Best MLB Strikeout Pitcher Matchups — Thursday, April 23, 2026
Top strikeout spot: Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal (DET) is the best strikeout matchup on the board at 100, projected for about 6.2 K against MIL. He's missing bats at a 28% clip — strikeouts per batter faced — and MIL has been around league average, going down 22% of the time. He's lined up for about 23 batters, so the volume's there for a big number.
The rest of the top of the board
- Michael Soroka (AZ) (92) — about 6.2 K vs CWS: a 27% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) (80) — about 5.9 K vs CHC: a 27% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 21% of the time.
- Cam Schlittler (NYY) (80) — about 6.0 K vs BOS: a 28% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 22% of the time.
- Tyler Glasnow (LAD) (77) — about 5.8 K vs SF: a 27% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 21% of the time.
- Jacob deGrom (TEX) (72) — about 5.8 K vs PIT: a 27% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 22% of the time.
Whiffiest lineups to attack today
- LAD is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Logan Webb is the arm to exploit it (61).
- NYY is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Payton Tolle is the arm to exploit it (62).
- CWS is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Michael Soroka is the arm to exploit it (92).
- COL is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Matt Waldron is the arm to exploit it (37).
How it played out
The top 10 starts averaged 6.5 strikeouts. Top play Tarik Skubal punched out 5. We grade every projection against the box score so you can see how the board held up.
How to read these strikeout matchups
Each starter's score (0–100) weighs his strikeout ability against every hitter in the lineup, hand by hand, then factors in how deep he tends to pitch and his command. Higher means more whiffs point his way. The exact weighting is our own — we project a strikeout count and grade every start against what actually happened.