Best MLB Strikeout Pitcher Matchups — Friday, May 29, 2026
Top strikeout spot: Taj Bradley
Taj Bradley (MIN) is the best strikeout matchup on the board at 100, projected for about 6.2 K against PIT. He's missing bats at a 26% clip — strikeouts per batter faced — and PIT 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
- Carlos Rodón (NYY) (96) — about 6.1 K vs ATH: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 24% of the time.
- Max Meyer (MIA) (93) — about 6.1 K vs NYM: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 22% of the time.
- Luis Severino (ATH) (91) — about 5.6 K vs NYY: a 24% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 22% of the time.
- Zack Wheeler (PHI) (87) — about 5.2 K vs LAD: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 19% of the time.
- MacKenzie Gore (TEX) (82) — about 5.2 K vs KC: a 26% K/BF arm into a lineup that whiffs 21% of the time.
Whiffiest lineups to attack today
- ATH is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Carlos Rodón is the arm to exploit it (96).
- CIN is striking out 24% of the time in this spot — Grant Holmes is the arm to exploit it (73).
- BAL is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Adam Macko is the arm to exploit it (18).
- LAA is striking out 23% of the time in this spot — Nick Martinez is the arm to exploit it (37).
How it played out
The top 10 starts averaged 4.3 strikeouts. Top play Taj Bradley punched out 6. 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) blends his strikeout rate against every hitter in the lineup — hand by hand, combined the log5 way — then scales by how deep he's been going (expected batters faced) and his command (K-BB%). Higher means more whiffs point his way. We project a strikeout count and grade every start against what actually happened.