Have questions? My “office hours” are on Twitch 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET Monday – Friday + the aforementioned stream of The List.
It’s time for regular updates to THE LIST, where I rank the best 100 starting pitchers in baseball every week.
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:
- This is 5×5, 12-teamer, H2H format focused (Wins, not QS). It generally is the same as roto as well, but make sure you adjust accordingly.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 the Top 100 List table without scrolling for those with PL Pro:
Per usual, I’ve taken all of our injured compatriots and thrown them into a separate table. Injuries are so strange and instead of shoving them at random moments on The List, I’ve elected to throw all of them into one table here for you, the wise fantasy manager, to determine their value on your IL or bench.
It’s so hard to determine where injured arms should go, so I elected to merge the in-season List with the pre-draft rankings into one table that outlines the general area where they’d be ranked when at full strength.
I also get many questions about stashing minor league SPs and it’s not my best strength. I spend a ton of energy on SPs currently inside rotations that it’s difficult to stay on top of the budding minor league arms. That said, I have a very loose SP stash list, that is all about “If this guy were up right now, would he be an auto-add or a spec-add?”, with a sprinkle of favoring their ETA.
Treat this as a bonus table, not a proclamation of the future. It’s just a general idea and I’m sure I’m missing someone or may have one or two guys flipped in time:
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 HAVE MOVED IL ARMS OFF THE LIST. It’s the reason why a lot of arms have gone up.
- 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.
Injured Pitchers Removed From The List: Ryan Weathers (49), Michael Soroka (62), Joe Musgrove (64)
Injured Pitchers Added To The List: Tyler Glasnow (20), Griffin Jax (61)
Automatic Bump/Fall For Pitchers In The Top 65: (+1)
8/25 SPECIAL NOTE – Jake Crumpler notes!
I want to thank Jake Crumpler for writing the notes this week! You’ve been reading Jake’s SP Roundups on the weekends for a few months now and he’s done such a great job that I’m anticipating Jake more across the 2027 season. I wanted to give him a chance to write the notes once this season before we switch to the Schedule-focused editions next week (these are still my ranks!) and I think you’ll agree that he’s done a fantastic job once again. Thanks Jake!
Lastly, this morning I made some small changes after creating the ranks yesterday afternoon to take Monday’s games into account.
Tier 1 – It’s Nice To Not Worry
1. Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) – Like a base set Charizard, Misiorowski’s not gonna stop being dope.
2. Tarik Skubal (LAD) – Skubal got his first win as a Dodger, and it came with a Golden Goal. He’s the same guy despite the new laundry.
3. Chris Sale (ATL) – Sale got singled out and still dominated. This is what a Hall-of-Famer looks like.
4. Cam Schlittler (NYY) – The control hasn’t been pristine (11 walks across his last four starts), but Schlittler’s Ras Pack + secret weapon curveball remains lethal.
Tier 2 – The Other Aces
5. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) – Yamamoto was already solid, and now he’s rediscovered last year’s strikeout form with back-to-back nine-K outings.
6. Drew Rasmussen (TBR) – He’s come back down to Earth a little recently, but we can blame Sacré Verde and Koufax. With the Ras Pack that inspired the term, Rasmussen is one of the most reliable arms out there.
7. Chase Burns (CIN) – Inefficiency has been a problem for Burns, but the four-seamer and slider combo is unhittable on most nights.
8. Logan Gilbert (SEA) – Gilbert’s volume gives him a stable floor off which he can build. As long as his fastballs find the zone to set the table for everything else, he’s going to be a rock.
9. Blake Snell (LAD) – #HotSnellSummer is in full swing.
10. Dylan Cease (TOR) – Like a perfect burger without the condiments to hit all your macros, Cease gives you everything except for a stable WHIP due to his inflated walk rates.
11. Gerrit Cole (NYY) – It’s going super well, but until fastballs paint the upstairs red and sliders dot the low-and-gloveside corner, he’ll be stuck in Tier 2.
12. Jacob deGrom (TEX) – With six-hit innings and 10 Ks, deGrom quelled our fears about a potential injury. He is the deGrominator after all.
13. Jesús Luzardo (PHI) – Since the rough start to the season, Luzardo has dominated the rest of the way.
14. Gavin Williams (CLE) – The double-digit strikeouts returned after a brief vacation, and all is right with Williams when he’s throwing 98-99 mph four-seamers and effective breakers.
15. Logan Henderson (MIL) – He can be denied no longer. It’s Coronation Day for Henderson. AGA.
Tier 3 – You’re Dope But Not Dope. Yet.
16. Payton Tolle (BOS) – He’s throwing a lot of strikes (maybe too many) with his Ras Pack, which needs a little help if he’s going to jump into the next tier.
17. Cade Cavalli (WSH) – With increased velo and an emphasis on cutters, Cavalli’s curveballs can’t cease commanding capitulation coming from contenders. Another scoreless outing with double-digit Ks could warrant a Coronation Day.
18. Parker Messick (CLE) – Even as he soars past his career-high volume, he continues to be dependable thanks to 95+ mph velo and one of the game’s best slowballs.
19. Tyler Glasnow (LAD) – It’s a Still ILL, so we can’t move Glasnow into the tier above immediately. If he gets back to doing what he’s done throughout his career, there’ll be little hesitation to put him back up there.
20. Kyle Harrison (MIL) – With a dominant outing, he muted our concerns, but Harrison’s still displaying decreased velocity and not commanding as well as he did in the first half.
21. Nolan McLean (NYM) – McLean’s arsenal is so dope that he doesn’t need the best command or approach to pitch near an ace level.
22. Eury Pérez (MIA) – Pérez has the stuff to be an ace, but there’s polishing to do in the command and game plan departments to unlock his full potential.
23. Cristopher Sánchez (PHI) – Sánchez should be better, but his ground-ball lean makes him prone to the whims of Koufax, inflating his WHIP.
24. Zack Wheeler (PHI) – He’s been making us anxious with bouts of command issues, velocity loss, and ineffectiveness. Wheeler’s velo was fine last time, and he’s been awesome most of the year, so just let the guy cook.
25. Paul Skenes (PIT) – He’s been so disappointing this year, and yet, the overall production has still been worth your time.
26. Troy Melton (DET) – Melton does it all, except for being an inconsistent source of strikeouts. You’ll be happy with his results even if the whiffs never start flowing.
Tier 4 – Far Sweeter Than Sour
27. Bryan Woo (SEA) – His home/road splits have moved to the back of our mind after a pair of good starts outside of @TEA, but now he skipped a turn through the rotation, as this shoulder thing has us worrying about his health. Apparently, Woo’s 100% confident he’ll make his start this week, thus he remains in the Cherry Bomb tier.
28. Reid Detmers (LAA) – The signs of regression are laughing in our faces as Detmers continues to get it done. He might just matrix the bullets for the entire year.
29. Sean Burke (CHW) – Burke’s hot streak has come to a brief pause, but he’s still doing everything he’s supposed to with elite four-seamers upstairs and supportive breakers downstairs.
30. Sandy Alcantara (MIA) – Baseball’s premier innings eater hasn’t ruined his appetite.
31. Braxton Ashcraft (PIT) – Ashcraft quieted the doubters with 17 frames across his past two starts. I would love to see his signature slider return to prominence to get him back into Tier 3. We saw it on Monday night early in counts, but it failed to return a single strikeout.
32. Trevor Rogers (BAL) – Pulling off the BSB with mid-90s four-seamers combining with an elite changeup and supportive breakers, Rogers is on a run similar to the one he went on in 2025.
33. Sonny Gray (BOS) – Sometimes it’s Sonny, sometimes it’s Gray, but overall, the weather is enjoyable. Get that sweeper cooking again and we won’t have to bring our ponchos to the park.
34. Carlos Rodón (NYY) – In two starts since returning from the IL, Rodón hasn’t recovered his command. We’ve seen him have success even when commanding just two of his three main offerings, so he may just need one more start to break free from his leash and get into a rhythm.
35. Logan Webb (SFG) – It was a One Night Bland in Fenway, but Webb is one of the most durable and consistent arms out there. One start doesn’t change that.
36. Kevin Gausman (CHC) – I know he’s struggled, but Monday showed us how the elite Cubs defense should reduce the concerns about Gausman’s typically difficult-to-swallow BABIP.
Tier 5 – Everyone Who Sees This Wants It Ranked Differently
37. MacKenzie Gore (TEX) – Gore jumps a couple tiers with his command at its peak, as four-seamers are landing upstairs, changeups armside, and sliders gloveside. The skies the limit if he maintains it, but he doesn’t have the HIPSTER label for no reason.
38. Jacob Lopez (ATH) – It’s the 2025 hot streak all over again. Enjoy the ride, ya’ll!
39. Dustin May (MIL) – May got Singled Out in a disastrous performance, but his stuff is still dope, and his new situation is ideal. Higher win chance, great defense, and a smart coaching staff should wring the most out of May.
40. Walbert Ureña (LAA) – Armed with upper-90s heaters and one of the best changeups in baseball, Ureña has hit few speed bumps. If that developing sweeper becomes a legit weapon, the league’s in trouble.
41. Ian Seymour (TBR) – The SWATCH life is sweet. Seymour’s not overwhelming, but he racks up plenty of strikeouts and has a loose leash, exceeding 90 pitches in each of his last four starts. I’m curious if the Rays will move to a six-man rotation when Griffin Jax returns.
42. Shota Imanaga (CHC) – His velo fell below 91 mph, and he failed to complete three frames. It was likely just an off day, but he’s nowhere near the guy who used to proclaim I’M AN AGA!
43. Andrew Painter (PHI) – From off The List to inside the Top 50, Painter has stolen our hearts with an improved heater (97+ mph with 17-18″ iVB) and emphasis on refined secondaries. It looks like he’s going to finish his rookie season the same way he ended his last start – strong, like that 100 mph heater.
44. Kade Anderson (SEA) – MLB’s #1 pitching prospect has arrived. After following the PILOT Rule and giving us a somewhat underwhelming debut, Anderson should settle in as a young southpaw with exceptional command and great secondaries. The lack of an elite heater might prevent him from directly translating his minor league results to the Majors.
45. Peter Lambert (HOU) – Lambert’s stumble last time was a product of being Singled Out. He’s been reliable all year, but we should be recognizing that Holly is his ceiling, not his floor.
Tier 6 – What Will They Become?
46. Jared Jones (PIT) – The stuff is top-tier, but he’s still shaking off the Tommy John surgery rust with his command and the tight leash the Pirates have on him. He set his season-high pitch count in consecutive starts, so maybe the reins are starting to be loosened, allowing Jones to eventually blossom.
47. Robbie Ray (SDP) – He’s still not maximizing his repertoire, handing RHB too many sinkers and not enough sliders, but the schedule is chill enough moving forward for us to keep sticking with Ray.
48. Shane McClanahan (TBR) – The pitch count is rising, and the velocity is there. We just need McClanahan to rediscover his changeup feel to make the McClanafan Club happy again.
49. Emerson Hancock (SEA) – The ever-present concerns are still just that. A heavy reliance on fastballs with reduced vert, without the secondaries to take the pressure off, makes Hancock feel like a ticking time bomb. The home park and above-average command keep him relevant.
50. Noah Cameron (KCR) – The strikeouts have come and gone multiple times. His command isn’t as pristine as it was earlier this month. Cameron is a Holly, and you’re probably happy with that anyway.
51. Kyle Bradish (BAL) – Bradish’s breakers have been inconsistent, leading to fewer than six strikeouts in nine straight starts. He needs them to dominate to hide his hittable heaters. I don’t think the changeup is the solution.
52. Hunter Brown (HOU) – The fastball is good, and then it stinks. The curveball has been the same way. It makes Brown volatile and unpredictable.
Tier 7 – You’re Generally Safe. Ish.
53. Ranger Suarez (BOS) – Since returning from the IL, Suarez hasn’t truly found the form he takes throughout most seasons. He’s still a Toby even when he’s not at his best, and he may just need one start to have everything fall into place.
54. Joey Cantillo (CLE) – Efficiency is a problem, but Cantillo is doing everything we want. More curveballs, faster fastballs, and supportive cutters. Throw more strikes, and we’ll cruise through the finish line.
55. Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) – Not even a brick wall could stop this Vargas Rule.
56. Shane Bieber (TOR) – Bieber is back in business. His heater looked awesome in The Trop, and his offspeed pitches are being the CSW monsters they need to be to put him on track towards returning to the Holly tier.
57. Tyler Mahle (ATL) – Mahle’s command and velocity have been stellar since returning from the IL in late June. He’s got an even better situation pitching in Atlanta now.
58. Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) – Despite what the line suggests, Pfaadt’s last start wasn’t an end to his Vargas Rule. It was a textbook Careful, Icarus with a three-run homer on his final pitch.
Tier 8 – WHAT DO I DO WITH YOU
59. Christian Scott (NYM) – Scott has been happy to show us his floor, but the stuff is still there to propel him up The List at a moment’s notice. It’s felt a little yucky, but a 3.73 ERA and 29% strikeout rate through 19 starts is nothing to scoff at.
60. Sean Manaea (NYM) – The velo was 93+ last time, and he’s still supporting it with an elite sweeper. Manaea’s command has prevented him from excelling across his last two starts, but as long as the velo’s around, I’m sending him out there.
61. Griffin Jax (TBR) – I don’t know what to do with him. He threw 42 pitches in a rehab outing over the weekend, so if he returns this week, he’ll be limited. We saw what the ceiling was earlier this year, and it’s enough for us to keep him around as he builds back up.
62. Jackson Jobe (DET) – It’s a bit fastball-heavy, but Jobe’s stuff is so good, he doesn’t need to be perfect to be solid. He won’t truly ascend the ranks until he expands his arsenal and masters his command.
63. Michael King (SDP) – The strikes are flowing. King may never reach the Top 30 again, but he could be a Holly long enough to shake off his HIPSTER label. The cross-body mechanics are what prevent him from maintaining consistent control.
64. George Klassen (LAA) – Cross-body mechanics messing with his command and all, Klassen has dope enough stuff to survive with The Miz approach of throwing everything middle-middle and praying. Just throw strikes!
65. George Kirby (SEA) – Kirby has inspired riots outside his hotel with his recent struggles. The velo is down, his pitch usage is wonky, and his command is all over the place. Hopefully, his freefall down the list was the wake up call he needed to get his act together.
Tier 9 – It’s Something. It’s A Toby.
66. Michael Wacha (KCR) – He may be a Toby, but he’s been the best one all year. His favorite superhero must be Spider-Man.
67. Foster Griffin (CLE) – The ceiling we saw earlier in the year has fallen. We can now look back on it with fondness, recognizing it as a Vargas Rule, while simultaneously appreciating Griffin for being a reliable Toby.
68. Brayan Bello (BOS) – He won’t blow you away, but pitching in bulk relief sets Bello up to grab wins at an encouraging rate. It’s disappointing in quality start leagues, but in standard leagues or leagues where starts are limited, he’s an invaluable streamer.
69. Shane Baz (BAL) – Baz has been dependable since mid-May. As long as he avoids poor luck and recovers his curveball feel, he should be fine in September. Maybe avoid him in Sacré Verde this week, though.
70. Will Warren (NYY) – With Fried and Weathers hitting the IL, Warren’s rotation spot is secure. He’s making an effort to feature more secondaries to cover up his declining heaters. I hope it’s enough to warrant his return to standard league rosters.
71. Nick Martinez (TBR) – I’d be surprised if this Vargas Rule didn’t just last all year.
72. Matthew Boyd (CHC) – Boyd hasn’t pulled off the BSB as pristinely as he needs to be the SWATCH poster boy. The ceiling of a Toby is rarely worth chasing when they’re not at their best.
73. Clay Holmes (CHC) – In an ideal environment in front of the Cubs’ elite defense, one of baseball’s premier ground ball pitchers becomes one of its most dependable. Just make sure to find your strikeouts somewhere else.
Tier 10 – This Should Be More
74. Roki Sasaki (LAD) – It always feels a little precarious, but Sasaki hasn’t allowed more than two runs in six starts since mid-July. There’s another level to reach, but his command and secondary feel aren’t consistent enough to achieve it.
75. José Soriano (TOR) – His four-seamer hasn’t stepped up as the strike machine he needs it to be to avoid dolling out free passes. With a ground-ball lean, he’s subject to a high WHIP. The Blue Jays haven’t figured out if they want him to throw his curveball more or less, and that makes him a HIPSTER because we don’t know what to expect on a given night.
76. Taj Bradley (MIN) – He got back to throwing each of his main trio of offerings for 60%+ strikes. That’s all Bradley needs to succeed, but if even one of those pitches doesn’t get there, the struggles arise immediately.
77. Connor Prielipp (MIN) – It hasn’t come together this year, but there’s plenty of strikeout potential to chase. That slider just needs a little help from its friends.
78. Nick Lodolo (CIN) – Lodolo needs to be in a rhythm to pitch at his peak. Finger blisters have prevented him from staying on the field and maintaining a consistent feel for his entire arsenal.
79. Landen Roupp (SFG) – The pitch separation is where we want it to be, leaving me hopeful that Roupp will return to his former glory with a mere tweak of his locations. That being said, we can’t trust him when he’s walking three or more batters every start.
80. Bryce Miller (SEA) – It’s time to let him go. That early-season dominance fueled by increased fastball velo and pristine command is long gone. Apparently, he’s been dealing with a lat injury since July 24th. That explains the struggles since then, and we can’t keep trusting a guy who’s both struggling and pitching through an injury.
81. Bubba Chandler (PIT) – He’s got all the tools to dominate. Just when it seems like he’s finally figured out an approach that works for him, his command falters, or the league adjusts, and he’s right back at square one. I’m pumped for 2027!
82. Framber Valdez (DET) – Curveballs aren’t clicking. Sinkers aren’t turning into ground balls. Changeups aren’t commanded. I don’t think high four-seamers are the savior. We’ve seen plenty of insane runs from Valdez, though. Maybe the calendar flipping gives him the fresh start he needs to close the season on a tear.
Tier 11 – You Really Don’t Have To Do This
83. Cal Quantrill (TEX) – Quantrill will always be the Unquantrillfiable. However, his splitter is clearly more consistent this year, and his sinker command has been pristine lately. Ride this Vargas Rule at your own risk.
84. Shane Drohan (MIL) – The increased cutter usage might be just what Drohan needs to make him a reliable streamer again. It gives him a Ras Pack that can succeed against bottom-half offenses when commanded effectively.
85. Quinn Mathews (STL) – I’m increasingly intrigued by Mathews. The Shag Rug was a tough sight last time, but his four-seamer remains effective, his slider elite, and his changeup sneakily supportive. With a firm spot in the rotation, now is his time to improve his 2027 ADP.
86. Cristian Javier (HOU) – It was a Gallows Pole last time out, but he still struggled, and it came with zero cutters. There’s plenty of upside to chase here with his four-seamer sporting 18″+ iVB and his sweeper earning all the whiffs.
87. Anthony Kay (CHW) – Kay has been looking like more than just a Toby you can stream against bottom-half offenses. He’ll provide stable ratios and a decent shot at a win against all but the best offenses, without the strikeout ceiling to make him worth holding.
88. Aaron Nola (PHI) – It seems as though Nola is finally righting the ship, with curveball dominance propelling plenty of whiffs. There have been plenty of blowups along the way, so we can’t go all in on this Cherry Bomb just yet.
89. Zebby Matthews (MIN) – I was originally keeping him off The List, but Monday night brought out the best slider he’s had all year. He throws enough strikes to go 6+ constantly, and the risk/reward balance may be near the point I’m willing to give him a shot.
Tier 12 – Arms To Consider This Week
90. Adrian Houser (SFG) – At 96+ mph with nearly seven feet of extension, Houser is looking better than he has in ages. He’s allowed just two runs total across his past six outings and has earned our trust as a streamer, especially with a cushy matchup walking the Reds Carpet.
91. David Peterson (CHC) – With success and improved command in his new situation on the North Side, Peterson exhibited the strikeout potential we needed to see to get interested. He fanned eight in his last start while looking like a proper SWATCH.
92. Jake Bennett (BOS) – Bennett has settled into being a Toby. He’ll have nights where he has excellent pitch separation with the BSB to key intriguing outings, but they won’t change his outlook.
93. Cody Bradford (TEX) – It won’t be spectacular, but Bradford is a pure SWATCH with an elite changeup paired with an upper-80s “heater”. He’s a fine streamer against weaker offenses.
94. Dean Kremer (MIN) – Back off Jacob Black! Kremer’s not a Werewolf anymore. He’s something even cooler. A Toby worth streaming against the White Sox this week.
95. Keider Montero (DET) – I heard you like low WHIPs. This is your guy, even with the Dodgers up next.
96. Hayden Wesneski (HOU) – The sweeper is awesome. It may not have enough support to avoid breaking the Huascar Rule. The changeup has potential, and if he could nibble the edges to avoid damage on his heaters, he could become more than just a 15-team play.
97. Martín Pérez (ATL) – The magic may be fading, but it’s not too late to squeeze a couple more wins out of him while he’s still commanding his arsenal.
98. Zac Thornton (NYM) – Thornton unsustainably fanned seven with 14 whiffs last time. Nothing has changed. He’s still throwing mostly low-90s four-seamers with cutters to jam RHB. He’s got a decent chance at a quality start, but not much else.
99. Kumar Rocker (TEX) – He came back with eight strikeouts against the White Sox and the strikeout upside is still present. I don’t love it, but at least there’s opportunity.
100. Andrew Alvarez (WSH) – Koufax has been smiling upon this curveball-wielding southpaw for a few starts now. He doesn’t have a long leash, but he could survive five frames with a handful of strikeouts.
Wait. You forgot [THIS PITCHER]!
You should be able to find them below, but there are rare times that I removed a pitcher from The List and their name somehow got lost in the shuffle. If there is a super-obvious name that is somehow missing, you better believe it was in error. Simply let me know if I goofed, and I’ll make a swift update.
The following pitchers are sorted not by rank, but by team. I have written a small note on every arm who is currently inside a rotation – if they are not in a rotation, they are ineligible for The List.
Honorable Mentions
Jose Cabrera (ARI) – I don’t hate Cabrera, his ceiling is still too much of an unknown. His best skill is throwing strikes (so far) and I hope he keeps doing so.
Kohl Drake (ARI) – There may be something here in time, but Drake needs more polish first.
Merrill Kelly (ARI) – He couldn’t even take down Rockie Road with a slew of LHB to serve his changeup. Yeesh.
Mitch Bratt (ARI) – I’m not into this at all. All I can think of is Mitch looking at the strikezone and throwing baseballs like paint with childish “Brrrrrrraaaat”.
Zac Gallen (ARI) – Gallen has not been worth your time.
Zack Littell (ARI) – I know he has his moments, but I don’t trust his Dancing With The Disco approach.
Gage Jump (ATH) – We don’t know when he’s going to go on a strikeout explosion. I wish it was as simple as just starting him on the road.
J.T. Ginn (ATH) – I’m terrified of his home park and the stuff just isn’t good enough.
Jack Perkins (ATH) – I see starts ahead in Sacré Verde and I’m not interested.
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) – We haven’t seen a four-seamer worthy of Sunshine and Rainbows for three starts. He lost a ton of vert, y’all.
Mason Barnett (ATH) – Barnett is kinda interesting, but I need to be blown away to take a shot on him and endure the home park
AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL) – He wasn’t nearly impressive enough in his 2026 debut with just two whiffs despite throwing 97 mph heaters. The secondaries need to be a whole lot more, too.
Bryce Elder (ATL) – It’s time to move on after failing to come through against the Giants. It was a, uh, time. It was a time.
Grant Holmes (ATL) – He’s not going long and he hasn’t broken the Huascar Rule. Not worth it.
Hurston Waldrep (ATL) – It’s very possible we see Waldrep entering the rotation in the near future after showing up after ReyLó, but the quality was awfully blegh. I’m not throwing darts at this with a number of decent streaming options out there.
JR Ritchie (ATL) – He’s back in the rotation and I have such little interest.
Owen Murphy (ATL) – The velocity dropped in his second game and I wonder when we’ll see him again. There is promise in that four-seamer.
Reynaldo López (ATL) – After sitting 94/95 mph in his first few starts, ReyLópez fell down to 92 mph and much lower by the end of the game. That’s not the kind of arm you want to chase.
Brandon Young (BAL) – The four-seamer has its moments, but with the splitter disappearing and the breakers being unreliable, we can’t trust him during his trip down The Green Mile.
Cade Povich (BAL) – The Orioles are finally giving Povich another shot and I hope he can be the effective kitchen-sink southpaw he’s destined to become.
Chris Bassitt (BAL) – Oh, Bassitt is coming back, too. I wonder if he’s over 91 mph.
Trey Gibson (BAL) – There is far too much left to polish.
Eduardo Rivera (BOS) – He’ll be opening for Bello. Ignore this.
Patrick Sandoval (BOS) – I wonder if “The Irish Panda” has any more magic left. It was kinda interesting last time out…?
Braxton Garrett (CHC) – It’s a fun trade to the Cubs and let’s see how he looks whenever they push him into the rotation.
Colin Rea (CHC) – He’s out of the rotation and it feels wrong. WRONG.
Javier Assad (CHC) – Assad returns with Ecab hitting the IL and he doesn’t push the needle enough.
Andrew Abbott (CIN) – He simply hasn’t been worth the play over others lately.
Brady Singer (CIN) – He gave us a VPQS against a poor Marlins crew. Ehhhhhhh.
Chris Paddack (CIN) – I’m not seeing a good enough version of Paddack to justify rostering him in Cincy.
Rhett Lowder (CIN) – Lowder has moments with great command of fastballs, sliders, and changeups. I’ll let you know when they pop up.
Slade Cecconi (CLE) – I’m waiting for Cecconi to produce a string of starts to force me to consider him again.
Tanner Bibee (CLE) – I got to a point where there are enough good options on the wire to move on from the coin flip (at best) with Bibee.
Gabriel Hughes (COL) – It’s possible the Rockies give him a spot start. The Rockies. A spot start.
Jose Quintana (COL) – He’s in Colorado now, and has the rare moments of being a solid streamer when on the road. Rare.
Kyle Freeland (COL) – Same ole, same ole.
Mason Adams (COL) – He’s making his MLB debut, but has been cursed with pitching for the Rockies. The breakers are cool, the rest is not at 93/94 mph. It’ll look even worse in Colorado.
Michael Lorenzen (COL) – You can’t do anything, even with all of your strength.
Ryan Feltner (COL) – Why.
Sean Sullivan (COL) – He got the pearl and it’s absolutely not what you want.
Tanner Gordon (COL) – You know better.
Tomoyuki Sugano (COL) – I’m just happy he gets regular starts. There’s a touch of value on the road
Zach Agnos (COL) – Who are you and why did you need to know what I thought about Agnos? I’m Agnos-tic. THAT’S NOT WHAT THAT MEANS.
David Sandlin (CWS) – He’s back in the minors.
Davis Martin (CWS) – He’s not longer pitching like the opening months, and Martin can’t get away with his mistakes over the plate.
Erick Fedde (CWS) – Fedde’s cutter came in HOT, and I’m glad he’s throwing more of them. Sadly, it’s not enough.
Jonathan Cannon (CWS) – I truly wish I could blast the 1812 overture again.
José Urquidy (CWS) – I was interested after his six frames of bliss, but the floor appeared after.
Luis Castillo (CWS) – I nearly added him to The List, but it’s not the same home park now and he hasn’t looked particularly sharp.
Noah Schultz (CWS) – How cruel is it to accidentally remove Schultz in the first inning due to the manager’s mistake of two mound visits in the first, then demote him right after?
Drew Anderson (DET) – I was really tempted to add him last minute after the report came out that he’s going to transition into the rotation, but it’s likely safe to see how stretched out he is and if he can consistently produce. He’s not like a Jax in waiting.
Jack Flaherty (DET) – When are we going to see Flaherty back again?
Justin Verlander (DET) – Is he actually returning this week? Really? I kinda imagined this was, you know, it. Update: He didn’t. And who knows when.
Ty Madden (DET) – Madden is the option until Anderson is fully ready, and I have no interest here.
Ethan Pecko (HOU) – He didn’t do enough with his kitchen sink in his MLB debut to suggest he deserves our attention.
Kai-Wei Teng (HOU) – Naaaaaah. The breakers can be cool, but it’s really not it, let alone the major question of his length.
Mike Burrows (HOU) – The command simply isn’t there yet.
Ronel Blanco (HOU) – He’s back! And I’m so curious what we get in this Still ILL.
Tatsuya Imai (HOU) – He moved to the pen, which could mean some sneaky vulture Wins as long relief, but who knows what version of Imai we’ll get when that happens.
Daniel Lynch IV (KCR) – The Royals are giving Lynch a shot at starting and are still stretching him out.
Luinder Avila (KCR) – He’s getting TJS after his last outing. Poor guy.
Mason Black (KCR) – Totally forgot you were on the Royals now. That’s cool n stuff.
Mitch Spence (KCR) – Oh snap, he’s a thing again! A THING thing? Nah, just a thing. Dang.
Randy Dobnak (KCR) – Dobnak has been productive twice, slinging sinkers and changeups, and it’s not meant to last.
Seth Lugo (KCR) – Lugo hasn’t been a good option for a while.
Stephen Kolek (KCR) – He’s out for the year with TJS now. What a rough summer. Poor guy.
Alek Manoah (LAA) – Oh dear. Please don’t.
Caden Dana (LAA) – Will he establish himself as a Toby at some point?
Grayson Rodriguez (LAA) – There’s nothing to get excited about with his four-seamer and changeup. I hope the breakers get better.
Ryan Johnson (LAA) – He showed up again and it was rouuuuugh. Don’t do this.
Sam Aldegheri (LAA) – He doesn’t pack enough of a punch to be a proper SWATCH.
Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) – He’s back! Sadly, his stuff looked even worse than it was before. He’s a HIPSTER in a bad situation.
Eric Lauer (LAD) – I’m glad he did well in his last outing. Now he’ll get Coors if the Dodgers actually keep him in the rotation after Wrobleski’s injury.
Shohei Ohtani (LAD) – He’s indefinitely removed from the rotation as he rests up for the playoffs. Stupid knees barking like a dingus.
Janson Junk (MIA) – I’d be thrilled if the Marlins dealt Junk to a place that let him toss 90 pitches an outing and properly figure out how to get the most out of his above-average stuff. It’s not like he can’t find the zone.
Ryan Gusto (MIA) – There may be something of interest here, but let’s wait and see.
Tyler Phillips (MIA) – As much as I want this to work out, it’s not working out.
Brandon Sproat (MIL) – I’m not sure he starts again this week, though it may be a six-man to get everyone in a proper routine after Harrison and May join the rotation. There’s one spot in a five-man rotation between Sproat, Gasser, and Drohan, and I think Drohan gets it. If he does start, I haven’t been sold by his arsenal and approach to be confident he’ll produce if he even gets the chance.
Robert Gasser (MIL) – He’s not getting his fastball upstairs and his changeup hasn’t stepped up to give him the weapons he needs to handle both lefties and righties.
Bailey Ober (MIN) – He’s back from the IL and still struggling to hit 90 mph.
Kendry Rojas (MIN) – There may be times he gets the pearl, but don’t expect a whole lot of frames. He’s not a proper starter.
Mike Paredes (MIN) – This ain’t it.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) – He’s now in the minors, even after a ten-strikeout game. Wild, I know. Blame Kremer.
Jonah Tong (NYM) – Sent back down to the minors. Sigh.
Kodai Senga (NYM) – I gave him an honest try. Now we wait.
Robert Stock (NYM) – That was awesome. I hope he’s worth our time when weak opponents come his way.
Tobias Myers (NYM) – He’s not stretched out. I don’t expect the Mets to use him outside the pen or anything above 50 pitches a game.
Elmer Rodríguez (NYY) – We’ve yet to see him give us a productive start across the board.
Alan Rangel (PHI) – I’m curious how this goes. There’s a chance he’s a decent arm to target for a vulture Win.
Brian Keller (PHI) – He’s not it, y’all.
Taijuan Walker (PHI) – He’s still here and it’s kinda wild – even without his cutter leading the way in the spring despite it carrying him last season. Update: He gone.
Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT) – He’s been able to produce five frames of decency, allowing him to accrue a ton of Wins, but this isn’t meant to last. Update: Now on the restricted list and likely not starting again due to Jared’s return.
Mitch Keller (PIT) – It’s a tough matchup ahead and Keller is back to his old form of not being effective.
Casey Mize (SDP) – X-rays on Mize’s sprained ankle came back clean and the Padres are hopeful he’ll make his next start. He’s not been great pitching through this injury.
Germán Márquez (SDP) – He has those days with a good curve and I’m happy for him. I can’t risk it on a given day.
Griffin Canning (SDP) – The four-seamer we saw in his season debut has dwindled since. I’m not seeing enough to pull me in.
Jhony Brito (SDP) – Looks like Brito will return soon and it’s not something to jump on early.
JP Sears (SDP) – He’s been given a chance to start again and I’m not interested until he wows me.
Lucas Giolito (SDP) – I know, how COULD I?! Because he sat 90.4 mph, that’s why. I was intrigued last year when he was around 93/94 mph. In no way can I possibly endorse this if the stuff isn’t there.
Randy Vásquez (SDP) – I wish he were getting the whiffs we saw in early April, but alas, he’s a 15-team Toby these days.
Walker Buehler (SDP) – I’m not buying that the Padres fixed him.
Blade Tidwell (SFG) – He had a great start due to the Astros’ enabling a ton of sweeper whiffs. He won’t get those RHB-heavy lineups enough to justify a roster spot.
Carson Whisenhunt (SFG) – I want him to be great, but he’s not there yet. Changeup is pretty cool.
Matt Wilkinson (SFG) – “Tugboat” has pulled into the dock. Oh, that was quick. He’s back in Triple-A.
Trevor McDonald (SFG) – McDonald is a sinkerballer with an elite slider, but the sinker isn’t landing low and the slider can’t find strikes.
Andre Pallante (STL) – I just don’t see an arm I want to trust on a regular basis. Feel free to stream if you must, but the risk/reward value isn’t there in my opinion.
Kyle Leahy (STL) – Leahy’s four-inning start wasn’t a mistake. The Cardinals plan to limit his workload the rest of the way.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) – His command isn’t good enough. He can be a 15-team Toby option, but nothing more.
Michael McGreevy (STL) – Literally the last one cut. There are moments he comes through, but it’s ultimate not worth the squeeze.
Freddy Peralta (TBR) – Not even the Rays have been able to figure Peralta out. It could click at any moment, but it isn’t clicking right now.
Mason Englert (TBR) – I’m not convinced he’s the next hot thing from Tampa Bay, but I’m at least curious.
Jordan Montgomery (TEX) – He returned! And it was mediocre!
Jameson Taillon (TOR) – I’m so glad he’s with Toronto now, and let’s see if he can be a streamer in 15-teamers before going after this. Update: And now he’s hurt. I’m so sad.
Max Scherzer (TOR) – I can see Scherzer actually performing well in his next start or two, but he hasn’t proven it yet. Update: Annnnd he’s scratched again. Update #2: And he’s back! And even after a good start, I can’t endorse it.
Patrick Corbin (TOR) – No, this is not the time to restart your PC. You can’t make that joke every time. YES I CAN.
Spencer Arrighetti (TOR) – I think we need to let the Pasta Pirate cook a little longer before we serve him a spot on our teams.
Spencer Miles (TOR) – He’s being used a follower in the place of Lauer and it’s not worth your time.
Brad Lord (WSH) – His role is undefined. He’s an opener, a bulk reliever, and a closer.
Carson Palmquist (WSH) – He’s with the Nats now, eh? That’s cool. Welp, see ya later.
Connelly Early (WSH) – He’s with a new team and I have no idea when he returns at this point.
Jake Irvin (WSH) – Irvin is throwing a harder cutter and that’s kinda fun. Not fun enough to trust until he actually proves it’s worth your time, of course.
Jackson Kent (WSH) – Pay attention to him. The SWATCH potential is palpable with this one. Kent’s four-seamer comes in at 93-94 mph with 1.5 HAVAA and seven feet of extension. That’ll work as long as changeups and sliders work together to take down RHB and LHB, respectively. It hasn’t come together yet, but it could as soon as next start.
Will Dion (WSH) – There’s SWATCH potential here, but will the Nationals give him the chance to reach it?
Miles Mikolas (WSN) – You actually CTRL-F’d Mikolas?!
Good luck, everyone!
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | Badges | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob MisiorowskiT1 | MIL | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | - |
| 2 | Tarik Skubal | LAD | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | - |
| 3 | Chris Sale | ATL | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | - |
| 4 | Cam Schlittler | NYY | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | - |
| 5 | Yoshinobu YamamotoT2 | LAD | Aces Gonna Ace Wins Bonus | - |
| 6 | Drew Rasmussen | TB | Aces Gonna Ace Ratio Focused | - |
| 7 | Chase Burns | CIN | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | - |
| 8 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | - |
| 9 | Blake Snell | LAD | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | +7 |
| 10 | Dylan Cease | TOR | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | -1 |
| 11 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | - |
| 12 | Jacob deGrom | TEX | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | +2 |
| 13 | Jesús Luzardo | PHI | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | -3 |
| 14 | Gavin Williams | CLE | Aces Gonna Ace Strikeout Upside | -1 |
| 15 | Logan Henderson | MIL | Aces Gonna Ace Ratio Focused | - |
| 16 | Payton TolleT3 | BOS | Ace Potential Strikeout Upside | +1 |
| 17 | Cade Cavalli | WSH | Ace Potential Strikeout Upside | +5 |
| 18 | Parker Messick | CLE | Holly Quality Starts | +6 |
| 19 | Tyler Glasnow | LAD | Ace Potential Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | +UR |
| 20 | Kyle Harrison | MIL | Ace Potential Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | +8 |
| 21 | Nolan McLean | NYM | Ace Potential Strikeout Upside | +6 |
| 22 | Eury Pérez | MIA | Ace Potential Strikeout Upside | -4 |
| 23 | Cristopher Sánchez | PHI | Ace Potential Quality Starts | -4 |
| 24 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | Ace Potential Ratio Focused Injury Risk | -12 |
| 25 | Paul Skenes | PIT | Ace Potential Strikeout Upside | -5 |
| 26 | Troy Melton | DET | Holly Ratio Focused | -5 |
| 27 | Bryan WooT4 | SEA | Cherry Bomb Ratio Focused Injury Risk | +8 |
| 28 | Reid Detmers | LAA | Cherry Bomb Strikeout Upside | -5 |
| 29 | Sean Burke | CHW | Cherry Bomb Strikeout Upside | -4 |
| 30 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | Holly Quality Starts | -4 |
| 31 | Braxton Ashcraft | PIT | Holly Ratio Focused | -2 |
| 32 | Trevor Rogers | BAL | Holly Quality Starts | -2 |
| 33 | Sonny Gray | BOS | Cherry Bomb Strikeout Upside | -2 |
| 34 | Carlos Rodón | NYY | Cherry Bomb Injury Risk | -2 |
| 35 | Logan Webb | SF | Cherry Bomb Quality Starts | -2 |
| 36 | Kevin Gausman | CHC | Holly Quality Starts | +1 |
| 37 | MacKenzie GoreT5 | TEX | Cherry Bomb Strikeout Upside | +17 |
| 38 | Jacob Lopez | ATH | Frizzle Strikeout Upside Team Context Effect | +6 |
| 39 | Dustin May | MIL | Holly Quality Starts | - |
| 40 | Walbert Ureña | LAA | Holly Quality Starts | - |
| 41 | Ian Seymour | TB | Holly Ratio Focused | +2 |
| 42 | Shota Imanaga | CHC | Holly Quality Starts | -8 |
| 43 | Andrew Painter | PHI | Frizzle Rotation Spot Bonus | +UR |
| 44 | Kade Anderson | SEA | Frizzle Rotation Spot Bonus | +UR |
| 45 | Peter Lambert | HOU | Holly Quality Starts | -4 |
| 46 | Jared JonesT6 | PIT | Cherry Bomb Strikeout Upside | -8 |
| 47 | Robbie Ray | SD | Holly Ratio Focused | +20 |
| 48 | Shane McClanahan | TB | Holly Wins Bonus Injury Risk | +11 |
| 49 | Emerson Hancock | SEA | Holly Quality Starts | -2 |
| 50 | Noah Cameron | KC | Holly Ratio Focused | -5 |
| 51 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | Hipster Quality Starts | -1 |
| 52 | Hunter Brown | HOU | Hipster Quality Starts Injury Risk | +3 |
| 53 | Ranger SuarezT7 | BOS | Toby Quality Starts | -11 |
| 54 | Joey Cantillo | CLE | Frizzle Strikeout Upside | -8 |
| 55 | Eduardo Rodriguez | ARI | Vargas Rule Quality Starts | -7 |
| 56 | Shane Bieber | TOR | Frizzle Rotation Spot Bonus | +14 |
| 57 | Tyler Mahle | ATL | Vargas Rule Quality Starts | - |
| 58 | Brandon Pfaadt | ARI | Vargas Rule Quality Starts | - |
| 59 | Christian ScottT8 | NYM | Toby Hipster Strikeout Upside | +1 |
| 60 | Sean Manaea | NYM | Hipster Ratio Focused | -4 |
| 61 | Griffin Jax | TB | Ace Potential Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | +UR |
| 62 | Jackson Jobe | DET | Hipster Rotation Spot Bonus Stash Option Injury Risk | -11 |
| 63 | Michael King | SD | Hipster Quality Starts | -11 |
| 64 | George Klassen | LAA | Frizzle | +22 |
| 65 | George Kirby | SEA | Hipster Quality Starts | -29 |
| 66 | Michael WachaT9 | KC | Toby Quality Starts | +7 |
| 67 | Foster Griffin | CLE | Toby Quality Starts | +8 |
| 68 | Brayan Bello | BOS | Toby Wins Bonus | -7 |
| 69 | Shane Baz | BAL | Toby Quality Starts | +8 |
| 70 | Will Warren | NYY | Toby Wins Bonus | +10 |
| 71 | Nick Martinez | TB | Toby Quality Starts | +3 |
| 72 | Matthew Boyd | CHC | Toby Quality Starts Injury Risk | +4 |
| 73 | Clay Holmes | CHC | Toby Wins Bonus Injury Risk | -10 |
| 74 | Roki SasakiT10 | LAD | Hipster Strikeout Upside | -3 |
| 75 | José Soriano | TOR | Hipster Strikeout Upside | -10 |
| 76 | Taj Bradley | MIN | Hipster Strikeout Upside | -8 |
| 77 | Connor Prielipp | MIN | Hipster Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | +5 |
| 78 | Nick Lodolo | CIN | Hipster Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | -25 |
| 79 | Landen Roupp | SF | Hipster Quality Starts | -1 |
| 80 | Bryce Miller | SEA | Hipster Strikeout Upside Injury Risk | -14 |
| 81 | Bubba Chandler | PIT | Hipster Strikeout Upside | -2 |
| 82 | Framber Valdez | DET | Hipster Quality Starts | +1 |
| 83 | Cal QuantrillT11 | TEX | Vargas Rule Quality Starts | +UR |
| 84 | Shane Drohan | MIL | Frizzle Rotation Spot Bonus | +UR |
| 85 | Quinn Mathews | STL | Frizzle Rotation Spot Bonus | +UR |
| 86 | Cristian Javier | HOU | Frizzle Strikeout Upside | -1 |
| 87 | Anthony Kay | CHW | Frizzle Ratio Focused | +4 |
| 88 | Aaron Nola | PHI | Vargas Rule Quality Starts | +UR |
| 89 | Zebby Matthews | MIN | Frizzle Strikeout Upside | +UR |
| 90 | Adrian HouserT12 | SF | Streaming Option Wins Bonus | +8 |
| 91 | David Peterson | CHC | Streaming Option Wins Bonus | +UR |
| 92 | Jake Bennett | BOS | Streaming Option Wins Bonus | +2 |
| 93 | Cody Bradford | TEX | Streaming Option Quality Starts | -5 |
| 94 | Dean Kremer | MIN | Streaming Option Quality Starts | -4 |
| 95 | Keider Montero | DET | Streaming Option Ratio Focused | -3 |
| 96 | Hayden Wesneski | HOU | Streaming Option Wins Bonus | +UR |
| 97 | Martín Pérez | ATL | Streaming Option Wins Bonus | -4 |
| 98 | Zac Thornton | NYM | Streaming Option Ratio Focused | +1 |
| 99 | Kumar Rocker | TEX | Streaming Option Strikeout Upside | +UR |
| 100 | Andrew Alvarez | WSH | Streaming Option Strikeout Upside | +UR |
Labels Legend
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
