Top 60 Starting Pitchers for the 2026 Fantasy Baseball Season

• Age in 2026: 29
• 2025 Stats: 13-6, 31 GS, 195.1 IP, 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 11.10 K/9, 1.52 BB/9

The Cy Young winner somehow managed to top his 2024 production, with a tick up in his strikeout rate and decreases in his walk rate, ERA, and FIP.

I didn’t think he could repeat his amazing 2024 season, let alone beat it. Skubal has posted four straight seasons with a sub-3.00 FIP, and in a contract year, we might be in for the best season yet.

• Age in 2026: 24
• 2025 Stats: 10-10, 32 GS, 187.2 IP, 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 10.36 K/9, 2.01 BB/9

A pitcher drafted in the first round needs to produce like a Cy Young winner in order to return value. Paul Skenes, last year’s NL Cy Young at the age of 23, is as good of a bet as any to do so.

The Pirates have made a few moves to improve their lineup, which hopefully will allow their ace to earn more than 10 wins in 2026.

• Age in 2026: 27
• 2025 Stats: 18-5, 32 GS, 205.1 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 11.18 K/9, 2.02 BB/9

Garrett Crochett’s first season in Boston was memorable. Over 200 innings with a 2.59 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and 11 K/9. Elite command paired with three different pitches that produced a whiff rate over 30% is a combination everyone could use.

Questions about health in year two of starting were answered, with authority. I think Boston will even get him a few more wins this season.

• Age in 2026: 27
• 2025 Stats: 12-8, 30 GS, 173.2 IP, 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 10.42 K/9, 3.06 BB/9

What makes Yoshinobu Yamamoto so dangerous is the amount of ways he can get you out.

A true six-pitch mix that produced nearly a 30% whiff rate that can rack up strikeouts. If he doesn’t have his best stuff he’s not afraid to go splitter heavy, get groundballs, and limit damage. A fantastic pitcher on the most talented team is always a fantasy cheap code.

• Age in 2026: 27
• 2025 Stats: 12-9, 31 GS, 185.1 IP, 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 10.00 K/9, 2.77 BB/9

The keys have been handed to Hunter Brown to finally claim the ace title in Houston, and rightfully so. The righty has improved each year since his 2022 debut, and his improved command last season leads me to believe another step forward is possible. You can count on 175+ strikeouts and 30 starts as a baseline, with the sky as the limit.

• Age in 2026: 29
• 2025 Stats: 13-5, 32 GS, 202 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 9.45 K/9, 1.96 BB/9

Cristopher Sanchez threw 202 innings with a 2.50 ERA last season for a good Phillies team. He doesn’t throw quite as hard as most of the other starters ranked this highly (95.4-mph fastball velocity), but he gets ground balls at an elite rate (58.5%). His 20.8% K-BB% from 2025 reflects strongly on his ability to repeat as a top pitcher again in 2026.

• Age in 2026: 29
• 2025 Stats: 6-6, 25 GS, 131 IP, 3.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 11.89 K/9, 2.13 BB/9

Logan Gilbert has been a workhorse ace for Seattle and I think 2025 was the best he has looked. For the first time we saw a K/9 breach 11 while the command was still in check.

You can book him for a a sub 3.75 ERA and hopefully he gets back to around 200 innings. Another example of a consistent pitcher that you need to stack on your team.

• Age in 2026: 29
• 2025 Stats: 15-11, 34 GS, 207 IP, 3.22 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.74 K/9, 2.00 BB/9

Logan Webb has led the National League in innings pitched for three straight seasons and has never had an ERA above 3.50 in any of those years.

His strikeout rate took a big jump to 26.2%, which is why you’ll find Webb ranked higher than ever before. You’ll have to pay a hefty price for his durability now.

• Age in 2026: 38
• 2025 Stats: 12-8, 30 GS, 172.2 IP, 2.97 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 9.64 K/9, 1.93 BB/9

Jacob deGrom finally had a healthy season and it resulted in a 2.97 ERA, 3.64 FIP, and 9.64 K/9. You know the player and ability.

The stuff might not be as elite as it once was but the command still is. I’m not sure how many more years deGrom will be pitching, but after what we saw last year I think 2026 is a safe bet to draft him relatively high.

• Age in 2026: 28
• 2025 Stats: 3-3, 13 GS, 61.2 IP, 4.67 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 14.30 K/9, 2.92 BB/9

Cole Ragans made just 13 starts last season, primarily due to a rotator cuff strain. When he was healthy, he was missing bats an an elite level – as his 38.1% K-rate indicates.

Ragans was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2024 and the only drawback is that he may have a slight innings restriction.

• Age in 2026: 37
• 2025 Stats: 7-5, 20 GS, 125.2 IP, 2.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 11.82 K/9, 2.29 BB/9

On a per-inning basis, Chris Sale is still one of the best pitchers in baseball. At age-37, given his injury history, he feels like one of the riskier options to take as a SP1. However, all starting pitchers are an injury risk in 2026 and there’s only so far that a player of his talent level can fall.

• Age in 2026: 26
• 2025 Stats: 15-7, 30 GS, 186.2 IP, 2.94 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 9.55 K/9, 1.74 BB/9

Bryan Woo started 30 games for the first time in his career and continued to develop and make progress. His K/9 jumped back up over 9 K/9 while the ERA, for a second straight year, was under 3.00. Considering how much he has continued to improve and now that he’s entering his prime, we expect Woo to once again be a fixture near the top of Seattle’s rotation.

• Age in 2026: 32
• 2025 Stats: 19-5, 32 GS, 195.1 IP, 2.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8.71 K/9, 2.35 BB/9

Max Fried had a successful first season in the Bronx, tossing nearly 200 innings at a sub-three ERA with 19 wins. He’d be a weak SP1 on a fantasy squad due to a lower strikeout percentage, but a safe, solid SP2 – especially if you end up with an older SP1 like deGrom or Sale.

• Age in 2026: 30
• 2025 Stats: 13-10, 30 GS, 171 IP, 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 10.21 K/9, 2.05 BB/9

Other than the team that he’s on, there’s few things to not like about Joe Ryan. He’s going to get you strikeouts, limit walks, and pitch to around a 3.50 ERA. The issue? Wins might not be often and he will not rack up the innings that push guys higher on the list.

Still, a great value that you won’t regret.

• Age in 2026: 30
• 2025 Stats: 17-6, 33 GS, 176.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 10.39 K/9, 3.36 BB/9

Last season, Freddy Peralta had the best year of his career. His 19.1% K-BB% was stellar and pitching a career-high 176.2 innings made him a huge value towards the back-end of the top-100 in drafts. He’ll be a free agent after this season and will hope to capitalize on this momentum.

• Age in 2026: 28
• 2025 Stats: 10-8, 23 GS, 126 IP, 4.21 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 9.79 K/9, 2.07 BB/9

George Kirby, the command artist, posted a career high 29 walks last season in a career low 126 innings. But, his strikeout rate went up to nearly 10 K/9.

If walking a couple more batters helps his strikeout rate this is a rare case were we are perfectly fine with it. He still produces enough groundballs to limit damage. Don’t let to 4.21 ERA distract you from his 3.37 FIP. Kirby is still a very good option in this range.

• Age in 2026: 30
• 2025 Stats: 8-12, 32 GS, 168 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 11.52 K/9, 3.80 BB/9

His 4.55 ERA last season was frustrating, but Dylan Cease was a four-win pitcher in 2024 and was worth six wins in 2022 (per fWAR). His 29.8% strikeout rate was elite, while his lack of command is what can cause fluctuations in his performance from year-to-year. The good can be great with Cease, which is why it will be difficult to let him fall too far out of the top 50.

• Age in 2026: 26
• 2025 Stats: 7-4, 19 GS, 107.2 IP, 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.03 K/9, 2.17 BB/9

Hunter Greene established that he’s a pitcher, not a thrower, in 2025. His command on his fastball was by far the best we have seen it which only helped him produce more strikeouts while also keeping his ERA under 3.00 for a second straight season. He’d be much higher on this list if not for the injury concerns than come up each year.

• Age in 2026: 33
• 2025 Stats: 5-4, 11 GS, 61.1 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 10.57 K/9, 3.82 BB/9

It doesn’t matter that Blake Snell has shaky command, he dominates anyways. The risk associated with drafting Snell is that he’s only thrown 130 innings in the regular season once in the 2020s. He will produce like an ace, but will also probably land on the injured list at some point.

• Age in 2026: 30
• 2025 Stats: 5-4, 32 GS, 75.2 IP, 2.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 8.68 K/9, 2.38 BB/9

You would love for Pablo Lopez to be on a better team to boost his win totals, but the Twins have a great shot anytime he is on the mound. The production has never been a question with Lopez, but his health does keep him from being higher on this list.

We think he’s well worth the selection here and could turn out to be a great value, especially if he is moved at any point this year.

• Age in 2026: 32
• 2025 Stats: 13-11, 31 GS, 192 IP, 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 8.77 K/9, 3.19 BB/9

Framber Valdez isn’t a fantasy ace, though he’s been a dependable SP2 or SP3 for years. He’s racked up innings, gotten wins, and given fantasy managers solid ratios.

His fastball velocity and whiff rate are both about league average, so there’s a lower ceiling than the other pitchers in this area. You’re drafting Valdez for his past dependable production.

• Age in 2026: 27
• 2025 Stats: 7-14, 32 GS, 125.1 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 9.41 K/9, 3.66 BB/9

The Spencer Strider we saw last season – 4.45 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 9.41 K/9 – is much different than the pitcher we saw in previous years. It is difficult to rank these players who have come back from injury, but not quite fully back. You know the massive upside, but the risk has to be considered as well.

• Age in 2026: 26
• 2025 Stats: 7-4, 17 GS, 110.2 IP, 3.09 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 8.78 K/9, 1.46 BB/9

The fractured elbow that prematurely ended Spencer Schwellenbach’s 2025 season was a major bummer. He was cruising to a three ERA in over 100 innings with an outstanding 4.1% walk rate. Had he made it through an entire season healthy, he’d likely be drafted a couple of rounds higher. He’s a risk, but one that could pay off handsomely.

• Age in 2026: 28
• 2025 Stats: 15-7, 32 GS, 183.2 IP, 3.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.58 K/9, 2.79 BB/9

Jesus Luzardo was much better than his numbers indicate. A 3.92 ERA and 2.90 FIP are still great, but two starts, back -to-back, made those already good numbers much worse.

He was on another level most of the year but will need to show that’s his standard going forward. Injuries and cold streaks have been an issue in the past which makes him lower than some might have him.

• Age in 2026: 33
• 2025 Stats: 13-5, 31 GS, 181.2 IP, 2.87 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 9.41 K/9, 2.48 BB/9

A 2.97 ERA and 3.49 FIP are numbers you should feel comfortable drafting in the top 100. Nick Pivetta did have a much lower home run to fly ball rate than career numbers would suggest, while the expected numbers give us hesitation from reaching for him higher in the draft. Willing to see if San Diego truly unlocked something in this range, however.

• Age in 2026: 29
• 2025 Stats: 1-1, 6 GS, 32 IP, 2.53 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 13.22 K/9, 2.81 BB/9

Kyle Bradish has only thrown 71.1 innings since the end of the 2023 season, due to a torn UCL in June of 2024. When he’s been on the bump, he’s looked great. Bradish’s 37.3% strikeout rate in 32 innings upon his return last season was stellar. You may not be drafting a workhorse in Bradish, but he’s a talented arm leading the staff of a team with a strong offense.

• Age in 2026: 23
• 2025 Stats: 7-6, 20 GS, 95.1 IP, 4.25 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 9.91 K/9, 3.02 BB/9

We are dipping into the range where consistency starts to become less common and upside chases are welcomed. Eury Perez has been a great pitcher when he’s been healthy. He comes with plus stuff and an ability to rack up strikeouts, but his command can lead to some loud contact. One of our favorite young pitchers to follow this season.

• Age in 2026: 24
• 2025 Stats: 8 GS, 48 IP, 2.06 ERA,1.04 WHIP, 10.69 K/9, 3.00 BB/9
• *Just Baseball’s Top 100 Ranking: No. 3

Every year, a few relatively young and inexperienced arms assert themselves as worthy of top-20 SP consideration going forward. Nolan McLean, who threw just 48 innings in the majors last season, looks like a favorite to make that jump. McLean possesses a gross six-pitch arsenal, where each pitch was rated as above average by Stuff+.

• Age in 2026: 36
• 2025 Stats: 14-8, 32 GS, 180.2 IP, 4.28 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 10.01 K/9, 1.89 BB/9

Sonny Gray moving to Boston gives him a little bit of a boost. As he’s aged he’s adapted by throwing his fastball less and using his pitch mix to keep hitters off balance.

His 4.28 ERA last season does not tell the full story and we believe the work Boston has done with pitchers recently gives Gray a great chance to maximize his value.

• Age in 2026: 32
• 2025 Stats: 4-3, 18 GS, 90.1 IP, 3.19 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 10.56 K/9, 4.28 BB/9

Tyler Glasnow can be a frustrating pitcher to own because when he’s healthy, he’s legitimately dominant. The issue is drafting him is that he seems to find a way to get injured and miss time just about every year. If you could guarantee Glasnow 180 innings, he’d be a top-50 overall pick. However, his career-best in innings over ten years is just 134.

• Age in 2026: 24
• 2025 Stats: 5-3, 25 GS, 66 IP, 4.36 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 11.86 K/9, 4.23 BB/9

Jacob Misiorowski getting an All-Star bid made a lot of people hyperfocus on his flaws. Yes, a rookie pitcher walked too many batters. He also struck out 32% of hitters, which is not something that simply grows on trees.

We trust the Brewers pitching department and know Misiorowski has the stuff to become a front line guy. A great upside play in this range.

• Age in 2026: 23
• 2025 Stats: 0-3, 13 G, 8 GS, 43.1 IP, 4.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 13.92 K/9, 3.32 BB/9

Chase Burns throws ched. He may not always be able to control it, but if Burns can maintain the 27.1% K-BB% he posted last season in 43.1 innings, he may not need to. In all seriousness, there are reasonable concerns about his command – but Burns is so talented that I don’t see how he could fall much farther than this.

• Age in 2026: 35
• 2025 Stats: 10-11, 32 GS, 193 IP, 3.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 8.81 K/9, 2.33 BB/9

Kevin Gausman doesn’t have ace-upside at 35, but he’s been as steady as they come over the past few years. Gausman has pitched at least 174 innings in each of the past five seasons, posting a sub-four ERA in all of those campaigns. After throwing over 230 innings last season (including playoffs), hopefully Gausman recovers this offseason and continues to be his usual, durable self.

• Age in 2026: 33
• 2025 Stats: 7-2, 12 GS, 64.2 IP, 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 11.55 K/9, 1.95 BB/9

Ranking players who came off injury and provided a small sample size is always difficult. It becomes less difficult when they have a career 3.10 ERA and 3.19 FIP across 745 innings.

Brandon Woodruff returned last season and looked magnificent. An 11.55 K/9 paired with elite command led to a 3.20 ERA and 3.17 FIP across 64.2 innings. Injury will keep him from breaking into the top 100 but we think he’s a steal in this range.

• Age in 2026: 33
• 2025 Stats: 18-9, 33 GS, 195.1 IP, 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 9.35 K/9, 3.36 BB/9

Carlos Rodon is a good pitcher on a good team who is good at getting strikeouts. There’s a lot to like. It’s surprising that he’s ranked so low by other outlets. He seems like a safe bet to be a valuable SP if he’s able to remain healthy, which he has for the past two seasons.

Age in 2026: 22

2025 Stats: 1-0, 3 GS, 14 IP, 3.31 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 10.29 K/9, 4.50 BB/9

*Just Baseball’s Top 100 Ranking: No. 6

Trey Yesavage was one of the better stories in all of baseball last season. The quick riser made a total of eight starts in a Blue Jays uniform but left an impression.

A unique delivery with funky stuff led to a 3.21 ERA and 2.35 FIP in the regular season and 3.58 ERA in the playoffs. Walks are likely to be an issue, but the stuff is too good to wait much longer in your draft.

• Age in 2026: 31
• 2025 Stats: 5-3, 15 GS, 73.1 IP, 3.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 9.33 K/9, 3.19 BB/9
  

The transition to a starter has worked well for Michael King, although he was limited to only 15 starts last season. His 2024 season was a 2.95 ERA with a 3.33 FIP with over 200 innings while 2025 was not quite as successful, likely due to injury. He’ll need to bounce back, but we think there’s a solid enough baseline with upside that feels somewhat safe.

• Age in 2026: 34
• 2025 Stats: 11-8, 32 GS, 182.1 IP, 3.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 9.18 K/9, 3.60 BB/9
  

Robbie Ray can be a wild card to have on your fantasy team. Injuries, blow up starts, and 12 K outings are not uncommon. Last season was a major statement returning after missing nearly two full seasons and throwing 182.1 innings at a 3.65 ERA, 3.93 FIP.

I doubt we get the same level of swing and miss as he continues to age but a proven vet as your third or fourth starter on your team is still good value.

• Age in 2026: 25
• 2025 Stats: 4-3, 14 GS, 73 IP, 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.36 K/9, 3.82 BB/9
  

Cam Schlittler showed a ton of promise across his first 14 major league starts pitching to a 2.95 ERA and 3.74 FIP. Every pitch outside of his sweeper (the least used) resulted in a 20% or higher whiff rate while his 98 mph fastball led the way at 27.9%.

The strikeout stuff is there, but we expect some growing pains along the way. Still, a pitcher that we see as a great upside play if you have gone the safe route so far in your draft.

• Age in 2026: 36
• 2025 Stats: 11-3, 22 GS, 130 IP, 1.73 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 8.93 K/9, 1.45 BB/9
  

Nathan Eovaldi hasn’t posted an ERA over 4.00 since 2019. Last season he was limited to only 22 starts but pitched to a 1.73 ERA and 2.80 FIP while looking elite in every aspect.

Age and injury does change his value, but it hard to ignore how great he has been. Even if you expect to only get 20 or so starts out of him, it’s worth it at this part of the draft.

• Age in 2026: 26
• 2025 Stats: 6-3, 12 GS, 73.1 IP, 2.82 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10.92 K/9, 2.70 BB/9
  

Emmet Sheehan did not have a large sample in 2025 but did impress pitching to a 2.82 ERA and 2.93 FIP. A lethal slider and change up paired with a 96 mph fastball gives him the upside of a frontline starter. After missing 2024 and pitching less than 100 innings last season this selection comes with some workload concerns which is why he’s ultimately not higher.

• Age in 2026: 26
• 2025 Stats: 12-5, 31 GS, 167.2 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 9.29 K/9, 4.46 BB/9
  

Gavin Williams is a hard-thrower that’s been held back by command issues. He made it through 167.2 innings with a 24.6% strikeout rate, so there’s potential for good upside with proven durability. The Guardians have had a knack for developing good pitching in the past.

• Age in 2026: 31
• 2025 Stats: 4-2, 7 GS, 40.1 IP, 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 8.26 K/9, 1.56 BB/9
  

Shane Bieber has only pitched 52.1 innings over the past two seasons, but he has excellent command and is still just 30 years of age. The 2020 Cy Young winner will be pitching for a good Blue Jays team, so there’s potential for wins and good ratios here.

• Age in 2026: 28
• 2025 Stats: 11-12, 31 GS, 167.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 8.96 K/9, 3.27 BB/9
  

Ryan Pepiot made it through pitching at a minor league park as his home stadium with a sub-4 ERA, and is headed back to the Trop for 2026. His 15.6 K-BB% was alright, though he didn’t flash ace-upside. Pepiot feels like a high-floor pick in the middle stages of a draft.

• Age in 2026: 28
• 2025 Stats: 9-8, 33 GS, 156.2 IP, 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 8.96 K/9, 1.78 BB/9
  

Nick Lodolo was an effective arm last season. He was elite at getting batters to chase out of the zone, but also elite at limiting walks. It’s clear that hitters have trouble picking up his offerings and he’s going to be able to get outs as long as he stays on the mound.

• Age in 2026: 33
• 2025 Stats: 11-8, 32 GS, 180.2 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 8.07 K/9, 2.29 BB/9
  

Luis Castillo maintains fantasy relevance with his durability and command. His strikeout rate has steadily declined and he’s allowed more hard contact, but he maintained a mid-three ERA last season. He could be picked to stabilize a fantasy staff that took chances or riskier arms earlier.

• Age in 2026: 36
• 2025 Stats: 10-5, 24 GS, 149.2 IP, 2.71 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.73 K/9, 1.98 BB/9
  

We aren’t exactly sure what Zack Wheeler’s injury will mean to his 2026 value. In fact, we would not be surprised to see him selected much higher, but due to the injury we couldn’t quite rank him where he might deserve. Simply put – he’s one of the most productive pitchers in recent memory but we just do not know how many innings you’ll get.

• Age in 2026: 27
• 2025 Stats: 12-11, 31 GS, 182.1 IP, 4.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8.00 K/9, 2.67 BB/9
  

We believe in Tanner Bibee being a productive starter and useful player, but the drop in his whiff rate and strikeout percentage is concerning. His four-seamer got hit around last season, but he started throwing it less, introducing the sinker at a higher rate. He’ll have to find a pitch mix that works for him, but the talent is there, and Cleveland has a great track record with pitchers.

• Age in 2026: 30
• 2025 Stats: 11-12, 31 GS, 174.2 IP, 5.36 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 7.32 K/9, 2.94 BB/9
  

Sandy Alcantara’s first season back from Tommy John surgery did not go as planned. He still could run the fastball up to 97 mph, but his 5.36 ERA and 19.1% strikeout rate were poor.

There’s an opportunity for Alcantara to be a nice discount here if he’s able to rekindle some of his magic from 2022.

• Age in 2026: 30
• 2025 Stats: 12-8, 26 GS, 157.1 IP, 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.64 K/9, 2.17 BB/9
  

Ranger Suarez throws 90 and doesn’t miss many bats, but he has built up a resume that’s becoming hard to ignore. Suarez has great command and excels at limiting hard contact. Last season definitely feels like it was the career year, though he’s still in a good situation to get wins with Boston.

• Age in 2026: 28
• 2025 Stats: 9-3, 18 GS, 109.2 IP, 1.81 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 8.45 K/9, 2.38 BB/9
  

Trevor Rogers went from a decent middle to back end option to putting up a 1.81 ERA and 2.82 FIP once he put on an O’s jersey. He cut his home run to fly ball rate in half and showed better command. We are hesitant to react too strongly to 2025 as we’d like to see a bigger sample before treating Rogers like an ace. But, at this point in the draft, he’s worth the selection.

• Age in 2026: 24
• 2025 Stats: 11-4, 22 GS, 118 IP, 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 7.40 K/9, 2.52 BB/9
  

The Cubs’ rookie impressed with a 2.67 ERA and 3.58 FIP across 22 starts last season. He has the stuff and minor league track record to see his strikeouts rise from the 7.40 K/9 number that he put up last season. An upside play at this point in the draft is never a bad move, especially if the rest of your rotation has veterans you are comfortable with.

• Age in 2026: 27
• 2025 Stats: 5-15, 30 GS, 159.2 IP, 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 10.43 K/9, 3.61 BB/9
  

MacKenzie Gore has looked dominant for stretches in his brief career, but struggles to put it together over the course of a full season.

At the All-Star break, Gore was pitching to a 3.02 ERA in 110.1 IP with a 138:35 K:BB. In the four starts that followed, Gore surrendered 23 earned runs in 15.1 IP, walking 11 and striking out 10. There’s potential for upside here, but the command needs to improve.

• Age in 2026: 28
• 2025 Stats: 8-7, 26 GS, 137.2 IP, 3.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 9.81 K/9, 3.14 BB/9
  

Edward Cabrera had a nice breakout season in 2025 and is moving to a better situation for wins with his trade to the Cubs. Cabrera can dial it up to 97 and strikes out a good amount of batters, despite being a change-up-heavy pitcher.

He threw a career-high 137.2 big-league innings last season, but his sprained UCL that kept him out at the end of the season is cause for some concern.

• Age in 2026: 23
• 2025 Stats: 4-1, 4 GS, 31.1 IP, 4.02 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 8.90 K/9, 1.15 BB/9
• *Just Baseball’s Top 100 Ranking: No. 11

Bubba Chandler was minted as the top pitching prospect in baseball during the 2025 season by many last year, and the early showings didn’t disappoint.

Though he spent some outings pitching in long relief, Chandler could run his fastball up to 99 mph and posted a strong 21.8% K-BB%. He could end up being as good as Misiorowski, Burns, or McLean.

• Age in 2026: 30
• 2025 Stats: 10-5, 31 GS, 150 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 7.62 K/9, 2.22 BB/9
  

After injuries took most of the two seasons prior, Rasmussen returned to the Rays rotation looking just like he did before the injury.

A 2.76 ERA and 3.84 FIP are great numbers, but he doesn’t produce a lot of strikeouts and hasn’t pitched more than 150 innings in his career. If not for those reasons, he’d be much higher.

• Age in 2026: 24
• 2025 Stats: 1-1, 8 GS, 36.1 IP, 4.46 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 6.94 K/9, 5.45 BB/9
  

Roki Sasaki’s highly anticipated rookie season ended up being a disappointment, but he showed flashes of the kind of arm he could be while functioning as the Dodgers’ closer in the playoffs last year. Sasaki throws hard and has a lot of great mentors in that Dodger clubhouse, so he could bounce back in a big way as a starter this season.

• Age in 2026: 32
• 2025 Stats: 9-8, 25 GS, 144.2 IP, 3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 7.28 K/9, 1.62 BB/9
  

Shota Imanaga is the definition of a crafty lefty. He throws at a low velocity, can mix in a few off-speed offerings, and has a deceptive pitching motion. His 2024 season was much better, and the decline we saw in 2025 is alarming, but we aren’t sure if it was a down year or a trend.

There’s not a very high ceiling here, but a decent floor for wins, WHIP, and innings pitched. The Cubs are going to be good enough to give him some wins, which should help you in most leagues.

• Age in 2026: 30
• 2025 Stats: 13-15, 33 GS, 192 IP, 4.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 8.20 K/9, 3.09 BB/9
  

Last season was pretty brutal for Zac Gallen. A career-worst 4.83 ERA and 4.50 FIP to go with an 8.20 K/9. The good news? He’s a workhorse who has made 28 or more starts for four straight seasons.

We think the track record is too good to think 2025 is step one of a true decline, but it bumped him down nonetheless.

• Age in 2026: 28
• 2025 Stats: 8-7, 20 GS, 116.1 IP, 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 8.97 K/9, 3.02 BB/9
  

Kris Bubic was dealing last season before a rotator cuff strain ended his season in July. He was great at getting chase on pitches out of the zone and struck out the opposition at an above-average rate despite his below average fastball velocity. If he can continue to build off of what we saw last season, this could be a bargain.