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Top 100 Starting Pitchers For 2026 Fantasy Baseball: 3/13 UPDATE

Updated Top 100 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings for 2026

I’ve updated my Top 100 Starting Pitcher Rankings for fantasy baseball drafts on March 13th – Read the February ranks for a deeper understanding of each pitcher, and use this order for help in your drafts.

Have questions? My “office hours” are on Twitch 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday – Friday + the aforementioned stream of The List.

For each edition of The List, I have a set of rules to outline my thought process and how to best use these rankings. Please take note:

  1. This is 5×5, 12-teamer, H2H format focused. It generally is the same as roto as well, but make sure you adjust accordingly.
  2. Before the notes and rankings, an injury table outlines where players would be relatively ranked if they were fully healthy. It’s the best way to tackle how to value players on the IL.
  3. If a player is on the IL or not confirmed inside the rotation, they aren’t on the List. That includes injuries and guys in the minors, but there are exceptions for players who are expected to be in the rotation but are being skipped this week. (Spring edition: I have a few hypothetical rotation arms on The List who will be off the ranks if they leave camp out of the rotation).
  4. Since this is a 12-teamer, I heavily weigh upside in the back-half of the rankings. The HIPSTER players are likely going to underperform those labeled as a Toby across a full season, but it’s in your best interest to chase ceiling vs. floor in many cases. Pick the one that you need most in your situation, of course.
  5. I’ve made a decision to limit labels to just two labels per player, with few exceptions for a second. It streamlines the process much better and hopefully gives you a more targeted understanding of the player.
  6. The notes outline oh-so-much to help your team. Please read the notes if you can instead of just scrolling to the bottom.

 

Before we begin, here is a table of the expected rotations by team, including their opponents for the first two series of the year:

 

Expected Rotations By Team

 

Expected SP Rotations by Team

 

Lastly, I heavily recommend you follow my daily SP Roundup that outlines all pitcher performances through the season, as each week’s update will reflect the comments and findings from those daily articles. If you’re unfamiliar with some of the players listed, I highly recommend reading my 75,000+ word Top 400 Starting Pitchers from February. Many things will have changed, but the root of my perception of these players is outlined there.

Let’s get to it.

 

Ranking Notes

 

  • This is your reminder to please read these notes as they’ll tell you plenty about why “someone moved up” or “why is he at #X?!”
  • Seriously. Read the notes.
  • I know there are going to be a ton of comments about I hate how much these rankings change each week and I’m going to get out ahead of them here.
  • These rankings mostly change in the back half of The List as that’s your waiver wire. Those aren’t the players you hold onto throughout the year like your SPs 1-4, which means we’re going to be a bit more chaotic and roll with the waves more aggressively. If I see elements that suggest a pitcher could be a Top 40 arm, I’m going to move up a ton from the 80s to the 60s. Shazam, there we go.

 

I’m sorry these blurbs aren’t so detailed, but I ran out of time! Good luck!

 

Tier 1 – The True Aces

 

1. Garrett Crochet – Aces.

2. Paul Skenes – Gonna.

3. Tarik Skubal – Ace.

 

Tier 2 – AGA With Something To Prove

 

4. Bryan Woo – He’s Wheeler 2.0.

5. Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Likely six-man = lower ceiling.

6. Max Fried – His ratios are absurdly safe + great win potential.

7. Cristopher Sánchez – Sinker gained movement last year + tighter slider. Love that.

8. Hunter Brown – He’s already sitting 97 mph again with a better four-seamer. Only worry is a six-man and lack of secondary support.

9. Shohei Ohtani – Ohtani hasn’t had a bad season as a starter since before COVID. Don’t care if it’s six-man?

10. Jacob deGrom – He’s looking like deGrom and the only reason he was lower is the injury risk, which he overcame last season.

11. Logan Gilbert – Gilbert had a strain last season and I’m concerned it’ll appear again. The talent is incredible, though, in a phenomenal situation.

 

Tier 3 – Just Stay On The Field

 

12. Logan Webb – Here’s to hoping his WHIP improves, because the volume is otherwise incredible for ERA, Wins. and strikeouts

13. Freddy Peralta – Peralta has been oddly consistent despite his Professor Chaos nickname.

14. Chris Sale – I’m more worried about Sale being injury prone, despite the freak incidents. Not everyone fractures a rib diving for a ball.

15. Cole Ragans – Rotator Cuff strains are no joke. Y’all know I love him, but it’s a high risk pick.

16. George Kirby – Kirby’s slider is absurd and if he wields it correctly, 30% strikeouts are coming. Hard to bank on a full season, though.

17. Tyler Glasnow – Even at 130 IP, I love that in a 12-teamer when Glasnow obliterates when healthy.

18. Joe Ryan – The recent back issues are concerning, but he returned to the bump and sat 92 mph. Glistening WHIP arm.

 

Tier 4 – So Dang Close To Greatness

 

19. Kyle Bradish – Slider and Curve are cooking, leaning into sinker more than four-seamer vs. RHB is a lovely thing. Ready for 180+ IP.

20. Cam Schlittler – He’s just too good. I’m amazed I have him this high and yet, I watch him with an expanded arsenal (sinker now and better cutter!) and I can’t help myself.

21. Jesús Luzardo – I’m shocked I have him this high, but he’s gained three inches of drop on his sinker and started to use it against RHB. It’s a great plan given how poor of a four-seamer he has. Think normal Luzardo but fewer extremes if he’s suddenly a groundball guy + destory LHBs.

22. Eury Pérez – Four-seamer is elite, and I’m expecting more growth in the TJS honeymoon season.

23. Framber Valdez – He can be oh-so-frustrating, but the curveball is looking good so far and he’ll likely be a strong force all year.

24. Sandy Alcantara – His four-seamer and sinker overpower, with a dominant changeup, and now there’s a cutter. Expect far better.

25. Nolan McLean – McLean has already improved his sweeper and curve to ridiculous levels, while leaning into a cutter to deal with LHB. I’m a believer now.

 

Tier 5 – Why Do I Feel So Scared?

 

26. Ryan Pepiot – I lowered him only because we haven’t truly seen Pepiot soar yet. He’s had command questions before and I trust the ones above to be six-inning arms more often. McClean gets the nod for a larger arsenal.

27. Dylan Cease – Who. Knows.

28. Bubba Chandler – His four-seamer is 98 mph with elite vert and command. One of the best in the game. Give him time to find the rest.

29. Kevin Gausman – He is who he is. And that’s fine me.

30. Michael King – I found myself wishcasting that he’d have his full-on command. If he does, he’s Top 15.

31. Nick Pivetta – I fell for him until the news of arm fatigue. It’s apparently minimal, but I’ve pushed him to the Cherry Bomb tier.

 

Tier 5.5 – The Pitcher List Hall Of Famers

 

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Tier 6 – Quality Volume

 

32. Shota Imanaga – Despite all the bad doom and gloom of last year, he still had a low WHIP and sub 4.00 ERA. Now his four-seamer is back up two ticks in the spring. I’m so in.

33. Drew Rasmussen – He’s stupid hard to hit and now gets a much better home park. Downside is just 150 IP.

34. Trevor Rogers – The SWATCH life is real. He’s also improved his fastball since last season.

35. Nathan Eovaldi – He’s healthy and that’s all I need to see. He had a sub 2.00 ERA in 130 IP, ya’ll.

36. Andrew Abbott – I’m not too high, you’re too low. Abbott improved his four-seamer, slider, and changeup last year and the gains are still here.

37. Tatsuya Imai – I’m not as impressed as I thought I’d be, but he was 96/97 mph in his last spring game and the reverse slider may be weird enough to get more whiffs than expected.

38. Robbie Ray – I could have put him in the next tier, but I highly doubt we’ll be pulling Ray out of our lineups again like we did in September of last season.

 

Tier 7 – Youngins’ with a Chaperone

 

39. Jacob Misiorowski – He’s dope, but doesn’t command well, is a bit inefficient, and is a huge health risk.

40. Chase Burns – I prefer Burns’ skills to Jay Mis, but he already has an injury ding with his flexor strain last season.

41. Cade Horton – Horton’s four-seamer is a legit cut-fastball and with the Cubs defense, he’s a surprise quality volume arm with more strikeout potential to find.

42. Trey Yesavage – The delay entering the season is annoying as anything, but I think we’ll forget about it by mid/end-April. Steepest splitter angle in baseball.

43. MacKenzie Gore – The move to Texas will help immensely. This is the breakout season we’ve been waiting for…if he can find a little more consistency with his command.

44. Kris Bubic – He’s at 92 mph and looking healthy, but the command is off. The skills should be there, more of a question of longevity.

45. Emmet Sheehan – His four-seamer is fantastic, especially with his feel to keep it upstairs. Great slider and changeup too, but how will the Dodgers use him?

46. Zack WheelerI see him as someone you want to roster when he returns in…mid April?!

 

Tier 8 -Innings But Are They Worth It?

 

47. Nick LodoloI see last season as a peak year and I’m worried he won’t have the same rhythm.

48. Edward CabreraWe have yet to see a season from Cabarera where he’s fully in rhythm and consistent with his mix. I dig the situation, though.

49. Sonny GrayHe’s Sonny and Gray. The volatility is annoying, but he’ll help in the end. The strikeout uptick lately is real with sweeper and sinker command.

50. Ranger SuárezIf Suárez can find his rhythm early, he’ll be solid for another year as he goes underrated for the nth straight year.

51. Matthew BoydBoyd will soar in Wrigley during the early months, though the HRs could arrive with the warm weather in the summer.

52. Aaron NolaI see last year as a lost year. His skills are still present and I’m buying back in.

53. Zac GallenSame with Gallen, on a great defensive squad in Arizona. Opening Day = all good to go.

 

 

Tier 9 – WILD CARD BABY

 

54. Ryan WeathersI’d love to grab him and get whatever we can as he’s healthy. Changeup can be so good.

55. Gavin WilliamsI just don’t know what he’ll look like. Sure hope he finds something that sticks.

56. Shane BazThe new Baltimore scene may help him plenty, but we just haven’t seen it yet. Could be HRs galore again, even out of George Steinbrenner.

57. Shane McClanahanHe was 93 mph then 94 mph in his first two starts. It’s a high risk/reward pick right now before we know more. Better than Strider given the ramp up and a better arsenal outside of the formerly upper-90s fastball.

58. Kodai SengaVelocity is up on the four-seamer, but is the cutter ready to support it again? The other breakers are pretty meh.

59. Tanner BibeeBibee got a lot of strikeouts in his last spring start with a well-located cutter focus, but its movement had a much larger range than I’d like to see. I’m not sold yet.

 

Tier 10 – Hurt And You Miss Work

 

60. Blake SnellHe’s out until the end of April?

61. Gerrit ColeI see him as someone you want to roster when he returns in late May.

62. Carlos RodónSeems to be out until mid-May or so. You want to roster him when he returns.

63. Bryce MillerMaybe he’s okay for the first turn of the rotation?

64. Brandon WoodruffMissing the start of the year + needs extra rest? Oh boy.

65. Jared Jones – TJS recovery stash.

66. Spencer Schwellenbach – Bone spur recovery stash.

67. Hunter Greene – Bone spur recovery stash.

68. Corbin Burnes – TJS recovery stash.

69. Justin SteeleUCL surgery recovery stash.

70. Shane Bieber – He’s had arm fatigue and I’m not sure when he returns and if he can stay on the field when he does.

 

Tier 11 – Fine, You Need Some Innings

 

71. Noah Cameron – I think he gets better, but the ratios will likely get worse without the same absurd luck. Great command though.

72. Ryne Nelson – Four-seamer is great, everything else is still a mystery. Shockingly good but boring?

73. Luis Castillo – I see him regressing more, but the home park is great. Fastball velocity keeps going down.

74. Merrill Kelly – He’s apparently going to be okay…? Solid Toby and borderline Holly when he is.

75. Zach Eflin – Overlooked after adding a tick of velocity this spring following back surgery. Great situation in Baltimore.

76. Will Warren – Expanding arsenal this spring and gets to head to Seattle for his first start. Grab that and see where it leads.

 

Tier 12 – The HIPSTER

 

77. Spencer Strider – I don’t trust him to be great without the four-seamer dominance, but why not take a chance at this point? There’s no way I get to with this ranking.

78. Kyle Harrison – New changeup is dope and he’s at 94+ mph. Can he command it all?

79. Jack Flaherty – A bit underrated as a strikeout arm. Will be a HIPSTER plenty of the year.

80. Luis Gil – Gets to pitch in Seattle to start the year. I don’t trust the control to be good enough to go six innings, even five innings sometimes. Really hard to hit, though.

81. Andrew Painter – Take a chance given he has the opportunity to start the year. I’m not seeing the precision he needs, nor anything close to the 100+ velocity he had at 19 years old (he’s around 95/96 mph).

82. Grayson Rodriguez – Same with Grayson. Velocity is down and I need to see the secondaries come alive to make up for the Angels’ defense. But sure, take a shot.

83. Mick Abel – He doesn’t have a rotation spot, but I’d grab him in hopes that he does. Elite fastballs with great command, needs to work on wielding the breakers.

84. Parker Messick – He’s a SWATCH who should have the rotation spot over Allen in Cleveland. Once confirmed, he’d be ahead of Cameron, arguably in the 9th Tier.

85. Braxton Ashcraft – The slider is dope, but he has little experience going deep into games and the four-seamer is Empty Velocity. I worry it’s not enough.

 

Tier 13 – Solid Back-End Starters

 

86. Mike Burrows – New slider is harder and that’s cool, fastball is still meh.

87. Cody Ponce – Love the security in the rotation, I question how much stuff he has in the tank for six innings of quality.

88. Anthony Kay – He’s sitting 95/96 as a SWATCH for the White Sox?!

89. Brayan Bello – Nothing new and pretty boring for 12-teamers.

90. Ryan Weiss – He’ll be a innings eater for the Astros with whiffability, but not the most overwhelming stuff and a little bit of control issues.

 

Tier 14 – The Desperate Dart Throws

 

91. Justin Wrobleski I think he earns a rotation spot and has a solid overall mix.

92. Landen Roupp Great curveball should return more whiffs this year with stable rotation spot.

93. Matthew LiberatoreGreat job security and generally more polished arsenal.

94. Joey Cantillo – Many love him, I hate his four-seamer and overall command. He’ll have a great outing then a rough one.

95. Spencer Arrighetti He’s up to 50+ pitches and will likely start in the rotation. Forgot 2025 happened?

96. Jack Leiter – Cutter is cool, sinker has absurd potential, but the command and consistency are maddening.

97. Dustin May – Looks ridiculous, but up two ticks in velocity AND has his cutter working to LHB. It’s kinda wild. Great situation in St. Louis.

98. Slade Cecconi – Can I join the Slade Brigade? 34% cutters after throwing it sub-3% of the time last year. 89 mph with great cut action. It’s awesome.

 

Tier 15 – What Are We Doing With You

 

99. Logan Henderson – Dunno if he’s healthy enough to start the season in the rotation. Is he anything more than a good fastball/changeup?

100. Joe Musgrove – Needs a little extra time to get into the rotation and will it be worthwhile?

 

Tier 15 -19 (15-Teamer ranks)

Instead of ending it right at #100, I elected to go the extra mile for those with PL+ and PL Pro:

I ranked all the way through #135 for this edition of The List, acting as the guys I’m generally interested about and keeping a close eye across the spring and early in the season. You can find the extended list in our Discord server, which is exclusive to our PL+ and PL Pro members.

I’ll be updating this List again next week before the weekend, then one final time on Wednesday before opening night, before the regular cadence every Monday in-season.

Good luck everyone! My sincere apologies that I didn’t have the time to give the thorough write-ups. That said, check out my SP Roundup Spring Training notes (I put out THREE today to catch up!) and my Top 400 from February to get the background on these arms.

 

RankPitcherTeamBadgesChange
1Garrett CrochetT1BOS
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
-
2Paul SkenesPIT
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
-
3Tarik SkubalDET
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
-
4Bryan Woo
T2
SEA
Aces Gonna Ace
Ratio Focused
-
5Yoshinobu YamamotoLAD
Aces Gonna Ace
Wins Bonus
-
6Max FriedNYY
Aces Gonna Ace
Wins Bonus
-
7Cristopher SánchezPHI
Aces Gonna Ace
Wins Bonus
-
8Hunter BrownHOU
Aces Gonna Ace
Quality Starts
+2
9Shohei OhtaniLAD
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
+2
10Jacob deGromTEX
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+5
11Logan GilbertSEA
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
-3
12Logan Webb
T3
SF
Holly
Quality Starts
-
13Freddy PeraltaNYM
Ace Potential
Wins Bonus
+1
14Chris SaleATL
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+5
15Cole RagansKC
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+1
16George KirbySEA
Aces Gonna Ace
Quality Starts
Injury Risk
+1
17Tyler GlasnowLAD
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+1
18Joe RyanMIN
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
-5
19Kyle Bradish
T4
BAL
Ace Potential
Quality Starts
+1
20Cam SchlittlerNYY
Ace Potential
Wins Bonus
+5
21Jesús LuzardoPHI
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
+9
22Eury PérezMIA
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
-1
23Framber ValdezDET
Ace Potential
Quality Starts
+4
24Sandy AlcantaraMIA
Ace Potential
Quality Starts
+2
25Nolan McLeanNYM
Holly
Wins Bonus
+9
26Ryan Pepiot
T5
TB
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
-3
27Dylan CeaseTOR
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
+2
28Bubba ChandlerPIT
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
+7
29Kevin GausmanTOR
Holly
Quality Starts
+2
30Michael KingSD
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
-2
31Nick PivettaSD
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
-9
32Shota Imanaga
T6
CHC
Ace Potential
Ratio Focused
+16
33Drew RasmussenTB
Ace Potential
Ratio Focused
-9
34Trevor RogersBAL
Holly
Quality Starts
-2
35Nathan EovaldiTEX
Ace Potential
Quality Starts
+4
36Andrew AbbottCIN
Holly
Quality Starts
+11
37Tatsuya ImaiHOU
Holly
Quality Starts
-4
38Robbie RaySF
Holly
Quality Starts
-
39Jacob Misiorowski
T7
MIL
Ace Potential
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+1
40Chase BurnsCIN
Ace Potential
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+1
41Cade HortonCHC
Cherry Bomb
Wins Bonus
-4
42Trey YesavageTOR
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
Playing Time Question
-6
43MacKenzie GoreTEX
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
+7
44Kris BubicKC
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
-1
45Emmet SheehanLAD
Cherry Bomb
Strikeout Upside
+6
46Zack WheelerPHI
Ace Potential
Quality Starts
Injury Risk
+18
47Nick Lodolo
T8
CIN
Holly
Strikeout Upside
+6
48Edward CabreraCHC
Holly
Wins Bonus
-2
49Sonny GrayBOS
Holly
Wins Bonus
+5
50Ranger SuarezBOS
Holly
Quality Starts
+5
51Aaron NolaPHI
Holly
Quality Starts
-2
52Matthew BoydCHC
Holly
Quality Starts
+17
53Zac GallenARI
Holly
Quality Starts
+8
54Ryan Weathers
T9
NYY
Frizzle
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
-2
55Gavin WilliamsCLE
Holly
Strikeout Upside
+2
56Shane BazBAL
Holly
Strikeout Upside
Team Context Effect
+2
57Shane McClanahanTB
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
-15
58Kodai SengaNYM
Toby
Quality Starts
Injury Risk
+22
59Tanner BibeeCLE
Toby
Hipster
Wins Bonus
+19
60Blake Snell
T10
LAD
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
-16
61Gerrit ColeNYY
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+2
62Carlos RodónNYY
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+3
63Bryce MillerSEA
Holly
Ratio Focused
Injury Risk
-18
64Brandon WoodruffMIL
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
-2
65Jared JonesPIT
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+1
66Spencer SchwellenbachATL
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+1
67Hunter GreeneCIN
Aces Gonna Ace
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
-58
68Corbin BurnesARI+UR
69Justin SteeleCHC+UR
70Shane BieberTOR
Ace Potential
Quality Starts
Injury Risk
-2
71Noah Cameron
T11
KC
Holly
Ratio Focused
-15
72Ryne NelsonARI
Holly
Ratio Focused
-13
73Luis CastilloSEA
Toby
Quality Starts
-3
74Merrill KellyARI
Toby
Quality Starts
-3
75Zach EflinBAL
Toby
Quality Starts
-3
76Will WarrenNYY
Toby
Wins Bonus
+24
77Spencer Strider
T12
ATL
Hipster
Strikeout Upside
-3
78Kyle HarrisonMIL+UR
79Jack FlahertyDET
Hipster
Frizzle
Strikeout Upside
-
80Luis GilNYY+UR
81Andrew PainterPHI
Hipster
Strikeout Upside
Playing Time Question
-8
82Grayson RodriguezLAA
Ace Potential
Strikeout Upside
Injury Risk
+15
83Mick AbelMIN+UR
84Parker MessickCLE+UR
85Braxton AshcraftPIT
Hipster
Strikeout Upside
Playing Time Question
-8
86Mike Burrows
T13
HOU
Frizzle
Ratio Focused
+9
87Cody PonceTOR
Toby
Quality Starts
Playing Time Question
-4
88Anthony KayCWS+UR
89Brayan BelloBOS
Toby
Quality Starts
-5
90Ryan WeissHOU
Toby
Team Context Effect
-
91Justin WrobleskiLAD+UR
92Landen RouppSF
Toby
Strikeout Upside
-6
93Matthew Liberatore
T14
STL
+UR
94Joey CantilloCLE
Toby
Quality Starts
Playing Time Question
-13
95Spencer ArrighettiHOU
Frizzle
Strikeout Upside
+3
96Jack LeiterTEX
Frizzle
Strikeout Upside
-4
97Dustin MaySTL+UR
98Slade CecconiCLE+UR
99Logan Henderson
T15
MIL
Hipster
Strikeout Upside
Playing Time Question
-24
100Joe MusgroveSD
Holly
Wins Bonus
Injury Risk
-40

Labels Legend

Aces Gonna Ace
Ace Potential
Holly
Toby
Cherry Bomb
Hipster
Vargas Rule
Frizzle
Streaming Option
QS Bonus
Wins Bonus
Strikeouts Bonus
Ratios Bonus
Rotation Spot Bonus
Team Context Effect
Stash Option
Injury Risk
Playing Time Question

 

Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)

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Nick Pollack

Founder of Pitcher List. Creator of CSW, The List, and SP Roundup. Worked with MSG, FanGraphs, CBS Sports, and Washington Post. Former college pitcher, travel coach, pitching coach, and Brandeis alum. Wants every pitcher to be dope.

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