rodon a member of the team's starting rotation, it appears the White Sox are saying, "The future is now."
The A's haven't had a great deal of luck against left-handed pitchers. As a team, Oakland is hitting just .206 in 252 at-bats against southpaws. Rodon should add to Oakland's misery with another strong start.
Chris Young ($5,300) vs. New York Yankees
Pineda has a tough assignment. Not only does he have to contend with the Royals' hitting, he also has to stare down veteran Chris Young who'll be on the mound for Kansas City.
While Young has had just two starts this season, he has been awesome almost every time he's taken the mound in 2015. His ERA is a minuscule 0.78, and his WHIP stands at a minute 0.52. Though not notoriously a strikeout pitcher, Young has 19 K's in 23.1 innings pitched.
Barring a complete collapse, Young should offer some bang for your virtual buck.
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