Sunday's Starting Pitcher Value Rankings
Here are theScore's starting pitcher value rankings for Sunday, May 1:
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Drew Pomeranz (SD) | at LAD | 8 |
| Taijuan Walker (SEA) | vs. KC | 8 |
| Noah Syndergaard (NYM) | at SF | 8 |
| Danny Salazar (CLE) | at PHI | 8 |
| Chris Sale (CWS) | at BAL | 8 |
Pomeranz has pitched well in 2016, with a 2.86 ERA and a 12.68 K/9 rate. His chances of earning a win are slim thanks to his counterpart Kershaw, but he could still have a solid outing relative to his price.
The Royals have scored just seven runs over their last four games prior to Saturday's encounter with Seattle; Mariners ace Felix Hernandez claimed a 1-0 win on Friday. Walker boasts a 1.44 ERA through four starts, with 25 strikeouts in as many innings.
Sale comes at a discount compared to Kershaw, and is 5-0 this season, pitching at least seven innings in each of his starts.
Mid-Tier Targets
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Rich Hill (OAK) | vs. HOU | 7 |
| Carlos Martinez (STL) | vs. WAS | 7 |
| Clayton Kershaw (LAD) | vs. SD | 7 |
| Jake Odorizzi (TB) | vs. TOR | 7 |
| Garrett Richards (LAA) | at TEX | 7 |
| Ian Kennedy (KC) | at SEA | 7 |
| John Lackey (CHC) | vs. ATL | 7 |
| Cole Hamels (TEX) | vs. LAA | 6 |
| Ricky Nolasco (MIN) | vs. DET | 6 |
| Vince Velasquez (PHI) | vs. CLE | 6 |
| Raisel Iglesias (CIN) | at PIT | 6 |
| Madison Bumgarner (SF) | at NYM | 6 |
| David Price (BOS) | vs. NYY | 6 |
| Nathan Eovaldi (NYY) | at BOS | 6 |
| Tom Koehler (MIA) | at MIL | 6 |
| Ubaldo Jimenez (BAL) | vs. CWS | 6 |
| Marcus Stroman (TOR) | at TB | 6 |
| Max Scherzer (WAS) | at STL | 6 |
| Jeff Locke (PIT) | vs. CIN | 5 |
| Julio Teheran (ATL) | at CHC | 5 |
Hill has 37 strikeouts in 26 innings thus far; the slow-starting Astros have struck out 233 times, the most in baseball. A rising price and the middling A's offense hurt Hill's value somewhat, but he still looks to be a solid choice.
Kershaw allowed five runs in his most recent start, and has a 2-1 record and a 2.43 ERA in five games. His best performance came in the season opener against the Padres, where Kershaw allowed one hit and zero runs over seven innings, while striking out 10.
Odorizzi's two best performances of the season (where he struck out 16 and allowed just one earned run) both came at home, and he's already stymied the Blue Jays once in 2016, striking out 10 in 5.2 innings in his first start.
Scherzer has been erratic through five starts, failing to strike out more than seven batters in any game, and allowing five total home runs. Against the high scoring Cardinals, he's a risk despite his ace-level ability.
Nothing to See Here
| Name | Opponent | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Chad Bettis (COL) | at ARI | 3 |
| Doug Fister (HOU) | at OAK | 3 |
| Mike Pelfrey (DET) | at MIN | 3 |
| Wily Peralta (MIL) | vs. MIA | 2 |
| Shelby Miller (ARI) | vs. COL | 1 |
Oakland isn't an intimidating offense, but Fister is a risk nevertheless, having failed to go further than six innings in any of his four starts, and allowing at least one home run in each.
Miller hasn't gotten anything going in 2016, allowing nearly one run per inning. Stay away until he puts together at least one solid performance.