At FantasyLabs, we believe that we have the best tools and data available to those who play daily fantasy sports. We also realize that these tools and data are only as beneficial as our ability to communicate their functionality and worth.

With this in mind, our Trend of the Day series features articles that walk subscribers through an important trend each weekday, created with our Trends tool. Also, shortly after you create a trend, you will be able to see it under the “My Trends” column in our Player Models.

MLB Trend of the Day: K Predictor on DraftKings vs. FanDuel

Last year, I did a study that considered the comparative impact of strikeouts and WHIP on DFS production for pitchers. The results showed that strikeouts are overwhelmingly more important to Plus/Minus than WHIP is. Also, despite the scoring differences for pitchers on DraftKings and FanDuel, my study found that — although they’re weighted more on DK — strikeouts are more or less equally important on both sites. High-K guys are just as necessary on FD as they are on DK.

In the time since I’ve done that study, we have enhanced our data set and also added a K Predictor to our Trends tool and Player Models. Let’s query a couple of trends to see if strikeouts still have somewhat equal importance on both sites.

Step 1A: Trends > K Prediction > 6.5 to 10.9 (DraftKings)

Now, 6.5 isn’t that high of a strikeout total, but I want this trend to be applicable to today’s MLB slate, in which only six of the 22 projected starting pitchers have a K prediction of at least 6.5.

 

Overall, DK pitchers jump to a very valuable +2.24 Plus/Minus under these conditions.

Step 1B: Trends > K Prediction > 6.5 to 10.9 (FanDuel)

What about on FD?

 

What we see here is on par with the study from last year: Strikeouts are just about as valuable on FD as they are on DK.

DK < FD?

This may not make a whole lot of sense if you look at the scoring differences between DK and FD. Strikeouts are weighted heavier on DK. Shouldn’t they be worth more on DK?

Maybe, but it depends on the pricing, which is why our Plus/Minus metric is valuable: It takes pricing into account.

Anyone can look at the scoring differences and infer that Ks should be more valuable on DK than FD. However, if DK (in comparison to FD) places more of a premium on high-K pitchers, the strikeouts might actually be more valuable (from a salary-based perspective) on the site that weights them less.

Also, market forces come into play. Even if 2.24 points on DK are slightly more valuable than 3.31 points on FD, the truth is that what produces those excess points — strikeouts — is targeted much more on DK than FD.

It’s possible that strikeouts are more valuable on FD because everyone on DK already knows to roster high-K pitchers. On FD, however, people more frequently chase wins than strikeouts. Thus, Ks could be more valuable on FD because the market of DFS players routinely undervalues them on that platform.

Use this to your advantage and find some hidden value on FD today.