Today's Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Starting pitchers for Tuesday

Matt Lutovsky

Today's Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Starting pitchers for Tuesday image

It's a full day plus one thanks to a Tigers-Red Sox doubleheader. Unfortunately for those in playing main MLB DFS slates, two of the top three pitchers in Tuesday's SP rankings pitch in the lone day game (Chris Sale and Matthew Boyd), so you'll need to join a special featured contest on DraftKings or all-day contest on FanDuel to be able to pick them. That also goes for top pitcher Carlos Carrasco, who starts at 6:10 p.m. ET., and No. 4 pitcher Kevin Gausman, whose game gets underway at 6:40 p.m. ET.

The rest of the choices for Tuesday are at best "interesting" and at worst "uninspiring". You can make a case for several guys in DFS, but there really aren't too many that stand out as must-haves. Chances are, you're going to mine values, thus making your decision-making process not unlike those in season-long leagues looking for streamers. Trent Thornton (vs. Giants), Ivan Nova (@ Orioles), and Luke Weaver (@ Pirates)  have good matchups, but only the latter is actually pitching in a favorable environment. Zach Davies (@ Cardinals) has great standard numbers this year, but his advanced numbers are ugly and the matchup is just as brutal. Trusting him seems like a mistake, though facing off against a rookie might give him a better shot at a win.

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Kenta Maeda (@Cubs) seems like a smart fade. The matchup isn't great, and his advanced numbers this year offer no encouragement. Also worth noting is that he's always been much better in Dodger Stadium, producing an ERA over a full run better at home than on the road in his career. 

Overall, there's going to be a lot of guesswork involved in picking pitchers, especially on DraftKings, where you need two. Consider this a tournament night and hope for the best.

MORE: Tuesday's DraftKings lineup | Tuesday's MLB DFS picks

Today's Starting Pitcher Rankings: Tuesday, April 23

(O) = Opener

Rank Pitcher Team Opponent Opp. wRC+ vs. LHP (rank) Opp. wRC+ vs. RHP (rank)
1Carlos CarrascoIndiansvs. MarlinsN/A67 (27th)
2Chris Sale (G1)Red Soxvs. Tigers58 (29th)N/A
3Matthew Boyd (G1)Tigers@ Red Sox84 (17th)N/A
4Kevin GausmanBraves@ RedsN/A57 (30th)
5Domingo GermanYankees@ AngelsN/A107 (T-10th)
6Patrick CorbinNationals@ Rockies60 (T-27)N/A
7Jeff SamardzijaGiants@ Blue JaysN/A87 (20th)
8Zach EflinPhillies@ MetsN/A101 (T-16th)
9Trevor RichardsPiratesvs. D-backsN/A100 (18th)
10Sonny GrayRedsvs. BravesN/A105 (T-12th)
11Jose QuintanaCubsvs. Dodgers116 (T-9th)N/A
12Trent ThorntonBlue Jaysvs. GiantsN/A58 (29th)
13Zack WheelerMetsvs. PhilliesN/A105 (T-12th)
14Frankie MontasA'svs. RangersN/A109 (9th)
15Ivan NovaWhite Sox@ OriolesN/A83 (22nd)
16Michael PinedaTwins@ AstrosN/A119 (6th)
17Luke WeaverD-backs@ PiratesN/A86 (21st)
18Kenta MaedaDodgers@ CubsN/A115 (7th)
19Spencer Turnbull (G2)Tigers@ Red SoxN/A77 (24th)
20Zach DaviesBrewers@ CardinalsN/A121 (4th)
21Pablo LopezMarlins@ IndiansN/A71 (26th)
22Homer BaileyRoyals@ RaysN/A120 (5th)
23Hector Valezquez (G2)Red Soxvs. TigersN/A72 (25th)
24Erik SwansonMariners@ PadresN/A78 (23rd)
25Wade MileyAstrosvs. Twins130 (5th)N/A
26Chris StrattonAngelsvs. YankeesN/A112 (8th)
27Jeff HoffmanRockiesvs. NationalsN/A102 (15th)
28Nick MargeviciusPadresvs. Mariners169 (1st)N/A
29Daniel Ponce de LeonCardinalsvs. BrewersN/A101 (T-16th)
30Lance LynnRangers@ A'sN/A88 (19th)
31Andrew CashnerOriolesvs. White SoxN/A103 (14th)
32Ryne Stanek (O)Raysvs. RoyalsN/A107 (T-10th)

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.

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.