Fantasy Baseball SP Rankings 2026: Top 10 Starting Pitchers
Quick takeaway: Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Garrett Crochet lead our top 10 starting pitcher rankings for 2026 fantasy baseball. Use this list to build your draft board—and your AthX portfolio. Browse pitchers on AthX
How We Ranked These Pitchers
We used consensus 2026 fantasy rankings and projections from sources including FanGraphs, RotoBaller, CBS Sports, and Fantasy Six Pack. Criteria include strikeout rate, ERA, WHIP, volume (innings), and durability. On AthX, pitcher prices move with dynamic pricing—so these names are also key targets for sports trading.
Top 10 Starting Pitchers for 2026
| Rank | Player | Team | Key 2026 Projections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarik Skubal | Detroit Tigers | ~2.25 ERA, 220 IP, 235 K, 1.00 WHIP. Two-time AL Cy Young winner; AL-best 2.21 ERA in 2025. Consensus #1 SP. |
| 2 | Paul Skenes | Pittsburgh Pirates | ~2.15 ERA, 195 IP, 215 K, 0.95 WHIP. Best ERA in baseball over last two seasons (1.96 in 321 IP). Elite bat-misser. |
| 3 | Garrett Crochet | Boston Red Sox | ~2.90 ERA, 197 IP, 245 K, 1.05 WHIP. Full-season workload expected; top-tier strikeouts and ERA. |
| 4 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Los Angeles Dodgers | ~2.85 ERA, 185 IP, 205 K, 1.02 WHIP. Fourth-best ERA, fifth-best K% among qualifiers in 2025. Volume capped ~30 starts. |
| 5 | Logan Gilbert | Seattle Mariners | ~3.15 ERA, 195 IP, 199 K, 1.05 WHIP. Durability: 185+ IP in 2022–24. Steady floor, strikeout upside. |
| 6 | Hunter Greene | Cincinnati Reds | ~3.35 ERA, 175 IP, 210 K, 1.12 WHIP. Dominant stuff since 2024; top-five upside with full healthy season. |
| 7 | Cristopher Sánchez | Philadelphia Phillies | ~3.20 ERA, 180 IP, 165 K, 1.08 WHIP. Strong 2025; reliable lefty with plus control and ground-ball profile. |
| 8 | Cole Ragans | Kansas City Royals | ~3.00 ERA, 165 IP, 195 K, 1.08 WHIP. Underlying numbers top-five caliber; 61 IP in 2025 due to arm injury—rebound candidate. |
| 9 | Max Fried | New York Yankees | ~3.25 ERA, 190 IP, 175 K, 1.10 WHIP. Proven ace, durability and floor. New York adds wins upside. |
| 10 | Hunter Brown | Houston Astros | ~3.45 ERA, 175 IP, 195 K, 1.15 WHIP. High strikeout upside; breakthrough 2025 translates to 2026. |
Player Spotlights
1. Tarik Skubal
The clear top arm in fantasy. Skubal won back-to-back AL Cy Young awards and posted a 2.21 ERA with 241 strikeouts in 2025. He's durable, elite in every category, and the safest SP1 in the game.
2. Paul Skenes
In just over 320 career innings, Skenes has the best ERA in baseball (1.96). He's a generational talent with bat-missing stuff and poise beyond his experience. Draft him as a top-three SP with confidence.
3. Garrett Crochet
Crochet proved he could handle a full starter's workload in 2025 and projects for nearly 200 innings with elite strikeouts. The lefty is a top-tier fantasy asset and a core AthX target.
4. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yamamoto delivered in his second MLB season with top-five ERA and strikeout rate. His volume is capped by the Dodgers' careful usage, but the quality is elite when he's on the mound.
5. Logan Gilbert
Gilbert has thrown 185+ innings in three straight seasons. He doesn't have the flashiest profile, but his durability and strikeouts make him a reliable SP2 with a high floor.
6. Hunter Greene
Greene's stuff has been dominant since 2024. Health has been the only question; with a full season, he has top-five upside and is a strong value play in the second tier.
7. Cristopher Sánchez
Sánchez emerged as a trusted Phillies arm in 2025 with plus control and a ground-ball profile. He won't pile up strikeouts like the elites, but his ERA and WHIP are reliable.
8. Cole Ragans
Ragans' underlying numbers were top-five caliber in 2025, but an arm injury limited him to 61 innings. If he's healthy, he's a steal. See our injured pitchers rebound guide.
9. Max Fried
Fried moved to the Yankees in free agency, adding wins upside to his already stellar profile. He's a proven ace with durability and a safe floor—ideal for anchoring a rotation.
10. Hunter Brown
Brown broke out in 2025 and projects for high strikeout totals in 2026. He rounds out the top 10 with upside to climb higher if he maintains his gains.
Honorable Mentions
Zack Wheeler (Phillies), Zac Gallen (Diamondbacks), George Kirby (Mariners), Luis Castillo (Mariners), Freddy Peralta (Brewers), and Tyler Glasnow (Dodgers) all land in the next tier. Each has top-10 upside but comes with more volume or health questions than our ranked 10.
AthX Angle: Trading Pitcher Shares
On AthX, you don't just draft—you trade shares in players. Pitchers like Skubal and Skenes drive dividends when they perform; buying before a hot streak or after a short-term dip can pay off. Use our injured pitchers rebound guide to find value among arms returning from injury, and our when to buy and sell guide to time your trades.
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