Wednesday's Starting Pitcher Value Rankings
Here are theScore's starting pitcher value rankings for Wednesday, July 6 (all stats exclude Tuesday's games):
Value Rankings
C | 1B/DH | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Sonny Gray (OAK) | at MIN | 9 |
| Jacob deGrom (NYM) | vs. MIA | 8 |
| Jeremy Hellickson (PHI) | vs. ATL | 8 |
Gray has seen his DFS salary dip, more harshly on some industry sites than others, and it's largely because of his overall ERA and BB/9, both of which are alarming. While his peripherals don't indicate bad luck being the exclusive cause -- his FIP is still relatively high, but much lower than the ERA -- the Twins are the ideal opponent. If he's cheap, line him up.
Hellickson is a bit of a dice-roll, but he's been decent more often than not, though his 4.06 ERA hardly inspires exuberant confidence. Still, he's pitching against the Atlanta Braves who feature the worst offense in baseball. Considering Braves RHP Julio Teheran was just scratched from the start, Hellickson has a better shot at recording the win, too.
Prior to his last outing -- which came against the Cubs -- deGrom had finished six innings or more in six consecutive starts. He's very close to a strikeout per inning and his control issues haven't exactly derailed him. Considering the Marlins are in the bottom third in MLB in walks, deGrom is shaping up well.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Cueto (SF) | vs. COL | 7 |
| Marcus Stroman (TOR) | vs. KC | 6 |
| Wade LeBlanc (SEA) | at HOU | 5 |
Cueto, at his salary, against a lineup as potent as the Rockies should generate pause. With the game at AT&T Park in San Francisco, concern can be relaxed a bit. Cueto is 12-1 with a 2.57 ERA and he's dominated Colorado this season allowing only a single earned run over 14 1/3 innings, including one start at Coors Field. Spend up for Cueto.
Stroman finally righted the ship on Canada Day in Toronto even though he didn't get the win -- that was the 19-inning marathon. He struck out six while only walking one without giving up a long ball, which had become a bit of a problem. If he keeps the ball down, he'll be a bargain at his reduced rate. He's a mid-range option because he had been pretty bad prior to Friday.
LeBlanc is even more of a mystery. It's his third start since being acquired from Toronto and he's done fairly well so far. He's allowed two runs over 12 innings pitched, recording a win in the process. He could easily see his peak in Ks against the Astros, though the power present could chase him before the third. Stick him to GPPs.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Pineda (NYY) | at CWS | 4 |
| Drew Smyly (TB) | vs. LAA | 3 |
| Steven Wright (BOS) | vs. TEX | 2 |
Pineda is kind of the reverse Gray. Both struggled mightily, but it's Pineda whose salary has actually jumped at the first signs of success. His K totals are through the roof, which is fantastic, but he's still allowing too many home runs. The White Sox feature too many big power bats like Todd Frazier and Jose Abreu that Pineda carries too much risk.
Smyly can't be trusted until he strings together a few solid starts in a row. The Angels hardly ever strike out, so his upside is limited. Wright's results have too many variables as the magic knuckleball beans seem to have worn off, slightly. He could no-hit Texas or last less than an inning. Only invest if you're crazy or brave. Or both.