Best MLB Strikeout Pitcher Matchups — Sunday, July 5, 2026
Top strikeout spot: Joe Ryan
Joe Ryan (MIN) is the best strikeout matchup on the board at 100, projected for about 6.2 K against NYY. He's missing bats at a 27% clip — strikeouts per batter faced — and NYY has been around league average, going down 22% 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
- Ranger Suarez (BOS) (100) — about 6.2 K vs LAA: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Kyle Bradish (BAL) (92) — about 6.1 K vs CIN: a 24% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Cade Cavalli (WSH) (89) — about 6.0 K vs PIT: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Nolan McLean (NYM) (88) — about 5.9 K vs ATL: a 27% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 21% of the time.
- Eury Pérez (MIA) (87) — about 5.8 K vs ATH: a 25% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
Whiffiest lineups to attack today
- DET is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Kumar Rocker is the arm to exploit it (67).
- SEA is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Trey Yesavage is the arm to exploit it (55).
- LAA is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Ranger Suarez is the arm to exploit it (100).
- ATH is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Eury Pérez is the arm to exploit it (87).
How it played out
The top 10 starts averaged 5.3 strikeouts. Top play Joe Ryan punched out 9. 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.