Dr. Mike Hass is a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan and a lawyer who lives in Washington DC. He started playing DFS a couple years ago when he no longer had time for season long leagues, and has been hooked ever since. He plays most DFS sports but focuses his time on MLB, especially pitching. He started posting his pitching analyses on Twitter (@msonichdrhass) last season mostly because it helped him organize his thoughts, but enough people started reading it that he does it as regularly as possible (around family and career).

You can read his past “DFS Thoughts” on his personal blog http://DFSThoughts.wordpress.com. He’s primarily a GPP player, but also writes advice for cash games, too. You can always catch him on Twitter, and hes responds to individual questions.

“Thanks for reading, and I hope it helps you make money!” – Dr. Hass

May 3rd Quick Pitching Notes

Hey everyone! So—my apologies for not getting any pitching thoughts out over the last handful of days. For those of you who don’t know, I’m a lawyer in a big law firm, and my schedule is often unpredictable. At this very moment, we’re gearing up for a big trial which is sucking away all my time. I just haven’t had the chance to sit down to do a real in-depth analysis of the pitching slates like I want.

However, I’ve been told that at least a few of you would still like to at least see my “quick hits,” and I aim to please! So, with this full slate on tap, here are my quick thoughts! With these quick thoughts, I don’t get a chance to look in depth at matchups, ballpark splits, possible lineups, or some of the deeper numbers. But this is a good surface look.

[Note: As the CLE-DET game is not on the DK slate, being a 6:10 start, I am not looking at that game. But congrats to Justin Verlander on his engagement!]

Arrieta: He’s awesome, but don’t like him much here. Has 20-25 pt upside as I see it, and at 12k+, that’s not good enough.

Harvey: I expect him to get better, and he’s got a great matchup today, but not at that price. GPP only, but really, I don’t like him at all until he shows he can get his Ks.

Gray: Don’t hate him in cash games. But $9.3k seems too high for me.

Wacha: Like him a lot for cash games, and see the upside for GPPs, but don’t have a good feeling that he reaches it. Should be solid, though.

Kazmir: Been really unlucky with HRs. Like the GPP upside, but Kaz is always risky. TB can hit, but they can also K. $8800 again seems too high.

Moore: Like him a lot. Not as sneaky as he should be, though. Has big upside and LAD not in a great spot here.

Nola: Cards hitting over their heads, and Nola’s really good. A little risky for cash, but love him for GPPs. Most will avoid, but give him serious consideration.

McHugh: Nothing stands out for him here. Not saying you should stack Twins against him, but I don’t see a lot of K value.

Samardzija: Tough to peg this year. I don’t see the upside here, but his numbers and his matchup both disagree. Vegas thinks he’s good for cash games. I won’t say otherwise, but I could see him having a solid game or a pretty disappointing one.

Quintana: Really interesting matchup which I like for GPPs. Risky, but at 8.1k, I think it’s a good risk.

Iwakuma: Completely average matchup. Upside greater than downside, but A’s don’t K much.

Corbin: Hitters are pounding him, and in comes MIA with high K potential and high power potential. Being in MIA helps, but not a good spot here.

Wright: Good price for a GPP, but I have a tough time ever recommending a knuckleball pitcher in cash games. Individual matchups most important here.

Roark: He’s been a surprise, and his results might actually be a little sustainable. But a matchup vs KC isn’t very good. I’ll pass.

Severino: O’s are always good for Ks, but they are also always good for HRs. More risk than upside here, IMO.

Cashner: I feel dirty saying this, but I don’t mind him for GPPs. Cashner at Petco against a team that historically can’t hit on the road? And a guy with AC’s skillset? At $6700? You could make worse picks.

Wisler: Going here seems like a bad idea.

Estrada: 8 walks in last two starts doesn’t excite me, but his low price and what is certain to be low ownership against a lineup that can be had for Ks, and I like him in GPPs. Still has a rep for giving up HRs, but he doesn’t do much of that anymore.

Perez: I’ve been saying all along that this TOR lineup isn’t the one from years past. I’ll say it again now, especially after yesterday. I will resist the urge to stack against him (and you should, too), but I also won’t be using him. Too many walks, not enough Ks.

Tillman: Don’t hate him, esp. at his price, but NYY has some very good hitters in a very dangerous ballpark. Margin for error is thin. Given what should be microscopic ownership, he might be worth a GPP flyer. Tillman’s not a bad pitcher.

Young: This does not look good for him. Getting hit hard, even as his Ks are up. Nats can run hot and cold, but I like hot here.

Niese: Not the guy to take advantage of vs the Cubs K upside.

Tropeano: As we’ve seen, he has some upside, and the Brewers can K a bunch. But going with Nick T seems ill-advised when you have other cheap guys who are in better spots. But he could do well all the same.

Butler: Hard to know for sure, but super-cheap, in Petco, facing a team with a weak slate of hitters. Not without risk, but fire up for GPPs.

Nicolino: Not enough Ks to be fantasy relevant.

Moscot: No. Just—no.

Meyer: Against HOU, this seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Guerra: At $4400, I’m intrigued. LAA a nice matchup and has been punchless. But the guy is a 31-year old AAA pitcher. That should tell you something. Still…