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.
Clayton Kershaw
Tonight's 7-game slate offers up a ton of pitching options on the slate, and I couldn't even fit two other names in the five selected. Lance McCullers is an intriguing GPP option tonight, but he is featured in our Cheat Sheets, so you can check him out there. Johnny Cueto is the other name left off, but he was by choice. His form as been average in comparison to the upside of the names going tonight, he also isn't a lock to get a win. Now to Clayton Kershaw, who is coming off of a start where he allowed four home runs to the Mets, and two of them via Jose Reyes. You weren't drunk, Reyes really did hit two homers off Kershaw. Kershaw faces a familiar enemy, and luckily in Los Angeles. This is a big series, with the NL West being so closely kept. Home runs are an issue right now, allowing a home run in five straight starts. Two of those games he allowed seven combined. He is also allowing a .355 wOBA to lefties. While Colorado only has Charlie Blackmon to worry about, the 1.29 HR/9 to right-handers is also starting to elevate. If Kershaw makes mistakes, the bats of Mark Reynolds, Ian Desmond, and Nolan Arenado will make him pay. Kershaw's June strikeout rate is the highest it has been this season, but so is the HR/9. He has 20 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched against Colorado this year, allowing eight earned runs. Two of those starts were in Coors, so we can somewhat give him a pass. Kershaw still checks in as the number one cash game option. Colorado has a 23% strikeout rate against southpaws, and their wOBA/ISO falls to league average numbers on the road. Kershaw is a huge home favorite, but once again I won't be afraid of making pivots in tournaments.
FanDuel
GPP Ownership: 15-25%
Cash Game Ownership: 60-70%
Verdict: Cash/GPP Option
DraftKings
GPP Ownership: 15-25%
Cash Game Ownership: 60-70%
Verdict: Cash/GPP Option
Yahoo!
GPP Ownership: 15-25%
Cash Game Ownership: 60-70%
Verdict: Cash/GPP Option
Jacob deGrom
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