Friday's Starting Pitcher Value Rankings
Here are theScore's starting pitcher value rankings for Friday, May 27 (all stats exclude Friday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Lester (CHC) | vs. PHI | 10 |
| Michael Fulmer (DET) | at OAK | 9 |
| Jacob deGrom (NYM) | vs. LAD | 8 |
| Julio Urias (LAD) | at NYM | 8 |
| Adam Conley (MIA) | at ATL | 8 |
Lester is coming off his worst start of the season, in which he allowed five earned runs and struck out just one hitter over 2 2/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants. The poor outing holds his price in check ahead of a home matchup against the Phillies, who rank 28th in team wOBA against opposing lefties.
Fulmer is coming off his best major league start, striking out 11 and surrendering just one earned run in seven innings. The Athletics have a team wOBA of just .297 against righties. Urias will make his major league debut against the Mets. He's a risky choice in his first game, but this could very well be the lowest salary he'll have for the remainder of the year.
Mid-Tier Targets
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Felix Hernandez (SEA) | vs. MIN | 7 |
| Masahiro Tanaka (NYY) | at TB | 7 |
| John Lamb (CIN) | at MIL | 7 |
| Robbie Ray (ARI) | vs. SD | 7 |
| Joe Kelly (BOS) | at TOR | 7 |
| Max Scherzer (WAS) | vs. STL | 6 |
| Jaime Garcia (STL) | at WAS | 6 |
| Sean Manaea (OAK) | vs. DET | 6 |
The Twins own a strikeout rate of 23.3 percent against right-handed pitching, boding well for Hernandez and his career-low K rate. His numbers are still unnaturally suppressed, but the Twins aren't the team to start the regression.
Tanaka has a favorable ballpark to pitch in, and he'll face a Rays team striking out 24.7 percent of the time against righties. Scherzer holds some measure of risk due to his high price tag and date with a Cardinals team which owns a .356 wOBA against RHPs.
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Cole Hamels (TEX) | vs. PIT | 5 |
| Mike Fiers (HOU) | at LAA | 5 |
| Pat Dean (MIN) | at SEA | 5 |
| Aaron Sanchez (TOR) | vs. BOS | 5 |
| Mike Wright (BAL) | at CLE | 4 |
| Chris Archer (TB) | vs. NYY | 4 |
| Jonathon Niese (PIT) | at TEX | 4 |
| Matt Shoemaker (LAA) | vs. HOU | 4 |
| Zach Davies (MIL) | vs. CIN | 4 |
| Adam Morgan (PHI) | at CHC | 4 |
| Danny Duffy (KC) | vs. CWS | 4 |
Hamels has allowed just seven earned runs in his past four starts, striking out between six and 11 hitters. Pittsburgh strikes out 25.0 percent of the time against lefties, but they're slugging .456 as a team, with a .353 wOBA. Dean comes at a very modest cost, and he'll pitch against a Mariners team built for right-handed pitching. They're a middle-of-the-pack offense against LHPs.
Archer continues to rack up strikeouts, but he's struggled to go deep into games. He allowed six earned runs to the Tigers in his previous start, and his ERA sits at 5.16 on the season.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Williams Perez (ATL) | vs. MIA | 3 |
| Trevor Bauer (CLE) | vs. BAL | 3 |
| Miguel Gonzalez (CWS) | at KC | 2 |
| Tyler Chatwood (COL) | vs. SF | 2 |
| Matt Cain (SF) | at COL | 2 |
| Christian Friedrich (SD) | at ARI | 1 |
Perez is coming off a 6 1/3 innings scoreless outing against the Phillies, but he'll face a moderately superior offensive opponent Friday. Chatwood's ERA rises by over six runs when he's at home in Coors Field.