The dark horse is a pitcher that nobody is looking at but has some potential data points to look at which could deliver a nice value play into your lineups on FanDuel and DraftKings.
Today I have two pitchers. With a 13 game slate and some high end arms should have lower ownership on some solid pitchers in good spots. Second Dark Horse should come in at -.5 to 5% ownership and has higher risk. Calling him the Crazy Dark Horse. Best played in MME contests.
Brandon Woodruff (Milwaukee Brewers)
Woodruff has pitched well this year so far posting a 2.53 ERA striking out 26 batters over 21.1 innings. He has thrown 90+ pitches in three of the four game s and 85 in the other , showing they will let him go deeper into the games. In 57 at bats Woodruff has limited the Cubs to a .228 average and allowed only one HR while striking them out at a 35% clip. Add in that the weather is cooler in Chicago with some wind blowing in which will help out Woodruff. The Cubs current lineup has a 26% K rate vs RHP. I can see Woodruff going 5-6 innings allowing a run and striking out 7-8 Cubs today. With a larger slate and all the higher end arms he should come in around 5-8%.
Yusei Kikuchi (Seattle Mariners)
Ok so scroll down…..keep going… yeah that guy Kkuchi. Yes he was a nightmare last year and liked to pick on him. Had a low K rate and gave up the long ball. This year he has made some improvement and increased his velocity by about 4 mph throwing his fastball around 96+. He is also throwing gtd cutter this year around 45% of the time. Nice improvement so far with a 25% over all K rate(22% to LHHs and 27% to RHH’s). In limited inning has produced a 60% ground ball rate which has helped keep the ball in the park with zero HRs so far this year. Yes he is throwing against the Astros Atl in Houston tonight. They have actually been a bit cold Hitting only .213 with 4 HRs over the past 7 days. Definitely a riskier play but I will have him in a multi entry contest. Cheap option that should come in at around 1-2% and can see him going 5 innings allowing a run or two and striking out 5-6 Astros.
