Best MLB Strikeout Pitcher Matchups — Sunday, July 19, 2026
Top strikeout spot: Paul Skenes
Paul Skenes (PIT) is the best strikeout matchup on the board at 100, projected for about 6.2 K against CLE. He's missing bats at a 27% clip — strikeouts per batter faced — and CLE has been whiff-prone, going down 23% 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
- Hunter Greene (CIN) (100) — about 6.8 K vs COL: a 31% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 21% of the time.
- Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) (85) — about 5.9 K vs ATL: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 21% of the time.
- Nolan McLean (NYM) (85) — about 6.2 K vs PHI: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 22% of the time.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) (80) — about 6.0 K vs NYY: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 23% of the time.
- Cam Schlittler (NYY) (77) — about 6.1 K vs LAD: a 27% 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 — Casey Mize is the arm to exploit it (51).
- CLE is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Paul Skenes is the arm to exploit it (100).
- WSH is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Jacob Lopez is the arm to exploit it (17).
- BAL is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Hunter Brown is the arm to exploit it (46).
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.