Monday's Starting Pitcher Value Rankings
Here are theScore's starting pitcher value rankings for Monday, June 27 (all stats exclude Sunday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Samardzija (SF) | vs. OAK | 9 |
| Collin McHugh (HOU) | at LAA | 9 |
| Adam Wainwright (STL) | at KC | 8 |
| Trevor Bauer (CLE) | at ATL | 8 |
| Noah Syndergaard (NYM) | at WAS | 8 |
| Robbie Ray (ARI) | vs. PHI | 8 |
The Shark has posted a 3.06 ERA with 31 Ks in 32 1/3 innings across five home starts this season. Expect him to dismantle the A's, who will be without a DH as they travel across the bay to San Francisco. Oakland has the fifth-worst team wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season.
McHugh tossed seven innings of two-run ball in his last outing, which happened to come against the very same Angels. The Astros offense is on fire and will surely back him with plenty of run support. The Halos on the other hand, are losers of six-straight, averaging just 3.6 runs per game over that stretch.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Danny Duffy (KC) | vs. STL | 7 |
| Jake Arrieta (CHC) | at CIN | 6 |
| John Gant (ATL) | vs. CLE | 6 |
| Daniel Mengden (OAK) | at SF | 5 |
| Blake Snell (TB) | vs. BOS | 5 |
| Chi Chi Gonzalez (TEX) | at NYY | 5 |
If Duffy were able to go deeper into games he would be in the Top Options. He has posted a 3.54 ERA in eight outings as a starter this season, whiffing 50 batters in 40 1/3 innings. His price is lowered against the high-powered Cardinals offense, but the Red Birds actually struggle against lefties (fifth-lowest wOBA versus LHP).
Over Arrieta's last six starts, he has pitched just five innings three times and hasn't surpassed the seven inning mark once. It's tough for the most expensive pitcher to consistently return value when he isn't pitching deep into games but a matchup against the strikeout-prone Reds is awfully tempting.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Shoemaker (LAA) | vs. HOU | 4 |
| Joe Ross (WAS) | vs. NYM | 4 |
| Marco Estrada (TOR) | at COL | 4 |
| Jon Gray (COL) | vs. TOR | 4 |
| Vince Velasquez (PHI) | at ARI | 3 |
| Ivan Nova (NYY) | vs. TEX | 3 |
| Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS) | at TB | 2 |
| Dan Straily (CIN) | vs. CHC | 2 |
Estrada is dealing with a back injury. It's likely he will make the start, but it might not be worth the risk pitching in Colorado, despite the low salary. He relies heavily on a devastating change up, but its movement will be affected by the high altitude. Both he and Gray could get rocked by opposing lethal offenses.
Velasquez is a future top-of-the-rotation starter for the Phillies, so expect the club to have a pitch count on the 24-year-old in his first start back from a stint on the disabled list.