Saturday's Starting Pitcher Value Rankings
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Here are theScore's starting pitcher value rankings for Saturday, September 24 (all stats exclude Friday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Madison Bumgarner (SF) | at SD | 9 |
| Robbie Ray (ARI) | at BAL | 9 |
| Rick Porcello (BOS) | at TB | 8 |
Bumgarner faces a Padres team that has managed just a .726 OPS versus left-handed pitchers this season -- and their two biggest contributors, Matt Kemp and Melvin Upton Jr., aren't even on the team anymore. He's expensive, but with the Giants still fighting to secure a wild card berth, expect their ace to not take any chances. Seven innings and 10 strikeouts is a reasonable goal.
Ray is your best tournament play. He's not as expensive because he's posted a 4.92 ERA over his last 56 2/3 innings, but he's also struck out 78 batters in that stretch. The Orioles can't touch lefties; they have a team OPS of just .687 vs. southpaws while striking out in 22 percent of their at-bats. If Ray can work around Manny Machado, he'll rack up Ks against a free-swinging lineup.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton Kershaw (LAD) | vs. COL | 7 |
| Yu Darvish (TEX) | at OAK | 7 |
| Jose Quintana (CWS) | at CLE | 6 |
When at 100 percent, there is no finer pitcher to build a cash game lineup around than Kershaw. It's not clear, however, whether he is able to pitch at full strength on Saturday. In his three appearances since coming off the DL, the perennial Cy Young candidate hasn't pitched past the sixth inning or past 88 pitches. He can still be a great cash-game play but with a team-imposed usage cap, he might not pitch deep enough to be a viable GPP option.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | VALUE | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Hammel (CHC) | vs. STL | 4 |
| Matt Andriese (TB) | vs. BOS | 2 |
| Wade Miley (BAL) | vs. ARI | 1 |
Miley has everything working against him on Saturday. He enters with a 6.60 ERA and 2-5 record in his last 10 starts. He'll face a Diamondbacks lineup that ranks first in the majors with a .826 OPS vs. LHPs -- and that number has mostly been achieved with a pitcher hitting in the order. Stay far away from this matchup.