MLB Probable Pitchers: Top 5 Must-Watch MLB Pitching Showdowns ft Red Sox Tanner Houck vs Jays Chris Bassitt: June 18

On Tuesday, June 18, all 30 MLB teams will be in action. Regardless of a club's current standing, all will be looking for their respective pitching decisions to put forth the best effort possible.

Today, we will be examining the top five pitching matchups for fans to be aware of as various MLB teams take to the field.

Top 5 Must-Watch MLB Pitching Matchups for June 18

Albert Suarez vs Nestor Cortes

Many eyes will be on the New York Yankees' three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles this week. For the second game of the series on Tuesday, Albert Suarez will take the ball for the O's while the Bombers will look to Nestor Cortes.

The fact that Nestor Cortes' 3.59 ERA is the worst in the Yankees' rotation speaks volumes about the strength of the team's starting pitching this season. However, after being limited to just 12 starts last season, Cortes is resurgent, and pitched seven innings of two-run ball in his last start against the Royals.

"Wake up Babe it’s Albert Suárez Day" - Kam Brice

Cortes' oppponent, Albert Suarez, is putting forth a clinic this season. After a five-year MLB hiatus due to his play in East Asia, the Venezuelan is now 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 44 innings this season.

Logan Webb vs Justin Steele

Since the beginning of June, the Cubs' ERA has ranked seventh in MLB, and left hander Justin Steele has played a big part in that. Despite the fact that Steele, 3-0, will be looking for his first win on Tuesday, the 28-year-old has pitched very well, allowing just two earned runs in his past 25 innings.

"Justin Steele, Dirty 83mph Slider...and Sword." - Rob Friedman

Steele and the Cubs will be facing down Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. After putting up an NL-best 216 innings last season, Webb leads the NL with 15 starts this season. Now 6-5 with a 3.02 ERA, Webb will be looking for his third consecutive win.

Tanner Houck vs Chris Bassitt

The Boston Red Sox will play their first series of the season against the Blue Jays this week, with just a game and a half seperating the two clubs as of Monday.

Opposing hitters have had a very difficult time hitting Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck, who will be making his fifteenth start on Tuesday. Having allowed just 0.2 home runs per nine innings, Houck leads the league in the category. Now 7-5 with a 2.08 ERA, Houck has been the Sox' best starter this year.

For the Jays, Chris Bassitt is slated to get his fifteenth start of the season. Now 6-6 with a 3.56 ERA, Bassitt has historically performed very well against the Red Sox, and owns a career 2-0 record to accompany his 2.14 ERA.

Luis Severino vs Michael Lorenzen

Tuesday will also mark the second game of a series between the New York Mets and Texas Rangers. The Mets' first visit to Arlington since 2017, Luis Severino will oppose Rangers starter Michael Lorenzen.

Severino is making his one-year, $13 million deal with the Mets look well worth the team's while. Across thirteen starts, Severino is 4-2 with a 3.12 ERA. In his last start against the Miami Marlins, Severino went six innings, allowing only one earned run.

"7 shutout innings for Luis Severino!" - SNY

The 2024 MLB season is also Michael Lorenzen's first with a new team. Since inking a one-year, $4.5 million deal, the 32-year-old is 4-3 with a 2.86 ERA with the Rangers. In his last start, he stymied the Dodgers, allowing just one earned run across seven frames.

Michael King vs Aaron Nola

Michael King will get the start for the Padres against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second game of this week's rematch of the 2022 NLCS. Previously a reliever for the Yankees, King has made the transition to the Padres' rotation this season. Now 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA this season, King has struggled historically against the Phillies, and owns an 8.10 ERA figure in 2 career games.

For the Phillies, Aaron Nola will be getting the ball. In the first year of his massive seven-year, $172 million extension, Nola is now 8-3 with a 3.48 ERA. The former All-Star did, however, allow eight runs in just 3.2 innings in his last start against the Red Sox.

"Happy 31st Birthday to Phillies Starter Aaron Nola!" - Phillies Tailgate