Blake Snell (5-7, 4.87 ERA) will look to build off his most recent outing Saturday vs. the Yankees at home. The 2018 AL Cy Young winner is coming off a dominant 12-strikeout performance in what has been a turbulent season for the young lefty, who has seen his ERA jump nearly three full runs from last year's league-leading 1.89 mark. His 12.4 K/9 rate and 4.0 K/BB ratio are the best of his career, but a higher home run rate and some bad luck (.354 BABIP, 66.5 percent strand rate, 18.5 percent HR/FB ratio) have contributed to his regression this year. Snell should have the upper hand against an ageing CC Sabathia, but the Yankees also boast the league's highest-scoring offense, making Snell something of a risky fantasy play on Saturday.
Shane Bieber (7-3, 3.54 ERA) is set to take the mound Saturday against the Reds in Cincinnati. After a solid showing as a rookie last year, the 24-year-old sophomore has shaved a full run off his ERA in 2019 by ramping up his strikeout rate from 9.3 K/9 to 11.5 K/9, which ranks fourth in the American League. He's also maintained a low walk rate at 2.0 BB/9, which has helped him overcome a slight uptick in homers, from 1.0 HR/9 to 1.4 HR/9. With Cleveland's rotation ravaged by injuries, Bieber has stepped up to help the Indians remain afloat in the AL Central. He'll be a must-start for fantasy owners against a middling Reds club.
Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.28 ERA) will try to add to his league-leading strikeout total (161) Saturday vs. the Angels at home. Cole, who currently leads the majors with a 13.2 K/9 rate, has notched double-digit strikeouts in nine of his 18 starts this year. He's also been lights-out lately, allowing two earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts and nine of his last 10. Against a mediocre Angels team, Cole is poised for another strong outing on Saturday.
Lucas Giolito (11-2, 2.72 ERA) will look to keep up his stellar first half vs. the Cubs at home on Saturday. Giolito, who leads the majors in wins, has gone 10-1 over his last 14 starts. He's also coming off an excellent June in which he tossed three scoreless outings and allowed just one earned run in another. His strong start doesn't appear to be a fluke, either, as his 10.8 K/9 rate is easily the highest of his career. He's also lowered his home run rate every year since debuting in 2016, and has also trimmed his walk rate from 4.7 BB/9 last year to 3.1 BB/9 this year. The Cubs are always dangerous with their potent lineup, but fantasy owners should start Giolito with confidence.
Rick Porcello (5-7, 5.07 ERA) will look to get back on track Saturday against the Tigers. The righty has been shelled in each of his last two starts, allowing 11 earned runs and 13 hits in just 6 1/3 innings. His ERA had been steadily decreasing prior to those last two outings, however, and stood at 4.31 just a few weeks ago. His strikeout rate is down to 7.3 K/9 this year after he struck out nearly a batter per inning last year, and his career-worst 2.9 BB/9 rate hasn't helped, either. His numbers have been inflated by a handful of bad starts, however, as he posted a 3.30 ERA over a 12-start stretch from April 20 through June 17. Look for him to right the ship Saturday against a weak Tigers lineup.
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