Top Tier

Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees ($11K on both DK and FD)

Riding the wave of his team winning five of its last six games, Cole takes the mound at home against the Royals with an 8-3 record this season and a team record 117 strikeouts through his first 14 starts along with a 2.31 ERA. He's already recorded six starts with seven or more innings giving up two runs or fewer and hoping to make it eight tonight. Since joining the American League in 2018, Cole's .194 batting average against is the lowest among all qualified pitchers in this time frame. A massive home favorite in prime position to silence his critics. Look for a steady diet of change-ups fueling a run at double digit strikeouts. 
 

Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia ($10.2K on DK, $11.4K on FD)

Take the discount on Draft Kings and target Wheeler with confidence. He's been terrific this year, so look past the 5-3 record while focusing on his 2.15 ERA this season. At home, his ratios drop to a 1.70 ERA and 0.69 WHIP with three wins in four decisions while striking out 72 against seven strikeouts over 58.1 innings. Opposed by Max Scherzer, this sets up to be a pitcher's duel but siding with the home team and pitcher with 77 strikeouts his last eight starts spanning 57.2 innings. 
 

Mid Tier

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs ($9.8K on DK, $8.9K on FD)

If trying to save money in cash games, Hendricks enters his match-up with Cleveland in the midst of a personal seven game win streak. He's pitched at least six innings in each of his last seven outings with a 2.54 ERA, 35:7 K:BB and 1.02 WHIP in 46 total innings in it. Last year, he beat his opponent by giving up one earned run in six innings striking out five. This sets his floor and if he adds some extra strikeouts this evening, it's icing on the cake.
 

Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox ($9.4K on DK, $10.5K on FD)

Another value play on Draft Kings, Giolito's won three of his last four starts with a 2.70 ERA, 53 strikeouts and a .190 batting average against over 40 innings. He owns a 30.9 strikeout percentage for the season and while the Pirates rank in the bottom third in strikeouts against right-handed pitching, their team .123 isolated power may fuel a successful evening for the White Sox starter. Plus, the last time he faced Pittsburgh, he recorded his first career no-hitter on August 25, 2020 at Guaranteed Rate Field. 
 

Bargain Arms

Chris Flexen, Seattle ($5.5K on DK, $6.9K on FD)

A perfect compliment to a top tier starter with upside in a match-up with the Rockies at home. Colorado owns a paltry 5-27 (.156) record outside of Coors with a 27.1 strikeout percentage, a 58 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) metric and .095 isolated power. Flexen fired eight shutout innings at home against the Twins, striking out eight his last time out. Plus, he boasts a 2.16 ERA at home with a 1.03 WHIP in 41.2 innings this season. Flexen sets up as a cash or GPP option on this slate. 
 

Ross Stripling, Toronto ($5.7K on DK, $7.6K on FD)

Shifting from the band box in Buffalo to the spacious field in Miami alone benefits Stripling, then factor in facing the pitcher along with his 13:2 K:BB in 9.1 innings (all versus Atlanta. In June, he's only 1-1 but with a 19:5 K:BB through 17.1 innings with a 3.63 ERA. So far in 2021, the Marlins owns a 25.1 strikeout rate against right-handed pitching so at this price point, if Stripling gets the quality start bonus or seven-plus strikeouts with three runs or less, he's worth the risk in tournament play.