With two doubleheaders on tap for today, our Wednesday starting pitcher rankings are packed. Of course, the pitchers involved in the Orioles-White Sox and Rays-Royals "makeup games" -- and there seems to be some confusion over who's pitching which game -- aren't available in MLB DFS contests, but there are still plenty of stud and sleeper SPs to sift through. Our top hurler, Max Scherzer, has a tough matchup according to the stat splits, but most of the other big-name arms face off against favorable opponents today.
As such, prices are high at the top, especially for the struggling Jacob deGrom (vs. Reds), who checks in as the No. 2 pitcher on both DK and FD. deGrom's velocity is actually up this year, and he's still generating a ton of swinging strikes, so we're confident his BBs and HRs will start regressing and he'll return to form soon. A home matchup against the offensively challenged Reds could be just what he needs to get back on track. Given his high price, he might actually be underowned today, but if you can find value hitters, he's worth the risk.
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Aaron Nola (vs. Tigers) and Corey Kluber (@ Marlins) are two more struggling pitchers with good matchups. Nola looked better in a favorable matchup in his last outing (6.2 IP, eight baserunners, one run, four Ks), but Kluber continues to be up and down. Given the matchups, we're not worried about either, and they both offer relatively good value, especially on DK.
Most of the top pitchers are on the evening slate, with Masahiro Tanaka (@ Diamondbacks), Jameson Taillon (@ Rangers), and Carlos Rodon (vs. Orioles) being the biggest names early. Taillon has a brutal matchup on paper, and Tanaka is in a bad pitchers park. Rodon is also always a roll of the dice. It appears your best bet is paying up for Tanaka or trying someone like Merrill Kelly (vs. Yankees), but you're not going to feel great no matter who pick.
The top fades based on the stats are Jon Lester (@ Mariners) and Collin McHugh (@ Twins), though it's supposed to be cold and damp in Minnesota, which is usually an advantage for the pitchers.
A quick look at the weather forecasts shows no real worried, but do yo urself a favor and check the Fantasy Alarm Weather Center closer to lineup lock.
MORE WEDNESDAY MLB: DFS picks | DK lineup | Betting picks (coming soon)
Today's Starting Pitcher Rankings: Wednesday, May 1
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | Opponent | Opp. wRC+ vs. LHP (rank) | Opp. wRC+ vs. RHP (rank) | FD | DK |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | Nationals | vs. Cardinals | N/A | 117 (T-3rd) | $11,600 | $10,900 |
| 2 | Corey Kluber | Indians | @ Marlins | N/A | 71 (26th) | $10,100 | $9,400 |
| 3 | Jacob deGrom | Mets | vs. Reds | N/A | 69 (28th) | $10,900 | $10,200 |
| 4 | Aaron Nola | Phillies | vs. Tigers | N/A | 79 (24th) | $9,100 | $9,000 |
| 5 | Blake Snell (G2) | Rays | @ Royals | 74 (24th) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 6 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | Dodgers | @ Giants | 62 (T-29th) | N/A | $10,000 | $9,200 |
| 7 | Marcus Stroman | Blue Jays | @ Angels | N/A | 109 (T-10th) | $8,600 | $8,800 |
| 8 | Caleb Smith | Marlins | vs. Indians | 65 (28th) | N/A | $9,200 | $8,600 |
| 9 | Masahiro Tanaka | Yankees | @ D-backs | N/A | 99 (17th) | $8,400 | $9,700 |
| 10 | Max Fried | Braves | vs. Padres | 100 (T-12th) | N/A | $8,200 | $7,800 |
| 11 | Marco Gonzales | Mariners | vs. Cubs | 100 (T-12th) | N/A | $8,700 | $8,700 |
| 12 | Carlos Rodon (G1) | White Sox | vs. Orioles | 81 (20th) | N/A | N/A | $9,400 |
| 13 | Madison Bumgarner | Giants | vs. Dodgers | 109 (11th) | N/A | $8,500 | $8,400 |
| 14 | Jon Lester | Cubs | @ Mariners | 144 (2nd) | N/A | $7,400 | $8,200 |
| 15 | Jameson Taillon | Pirates | @ Rangers | N/A | 119 (2nd) | $7,300 | $8,500 |
| 16 | Collin McHugh | Astros | @ Twins | N/A | 114 (8th) | $9,000 | $8,300 |
| 17 | Felix Pena | Angels | vs. Blue Jays | N/A | 82 (22nd) | $6,700 | $7,000 |
| 18 | Merrill Kelly | D-backs | vs. Yankees | N/A | 109 (T-10th) | $8,000 | $7,400 |
| 19 | Miles Mikolas | Cardinals | @ Nationals | N/A | 96 (18th) | $6,900 | $7,300 |
| 20 | Chase Anderson | Brewers | vs. Rockies | N/A | 68 (T-29th) | $6,000 | $6,900 |
| 21 | Daniel Norris | Tigers | @ Phillies | 95 (17th) | N/A | $6,200 | $7,500 |
| 22 | Anthony DeSclafani | Reds | @ Mets | N/A | 100 (T-15th) | $7,600 | $7,900 |
| 23 | Jakob Junis (G1) | Royals | vs. Rays | N/A | 116 (T-5th) | $7,200 | $7,800 |
| 24 | Shelby Miller | Rangers | vs. Pirates | N/A | 82 (T-22nd) | $5,600 | $5,800 |
| 25 | Mike Fiers | A's | @ Red Sox | N/A | 88 (19th) | $6,600 | $7,000 |
| 26 | Antonio Senzatela | Rockies | @ Brewers | N/A | 100 (T-15th) | $7,000 | $6,700 |
| 27 | Ivan Nova (G2) | White Sox | vs. Orioles | N/A | 87 (20th) | $6,000 | N/A |
| 28 | Jalen Beeks (LR) (G1) | Rays | @ Royals | 74 (24th) | N/A | N/A | $5,900 |
| 29 | Andrew Cashner (G2) | Orioles | @ White Sox | N/A | 111 (19th) | $6,900 | N/A |
| 30 | Martin Perez | Twins | vs. Astros | 149 (1st) | N/A | $6,800 | $5,900 |
| 31 | Cal Quantrill | Padres | @ Braves | N/A | 106 (12th) | $5,500 | $5,500 |
| 32 | Hector Velazquez | Red Sox | vs. A's | N/A | 85 (21st) | N/A | $6,200 |
| 33 | David Hess (G1) | Orioles | @ White Sox | N/A | 111 (19th) | N/A | $4,500 |
| 34 | Ryne Stanek (O) (G1) | Rays | @ Royals | N/A | 102 (T-13th) | $5,500 | $5,000 |
| 35 | Glenn Sparkman (G2) | Royals | vs. Rays | N/A | 116 (T-5th) | N/A | 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.