As we take a look at the RotoProspects fantasy baseball rankings and projections, we see that a dominant starting pitcher can anchor your fantasy team, providing stability in wins, strikeouts, and ratios. This year’s rankings feature an exciting mix of established aces, emerging stars, and high-upside arms.
Here at RotoProspects, we provide 2026 Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Rankings and Projections, broken into tiers. You can check out the entire list of the top 60 starting pitchers broken into tiers by clicking here (subscription required).
Here’s a quick look at the first tier.
Tier 1: Triple-Crown contenders and rotation anchors
1. Tarik Skubal (DET): The reigning gold standard of pitching, Skubal (pictured above) enters 2026 as the projected leader in strikeouts (238) and WHIP (0.98). His elite command and 5.2 K/BB ratio make him the safest bet for a sub-3.00 ERA while carrying a massive workload.
2. Paul Skenes (PIT): Skenes has quickly become a top-tier force, pairing a triple-digit heater with a devastating “splinker” that fuels a projected 10.8 K/9. Despite his youth, his ability to navigate deep into games while maintaining elite efficiency makes him a premier 200-strikeout candidate.
3. Garrett Crochet (BOS): Now the ace in Boston, Crochet remains the king of the swing-and-miss with a position-leading 11.1 K/9 projection. His transition to a full-season starter has been seamless, and his high-octane left-handed profile is a nightmare for even the best lineups in the AL East.
4. Bryan Woo (SEA): Woo has emerged as a control specialist with elite results, boasting a projected 1.9 BB/9 that keeps his WHIP among the league’s best. His ability to limit hard contact while pitching in the friendly confines of Seattle makes him a high-floor anchor for any rotation.
5. Chris Sale (ATL): The veteran southpaw continues to defy age, maintaining a projected 11.0 K/9 and a sub-1.10 WHIP in Atlanta’s potent system. While his total innings are projected lower than some others in this tier, his per-inning dominance is still elite enough to carry a fantasy staff.
6. Logan Gilbert (SEA): Gilbert is the definition of a high-volume workhorse, combining a deep arsenal with pinpoint control (2.1 BB/9). He provides a very safe floor for quality starts and strikeouts, making him the perfect Tier 1 stabilizer for managers who value durability.
7. Cristopher Sanchez (PHI): Sanchez has mastered the art of the ground ball, using a heavy sinker to produce a projected 3.15 ERA across nearly 200 innings. His elite efficiency allows him to pitch deep into games, making him a primary target for those in quality start and innings pitched leagues.
8. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD): Yamamoto enters his third MLB season with a refined toolkit, projected for a 9.8 K/9 and 12 wins in the Dodgers’ powerhouse rotation. His ability to suppress runs and maintain a low WHIP makes him a foundational piece for any championship build.
9. Jacob deGrom (TEX): When he’s on the mound, deGrom remains arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball, projected for a 10.1 K/9 and an elite 1.05 WHIP. While health is always the primary concern, his per-start upside is high enough to warrant a spot in the premier tier.
10. Logan Webb (SF): The ultimate “bulk” starter, Webb is projected to lead the position with 202 innings pitched while maintaining a steady 3.24 ERA. His ability to eat innings and suppress home runs makes him the backbone of any staff that needs guaranteed volume.
11. George Kirby (SEA): Kirby remains the league’s preeminent strike-thrower, leading the first tier with a projected 1.7 BB/9. This surgical precision leads to a league-best 5.1 K/BB ratio, ensuring his WHIP stays low even when the defense isn’t helping him out.
| No. | TIER 1 – PROJECTIONS | Age | IP | ERA | W | SO | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | K/BB |
| 1 | Tarik Skubal, Det | 29 | 195 | 2.62 | 15 | 238 | 0.98 | 10.4 | 2.0 | 5.2 |
| 2 | Paul Skenes, Pit | 24 | 187 | 2.79 | 14 | 226 | 1.05 | 10.8 | 2.3 | 4.6 |
| 3 | Garrett Crochet, Bos | 27 | 197 | 2.97 | 15 | 245 | 1.07 | 11.1 | 2.3 | 4.7 |
| 4 | Bryan Woo, Sea | 26 | 190 | 3.30 | 14 | 196 | 1.05 | 9.2 | 1.9 | 4.6 |
| 5 | Chris Sale, Atl | 37 | 161 | 3.10 | 12 | 197 | 1.09 | 11.0 | 2.4 | 4.4 |
| 6 | Logan Gilbert, Sea | 29 | 164 | 3.24 | 11 | 181 | 1.06 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 4.8 |
| 7 | Cristopher Sanchez, Phi | 29 | 193 | 3.15 | 14 | 193 | 1.14 | 9.0 | 2.2 | 3.9 |
| 8 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto, LAD | 27 | 160 | 3.30 | 12 | 170 | 1.11 | 9.8 | 2.8 | 3.6 |
| 9 | Jacob deGrom, Tex | 38 | 164 | 3.43 | 11 | 185 | 1.05 | 10.1 | 2.2 | 4.8 |
| 10 | Logan Webb, SF | 29 | 202 | 3.24 | 13 | 191 | 1.17 | 8.6 | 2.1 | 4.2 |
| 11 | George Kirby, Sea | 28 | 168 | 3.42 | 12 | 168 | 1.10 | 9.0 | 1.7 | 5.1 |
Tier 2: High-volume workhorses and strikeout specialists
12. Zack Wheeler (PHI): Still pitching at an elite level at age 36, Wheeler remains a top-tier volume play with a projected 15 wins and 213 strikeouts across nearly 200 innings. His ability to maintain a sub-1.10 WHIP while leading a powerhouse Phillies rotation makes him a rock-solid SP1 for those who miss out on the younger Tier 1 arms.
13. Hunter Brown (HOU): Brown has fully refined his command, translating his elite raw stuff into a projected 9.7 K/9 and a healthy 181-inning workload. As a primary beneficiary of the Astros’ winning culture, he offers high win potential paired with a strikeout floor that keeps him at the front of Tier 2.
14. Jesus Luzardo (PHI): Now flourishing in Philadelphia, the left-hander provides a high-strikeout profile (10.0 K/9) that thrives under the spotlight of a contender. While his ERA is projected slightly higher than the elite tier, his ability to rack up 197 strikeouts makes him a vital asset for managers chasing category dominance.
15. Cole Ragans (KC): Ragans continues to be a Statcast darling, boasting a projected 11.0 K/9 that rivals the best in the sport. His 3.5 K/BB ratio shows his growing maturity as an ace, and if he can push his workload past 160 innings, he has the ceiling to jump into Tier 1 by mid-season.
16. Joe Ryan (MIN): A WHIP specialist, Ryan’s elite “Invisi-ball” fastball leads to a projected 1.08 mark and a steady 4.7 K/BB ratio. He remains one of the most reliable sources of low-ratio innings in the American League, providing a very safe floor for competitive rotations.
17. Max Fried (NYY): Making his Bronx debut, Fried brings his elite groundball profile and a projected 3.32 ERA to the Yankees. His ability to suppress runs and navigate deep into games ensures high win potential, even if his 8.5 K/9 sits slightly lower than the high-strikeout specialists in this tier.
18. Dylan Cease (TOR): Now anchoring the Blue Jays’ staff, Cease remains a premier source of strikeouts (10.5 K/9) despite a projected 3.63 ERA. He is the ideal target for managers who have already secured WHIP stability and need a high-volume strikeout engine to climb the standings.
19. Framber Valdez (DET): The ultimate “Quality Start” machine, Valdez provides a projected 190 innings of heavy sinkers and efficiency. His move to Detroit’s pitcher-friendly environment should help him maintain his 3.47 ERA, making him a high-floor veteran for any deep-league staff.
20. Shohei Ohtani (LAD): Returning to the mound in a calculated “volume-controlled” role, Ohtani offers elite per-inning production with a projected 10.8 K/9. While his 117-inning projection limits his counting stats, the elite ratios and win potential per start make him a high-impact luxury pick.
21. Emmet Sheehan (LAD): Sheehan has emerged as a breakout star in the Dodgers’ system, pairing a 10.5 K/9 with a refined 1.16 WHIP. With a full season in the rotation ahead of him, he represents the high-upside youth movement that can provide Tier 1 production at a Tier 2 cost.
22. Nick Pivetta (SD): Moving to the spacious confines of San Diego, Pivetta’s high-spin arsenal is projected for 187 strikeouts and a steady 3.84 ERA. He remains an underrated source of volume and strikeouts, especially for those in leagues that reward K/9 and durability.
23. Freddy Peralta (NYM): Now in Queens, Peralta continues to offer elite “stuff” with a projected 9.9 K/9 and 12 wins. While his walk rate can occasionally elevate his WHIP, his ability to dominate any given lineup makes him a high-ceiling SP2/3.
24. Nathan Eovaldi (TEX): Eovaldi remains a postseason-tested workhorse, providing a projected 3.72 ERA and elite command (2.4 BB/9). His veteran presence in the Rangers’ rotation guarantees steady innings and competitive win potential for managers seeking stability.
25. Sonny Gray (BOS): Rounding out the top 25, Gray’s move to Boston has allowed him to maintain his elite 9.5 K/9 while pitching in a competitive environment. His 1.20 WHIP and veteran savvy make him the perfect final piece for a well-rounded fantasy rotation.
| No. | TIER 2 – PROJECTIONS | Age | IP | ERA | W | SO | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 | K/BB |
| 12 | Zack Wheeler, Phi | 36 | 199 | 3.24 | 15 | 213 | 1.07 | 9.7 | 2.3 | 4.2 |
| 13 | Hunter Brown, Hou | 27 | 181 | 3.40 | 12 | 196 | 1.18 | 9.7 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| 14 | Jesus Luzardo, PHI | 28 | 177 | 3.63 | 12 | 197 | 1.18 | 10.0 | 2.8 | 3.5 |
| 15 | Cole Ragans, KC | 28 | 158 | 3.41 | 11 | 196 | 1.16 | 11.0 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| 16 | Joe Ryan, Min | 30 | 158 | 3.72 | 11 | 171 | 1.08 | 9.8 | 2.1 | 4.7 |
| 17 | Max Fried, NYY | 32 | 184 | 3.32 | 14 | 176 | 1.17 | 8.5 | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| 18 | Dylan Cease, Tor | 30 | 173 | 3.63 | 12 | 202 | 1.21 | 10.5 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
| 19 | Framber Valdez, Det | 32 | 190 | 3.47 | 13 | 178 | 1.24 | 8.4 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| 20 | Shohei Ohtani, LAD | 31 | 117 | 3.30 | 9 | 137 | 1.11 | 10.8 | 2.9 | 3.7 |
| 21 | Emmet Sheehan, LAD | 26 | 141 | 3.71 | 10 | 164 | 1.16 | 10.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| 22 | Nick Pivetta, SD | 33 | 172 | 3.84 | 11 | 187 | 1.16 | 9.8 | 2.7 | 3.6 |
| 23 | Freddy Peralta, NYM | 30 | 163 | 3.79 | 12 | 180 | 1.20 | 9.9 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| 24 | Nathan Eovaldi, Tex | 36 | 163 | 3.72 | 11 | 157 | 1.17 | 8.6 | 2.4 | 3.5 |
| 25 | Sonny Gray, Bos | 36 | 174 | 3.75 | 12 | 184 | 1.20 | 9.5 | 2.4 | 3.9 |
Get our Full Rankings and Projections for each position
Don’t head into your draft with just a list of names. Our full fantasy baseball rankings projections include C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, DH, SP and RP, all organized by tiers and available with a link to an easy-to-print PDF format.