This article is part of our Umpire Analysis series.
Last Week's Picks
Tuesday
Game: NYM at WSH
Umpire: Mike Muchlinski
Recommendation:Joe Ross, RHP: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 4 K
Ross put together a decent showing Tuesday, but DFS players likely hoped for more after he struck out 19 in his previous two outings. Muchlinksi followed up this contest by calling 21 strikeouts against just two walks when the White Sox faced the Indians on Saturday, leaving him with an 8.6 K/9 rate and a 2.2 BB/9 rate in 301.7 innings.
Game: TEX at COL
Umpire: Tom Hallion
Recommendation:DJ LeMahieu, 2B: 1-For-4
Texas starter Matt Harrison scattered seven hits while striking out just two, but managed to keep the Rockies off the board for six innings in a combined shutout. Hallion, who now holds a 7.1 K/9 rate and a 4.12 ERA, saw nine runs, but it was natural to expect more from the Rockies against a suspect pitcher at home.
Wednesday
Game: LAD at ATL
Umpire: Bill Welke
Recommendation:Andre Ethier, OF: 0-For-2, BB
Julio Teheran walked three and gave up three runs through seven innings, but managed to record a season-high 11 strikeouts despite the fact that Welke hadn't seen more than 14 in any of his previous six games. Welke has tallied a 3.95 ERA and 7.5 K/9 rate in 2015.
Thursday
Game: SEA at DET
Umpire: Cory Blaser
Recommendation: None
As expected, the game was a pitcher's duel, with David Price and Hisashi Iwakuma combining to allow four runs and strike out 14 over 15 innings. Blaser had seen double-digit run totals in three consecutive outings before running into two quality arms Thursday, notching a 3.96 ERA and 3.2 BB/9 in 19 games.
This Week's Picks
Tuesday
Game: ARI at SEA
Umpire: Quinn Wolcott
Recommendation: Zach Godley, RHP
Godley's inexperience and 5.14 ERA at Double-A this season could make some hesitant to trust him, but at only $5,800, it's hard to pass the opportunity to grab a prospect who held a 2.27 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 75.1 innings in High-A Visalia. Wolcott could help ease the nerves of DFS players, as he has a 8.1 K/9 rate over 229.3 frames and a 3.14 ERA. Those who still squeamish could opt for the relative safety of Hisashi Iwakuma, but the adventurous might just want to find out if Godley can repeat his performance against the Brewers last week, when he struck out seven through six scoreless innings.
Game: NYY at TEX
Umpire: Andy Fletcher
Recommendation:Brian McCann, C
Fletcher has been a favorite target of ours just about any time we can find him in a hitters' park, as his 2.09:1 K:BB ratio is fourth lowest in the league among umpires who have seen at least 100 innings. Martin Perez and Chris Capuano have not thrown the ball much lately, with Perez making just two starts with the Rangers since returning from Tommy John surgery, wherein he has walked six batters and given up six earned runs in 11 innings. It's worth noting that Chris Capuano, who will take the ball for the Yankees, hasn't started a game since May, and has a 5.64 ERA over 30 innings.
Wednesday
Game: KAN at CLE
Umpire: Tom Woodring
Recommendation:Michael Brantley, OF
Woodring has seen just four games this season, but is worth taking a look at because of his extreme hitter-friendly rate stats (3.8 BB/9, 6.0 K/9) over that span. While his numbers might improve over time, Woodring held something of a tight zone last season as well, when he notched a 3.3 BB/9 rate and a 7.6 K/9 rate in 4.14.7 innings. Jeremy Guthrie has kept a 5.27 xFIP against left-handed hitters, which could make this a nice opportunity to stack southpaws.
Game: CIN at STL
Umpire: Mike Muchlinski
Recommendation:John Lackey, RHP
Muchlinski will make the column for his second week in a row, and likely will be worth a look whenever he is on the docket due to his tremendously pitcher-friendly rate stats. The Reds are a bottom-10 team away from Great American Ballpark this season according to wRC+, while lackey has a 2.88 ERA in 20 starts.
Thursday
Game: CHW at BOS
Umpire: Bill Miller
Recommendation:Chris Sale, LHP
I realize that recommending Chris Sale seems about as insightful as recommending Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match, but Sale could be worthy of even more attention Thursday, as Miller has called just 2.5 BB/9 with 8.2 K/9 in 19 games this year, and the Red Sox are the seventh-worst team in the league against left-handed pitching by wRC+.
