Welcome back to our Expected SP Schedules series!
Every single Tuesday, the Expected SP Schedules article will provide you with what you need to know regarding each starting pitcher’s upcoming matchups over the upcoming weeks. Who has a two-start week? Who is facing a few favorable lineups in a row with the opportunity to get into a real groove? Who can we safely ignore for the foreseeable future due to an upcoming gauntlet? This column will aim to get you the answers you need for those questions, and more.
Before we get into it, remember the glossary for this article:
- (OFF) means the team has an off-day before they play that team.
- (DH) indicates a doubleheader that day.
- ??? represents an unclear rotational spot, and the notes will explain the options. Given that the season just got underway, most rotations are currently pretty set, though there is some shuffling that will be done over the next few weeks when several frontline starters return from injury.
And finally, we have our PLV-based offensive rankings, which incorporate our Process+ metric to project future offensive performance. These rankings, which are in alphabetical order by tier and were last updated on April 20, will continue to be updated regularly to reflect the offensive skills that teams are projected to achieve in the coming weeks, based on PitcherList’s internal PLV metrics.
AL East
Orioles’ Expected Starters
The Baltimore rotation has been scuffling of late, with Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt each getting the ball twice this week, but neither is currently pitching well enough to recommend in either one of their respective tough starts. Trevor Rogers has also come back down to earth recently after opening the year looking like an ace, and Kyle Bradish has yet to show any flashes of the ace he was expected to be. Both pitchers get a tough matchup in Yankee Stadium this week before a bit of a reprieve at Miami next week.
Ranger Suarez highlights a two-start week for Boston here, and will look to use a decent matchup at a cold Toronto lineup to establish some rhythm before a tougher end of the week home matchup against Houston takes place. Suarez has been inconsistent through the first month of the season, having thrown eight scoreless innings against Detroit on April 17, for example, before proceeding to give up four runs in only four and two-thirds innings in his latest outing against the Yankees. Payton Tolle, the recipient of only one start this week, will have many eyes on that start to see how he follows up on his spectacular season debut last week. Also, look for Connelly Early to keep rolling in a tough but manageable matchup against Houston this week before a very favorable matchup next week against the Rays.
The Yankees get two-start weeks out of both their aces here, with Max Fried and Cam Schlittler each taking on Texas on the road before heading home to face Baltimore. The Texas lineup is a great matchup for both pitchers, while the Baltimore game is a bit tougher, albeit still a plenty manageable test for both. It should be noted here that New York sent Luis Gil back down to the minors after his latest start; this may mean they may temporarily go back to the four-man rotation they started the season with, considering they do have an off day this week. Next week will likely necessitate a fifth starter, though, and they could use Ryan Yarbrough as a stopgap before the anticipated returns of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón; Yarbrough would not be worth the stream, however.
Steven Matz is the lone Ray to see a two-start week here, but has lost most of his early-season shine now after a couple of underwhelming starts. His strikeout upside is likely too limited to be worth a start in either instance.
Blue Jays’ Expected Starters
Toronto gets a pair of exciting two-start weeks here, one from their ace Dylan Cease, who is rolling, and the other from their budding ace Trey Yesavage, who has yet to make his 2026 season debut after beginning the year on the IL. The two right-handers both get decent matchups at home against a pretty cold Boston lineup, before traveling to take on a mediocre lineup in Minnesota. Tread with a bit of caution in that first start for Yesavage, as we do for any pitcher coming off the IL, but start him with confidence in that second start against the Twins.
AL Central
The one name of note here for Chicago is Noah Schultz, who has been impressive since a shaky debut. The 6’10” 22-year-old southpaw takes a 1.11 WHIP into a tough test at San Diego this week, followed by a relatively easier matchup at the Angels next week.
Parker Messick takes his dazzling 1.76 ERA and 0.88 WHIP into a two-start week that includes an enticing home matchup against the Rays before a more difficult test at the hitter-friendly confines of Sacramento. He’s been pitching too well to bench in that second tough matchup, and it will be interesting to see how he navigates that challenge.
Casey Mize has quietly been stringing together good start after good start, and takes his 2.51 ERA and 1.15 WHIP into a tough matchup at Atlanta before getting a bit of a reprieve at home against Texas. You may want to give him a rest in that Atlanta start, but start Mize with confidence against Texas. This week will also likely see Keider Montero take his last turn in the rotation before Justin Verlander returns, but neither Montero nor Verlander is worth a start in the upcoming weeks.
Kris Bubic’s 1.12 WHIP is much more indicative of the quality of pitcher that he is than his 4.08 ERA, and he will look to lower the latter in a two-start week that involves the ultimate split: a trip to the extremely hitter-friendly park at Sacramento, followed by one of the more pitcher-friendly parks in the league at Seattle. Certainly start Bubic in both instances, despite the tough first matchup.
Connor Prielipp is an exciting young arm for Minnesota who will get a chance to put his name out there this week with two starts in decent matchups. Though the matchup against Seattle is a bit tougher, Prielipp should be able to navigate that Mariners lineup before a much more cushy matchup against Toronto. The left-hander has a solid fastball/slider combination that shows the signs of an enticing foundation. It’d be wise to grab Prielipp now, prior to his potential ensuing rise.
AL West
Astros’ Expected Starters
A bit in shambles at the moment due to injuries, the Houston rotation will turn to Kai-Wei Teng for a two-start week here, and it is not advisable to start Teng in either one. Spencer Arrighetti, on the other hand, can be started at Fenway in a decent matchup against the Red Sox. Arrighetti has been great since being called up from an early-season stint in the minors.
Many folks were hoping that Walbert Ureña was about to become the next big breakout name to seemingly come from nowhere after racking up eight strikeouts in six innings in his first start of the year, but his second start recently saw things come crashing back down to reality (3.2 IP and 4 ER). Ureña is likely somewhere in between those two outcomes, and could make an interesting stream play against a struggling Mets team. Just don’t expect the eight strikeouts again.
The Athletics‘ staff can all currently be passed on, especially considering their games all come at home this week.
Luis Castillo, unfortunately, is not pitching well enough to be trusted in either of his two starts this week, while on the other hand, Emerson Hancock will look to keep his 2.86 ERA and 0.98 WHIP down in a good home matchup against the Royals.
Jack Leiter is still looking to establish some consistency and will not get an easy job of it this week with two tough starts — one at home against the Yankees, followed by a trip to Detroit. Leiter is becoming a tough pitcher to roster as he has not been quite good enough to trust in these kinds of matchups, and yet still shows flashes at times. The upcoming schedule does not inspire much confidence in him finding his groove any time soon, however.
With Reynaldo López heading to the bullpen, the Atlanta rotation now has an open spot. Martín Pérez is likely to get his last turn in the rotation in a skippable start against Detroit this week. The following day sees his likely replacement, as JR Ritchie looks to follow up on his exciting debut. The 22-year-old struck out seven over seven impressive innings against Washington last week and will next take on a solid Tigers lineup in an intriguing matchup. Also note the anticipated return of Spencer Strider, which unfortunately is scheduled to come at Coors Field, followed by a trip to the Dodgers.
Needless to say, none of the Miami starters should be trusted in the series at the Dodgers, and that includes Sandy Alcantara.
Clay Holmes has surprisingly been one of the more consistent Mets starters through the first month of play, and he will take his 2.10 ERA and 1.03 ERA into a two-start week here that involves a mediocre home matchup against Washington, followed by a solid matchup at the Angels. Nolan McLean looks to keep his ace-level play rolling and should have little resistance in doing so in his matchup at the Angels.
Jesús Luzardo will need to start showing vastly greater consistency to justify the five-year, $135 million extension that Philadelphia shelled out for him this past offseason, and the southpaw gets two good matchups this week against San Francisco and at Miami. With a home matchup against the Rockies after that, Phillies fans will really start to lose their patience with Luzardo if he can’t get right during this favorable stretch. Ace Cristopher Sánchez has been giving up quite a lot more hits than he is used to, and he takes an inflated 1.60 WHIP into those same two aforementioned matchups in a two-start week himself. Also, look for Zack Wheeler to build on his season debut with a favorable matchup at Miami.
Cade Cavalli continues to confuse those of us trying to figure him out. After a run of starts that looked like we could forget about him for fantasy purposes, he goes and delivers a ten-strikeout performance against a very good Atlanta club. Feel free to give him a try against a much weaker Mets team in his start this week. Foster Griffin, meanwhile, does not have the overpowering arsenal one usually wants to invest in, but his 2.67 ERA and 1.07 WHIP are worth a grab if he is still on waivers in your league. The Milwaukee start isn’t as hard as it would be if the Brewers were healthy, and then Griffin gets a much more favorable trip to Miami next week.
Matthew Boyd is still trying to reestablish a rhythm after an early-season IL trip and will look to bridge the gap between his 5.79 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in a two-start week that involves a tough trip to San Diego before a relatively easier home matchup against Arizona. Those rostering Boyd may want to consider giving him a rest on the bench for that San Diego trip before sending him out there against the Diamondbacks.
Chase Burns has arguably exceeded the high expectations set for him so far this year and takes his 2.57 ERA and 1.07 WHIP into two great matchups this week: one at home against the Rockies, followed by a trip to Pittsburgh to take on the mediocre Pirates lineup. Look for him to keep rolling in both of those starts. We also continue to wait on the return of Nick Lodolo, who threw five scoreless innings in a blister-free rehab session this past weekend. Lodolo will likely need a few more rehab starts to make sure that the recurring blister issue is finally resolved before returning to Cincinnati in a few weeks.
Chad Patrick has an interesting week coming up here for Milwaukee. He has been off to a surprisingly great start to the year with a 2.35 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, but is coming off a start where he surrendered four runs in only four innings in a loss against Detroit. He now gets two chances to reestablish his rhythm this week, and it will be telling to see how Patrick responds to his first real stumble of the season. The matchup against Arizona is pretty favorable for Patrick, while the one at Washington should prove to be a bit tougher.
Pirates’ Expected Starters
Pittsburgh opens up this week by utilizing Mason Montgomery as an opener in a bullpen game, and then should get a two-start week from Braxton Ashcraft. Ashcraft was originally slated for that 4/27 game, but was placed on the bereavement list over the weekend, so keep an eye on his status for the 4/28 start. If he is good to go, then Ashcraft and his 2.43 ERA and 1.01 WHIP can be started with confidence in both of his starts this week. Other than Paul Skenes, the rest of this rotation is tough to trust right now, and that includes young flamethrower Bubba Chandler. He will look to start to put together some quality in a favorable home start against St. Louis this week.
The entire St. Louis rotation consists of matchup-dependent streamers that vary week-to-week on their streamability based on current form. Michael McGreevy has emerged as the current most interesting option here, but unfortunately for him, he will be getting a matchup with the Dodgers up next, where he cannot be recommended.
Merrill Kelly, only two starts off the IL, including a recent clunker that saw him give up eight earned runs and 10 hits in a loss to Baltimore, cannot be recommended in either of his two tough matchups this week. Michael Soroka, on the other hand, has been a gem of a find for Arizona in the first month of the season and looks to keep his 2.60 ERA and 1.16 WHIP intact in a tough matchup at Milwaukee that is worth starting him in.
As is typically the case with Rockies’ pitching, this staff can safely be ignored for fantasy purposes for the time being, regardless of the matchups, except for one case now! We can now confidently recommend Chase Dollander, who got his first start of the year this past weekend after thriving in a bulk role to begin the year. Dollander sits 99 mph with his four-seamer and locates it well for an excellent foundation. At home in Coors Field versus Atlanta is a tough start to recommend him in, but grab him now and then start him with confidence after that one.
Los Angeles rarely gives us two-start weeks with their six-man rotation, and this week is no exception. Yoshinobu Yamamoto kicks the week off with an enticing matchup against Miami, followed by fellow aces Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow. All three should put up huge fantasy numbers in those matchups. The “non-ace” section of the rotation then gets a similarly good matchup at St. Louis, with Emmet Sheehan, Roki Sasaki, and Justin Wrobleski all looking to build off of successful starts.
Randy Vásquez continues his electric start to the season (1.88 ERA and 1.08 WHIP) by welcoming both teams from the Windy City to San Diego this week. The Cubs provide a slight challenge, but nowhere near large enough for one to consider benching Vásquez. The White Sox, on the other hand, should be handled with relative ease. Also, look for some shuffling in this rotation within the next few weeks, with Griffin Canning being worked into the mix and eventually Lucas Giolito as well.
Tyler Mahle’s 5.26 ERA and 1.60 WHIP do not inspire much confidence on the surface, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that Mahle just threw seven scoreless innings against the Dodgers, and more importantly, his velocity sat up a tick compared to his previous starts. Mahle has shown flashes of consistency in the past and may have just sparked himself into a run of quality starts. He is worth the pickup for a two-start week at Philadelphia and then at Tampa. Landen Roupp also deserves a shout-out here — he is pitching like an actual Cy Young candidate right now and takes his 2.55 ERA and 0.91 WHIP into a great matchup at Tampa this week.
