Fantasy 101: Starting Pitching Data for FanDuel (2015)

This article is part of our Fantasy 101 series.

The target score for cash on FanDuel is 40 points (Adjusted from 35 due to softer salaries) and the starting pitcher stats are as following:

IP = 1 point
K = 1 point
ER = -1 point
W = 4 points

Avg. Salary - $7,471
Avg. Score – 9.31 (down from 2014 - 9.7)
Avg. Multiplier Value – 1.24 (Points/Salary*1000)

Average Statistics:
IP=5.77
K=4.78
W=.347 x 4 = 1.38
ER=(2.62)

Innings pitched and strikeouts are slightly down from where they were in 2014. Wins are about the same and earned runs are up slightly.

So, what do we want to look at for building our winning pitching system?

Home vs. Road?
Home: 9.83
Road: 9.03

American League vs. National League?
AL: 9.28
NL: 9.57 (slight edge taking NL team)

NL/Home = 10.00, NL/Road = 9.15

AL/Home = 9.65, AL/Road = 8.91

Even more of an edge taking a NL team at home, we are getting closer to that 12-point total we need.

Worst Teams (2015 Results - Percent of Time Staring Pitcher Earned Win)

Because you need to get the win 90 percent of the time to hit at least 15 points on FanDuel in tournaments, targeting the worst teams in the league, especially the ones who allow the most starting pitcher wins, is vital. Here are the teams that allowed the highest percent of starting pitcher wins through June 12, 2015

Teams that allowed at least 15 Points to Opposing Starting Pitchers (2015)
Brewers – 18 (10 Home/8 Road; 4 LHP/14 RHP)
Phillies – 17 (8 Home/9 Road; 3 LHP/14 RHP)
White Sox – 17 (7 Home/10 Road; 4 LHP/13 RHP)
Padres – 16 (7 Home/9 Road; 5 LHP/11 RHP)
Rangers – 15 (8 Home/7 Road; 9 LHP/6 RHP)
Twins – 15 (12 Home/3 Road; 5 LHP/10 RHP)
Tigers – 15 (9 Home/6 Road; 3 LHP/12 RHP)
Astros – 15 (8 Home/7 Road; 6 LHP/9 RHP)

Teams that allowed 5 Points or fewer to Opposing Starting Pitcher
Blue Jays – 23 (14 Home/9 Road; 6 LHP/17 RHP)
Indians – 19 (11 Home/8 Road; 8 LHP/11 RHP)
Giants – 18 (4 Home/14 Road; 2 LHP/16 RHP)
Yankees – 17 (9 Home/8 Road; 4 LHP/13 RHP)
Athletics – 17 (9 Home/8 Road; 2 LHP/15 RHP)
Twins – 16 (12 Home/4 Road; 10 LHP/6 RHP)
Rockies – 16 (11 Home/5 Road; 0 LHP/16 RHP)
Rangers – 16 (7 Home/9 Road; 5 LHP/11 RHP)

There have been 1,829 starts this season and approximately 631 resulted in at least a performance that garnered at least a 1.6 multiplier (Points/Salary * 1000 = 1.6 or higher).

Average FanDuel Score = 15.10 points
Salary - $7,274
Multiplier – 2.11

$3,000-$4,900 – 22/38 (57 percent)
$5,000-$5,900 - 91/221 (41 percent vs. 30 in April)
$6,000-$6,900 - 184/491 (37 percent vs same in April)
$7,000-$7,900 - 131/449 (29 percent vs. 27 in April)
$8,000-$8,900 - 115/345 (33 percent vs. 31 in April)
$9,000-$9,900 - 47/163 (28 percent vs. same in April)
$10,000 and up - 37/122 (30 percent vs. 24 in April)

It looks like you can find even more value on cheaper starting pitching on FanDuel based on the current numbers against April. But also the top tier pitching has increased in value with 30 percent resulting in at least 1.6x multiplier. You can still see where the $5,000-$6,900 range pitchers have the highest percentage of finding that upside value needed to finish at the top in tournaments.

Next week, I'll look at the individual starting pitcher data to see where we can identify the best values so far on the baseball season.