You can never have enough starting pitching. Etch this “rule of sorts” on your kitchen table or carve it in stone, but it’s a truism we endure year after year. Coming out of the draft, I strive for at least eight starters, with six or seven on the active roster at any point in time. In 2025, 23 starting pitchers accumulated 180+ strikeouts. You want to procure at least two starters with that strikeout potential. There are a host of teams looking to roll out 120-inning-type starters, and if one is to be competitive in the strikeout and wins categories, too many of those low-inning starters become problematic. In a 15-team format, a total of 90-to-120 starters will go off the board on draft day. That’s a lot of pitching, and leaving it as an endgame-type play would not be a recommendation I’d endorse.
1. Tarik Skubal, DET – Taril Skubal now has two Cy Young’s on the mantle, both from the past two years. It’s hard to bet against a third.
2. Paul Skenes, PIT – Skene’s only has one Cy on his mantle but in his first two seasons has produced a sub-2.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in each. He’s a special talent and being that he doesn’t turn 24 years-of-age until May 29’th of this coming year, is poised for a long run as one of the best in the game.
3. Garrett Crochet, BOS – The Red Sox gave up a ton of prospects to acquire Garrett Crochet and are very happy to have done so. Last year in 205 1/3 innings (2’nd in all of baseball) he posted a 2.59 ERA and a league leading 255 strikeouts. He is clearly deserving to follow both Skubal and Skenes as the #3 ranked starter in the game.
4. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, LAD – If the regular season results didn’t state his case strong enough for being considered one of the game’s best, the gem of a World Series did. In a Dodger’s rotation filled with immense talent, Yamamoto is their “ace”.
5. Hunter Brown, HOU – He built on the 2024 breakout campaign and in the process lowered his ERA to 2.43 while striking out 206. Hunter Brown virtually matched Yamamoto stat line for stat line, minus of course the World Series exploits. You say Brown, I say Yamamoto. We’re both right.
6. Cristopher Sanchez, PHI – After a great 2024, Sanchez upped the ante in ’25 reducing the hit and walk rates and watching his WHIP lowered from 1.24 to1.06. With age catching up to both Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, there’s a new #1 starter in Philly.
7. Logan Gilbert, SEA – The April 23 scare and subsequent seven weeks on the IL due to a mild flexor strain, had both the M’s and us Fantasy folk concerned…very concerned. Gilbert returned mid-June and a strong second half, including a 13-strikeout outing against the Athletics, should help to ease those concerns as we head into 2026.
8. Bryan Woo, SEA – Woo increased his workload from 121 1/3 innings in 2024 to 186 2/3 last year and produced a 2.94 ERA with 198 K’s and a scant 36 walks. That’s a recipe for success, and another “ace” in that deep and very talented Mariner’s rotation.
9. Max Fried, NYY – In the past six seasons, Fried has produced four sub-3 ERA seasons and the other two came in at 3.04 and 3.25. Last year he won 19 games. Toss in the fact that he has allowed only 27 homers in the past two seasons (369 2/3 IP) and you have a solid option to anchor your fantasy rotation.
10. Logan Webb, SFG – Over the past four years, Webb has tossed 192 1/3, 216, 204 2/3, and 207 innings. His highest ERA over that four-year period is 3.47. It doesn’t get much safer than that, does it?
11. Hunter Greene, CIN – There’s no debating the skills, but the health is a different story. A return to the 150 1/3 IP produced in 2024 would go a long way in alleviating those concerns.
12. Freddie Peralta, NYM – Peralta has now amassed three consecutive seasons with at least 200 strikeouts. He was also a little less hittable in 2025 and allowed five fewer home runs which helped in allowing him to post his first sub-3 ERA since 2021. Just an FYI. Peralta only managed 12 quality starts in the 33 games he started in 2025. Downshifting slightly on Peralta in Leagues using QS isn’t a bad plan.
13. Jacob deGrom, TEX – deGrom tossed 172 2/3 innings of 2.73 ERA baseball last year conjuring up memories of those great 2018/19 campaigns. Is there one more great year left in the tank as he heads into his age-38 season? I wouldn’t bet against it!
14. Eury Perez, MIA – 2026 will be the year where Eury Perez stays healthy and proves that all the hype was warranted.
15. Brandon Woodruff, MIL – A healthy Brandon Woodruff is an ace and one of the best pitchers in the game. Unfortunately, Woodruff lost all of 2024 to TJS, returned in 2025 and pitched well until being sidelined with a right lat strain that shut him down in mid-September. Both the Brewers and our Fantasy teams need to see 150 innings out of Woodruff this season.
16. Chris Sale, ATL – Sale is coming off a great 2025 with one small caveat. He was limited to only 125 2/3 IP. A very good 125 2/3 IP but still only 125 2/3 IP. As a #2 starter, I’m all-in but counting on a return to the glory days and 150+ innings heading into his age-37 season is likely a stretch.
17. Dylan Cease, TOR – We have now seen five consecutive years of 200+ strikeouts from Dylan Cease. We’ve also seen in those same five years an ERA with a range from a low of 2.20 to a high of 4.58. If you believe in trends, notably the every other good ERA year trend, 2026 will be closer to 2.20 than the 4.58 ERA.
18. Cole Ragans, KCR – There’s no doubting the stuff, it’s as good as it gets. What is missing is health and with only one season of his four besting the 100-inning mark, the risk is high.
19. Joe Ryan, MIN – On the surface everything looks great for Joe Ryan. Digging a bit deeper, some cracks begin to surface. His second half ERA last year was 4.67. In 2024, his second half ERA was 3.98 and he only made four starts. In 2023 he posted a second half 6.09 ERA in 11 starts. It would appear a trend has developed and one that won’t help your Fantasy aspirations down the stretch.
20. George Kirby, SEA – 3.39, 3.35, 3.55, and 4.21. One of these numbers is not like the others. Kirby missed the first seven weeks of the season with shoulder inflammation and struggled with his consistency off and on all year. He did finish strong, allowing but four earned runs and striking out 31 over his last three starts. A bounce back to his 2022-to-2024 form should be in order.
21. Pablo Lopez, MIN – A Grade 2 teres major strain and mild forearm strain limited Lopez to only 14 starts last year, albeit very good ones. His run of three consecutive 32 start seasons came to an end but don’t forget to include him and that solid strikeout potential in your 2026 plans for a #2 starter.
22. Kevin Gausman, TOR – 33, 31, 31, 31, 32 are the number of starts Gausman has made over the past five years. His highest ERA over that span occurred in 2024 and was 3.83. Toss in a 38.6% whiff rate on the sinker, his signature pitch, and that’s a lot to like in a #2 starter.
23. Shohei Ohtani, LAD – Shohei Ohtani is one-of-a kind and after 47 innings of 2.87 ERA to go along with 62 strikeouts he looks ready to resume his status as one of the best starters in the game. Just be very cognizant of the fact that the Dodgers are in it for the big prize and likely to be very careful with his workload (130 IP max), especially down the stretch.
24. Sandy Alcantara, MIA – Those last eight starts last season conjured up both old and very good memories. As much as we’d like to believe that TJS is a one-year rehab and you’re as good as new, that is not always the case. Alcantara’s status as the 45’th starter off the board and a weak #3/strong #4 starter seems a bit on the low side for my liking and is worthy of our attention.
25. Michael King, SDP – King was cruising along with a 2.59 ERA and 1.02 WHIP and then came May 18 and a nerve issue in his shoulder that kept him sidelined through to August 9, when knee inflammation caused him to miss another month. When he was on the hill the results were great, he simply wasn’t on the hill enough.
26. Nick Pivetta, SDP – The sabermetric darling finally delivered the goods, posting a 2.87 ERA and racking up the K’s to the tune of 190 in 181 2/3 IP. A career high in wins, strikeouts, IP, and ERA all contributed to this banner season. The Padres will need a repeat of this great effort if they are to secure a playoff berth.
27. Nolan McLean, NYM – McLean started his 2025 at Double-A, moved to Triple-A for 13 starts, and concluded his season with eight starts on the parent team. Along this journey he kept the walks down, strikeouts up, and looks poised to own a spot at the top-of-the-rotation in Flushing Meadows for years to come.
28. Framber Valdez, DET –The first half last year was vintage Framber Valdez. The second half and that 5.20 ERA…. not so much. The Tigers are betting on the first half results inking him to a 3-year $115 million deal. Only time will tell, but a 1-2 punch of Skubal and Valdez can carry the Tigers a long way.
29. Jacob Misiorowski, MIL – It was an up and down 2025 campaign for the 23-year-old righty but he finished strong with two great playoff efforts. It’s all about the control or lack thereof but the raw skills are as good as any young starter in the game. It’s time to bet on them coming to the fore.
30. Jesus Luzardo, PHI – Luzardo was tied for fourth in 2025 with 216 strikeouts. The walks have always been a concern and that likely won’t change moving forward. Take the wins, strikeouts, and hope the ERA holds fast under four.
31. Tatsuya Imai, HOU – The Astros newest addition is betting on himself and the opt-out clauses in his 3-year deal as interest wasn’t at the level many, including yours truly, assumed it would be. Four consecutive sub-3 ERA seasons with Seibu and better than a strikeout per inning should have our attention as should the huge drop in the free passes last year. If those walk rates stand the test of time, Imai will be using those opt-out clauses.
32. Nick Lodolo, CIN – Lodolo upped the workload from115 1/3 IP to 156 2/3 IP while producing a very solid 3.33 ERA with a strikeout per inning. The big difference in his breakout campaign was limiting the walks to only 31, a massive improvement. If sustained, Lodolo could be on the cusp of taking that next step and a top 20 ranking.
33. Emmet Sheehan, LAD – Last year in 12 starts Sheehan struck out 89 in 73 1/3 IP while posting a stellar 2.82 ERA and .97 WHIP. He looks fully recovered from the TJS that derailed his 2024 season. 150 innings of this caliber of play will go a long way in helping the Dodgers make it back-to-back-to-back.
34. Kyle Bradish, BAL – Kyle Bradish looks ready to return to the stellar form demonstrated in 2023 prior to undergoing TJS. In six starts at the end of 2025, he looked sharp posting a 2.53 ERA while striking out 47 in 32 IP. A #3 starter that has the potential to return #2 value has to generate interest.
35. Luis Castillo, SEA – Luis Castillo has been in the League nine years and has only failed to reach 30 or more starts in three seasons, two of which were the Covid season and his rookie year. He won’t have the highest strikeout totals or lowest ERA but he’s as safe a bet as any to deliver above average results and handle a full workload as a #3 starter.
36. Spencer Strider, ATL –
37. Cam Schlittler, NYY –
38. Robbie Ray, SFG –
39. Tyler Glasnow, LAD –
40. Chase Burns, CIN –
41. Tanner Bibee, CLE –
42. Ryan Pepiot, TBR –
43. Sonny Gray, BOS –
44. Bubba Chandler, PIT –
45. Drew Rasmussen, TBR –
46. Andrew Abbott, CIN –
47. Blake Snell, LAD –
48. Cade Horton, CHC –
49. Ranger Suarez, BOS –
50. Shota Imanaga, CHC –
51. Zack Wheeler, PHI –
52. Luis Gil, NYY –
53. Gavin Williams, CLE –
54. Nathan Eovaldi, TEX –
55. MacKenzie Gore, TEX –
56. Carlos Rodon, NYY –
57. Edward Cabrera, CHC –
58. Casey Mize, DET –
59. Matthew Boyd, CHC –
60. Kric Bubic, KCR –
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