Best MLB Strikeout Pitcher Matchups — Monday, May 4, 2026
Top strikeout spot: Edward Cabrera
Edward Cabrera (CHC) is the best strikeout matchup on the board at 100, projected for about 6.2 K against CIN. He's missing bats at a 22% clip — strikeouts per batter faced — and CIN has been whiff-prone, going down 24% 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
- Cam Schlittler (NYY) (98) — about 6.3 K vs BAL: a 27% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Davis Martin (CWS) (90) — about 6.1 K vs LAA: a 23% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 24% of the time.
- Payton Tolle (BOS) (85) — about 6.2 K vs DET: a 28% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- José Soriano (LAA) (76) — about 5.9 K vs CWS: a 25% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Trevor McDonald (SF) (76) — about 5.3 K vs SD: a 22% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 22% of the time.
Whiffiest lineups to attack today
- LAA is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Davis Martin is the arm to exploit it (90).
- CIN is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Edward Cabrera is the arm to exploit it (100).
- BAL is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Cam Schlittler is the arm to exploit it (98).
- DET is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Payton Tolle is the arm to exploit it (85).
How it played out
The top 10 starts averaged 6.2 strikeouts. Top play Edward Cabrera punched out 8. 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.