MLB Daily DeltaWeek 18 · July 27, 2026
Burch Smith
DET · P
Change to
Michael Rucker
SEA · P
Change to
Who's more valuable, rest of season

Michael Rucker.

He projects to help you in more roto categories the rest of the way — strikeouts. Burch Smith’s box score looks better right now, but the luck-stripped projection flips it.

Head-to-head
K
ERA
WHIP
W
SV n/a

Michael Rucker wins 1 categories (K); Burch Smith wins 0 (none); 3 even; SV n/a.

04

Under the hood

Underlying skill — each value vs league avg
Fastball Velolg 94.0 · higher = better
Burch Smith
93.8
Michael Rucker
95.9
Swinging-Strike %lg 11.0% · higher = better
Burch Smith
10.4%
Michael Rucker
13.4%
Strikeout %lg 22.0% · higher = better
Burch Smith
27.4%
Michael Rucker
27.6%
Chase %lg 28.5% · higher = better
Burch Smith
26.2%
Michael Rucker
35.9%
Hard-Hit % Allowedlg 40.0% · lower = better
Burch Smith
47.8%
Michael Rucker
41.7%
Barrel % Allowedlg 8.0% · lower = better
Burch Smith
4.3%
Michael Rucker
6.3%
xwOBA Allowedlg .315 · lower = better
Burch Smith
.287
Michael Rucker
.299
stabilized — trust it · small sample yet · dashed = league avg · right = better
05

The tape

Rest-of-season projection · bold = leads
rest-of-season projection current season projection range
Rate · earned-run quality
ERAlower is better
Burch Smith
2.655.03
lg xERA 4.10
now 3.18
3.70
Michael Rucker
2.655.03
lg xERA 4.10
now 4.50
3.70
WHIPlower is better
Burch Smith
.9001.86
now 1.47
1.24
Michael Rucker
.9001.86
now 0.50
1.24

Volume · rest of season
Strikeoutshigher is better
Burch Smith
4026.80
now 20
18
Michael Rucker
4026.80
now 3
19
Winshigher is better
Burch Smith
.000.480
now 0
00
Michael Rucker
.000.480
now 0
00

SV — not applicable. Both pitch out of the rotation.

If you already own them — trade angle
Hold · wait & seeBurch Smith — hold.conf 0.50
Buy LowMichael Rucker — buy low. The dip is a window to acquire.conf 0.85
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