Picking your pitchers on FanDuel and DraftKings won't be easy tonight. We have a 15-game main MLB DFS slate, a host of aces, and several more solid pitchers with favorable matchups on the mound. Oh, and several potential weather worries on the East Coast. What more do you want?
Our SP rankings today aren't factoring in DFS prices. Sure, it's easy to say Max Scherzer (vs. Padres) is the best pitcher, but as the highest-priced guy on both FanDuel and DraftKings, are you prepared to devote that much of your budget for him? You can pay almost $6K less for Max Fried (vs. Rockies) on FD and $4,400 less on DK. Given his hot start and favorable matchup, it's easy to argue he's much better value and likelier to have higher ownership. Similarly, Charlie Morton (@ Red Sox) has high strikeout potential and is in a good spot at palatable prices -- why not take the savings and build around him? Even FD's No. 2 pitcher and DK's No. 3, James Paxton (@ Giants), offers you between $800 and $1,300 of savings from Scherzer, and Paxton's matchup is even better on paper.
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Or maybe that's all the more reason to take Scherzer -- get the best pitcher at possibly reduced ownership. There are no shortage of good options, and on nights like this, the main thing is to avoid the obvious landmines. Based on the stats and prices, Corey Kluber (@ Astros) and Chris Archer (@ Dodgers) are the two biggest worries. Of course, if everyone fades them and you take a chance and it pays off -- they are good pitchers capable of dominating any matchup, after all -- you'll really be ahead of the game in tournaments. This might be a night to try multiple strategies with multiple lineups.
The games in danger of seeing showers at some point are Marlins-Phillies, Brewers-Mets, Padres-Nationals, and Rays-Red Sox. Check the Fantasy Alarm Weather Center closer to lineup lock for that latest news.
MORE: Friday's DraftKings lineup | Friday's MLB DFS picks
Today's Starting Pitcher Rankings: Friday, April 26
(O) = Opener
(LR) = Long reliever
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | Opponent | Opp. wRC+ vs. LHP (rank) | Opp. wRC+ vs. RHP (rank) | FD | DK |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | Nationals | vs. Padres | N/A | 78 (T-24th) | $12,300 | $10,400 |
| 2 | James Paxton | Yankees | @ Giants | 67 (27th) | N/A | $11,000 | $9,600 |
| 3 | Charlie Morton | Rays | @ Red Sox | N/A | 87 (21st) | $8,800 | $8,500 |
| 4 | Jacob deGrom | Mets | vs. Brewers | N/A | 99 (18th) | $10,800 | $10,000 |
| 5 | Madison Bumgarner | Giants | vs. Yankees | 84 (T-16th) | N/A | $9,000 | $8,700 |
| 6 | Max Fried | Braves | vs. Rockies | 54 (30th) | N/A | $8,600 | $8,000 |
| 7 | Miles Mikolas | Cardinals | vs. Reds | N/A | 62 (30th) | $7,400 | $7,400 |
| 8 | Carlos Rodon | White Sox | vs. Tigers | 72 (24th) | N/A | $9,400 | $8,100 |
| 9 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | Dodgers | vs. Pirates | 57 (29th) | N/A | $9,500 | $8,200 |
| 10 | Corey Kluber | Indians | @ Astros | N/A | 121 (3rd) | $9,600 | $8,900 |
| 11 | Robbie Ray | D-backs | vs. Cubs | 102 (T-11th) | N/A | $8,400 | $9,100 |
| 12 | Kyle Hendricks | Cubs | @ D-backs | N/A | 102 (T-12th) | $8,200 | $7,500 |
| 13 | Marcus Stroman | Blue Jays | vs. A's | N/A | 97 (19th) | $8,000 | $7,600 |
| 14 | Tyler Skaggs | Angels | @ Royals | 74 (23rd) | N/A | $7,300 | $7,700 |
| 15 | Collin McHugh | Astros | vs. Indians | N/A | 65 (28th) | $9,300 | $8,300 |
| 16 | Chris Archer | Pirates | @ Dodgers | N/A | 126th (1st) | $8,900 | $8,800 |
| 17 | Jerad Eickhoff | Phillies | vs. Marlins | N/A | 70 (27th) | $7,800 | $7,900 |
| 18 | Danny Duffy | Royals | vs. Angels | 75 (T-21st) | N/A | $7,100 | $6,500 |
| 19 | Daniel Norris | Tigers | @ White Sox | 86 (15th) | N/A | $6,800 | $6,900 |
| 20 | Mike Fiers | A's | @ Blue Jays | N/A | 84 (22nd) | $6,600 | $7,700 |
| 21 | Chase Anderson | Brewers | @ Mets | N/A | 101 (T-15th) | $6,000 | $6,700 |
| 22 | Martin Perez | Twins | vs. Orioles | 84 (T-16th) | N/A | $7,000 | $6,800 |
| 23 | Antonio Senzatela | Rockies | @ Braves | N/A | 102 (T -12th) | $6,700 | $5,700 |
| 24 | Jose Urena | Marlins | @ Phillies | N/A | 102 (T-12th) | $6,900 | $5,900 |
| 25 | Matt Strahm | Padres | @ Nationals | 132 (5th) | N/A | $6,500 | $8,600 |
| 26 | Anthony DeSclafani | Reds | @ Cardinals | N/A | 124 (2nd) | $6,400 | $7,100 |
| 27 | Shelby Miller | Rangers | @ Mariners | N/A | 120 (4th) | $5,500 | $5,000 |
| 28 | Alex Cobb | Orioles | @ Twins | N/A | 118 (T-5th) | $5,800 | $5,200 |
| 29 | Josh Smith | Red Sox | vs. Rays | N/A | 118 (T-5th) | N/A | $4,000 |
| 30 | Justus Sheffield (LR) | Mariners | vs. Rangers | 75 (T-21st) | N/A | N/A | $4,000 |
| 31 | Yusei Kikuchi (O) | Mariners | vs. Rangers | 75 (T-21st) | N/A | $7,400 | N/A |
wRC+ is defined by Fangraphs as "[measuring] how a player’s wRC compares with league average after controlling for park effects. League average for position players is 100, and every point above 100 is a percentage point above league average. For example, a 125 wRC+ means a player created 25% more runs than a league average hitter would have in the same number of plate appearances. Similarly, every point below 100 is a percentage point below league average, so a 80 wRC+ means a player created 20% fewer runs than league average." For more on the stat, click here.