Picking your pitcher is the most critical part to winning in DFS. Here is what goes through my head when I analyze each game.

Early Slate

Top 3 Early Slate Options:

Cueto, Price, Kershaw

Redsox @ Yankees: Price (4-0 6.14) vs Eovaldi (1-2 5.46)

These are the games why the Red Sox paid big money for David Price, they want to win at Yankee Stadium. I do not think much stands in his way in terms of Eovaldi or the Yankee lineup that got another day to day injury in Ellsbury. I believe that Price has the opportunity to dominate this game and get the early run support to go deep into this game and get 10+ strikeouts.

A’s @ O’s (Game 1 of double header): Hill (3-3 2.53) vs Wright (1-2 5.18)

Rich Hill was ready to pitch yesterday but due to the rainout he is taking the hill (no pun intended) in the early matchup to face a new opposing pitcher in Mike Wright. Even with the extra day of rest for Hill, I believe that in Baltimore nothing good can come from playing him today. Yes he has great stuff but Baltimore has a better offense more often that Hill has his good stuff. I would avoid both Hill and Wright as this game will have plenty of offense.

Dodgers @ Bluejays: Kershaw (3-1 1.96) vs Dickey (1-5 5.73)

I always bow before the greatness of Mr. Clayton Kershaw! He is a favorite of mine, has been for years, and I believe that he is so good I even wrote an article about always starting him every chance you get. At Toronto is about as scary as they come, and the dude pitches in Colorado a few times a year. Yet, with the limited early slate I would still consider pitching Kershaw. While Encarnacion and Bautista have had back to back solid games and Donaldson is still a top hitter, great pitching beats great hitting and it does not get any better than Clayton. I can see people avoiding this start, but in the early slate there are not many better options, the expensive salary is the only reason to question him today. I will have some action on Kershaw today but probably only 10%-20% of the total entries for the slate.

Rangers @ Tigers: Griffin (3-0 2.32) vs Pelfrey (0-4 5.68)

As a vocal Mets fan, Pelfrey has a soft place in my heart. But that is the only place he has as he will never field a spot in a lineup I produce. Never to be considered. Now Griffin was a personal favorite of mine years ago in Oakland before going down with the injuries. Now he is back and pitching amazing. Will in continue in Detroit? I don’t know and I am not willing to find out today. I am passing all around here.

Pirates @ Cardinals: Locke (1-2 4.73) vs Wainwright (2-3 6.68)

Locke should be locked away with someone burying the key. He is an awful fantasy asset and an awful major leaguer for that matter. I would never consider using him. Wainwright is a star name pitching worse than Jeff Locke. That is hard to imagine so one would think a turnaround is coming. Home against the rival Pirates is going to be a tough matchup and while I think he will win due to Locke being awful, I can see him having a start not worthy of DFS. Would you want him if he gets a win in 6 innings with 10 baserunners 4 runs and 6 Ks? I will pass.

Rockies @ Giants: Gray (0-1 7.98) vs Cueto (4-1 3.61)

Gray is sporting an ERA over a touchdown. I am sure that it will come down and pitching in SF is a place to assist that, but going against Cueto is not something I am looking to do. Cueto has had some ups and downs game to game but still possesses a 4-1 record and a decent ERA. I think that he will win the game at home and pitch well. When looking at the matchups I believe that Cueto is my favorite early slate matchup, slightly above Price and Kershaw.

Nationals @ Cubs: Gonzalez (2-1 1.15) vs Hammel (4-0 1.24)

When I look at this matchup and see that Gio Gonzalez and Jason Hammel have a COMBINED ERA of 2.39 I am shocked. They are both pitching out of this world on World Series contending teams. I think that they both are solid veterans who will have good seasons but I am not sure who wins this game. Washington has yet to win in Chicago and I believe that they are due, but Hammel is undefeated and the Cubs may just have the edge on the Nationals. Since I do not know the answer I am staying away from both pitchers because I think I can still get some great games from other pitchers with their team winning being a little more predictable.

Late Slate

Top 3 Late Game Pitching Options:

Sale, Keuchel, Odorizzi

A’s @ O’s (Game 2 of double header): Hahn (1-0 0.00) vs Jimenez (1-3 5.20)

After getting an extensive batting practice session earlier in the day, both teams will be warmed up and ready to go this evening. Hahn came back and threw a gem his last time out but I do not believe he is consistent enough to have that again. Ubaldo as I mentioned before the rainout will have a stretch of 6 or 7 amazing starts and I will ride that, but since I have not yet seen it start I will continue to avoid. Staying away from all 4 pitchers between these 2 teams today.

Diamondbacks @ Braves: Miller (0-3 8.49) vs Teheran (0-3 3.72)

Last year at home Teheran was a very solid pitcher and Miller was a very solid pitcher for the Braves all of last year now returning to Atlanta. Miller also has a ridiculously high ERA that is bound to come down and come down fast. Atlanta is one of the worst 4 or 5 teams in all of baseball and that why Teheran is winless this year. I am a believer in Teheran long term but feel bad that he is in this situation. I can see this being a low scoring effort all the way around but I must believe that the Diamondbacks will pull it out and find a way to deliver Miller his first win of the year.

Brewers @ Reds: Nelson (4-2 3.05) vs Finnegan (1-1 3.97)

I said I was staying away from this game yesterday and to stay and the Reds paid off. Playing Votto and Phillips was great, I hope everyone else did as well. Today is a whole different story as these are 2 very good young pitchers. I believe that this is going to be a low to mid scoring game and I can see the Brewers sneaking away with a victory here. If you want to save some money on starting pitcher I am a fan of picking either guy in this game but I personally think the Brewers will sneak away with the win and Nelson can pitch very well in the process.

Twins @ White Sox: Santana (0-1 3.15) vs Sale (6-0 1.66)

Ervin Santana is currently 0-1 on the year and while I think Santana is a very good pitcher who is regularly underrated, he will be 0-2 after this matchup with Chris Sale. Sale is one of the best 5 pitchers in all of baseball at home against a weak opponent. He should dominate and is the top pitcher on my late game slate tonight. That is all that needs to be said.

Phillies @ Marlins: Hellickson (2-2 4.88) vs Koehler (2-3 7.25)

Hellickson is about as scary as scary can be. He would never be on one of my yearly teams, let alone think about using him in a DFS lineup. I will be using Stanton and probably Yellich against him. Then I see Koehler on the other side and I think time to use Franco and Howard as well. This is a bad pitching game and can result in a lot of runs on the board. Stay away from both starters.

Mariners @ Astros: Karns (3-1 3.81) vs Keuchel (2-4 5.11)

I think that Karns is going to have a very good career and be a very solid pitcher but this is not a game I want to use him in my DFS lineup. The bats are starting to wake up in Houston and Keuchel is amazing at home. Keuchel is also in need of turning his season around and home vs a division rival is a great opportunity to do so. I will have plenty of shares of Keuchel tonight and I am avoiding Karns.

Mets @ Padres: Colon (2-1 2.56) vs Shields (1-4 3.23)

This may be the only day of the week when I do not recommend a Mets starting pitcher. Now in my yearly league I am streaming Colon this week and he had an amazing start last week vs Atlanta but in DFS he just does not possess the dominant strikeout potential for me to comfortably start. Shields has been way too shaky to safely play and so I will be avoiding at all costs.

Rays @ Angels: Odorizzi (0-1 3.12) vs Weaver (3-1 5.40)

This last game of the night is a very interesting one. Jered Weaver is winning but pitching subpar where Odorizzi has been fairly good this season and winless. I think that Odorizzi can dominate the Angels and post near elite numbers. He has amazing strikeout potential everytime he touches the mound and I think that he is due to get a win. In 50/50s I will be using other pitchers but Odorizzi is a great tournament pitcher to use.