Best MLB Strikeout Pitcher Matchups — Thursday, June 25, 2026
Top strikeout spot: Zac Gallen
Zac Gallen (AZ) is the best strikeout matchup on the board at 100, projected for about 3.8 K against STL. He's missing bats at a 17% clip — strikeouts per batter faced — and STL has been around league average, going down 20% of the time. He's lined up for about 24 batters, so the volume's there for a big number.
The rest of the top of the board
- Cam Schlittler (NYY) (100) — about 6.6 K vs BOS: a 29% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Bryce Miller (SEA) (83) — about 5.5 K vs PIT: a 27% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 22% of the time.
- MacKenzie Gore (TEX) (74) — about 5.9 K vs TOR: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 22% of the time.
- Matthew Boyd (CHC) (71) — about 5.7 K vs NYM: a 27% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) (67) — about 5.8 K vs WSH: a 24% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 21% of the time.
Whiffiest lineups to attack today
- DET is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Tatsuya Imai is the arm to exploit it (63).
- SEA is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Bubba Chandler is the arm to exploit it (43).
- NYM is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Matthew Boyd is the arm to exploit it (71).
- BOS is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Cam Schlittler is the arm to exploit it (100).
How it played out
The top 10 starts averaged 7.1 strikeouts. 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.