MLB Pitching Pulse: 5-22-17

Each day of the MLB season will bring us some major price differences among starting pitchers on all sites. These price discrepancies and the site's roster differences can alter the way we use pitchers on each site, as well as how the field of opponents will use them. Listed below are five of today's top pitchers, each with their salary listed as well as the cafe value that takes into account both the total salary cap on the site and points-per-dollar. We've also provided some betting info for you reference. The higher the cafe value, the better the points-per-dollar play is.

Zack Greinke

Over his last five starts (33.2 IP), Greinke has a sparkling 46/5 K/BB and has allowed just 25 hits. He has bumped up his K rate to an impressive 28.6% on the season, and now faces a White Sox team that ranks 24th in wRC+ (84) and 27th in wOBA (.297). Chicago owns a 22.6% team K rate, and with Greinke now missing bats at a 13.2% clip, his upside is massive in this one, despite the negative park factors at Chase Field. He is also listed as a huge -195 favorite as of this morning, so Vegas is a believer in Greinke's recent form as well. Greinke is allowing a 37.7% HardHit, but with as many bats as he is missing right now, that is a minor concern on this slate. The bigger concern here is his massive price tag on DraftKings at $12,000. He is a solid play in all formats, but that price tag may leave him a little bit underowned in GPP action on DK.

FanDuel

GPP Ownership: 35-40%

Cash Game Ownership: 50-55%

Verdict: Cash/GPP Option

DraftKings

GPP Ownership: 25-30%

Cash Game Ownership: 35-40%

Verdict: Cash/GPP Option

Yahoo!

GPP Ownership: 25-30%

Cash Game Ownership: 35-40%

Verdict: Cash/GPP Option

Gerrit Cole

If you've been watching the video podcasts with myself and Jason, you'd know that neither of us really believe that Cole is an "elite" arm. With that being said, he is still a very good arm, and his recent form certainly shows as much. He has allowed two earned runs or less in seven consecutive starts, and has gone at least six innings in each of those outings. His SwStr is still just at 9.9%, which is a solid mark, but not a mark that shows elite upside. He has struck out five or less batters in five of nine starts, but has posted four games of 7+ punchouts. Tonight's matchup against a Freddie Freeman-less Atlanta squad is an average one, as they own a .332 team wOBA against RHP, but those numbers are certain to drop without Freeman, who was arguably the best hitter in MLB in the early going. SunTrust Park has proven to be a hitter's paradise thus far in its infacy, which does drop Cole down some, but Matt Kemp is really the only bat I'm terribly concerned with in this lineup. Cole has had issues against LHB throughout his career, so keep an eye on guys like Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis. All told, Cole is in a decent spot tonight, and profiles as a solid option on a small slate.

FanDuel

GPP Ownership: 15-20%

Cash Game Ownership: 20-25%

Verdict: Cash/GPP Option

DraftKings

GPP Ownership: 20-25%

Cash Game Ownership: 25-30%

Verdict: Cash/GPP Option

Yahoo!

GPP Ownership: 20-25%

Cash Game Ownership: 25-30%

Verdict: Cash/GPP Option

Michael Pineda

Pineda is coming off a matchup against these same Royals at Kauffman Stadium last week, where he posted a very fringe quality start, striking out five over six innings of three-run ball. The Royals are finally hitting, posting a .340 team wOBA and .171 team ISO over the last 14 days, which dampens the appeal of a guy like Pineda tonight, especially in the hitter's haven of Yankee Stadium. All told, his upside is still huge, as he owns a 28.8% K rate on the season and a 13.7% SwStr. He is allowing hard contact on just 27.8% of batted balls, and his 50.4% GB rate would be the highest of his career. As usual, he owns an impeccable 1.52 BB/9, but the concern continues to be the longball, as he has served up a 1.90 HR/9 on the young season. He looks like a fine option across the board tonight, but he is best reserved for GPP action in my book due to the run-producing environment at Yankee Stadium.

FanDuel

GPP Ownership: 10-15%

Cash Game Ownership: 5-10%

Verdict: GPP Option

DraftKings

GPP Ownership: 15-20%

Cash Game Ownership: 20-25%

Verdict: Borderline Cash/GPP Option

Yahoo!

GPP Ownership: 15-20%

Cash Game Ownership: 20-25%

Verdict: Borderline Cash/GPP Option

J.C. Ramirez

Ramirez has been a nice surprise in his 2017 campaign, posting a solid 3.86 FIP, 3.83 xFIP, and solid 2.27 BB/9. His strikeout upside is very capped, as he owns a very pedestrian 20.3% K rate and just a 9.3% SwStr. However, Ramirez has lasted at least at least six innings in three straight starts, and has posted three quality stats over his last five outings. He draws a tough matchup against a Rays team that is destroying the ball over the last 14 days, posting a team .359 wOBA and .221 ISO, but striking out at an alarming 29.7% clip. Tropicana Field profiles as a neutral park which slightly favors pitchers, and Ramirez is in play due to the Rays propensity to swing and miss. The risk is certainly there, however, as this offense is very boom or bust in their current state. Proceed with caution, but Ramirez could end up being a solid option for cheap.

FanDuel

GPP Ownership: 3-5%

Cash Game Ownership: 0-5%

Verdict: GPP Option

DraftKings

GPP Ownership: 5-10%

Cash Game Ownership: 0-5%

Verdict: GPP Option

Yahoo!

GPP Ownership: 5-10%

Cash Game Ownership: 0-5%

Verdict: GPP Option

Jake Odorizzi

Odorizzi is a pitcher that I rarely roster, but he is in play on this slate due to a decent matchup with an Angels team that ranks 25th in MLB with a .304 team wOBA in 2017. Odorizzi allows too many homers and doesn't strike out enough batters for my taste usually, but he has been very tough on RHB (.258 wOBA allowed) and has been very good at home, allowing just a .178 BAA. He has even more potential if the aging Albert Pujols is still unable to return tonight from a hamstring injury. His 1.70 HR/9 is very concerning, but I'm willing to give him a shot in a GPP or two tonight against an Angels offense that really only boast one (and a half) above-average bat.

FanDuel

GPP Ownership: 5-10%

Cash Game Ownership: 0-5%

Verdict: GPP Option

DraftKings

GPP Ownership: 10-15%

Cash Game Ownership: 10-15%

Verdict: GPP Option

Yahoo!

GPP Ownership: 10-15%

Cash Game Ownership: 10-15%

Verdict: GPP Option