Thursday's Pitcher Value Rankings
Here are the pitcher value highlights for Thursday, April 7:
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Danny Salazar (CLE) | vs. BOS | 9 |
| Nathan Eovaldi (NYY) | vs. HOU | 8 |
| Jake Peavy (SF) | vs. LAD | 8 |
Salazar will see high ownership in cash games, and for good reason. The righty has a 12-6 record in 26 home starts with a fantastic 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. In two starts, Salazar has held the Red Sox to a puny .182 batting average, two earned runs and no homers. He's worth paying up for.
Eovaldi had the best win-percentage among starting pitchers in the majors last year thanks to a 14-3 record. He finished with a 8.0 K/9 rate in the second half of the 2015 season and faces an Astros team that ranked second in strikeouts last year. Houston has plenty of emerging talent, so there's some risk here, but Eovaldi can be deployed in tournament play.
A very deep home ballpark in San Francisco and the fact that he's held the Dodgers to a .188 BA with just five extra base hits in 85 career at-bats bodes well for Peavy in cash-games.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Kendall Graveman (OAK) | vs. CWS | 7 |
| John Lackey (CHC) | at ARI | 7 |
| Alex Wood (LAD) | at SF | 6 |
| Tanner Roark (WAS) | vs. MIA | 6 |
| Mat Latos (CWS) | at OAK | 5 |
| Ubaldo Jimenez (BAL) | vs. MIN | 5 |
| Hector Santiago (LAA) | vs. TEX | 5 |
| Mike Fiers (HOU) | at NYY | 4 |
As a tournament flier, Graveman could surprise. Despite a pitcher-friendly home park, Graveman gave up 1.39 HR/9 innings at O.co and just 0.94 HR/9 on the road, which runs contrarian to O.co's reputation as a pitcher's park. If Graveman can keep the ball in the yard, he might be able to steal a win against streaky ChiSox SP Latos.
Lackey should see good run support all year long from the Cubs' bats.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Holland (TEX) | vs. LAA | 3 |
| Adam Conley (MIA) | at WAS | 3 |
| Phil Hughes (MIN) | at BAL | 2 |
| Joe Kelly (BOS) | at CLE | 2 |
| Rubby De La Rosa (ARI) | vs. CHC | 1 |
Hughes posted an ugly 5.10 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 12 road appearances last season. The Orioles' lineup is a minefield of power that needs to be avoided.