{"id":555341,"date":"2026-03-31T02:40:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T02:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/555341\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:40:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T02:40:08","slug":"top-100-starting-pitchers-for-2026-fantasy-baseball-3-30-week-2-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/555341\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 100 Starting Pitchers For 2026 Fantasy Baseball: 3\/30 Week 2 Rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have questions? My \u201coffice hours\u201d are on Twitch 10:00 am \u2013 12:00 pm ET Monday \u2013 Friday<\/a> + the aforementioned stream of The List.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time for regular updates to THE LIST, where I rank the best 100 starting pitchers in baseball every week.<\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n

This is 5\u00d75, 12-teamer, H2H format focused. It generally is the same as roto as well, but make sure you adjust accordingly.
\nBefore the notes and rankings, an injury table outlines where players would be relatively ranked if they were fully healthy. It\u2019s the best way to tackle how to value players on the IL.
\nIf a player is on the IL or\u00a0not\u00a0confirmed inside the rotation, they aren\u2019t 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).
\nSince this is a 12-teamer, I\u00a0heavily\u00a0weigh upside in the back-half of the rankings. The\u00a0HIPSTER players are likely going to underperform those labeled as a Toby across a full season, but it\u2019s in your best interest to chase ceiling vs. floor in many cases. Pick the one that you need most in your situation, of course.
\nI\u2019ve 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.
\nThe notes outline oh-so-much to help your team. Please read the notes if you can instead of just scrolling to the bottom.<\/p>\n

Before we begin, here is the Top 100 List table without scrolling for those with PL Pro:<\/p>\n

With this update of The List coming the day of Opening Night, I\u2019ve taken all of our injured compatriots and thrown them into a separate table. Injuries are so strange (especially in spring training)\u00a0and instead of shoving them at random moments on The List, I\u2019ve elected to throw all of them into one table here for you, the wise fantasy manager, to determine if they are worthwhile to stash on your teams or not.<\/p>\n

Injured Pitchers Who Will Be Considered When Healthy<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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\u2019d be ranked when at full strength.<\/p>\n

I also get many questions about stashing minor league SPs and it\u2019s not my best strength. I spend a ton of energy on SPs currently inside rotations that it\u2019s difficult to stay on top of the budding minor league arms. That said, I have a\u00a0very loose\u00a0SP stash list, that is all about \u201cIf this guy were up right now, would he be an auto-add or a spec-add?\u201d, with a sprinkle of favoring their ETA.<\/p>\n

Treat it s a bonus table, not a proclamation of the future. It\u2019s just a general idea and I\u2019m sure I\u2019m missing someone or may have one or two guys flipped in time. I have highlighted in green the guys I think who will be up before the ASB and make a solid impact:<\/p>\n

Nick\u2019s Loose Minor League SPs to Consider Stashing<\/p>\n

Lastly, I\u00a0heavily\u00a0recommend you follow my daily SP Roundup<\/a> that outlines all pitcher performances through the season, as each week\u2019s update will reflect the comments and findings from those daily articles. If you\u2019re unfamiliar with some of the players listed, I highly recommend reading my 75,000+ word Top 400 Starting Pitchers<\/a> from February. Many things will have changed, but the root of my perception of these players is outlined there.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n

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Ranking Notes<\/p>\n

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This is your reminder to please read these notes as they\u2019ll tell you plenty about why \u201csomeone moved up\u201d or \u201cwhy is he at #X?!\u201d
\nSeriously. Read the notes.
\nI HAVE MOVED IL ARMS OFF THE LIST. It\u2019s the reason why a lot of arms have gone up.
\nI know there are going to be a ton of comments about I hate how much these rankings change each week\u00a0and I\u2019m going to get out ahead of them here.
\nThese rankings mostly change in the back half of The List as that\u2019s your waiver wire. Those aren\u2019t the players you hold onto throughout the year like your SPs 1-4, which means we\u2019re going to be a bit more chaotic and roll with the waves more aggressively. If I see elements that suggest a pitcher could\u00a0be a Top 40 arm, I\u2019m going to move up a ton from the 80s to the 60s. Shazam, there we go.<\/p>\n

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Tier 1 \u2013 The True Aces<\/p>\n

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1. Garrett Crochet<\/a> \u2013 Aces.<\/p>\n

2. Paul Skenes<\/a> \u2013 Gonna. (Yes, you\u2019re still second despite opening day.)<\/p>\n

3. Tarik Skubal<\/a> \u2013 Ace. Please don\u2019t yell at me about Skubal as #3. Just favor him if you want. I\u2019m also shifting very few of the Top 40 after just a handful of games thus far. Don\u2019t expect major moves here for a few weeks.<\/p>\n

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Tier 2 \u2013 AGA With Something To Prove<\/p>\n

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4. Bryan Woo<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019s Wheeler 2.0.<\/p>\n

5. Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/a> \u2013\u00a0There\u2019s no more six-man rotation! I\u2019m kinda shocked and now it\u2019s\u00a0really\u00a0close between him and Woo. I stand by Bryan, and I have no problem with anyone who prefers Yamamoto.<\/p>\n

6. Hunter Brown<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019s already sitting 97 mph again with a better four-seamer. Only worry is a six-man and lack of secondary support.<\/p>\n

7. Cristopher S\u00e1nchez<\/a> \u2013 Sinker gained movement last year + tighter slider. Love that.<\/p>\n

8. Max Fried<\/a> \u2013 His ratios are absurdly safe + great win potential. Surprising to see him succeed out of the gate for once.<\/p>\n

9. Shohei Ohtani<\/a> \u2013\u00a0But he\u2019ll be limited!\u00a0How much, really? He threw 81 pitches in his final spring out, striking out eleven batters in twelve outs. I THINK HE\u2019S OKAY.<\/p>\n

10. Jacob deGrom<\/a> \u2013\u00a0He was skipped over the weekend with a stiff neck and all we can do is hope he\u2019s fine.<\/p>\n

11. Logan Gilbert<\/a> \u2013 Gilbert had a strain last season and I\u2019m concerned it\u2019ll appear again. The talent is incredible, though, and in a phenomenal situation.<\/p>\n

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Tier 3 \u2013 Just Stay On The Field<\/p>\n

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12. Logan Webb<\/a> \u2013 If you\u2019re actually judging Webb for his poor opening day outing, I don\u2019t know what to tell you. Maybe \u201cDon\u2019t do that\u201d?<\/p>\n

13. Freddy Peralta<\/a> \u2013 Peralta has been oddly consistent despite his Professor Chaos nickname. Save for his Mets debut. Ignore it.<\/p>\n

14. Chris Sale<\/a> \u2013 I\u2019m more worried about Sale being injury prone, despite the freak incidents. Not everyone fractures a rib diving for a ball.<\/p>\n

15. Cole Ragans<\/a> \u2013 Rotator Cuff strains are no joke. Y\u2019all know I love him, but I recognize the risks. He wasn\u2019t sharp in his first start, either, featuring lower velocity than ideal. Many are down a little now, though.<\/p>\n

16. George Kirby<\/a> \u2013 Kirby\u2019s slider is absurd and if he wields it correctly, 30% strikeouts are coming. Correction: If he throws inside sinkers to RHB, 30% strikeouts are coming. Why? Because batters are currently laning the slider \u2013 if RHB see an inside pitch, it\u2019s the slider going away. If they see an outside pitch, it\u2019s a fastball coming back. You\u2019re so close, Kirby.<\/p>\n

17. Tyler Glasnow<\/a> \u2013 Even at 130 IP, I love that in a 12-teamer when Glasnow obliterates when healthy.<\/p>\n

18. Joe Ryan<\/a> \u2013\u00a0He looked great in his first start of the year. Atta boy.<\/p>\n

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Tier 4 \u2013 So Dang Close To Greatness<\/p>\n

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19. Cam Schlittler<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019s just too good. I\u2019m amazed I have him this high and yet, I watch him with an expanded arsenal (sinker now and better cutter!) and I can\u2019t help myself.<\/p>\n

20. Kyle Bradish<\/a> \u2013 Slider and Curve are cooking, leaning into sinker more than four-seamer vs. RHB is a lovely thing. I wish his velocity didn\u2019t dip in his final frame, but you can blame the cold weather for that.<\/p>\n

21. Jes\u00fas Luzardo<\/a> \u2013 I\u2019m shocked I have him this high, but he\u2019s gained three inches of drop on his sinker and started to use it against RHB. It\u2019s a great plan given how poor of a four-seamer he has. Think normal Luzardo but fewer extremes if he\u2019s suddenly a groundball guy + destroy LHBs.<\/p>\n

22. Eury P\u00e9rez<\/a> \u2013 Four-seamer is elite, and I\u2019m expecting more growth in the TJS honeymoon season.<\/p>\n

23. Framber Valdez<\/a> \u2013 He can be oh-so-frustrating, but the curveball is looking good so far and he\u2019ll likely be a strong force all year.<\/p>\n

24. Nolan McLean<\/a> \u2013 McLean has already improved his sweeper and curve to ridiculous levels, while leaning into a cutter to deal with LHB. I\u2019m a believer now.<\/p>\n

25. Nick Pivetta<\/a> \u2013 I fell for him until the news of arm fatigue. Then he pitched and threw harder than last year. I\u2019m so glad we\u2019re past that.<\/p>\n

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Tier 5 \u2013 Quality Volume<\/p>\n

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26. Kevin Gausman<\/a> \u2013 He is who he is. And that\u2019s fine with me.<\/p>\n

27. Shota Imanaga<\/a> \u2013 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, with elite pitch separation between the four-seamer and splitter. I\u2019m so in.<\/p>\n

28. Nathan Eovaldi<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019s healthy and that\u2019s all I need to see. He had a sub 2.00 ERA in 130 IP, ya\u2019ll.<\/p>\n

29. Trevor Rogers<\/a> \u2013 The SWATCH life is real. He\u2019s also improved his fastball since last season.<\/p>\n

30. Sandy Alcantara<\/a> \u2013 His four-seamer and sinker overpower, with a dominant changeup, and now there\u2019s a cutter. Expect far better, though I have to put him underneath others who have been productive for longer more recently.<\/p>\n

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Tier 5.5 \u2013 The Pitcher List Hall Of Famers<\/p>\n

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Hey there. You might not know that we now have Lifetime Subscriptions at Pitcher List open for a limited time. We\u2019re nearing our initial goal of 100 members before we close the subscription \u2013 act soon if you want to be a Pitcher List Hall Of Famer! \u2013 Sign-up for a Lifetime PL Pro Subscription here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Tier 6 \u2013 Why Do I Feel So Scared?<\/p>\n

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31. Dylan Cease<\/a> \u2013\u00a0That first start was something else, eh?\u00a0So why is he still in Tier 6?\u00a0Because who knows what tomorrow will bring.\u00a0But the new changeup!\u00a0Uh huh. Cease is well known as a \u201cthrower, not pitcher,\u201d and I\u2019ll believe it when he executes consistently for\u00a0multiple\u00a0starts.<\/p>\n

32. Jacob Misiorowski<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019s dope, and I\u2019m intrigued that he reduced his extension to a still-elite 7.2 feet, which correlated with improved four-seamer location at the top of the zone. I\u2019m so curious to see if that sticks.<\/p>\n

33. Bubba Chandler<\/a> \u2013 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 and I find it hard to envision a season where he hurts your teams.<\/p>\n

34. Chase Burns<\/a> \u2013 I prefer Burns\u2019 skills to Jay Mis, but his whole limited usage situation and six-man rotation that is now\u00a0not\u00a0six-man because of Lodolo\u2019s injury is strange. He also returned to four-seamer\/slider instead of an expanded arsenal by the end of the spring.<\/p>\n

35. Kris Bubic<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019s at 92 mph and looking healthy. Sure, there are health concerns, but in your 12-teamers, I\u2019m favoring quality early from healthy arms more than volume for the full season past the fifth tier.<\/p>\n

36. MacKenzie Gore<\/a> \u2013 The move to Texas will help immensely. This is the breakout season we\u2019ve been waiting for\u2026if he can find a little more consistency with his command. He\u2019s testing a sinker to LHB now, though! YAY!<\/p>\n

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Tier 7 \u2013 Youngins\u2019 with a pair of Chaperones<\/p>\n

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37. Drew Rasmussen<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019s stupid hard to hit and now gets a much better home park. Downside is just 150 IP, and a slight question of skill degradation.<\/p>\n

38. Robbie Ray<\/a> \u2013 I could have put him in the next tier down, but I highly doubt we\u2019ll be pulling Ray out of our lineups again like we did in September of last season.<\/p>\n

39. Michael King<\/a> \u2013\u00a0He finally looked like King. The fastball command and the way he works counts\u2026I see it again. Not\u00a0totally\u00a0there, but so much further along than in the spring.\u00a0Phew.<\/p>\n

40. Connelly Early<\/a> \u2013\u00a0He looked solid. Not absurd stud, but solid. And for his first start in a rotation out of camp, that\u2019s lovely. It\u2019s a deep arsenal with an array of above-average pitches and solid command, and he could improve steadily across the year.<\/p>\n

41. Cade Horton<\/a> \u2013 Horton\u2019s four-seamer is a legit cut-fastball and with the Cubs defense, he\u2019s a surprise quality volume arm with more strikeout potential to find.<\/p>\n

42. Sonny Gray<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019s Sonny and Gray. The volatility is annoying, but he\u2019ll help in the end. The strikeout uptick lately is real with sweeper and sinker command.<\/p>\n

43. Shane Baz<\/a> \u2013\u00a0The result wasn\u2019t pretty, but the stuff and approach was lovely. He got burned by a two-out, three-run double on a 98 mph four-seamer at the top of the zone. The quality is there.<\/p>\n

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Tier 8 \u2013 I Just Can\u2019t Help Myself<\/p>\n

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44. Shane McClanahan<\/a> \u2013 He was 93 mph then 94 mph in his first two starts, and his last outing was\u2026fine. It\u2019s 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. I dig the home park and his legit changeup with two solid breakers to pair with the now 94\/95 mph four-seamer.<\/p>\n

45. Ryan Weathers<\/a> \u2013\u00a0He hasn\u2019t pitched yet and faces the Mariners Monday night.\u00a0You got this.<\/p>\n

46. Tatsuya Imai<\/a> \u2013 Imai has a super flat four-seamer that he couldn\u2019t command, with a splitter that went 0\/7 strikes, and a slider that helped him crawl to the finish line. That\u2019s not the Imai we\u2019ll see \u2013 he was a control guy in the NPB \u2013 and I think it has to do with getting acclimated. The ball, the team, the environment, etc. I\u2019m hand-waving the first outing, but it may be a few more before he gets his feet underneath him.<\/p>\n

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Tier 9 \u2013 Innings But Are They Worth It?<\/p>\n

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47. Aaron Nola<\/a> \u2013 I see last year as a lost year. His skills are still present and I\u2019m buying back in.<\/p>\n

48. Matthew Boyd<\/a> \u2013 Boyd earned all the whiffs and had a rough frame. All good.<\/p>\n

49. Edward Cabrera<\/a> \u2013 We have yet to see a season from Cabrera where he\u2019s fully in rhythm and consistent with his mix, and he sure didn\u2019t look polished in the spring. I dig the situation, though.<\/p>\n

50. Andrew Abbott<\/a> \u2013 Abbott was Abbott, for the most part. Still a little uneasy about his overall feel and the home park, but we\u2019re riding with this.<\/p>\n

51. Zac Gallen<\/a> \u2013\u00a0We\u2019re one game down in his terrible opening schedule, and he should be a solid play in a few weeks, likely with one or two suprise starts on the way.<\/p>\n

52. Kodai Senga<\/a> \u2013 Velocity is up on the four-seamer, and I realized he should be right where the rest of these potential Holly types should go, as a guy who can earn a QS each night on the bump. Wish the cutter was a little better, though.<\/p>\n

53. Ranger Su\u00e1rez<\/a> \u2013 If Su\u00e1rez can find his rhythm early, he\u2019ll be solid for another year as he goes underrated for the nth straight year. He\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0found that rhythm in the spring, though, and you may get some FOMO looking at Tier 10. Your call.<\/p>\n

54. Gavin Williams<\/a> \u2013\u00a0It was not a fun outing with Gavin struggling to find the timing of his lower half mechanics, as he outlined in the post-game interview. All we can do is hope he fixes it ASAP.<\/p>\n

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Tier 10 \u2013 What Did I Do?!<\/p>\n

55. Cody Ponce<\/a> \u2013\u00a0It\u2019s the crew of \u201cHaven\u2019t pitched yet\u201d and I expect them to be beneficial for your squads, like Ponce with his 96 mph heater.<\/p>\n

56. Kyle Harrison<\/a> \u2013New changeup is dope and he\u2019s at 94+ mph. Can he command it all? May be super difficult given the new blister caused by said changeup, and despite in spring after the injury and featuring the pitch, he displayed poor ability to put it where he wanted to.<\/p>\n

57. Zach Eflin<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Overlooked after adding a tick of velocity this spring following back surgery. Great situation in Baltimore.<\/p>\n

58. Braxton Ashcraft<\/a> \u2013\u00a0The slider is dope, but he has little experience going deep into games and the four-seamer is Empty Velocity. I worry it\u2019s not enough, but let\u2019s take a shot and see what happens.<\/p>\n

59. Andrew Painter<\/a> \u2013 Worth a shot given the opportunity. I\u2019m not seeing the precision he needs, nor anything close to the 100+ velocity he had at 19 years old (he\u2019s around 95\/96 mph). Kinda love the four-seamer\u2019s cut-action, but he needs to spot it well to take advantage against LHB, while RHB should get sinkers and a slew of secondaries instead.<\/p>\n

60. Brandon Woodruff<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Woody is in the rotation to begin the year and hopefully it\u2019s good? His velocity was fine initially and fell plenty in his final spring outing, which likely spells limited usage early and a possible return to the IL in time. Be very cautious here.<\/p>\n

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Tier 11 \u2013 Fine, You Need Some Innings<\/p>\n

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61. Will Warren<\/a> \u2013\u00a0The arsenal is back to mostly four-seamer\/sinker, but he\u00a0is\u00a0up a tick in velocity. Here\u2019s to hoping the secondary whiffs return.<\/p>\n

62. Ryne Nelson<\/a> \u2013\u00a0His four-seamer is still elite and the early schedule is annoying. Should be a stable arm across the season.<\/p>\n

63. Luis Castillo<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Love him at home, worry on the road, and I\u2019m terrified that he\u2019ll fall off across the season as the four-seamer velocity drops. Maybe the new cutter will save him?<\/p>\n

64. Noah Cameron<\/a> \u2013\u00a0I want to believe he\u2019ll be better in his sophomore season, and yet, he\u2019s looked ragged this spring. I\u2019ve found myself pushing Cameron further and further down my board during drafts and realized \u201cI don\u2019t need to chase this.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Tier 12 \u2013 \u201cTake Chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy!\u201d<\/p>\n

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65. Tanner Bibee<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Is he okay?! He was removed with shoulder inflammation after featuring over 18\u2033 of vert \u2013\u00a0a near four inch jump from last year\u2019s mark. That completely transformed Bibee from a deadzone heater with an inconsistent cutter and changeup to a\u00a0legit\u00a0fastball foundation where the cutter and change can become secondary cast members.\u00a0But is he healthy\u2026?<\/p>\n

66. Randy V\u00e1squez<\/a> \u2013\u00a0That outing was so fun. High heaters for whiffs, a phenomenal curveball, a confident cutter, changeup, sinker, etc. Great arsenal depth mixed with solid stuff and the ability to go six frames. Sign me up.<\/p>\n

67. Emmet Sheehan<\/a> \u2013\u00a0I don\u2019t know what they are doing with him. The velocity was once again cruising early, before plummeting in the fourth, and it\u2019s terrifying. It\u2019s early in the year.\u00a0Sure, but do you think he\u2019ll just keep starting and be totally fine? It\u2019s possible and why he\u2019s still inside the Top 70 (he\u2019s Top 50 easily if all is okay), but it\u2019s concerning.<\/p>\n

68. Brandon Sproat<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Well that was terrible.\u00a0How dare you rank him inside the Top 70!\u00a0Uhhh, do you think he\u2019s going to have that kind of command every start?! Sure, it\u2019s unclear if he\u2019ll find his groove as soon as his next outing, but the stuff is still legit (even better than last season) and he has a massive runway if he locks in. I\u2019m still a believer.<\/p>\n

69. Mike Burrows<\/a> \u2013\u00a0The new slider is great, but the changeup and fastballs were not. Like Sproat, I\u2019m not ready to jump ship yet, but I don\u2019t blame you if you do.<\/p>\n

70. Max Meyer<\/a> \u2013\u00a0The 90 mph gyro slider + 88 mph sweeper make one of the filthier secondary combos out there. And the changeup was cool, too! Sadly, we\u2019ve seen the velocity drop with more starts before, while I question if his heaters are good enough.<\/p>\n

71. Mick Abel<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Since the Twins don\u2019t need a fifth starter during their opening turn, Abel was pushed into the pen to relieve\u00a0Bailey Ober<\/a>\u00a0and it was\u00a0dreadful. At least he was on your bench for many of you and with the first game out of the way, the dominance can begin. Here\u2019s to the Shag Rug only making that sole appearance.<\/p>\n

72. Emerson Hancock<\/a> \u2013\u00a0That Sunday night outing was AWESOME. His four-seamer was down 1-2 ticks, but had a bit extra vert and he dotted the pitcher up in the zone with ease to take down the LHB-heavy Guardians. Sadly, I don\u2019t trust that he\u2019ll have this peak fastball command consistently, nor do I trust consistent success with a 77\/78 mph sweeper as the #2 pitch. He\u2019ll get the RHB-focused Angels next, which will require a different approach and I worry it won\u2019t go well. This felt like a massive outlier.<\/p>\n

73. Parker Messick<\/a> \u2013\u00a0He hasn\u2019t started yet but will get the Dodgers and Cubs.\u00a0Ugh.\u00a0There\u2019s legit potential to become a Holly.<\/p>\n

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Tier 14 \u2013 This Will Do For Now<\/p>\n

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74. Max Scherzer<\/a> \u2013\u00a0He gets Rockie Road to start and we\u2019ll take it from there.<\/p>\n

75. Brandon Williamson<\/a> \u2013\u00a0It\u2019s the Pirates for Williamson in his first outing and I see a potential QS darling with a great cutter inside to RHB.<\/p>\n

76. Rhett Lowder<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Lowder impressed me with a solid changeup and breaker with fastballs that are somehow avoiding damage. Don\u2019t overlook him, especially in deeper leagues.<\/p>\n

77. Matthew Liberatore<\/a> \u2013\u00a0I wasn\u2019t impressed in his first outing and I wonder if he\u2019ll the Spider-Man by the end of the year. Perfectly cromulent.<\/p>\n

78. David Peterson<\/a> \u2013\u00a0I don\u2019t love the lower velocity, but it was cold out. Let\u2019s hope he can throw enough strikes and keep the changeup + slider down.<\/p>\n

79. Steven Matz<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Not the best opening outing as a member of the Rays, but the Twins make for a good redemption start.<\/p>\n

80. Clay Holmes<\/a> \u2013\u00a0The Cardinals + Giants is too good to pass up, even if I worry about the WHIP hit from The Adobe over the full year.<\/p>\n

81. Joey Cantillo<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Many love him, I hate his four-seamer and overall command. He\u2019ll oscillate between a lovely eight-strikeout performance and disaster in four frames, and I\u2019m personally weighing that anxiety heavier than others. We saw it in the first outing and I\u2019m not confident to start him against the Cubs.<\/p>\n

82. Dustin May<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Boy that was a rough first outing, though he was certainly hit with a lot of bad luck. The stuff is better than we saw last year and the situation in St. Louis is a good one.<\/p>\n

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Tier 14 \u2013 We Don\u2019t Know Anything Yet<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

83. Jack Leiter<\/a> \u2013 Leiter leads a tier of pitchers we have yet to see make a start this season. Cutter is cool, sinker has absurd potential, but the command and consistency are maddening.<\/p>\n

84. Bryan Bello \u2013 Yes, the curveball is here, but the sweeper isn\u2019t, and I don\u2019t see a big enough difference between the two to say he\u2019s anything different. It\u2019s fine with a suspect WHIP.<\/p>\n

85. Landen Roupp<\/a> \u2013 Great curveball should return more whiffs this year with a stable rotation spot. I also like the cutter, change, and sinker, but he hasn\u2019t had a spring start to display his ability to wield them all across a full outing + he has a tough opening schedule.<\/p>\n

86. Chris Paddack<\/a> \u2013 He gets the ChiSox in his first start and in the low pressure environment of Miami, Paddack chould quietly thrive. It\u2019ll require him to take that final step forward with his slider, though.<\/p>\n

87. Brandon Pfaadt<\/a> \u2013 Pfaadt is experimenting with his approach once again, and hopefully taking steps in the right direction. The schedule is too tough to take the shot, especially after last year\u2019s debacle.<\/p>\n

88. Kyle Leahy<\/a> \u2013 He has a rotation spot and a legit slider + wide arsenal. I worry his 93+ mph heater is too mid, even if he has excellent extension. I wish he didn\u2019t have to get the Mets to kick off the season, and I hope to be in on him in a few weeks.<\/p>\n

89. Jacob Lopez<\/a> \u2013\u00a0We haven\u2019t seen him yet, and I\u2019m hoping it\u2019s the lovely K\/BB fella of summer.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tier 15 \u2013 Am I Actually Interested In This?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

90. Mitch Keller<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Keller was as good as I\u2019ve seen him in\u00a0years.\u00a0Extra vert and ride on both fastballs, and I want to buy in. So badly. I\u2019ve waited ages to find something in Keller to actually latch onto and I\u2019m begging him to replicate it a second game.<\/p>\n

91. Jos\u00e9 Soriano<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Soriano feasted against the Astros and I heavily regret missing that he was facing a RHB-heavy lineup to kick off the year. It allowed him to feast with his sinker and curveball, avoiding his biggest weakness: LHB. He also walked four batters and he\u2019s destined to carry a high WHIP for another year.<\/p>\n

92. Cade Cavalli<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Cavalli was forced to deal with the Cubs on opening day and while it wasn\u2019t horrific, it wasn\u2019t rewarding. I don\u2019t love chasing an arm with an elite curveball and nothing else \u2013 it\u2019s Empty Velocity, sadly.<\/p>\n

93. Taj Bradley<\/a> \u2013\u00a0He dotted a lot of heaters and had a general approach you could understand against the Orioles. Do I believe he\u2019s figured out his command after all these years? No.\u00a0But there\u2019s a chance.<\/p>\n

94. Reid Detmers<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Strikeouts flowed against the RHB-heavy Astros, though I don\u2019t love fastball\/change making up more than 80% of his approach. The splitter and curve just don\u2019t do enough.<\/p>\n

95. Anthony Kay<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Kay was messy at first, then settled in for five Ks in eight batters during a stretch. The potential is there for the 96 mph southpaw, displaying solid intent around the edges with his wide arsenal.\u00a0I can see him clicking in a few starts and soaring. Here\u2019s to hoping\u2026<\/p>\n

96. Joe Boyle<\/a> \u2013\u00a0I\u2019m shocked Boyle not only went six, but\u00a0walked none.\u00a0Maybe his tweaks are actually working? Yeah, probably not. His fastball and slider are coming in softer, too, which makes it tough to buy into the risk without the same absurd ceiling.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tier 16 \u2013 Good Enough? Maybe?<\/p>\n

97. Seth Lugo<\/a> \u2013 Ayyyy, he was alright against Atlanta. It wasn\u2019t the best stuff, but at least he has a chance to perform each night\u2026?<\/p>\n

98. Chad Patrick<\/a> \u2013 We didn\u2019t see him go long and that may be a constant problem with Patrick.<\/p>\n

99. Shane Smith<\/a> \u2013 He\u2019ll get the Marlins and hopefully Smith get find the same groove he had last year. Luck included.<\/p>\n

100. Michael Wacha<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Wacha thrived with his entire arsenal, not just the changeup, and while I want to believe he can do that again, it\u2019s hard to bank that he\u2019s suddenly a brand new pitcher. It\u2019ll likely fade against the Brewers.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wait. You forgot [THIS PITCHER]!<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll make a swift update.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 if they are not in a rotation, they are ineligible for The List.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Eduardo Rodriguez<\/a> (ARI) \u2013\u00a0We just saw Rodriguez cruise through the Dodgers lineup and you\u2019re likely upset he\u2019s not on The List now. Maybe he should be! I see it as one of those days that Eduardo was feeling his changeup and guys like him who hope to be a Toby are always capable of finding those outs.<\/p>\n

Michael Soroka<\/a> (ARI) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s not going to be in the rotation long due to Kelly, nor have we seen him perform at his peak for a while. The new cutter\/slider should help, though, and I\u2019m curious how it goes against the Tigers.<\/p>\n

Aaron Civale<\/a> (ATH) \u2013\u00a0When is the last time you\u2019ve actually been able to trust Civale?<\/p>\n

Jeffrey Springs<\/a> (ATH) \u2013\u00a0Maybe the extra vert on his four-seamer will bring more sunshine and rainbows. Probably not.<\/p>\n

Luis Morales<\/a> (ATH) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s far too chaotic and it\u2019s Empty Velocity.<\/p>\n

Bryce Elder<\/a> (ATL) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s still here.<\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 Suarez<\/a> (ATL) \u2013\u00a0When does Didier appear?\u00a0He\u2019s going to be a HIPSTER, Nick.\u00a0Probably, but hopefully Didier learns a better breaker by then and can earn more fastball whiffs.<\/p>\n

Reynaldo L\u00f3pez<\/a> (ATL) \u2013\u00a0He sat 94 mph after that ridiculous scare in the spring, and yet that\u2019s still down from his 2024 excellence + he hasn\u2019t improved his secondaries at all.<\/p>\n

Chris Bassitt<\/a> (BAL) \u2013\u00a0Maybe this is too low for an arm who has a shot to six frames for a winning team, but then again, Bassitt is so\u00a0boring.<\/p>\n

Jameson Taillon<\/a> (CHC) \u2013\u00a0Taillon was working on things in the spring and\u00a0should\u00a0be better in the regular season in time.<\/p>\n

Davis Martin<\/a> (CHW) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s fine. Arguably worth your attention this week against the Marlins, but it\u2019s too meh for me without a path for more.<\/p>\n

Erick Fedde<\/a> (CHW) \u2013\u00a0Oh, we\u2019re back with the White Sox again?\u00a0What\u2019s your agenda?!<\/p>\n

Sean Burke<\/a> (CHW) \u2013\u00a0I hope he can gain the stamina to go 96 mph all game with better secondaries.<\/p>\n

Brady Singer<\/a> (CIN) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s sinker\/slider and nothing else. I don\u2019t see why we\u2019d chase it.<\/p>\n

Slade Cecconi<\/a> (CLE) \u2013\u00a0He was two ticks down and the cutter that got me excited wasn\u2019t anything like what we wanted it to be. Bummer.<\/p>\n

Jose Quintana<\/a> (COL) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s in Colorado now.\u00a0Welp.<\/p>\n

Kyle Freeland<\/a> (COL) \u2013\u00a0Same ole, same ole.<\/p>\n

Michael Lorenzen<\/a> (COL) \u2013\u00a0You can\u2019t do anything, even with all of your strength.<\/p>\n

Ryan Feltner<\/a> (COL) \u2013\u00a0This ain\u2019t it.<\/p>\n

Tomoyuki Sugano<\/a> (COL) \u2013\u00a0I\u2019m just happy he gets regular starts.<\/p>\n

Casey Mize<\/a> (DET) \u2013\u00a0Mize struggled to find his mechanics in the spring. It\u2019s possible he finds them when he gets going.<\/p>\n

Jack Flaherty<\/a> (DET) \u2013\u00a0I was hoping to see something new to get me interested in Flaherty again.\u00a0Nope.<\/p>\n

Justin Verlander<\/a> (DET) \u2013\u00a0Close to making The List and he could settle in as a Toby.<\/p>\n

Cristian Javier<\/a> (HOU) \u2013\u00a0The command isn\u2019t there. The ceiling is so far away.<\/p>\n

Lance McCullers Jr.<\/a> (HOU) \u2013\u00a0He lacks efficiency, even if strikeouts can appear.<\/p>\n

Ryan Johnson<\/a> (LAA) \u2013\u00a0I don\u2019t see an exciting arm here.<\/p>\n

Yusei Kikuchi<\/a> (LAA) \u2013\u00a0Kikuchi\u2019s slider is still cool, but nothing else is there. Incredibly volatile.<\/p>\n

Jack Kochanowicz<\/a> (LAA) \u2013\u00a0Kochanowicz failed to display the gains of the spring.<\/p>\n

Justin Wrobleski<\/a> (LAD) \u2013\u00a0I may regret taking him off The List, and I was hoping we\u2019d have some information on when we\u2019d see him by now. At this point, you\u2019re better off locking in starts and waiting for Wrobo to appear.<\/p>\n

Roki Sasaki<\/a> (LAD) \u2013\u00a0Until he has a proper mix, I\u2019m very out on Sasaki.<\/p>\n

Janson Junk<\/a> (MIA) \u2013\u00a0The best version of Janson is when the Junk is odorous. I hope we see it.<\/p>\n

Bailey Ober<\/a> (MIN) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s sub 89 mph lol.<\/p>\n

Simeon Woods Richardson<\/a> (MIN) \u2013\u00a0SWR was a wild card entering the year and after an unimpressive spring, it\u2019s best to wait and see.<\/p>\n

Taijuan Walker<\/a> (PHI) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s still here and it\u2019s kinda wild \u2013 even without his cutter leading the way in the spring despite it carrying him last season.<\/p>\n

Carmen Mlodzinski<\/a> (PIT) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019s not efficient and the heater is unlikely to return five strikeouts again.<\/p>\n

Germ\u00e1n M\u00e1rquez<\/a> (SDP) \u2013\u00a0His curveball (it\u2019s really a gyro slider at 85 mph) earned all the whiffs in his final spring start. Naaaaah. Don\u2019t buy it.<\/p>\n

Walker Buehler<\/a> (SDP) \u2013\u00a0I\u2019m not buying that the Padres fixed him.<\/p>\n

Adrian Houser<\/a> (SFG) \u2013\u00a0A 15-teamer Toby when the schedule opens up.<\/p>\n

Tyler Mahle<\/a> (SFG) \u2013\u00a0He\u2019ll be on The List in due time, he just has a poor opening schedule.<\/p>\n

Andre Pallante<\/a> (STL) \u2013\u00a0Hopefully the cut four-seamer is jamming LHB and the sinker\/slider does the trick\u2026?<\/p>\n

Michael McGreevy<\/a> (STL) \u2013\u00a0I know, he got great results! He also did it with two ticks lower velocity.\u00a0Oh dang.\u00a0Not something to believe in.<\/p>\n

Nick Martinez<\/a> (TBR) \u2013\u00a0He was delayed with a hamstring issue after a horrific spring outing. Why risk it?<\/p>\n

Jacob Latz<\/a> (TEX) \u2013\u00a0He stepped in for deGrom over the weekend and doesn\u2019t have a rotation spot, yet. If he were to take over, he\u2019d need some time to fully stretch<\/p>\n

Kumar Rocker<\/a> (TEX) \u2013\u00a0Rocker has gone slider-heavy (not cutter heavy) and I have no idea what we\u2019ll see next.<\/p>\n

Eric Lauer<\/a> (TOR) \u2013\u00a0He just returned 17 whiffs against the Athletics<\/a> and I\u2019m still in shock. His fastball is\u00a0not\u00a0this good. I don\u2019t blame you if you want to test the waters, I see a ton of risk.<\/p>\n

Foster Griffin<\/a> (WSN) \u2013\u00a0He has potential to turn into a SWATCH, and let\u2019s leave the potted plant by the window and return in May.\u00a0Won\u2019t it dry out?\u00a0It\u2019s a cactus. I think.<\/p>\n

Miles Mikolas<\/a> (WSN) \u2013\u00a0You actually CTRL-F\u2019d Mikolas?!<\/p>\n

Zack Littell<\/a> (WSN) \u2013\u00a0I wonder how stretched out he is and how close he is to his peak. I think he got away with a whole lot last season and his new team context only hurts.<\/p>\n

Jake Irvin<\/a> (WSN) \u2013\u00a0Irvin was able to take down the Cubs \u2013 sweet! \u2013 and I have no faith he can keep doing so. No major changes that I\u2019m aware of to suggest he can keep doing it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Good luck everyone!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Labels Legend<\/p>\n

Aces Gonna Ace<\/p>\n

Ace Potential<\/p>\n

Holly<\/p>\n

Toby<\/p>\n

Cherry Bomb<\/p>\n

Hipster<\/p>\n

Vargas Rule<\/p>\n

Frizzle<\/p>\n

Streaming Option<\/p>\n

QS Bonus<\/p>\n

Wins Bonus<\/p>\n

Strikeouts Bonus<\/p>\n

Ratios Bonus<\/p>\n

Rotation Spot Bonus<\/p>\n

Team Context Effect<\/p>\n

Stash Option<\/p>\n

Injury Risk<\/p>\n

Playing Time Question<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson\/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter\/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Have questions? My \u201coffice hours\u201d are on Twitch 10:00 am \u2013 12:00 pm ET Monday \u2013 Friday +…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":555342,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[99],"class_list":{"0":"post-555341","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=555341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/555342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=555341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=555341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=555341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}