Saturday's Starting Pitcher Rankings
Here are theScore's starting pitcher value rankings for Saturday, July 23 (all stats exclude Friday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Jose Fernandez (MIA) | vs. NYM | 9 |
| Cole Hamels (TEX) | at KC | 8 |
| Max Scherzer (WAS) | vs. SD | 8 |
Even at a top-tier price, Fernandez at home is hard to ignore. He's allowed just one earned run over his last five starts at Marlins Park, while striking out 48 batters. The crown jewel performance was a seven-inning, 14-strikeout shutout of the Mets in early June.
The homer-prone Scherzer has allowed just one long ball over his last four starts. He's faced the Padres once already, striking out 10 over six innings while allowing just one earned run in a mid-June outing. He offers some moderate salary relief compared to Fernandez.
After a pair of poor performances, Hamels shut down the Cubs last Sunday, recording an eight-inning, zero-earned-runs-allowed effort. Altogether, he's allowed one earned run or fewer in five of his last seven starts.
Mid-Tier Targets
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Collin McHugh (HOU) | vs. LAA | 7 |
| Kendall Graveman (OAK) | vs. TB | 7 |
| David Price (BOS) | vs. MIN | 6 |
McHugh is coming off a six-inning, 10-strikeout shutout of the Mariners, and hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last six starts. He limited the damage over back-to-back late June starts against the Angels, allowing two runs in each over a combined 13 innings.
Graveman has won three straight decisions, allowing six earned runs in total. With the volatile Drew Smyly opposing him, he should get the run support needed for another win as long as he can put forth a solid outing.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Sale (CWS) | vs. DET | 4 |
| John Lackey (CHC) | at MIL | 4 |
| Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) | at TOR | 3 |
While Sale is always capable of brilliance, he's struggled somewhat against the righty-heavy Tigers, allowing seven earned runs in 13 1/3 innings over two recent starts.
While strikeouts could be Lackey's saving grace against the Brewers, he hasn't been credited with a win since June 8 and has allowed four or more earned runs in four of his last five outings.