Pitching matchups for Thursday’s MLB games

We have a short 10-game schedule Thursday in the majors with the first game starting at 1:10 p.m. ET between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. We are going to look at the best pitching matchup and the sleeper pitching matchup that could turn out to be a pitchers’ duel.

Best Matchup: Kyle Hendricks vs. Marcus Stroman

The best matchup on the mound Thursday will be happening at Citi Field as the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets wrap up their four-game set at 7:10 p.m. ET. Kyle Hendricks will be on the mound for the Cubs, while Marcus Stroman will start for the Mets.

Hendricks is the ace of Chicago’s starting rotation with a 8-4 record and 4.46 ERA. The 31-year-old has not done a good job of keeping the ball inside the ballpark with 19 home runs given up. But he is a perfect 6-0 with an ERA of 2.93 in his last six outings. As for Stroman, he’s been the Mets’ second-best starting pitcher this season. The 30-year-old has a record of 6-4 with a 2.33 ERA through 13 starts. In his last seven starts, the former Blue Jays pitcher has an incredible 2.49 ERA.

Sleeper Matchup: Dylan Cease vs. Jose Urquidy

While both the White Sox and Astros offenses will be under the microscope on Thursday night, we could see a good, under the radar pitching matchup between Dylan Cease and Jose Urquidy. Cease has been phenomenal in his last two starts for Chicago, producing 17 strikeouts in 12 IP. Overall, the 25-year-old pitcher is 5-2 with an ERA of 3.38 in 13 starts this season.

Jose Urquidy has had issues with giving up home runs, allowing 11 in 62 IP this season (11 starts). However, he’s pitched well at MinuteMaid Park in 2021 with a 3-1 record and 2.83 ERA in five starts. Opponents are slugging .200 against the 26-year-old starting pitcher, who is 4-3 with an ERA of 3.77.

Here’s a look at the pitching matchups for Thursday’s 10-game MLB slate on June 17th.

Orioles vs. Indians: Jorge Lopez vs. TBD
Diamondbacks vs. Giants: TBD vs. Kevin Gausman
Yankees vs. Blue Jays: Michael King vs. TBD
Cubs vs. Mets: Kyle Hendricks vs. Marcus Stroman
Cardinals vs. Braves: John Gant vs. Charlie Morton
White Sox vs. Astros: Dylan Cease vs. Jose Urquidy
Reds vs. Padres: Wade Miley vs. Joe Musgrove
Brewers vs. Rockies: Brandon Woodruff vs. German Marquez
Tigers vs. Angels: Matt Manning vs. Shohei Ohtani
Rays vs. Mariners: Rich Hill vs. Justin Dunn