Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: Best MLB Pitcher Stats, Picks for May 21
The first quarter of the 2015 MLB season is already coming to a close, so it's a great time for DraftKings owners to start getting in on more fantasy games. With only six games on tap for Thursday night, there is still a wealth of stats to sift through to find the best pitchers.
Each starter on this list has enjoyed success this season, so picking just two is up to the reader's discretion. Here's a look at the best MLB pitcher picks for May 21.
Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians ($9,300)
TOP NEWS
Assessing Every MLB Team's Development System ⚾
.png?w=256)
10 Scorching MLB Takes 🌶️
Yankees Call Up 6'7" Prospect 📈
The Danny Salazar train went slightly off the rails over the weekend, but he's ready to return to the good graces of fantasy owners on Thursday.
His ERA might have skyrocketed after allowing seven earned runs against the Texas Rangers, but that seems more like an outlier than a sign of what's to come. With an average of 9.6 strikeouts and over six innings per start in his first five games, Salazar has typically been a model of consistency.
Expect more of that when he faces the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox have been held in check by the Indians with three or less runs in the last three games, and owners will get that again from Salazar.
Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves ($8,800)
Julio Teheran proved in his last outing why he is atop the Atlanta Braves rotation. The 24-year-old has been up and down some this season, but he has still averaged nearly 13 fantasy points per game.
Not too keen on taking a somewhat inconsistent starter as a No. 1? That's cool. How about one who is going against a team that has the third-most strikeouts (335), is last in team average (.229) and 26th in walks (94)?
Teheran may have a 4.33 ERA this season, but he's also found ways to come away in the win column with a 3-1 record. Facing an offensively challenged team like the Milwaukee Brewers, Teheran should have a stellar fantasy outing.
Matt Shoemaker, L.A. Angels ($7,600)
One thing about Matt Shoemaker—he always puts his team in position to get a win. After getting shelled by the Houston Astros earlier this month, Shoemaker returned to cruise against the Baltimore Orioles.
That loss against the Astros is sandwiched between two impressive starts where Shoemaker went for over six innings and compiled 26 or more fantasy points. As Matt Birch of the Angels' media relations department notes, Shoemaker has found success on the road:
Traveling to take on the Toronto Blue Jays, expect another great start from Shoemaker on Thursday. Coming off his best performance of the year, Shoemaker should continue his success on the road for fantasy owners.
Matt Garza, Milwaukee Brewers ($7,000)
Just when it seemed like Matt Garza had finally gotten back on track, he imploded against the potent New York Mets offense. In his previous four starts before facing the Mets, Garza had a streak of four straight games with at least six innings pitched and three or less runs allowed.
He'll be facing off with Teheran, so this doesn't appear to be a wildly promising option to get a win. But fantasy owners can still expect him to regain some of his luster against the Braves to fulfill the spot of a No. 2 starter.
John Danks, Chicago White Sox ($5,900)
Looking for a value arm to save some money for a big slugger? John Danks is your man.
The left-handed pitcher has gotten off to a shaky start this season but has stabilized over the last two games. With seven innings pitched in both games and a total of three earned runs and 10 strikeouts, Danks has averaged over 20 fantasy points in that span.
Then consider the fact that Danks is facing a Cleveland Indians lineup that is lefty-heavy. Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Brandon Moss and Lonnie Chisenhall will all have to figure out Danks from the left side of the box. Danks is an enticing option and a great No. 2 on a night with limited starters to choose from.
DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!
Follow R. Cory Smith on Twitter for more MLB DraftKings advice.
.png?w=480)
