Top 200 Pitcher Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Rankings For 2026

Top 200 Pitcher Dynasty Rankings

— Tier 1 —

1. Shohei Ohtani, UT/P, Dodgers

After hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases, Ohtani slipped in 2025 to only 20 stolen bases, obviously selling out for power to reach 55 bombs. Of course, we kid. There’s really nothing to say—there’s no downside to his game except maybe that he is UT-only. Oh, wait, he’s also a pitcher. You know, the position where he has a 119 Stuff+ and a career 31% strikeout rate. If you have Ohtani on your dynasty team, just be grateful and enjoy the ride.

2. Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers

In the past two seasons, Skubal has averaged 193 innings with a 2.30 ERA and 10.9 K/9, earning two Cy Young Awards. Heading into his age-29 season, the best pitcher in the American League projects for around a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP with 200 or more strikeouts.

3. Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates

The youngest pitcher in the top 10, Skenes has a strong case to be ranked ahead of Skubal. The Pirates ace has exploded onto the scene with one of the most dominant major league debuts ever, posting a 1.96 ERA across his first 320.2 innings with a 10.8 K/( rate. With Pittsburgh bolstering the lineup around him to provide more run support by trading for Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Jhostynxon Garcia, and with the imminent arrival of Konnor Griffin, his win totals should rise in the coming years beyond the 10 he recorded in 2025.

4. Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox

The closest American League challenger to Skubal’s crown as the top pitcher, Crochet is two years younger and owns a better career ERA and strikeout rate, though much of that production came while he was a reliever prior to 2024. The lefthander may ultimately post better single-season numbers than both Skubal and Skenes, with his less favorable home park serving as the slight differentiating factor.

5. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Dodgers

After missing three months in 2024 with a shoulder injury, it was unclear whether Yamamoto would be able to handle the rigors of a major league season. That narrative was put to rest when the 27-year-old threw 173.2 innings with a 2.49 ERA, then won World Series MVP with one of the most impressive postseason performances in recent history. He added 37 more innings with a preposterous 1.45 ERA in the highest-pressure situations imaginable. With a presumptive six-man rotation in Los Angeles, Yamamoto may not reach 180 innings, but he should deliver strong ratios, above-average win totals and solid strikeout numbers.

6. Logan Gilbert, SP, Mariners

After three years of at least 185 innings and an ERA no higher than 3.73, Gilbert missed a month and a half in 2025 with a right elbow injury. He still finished the year with 131 innings and a 3.44 ERA and, despite posting his lowest average fastball velocity since 2022, recorded the highest strikeout rate and lowest xERA and xFIP of his career. Heading into his age-29 season, and with the run-suppressive environment of T-Mobile Park, we expect him to return to his previous levels of volume and ratios, post a 9-plus K/9 and rack up wins on a playoff-caliber team.

7. Hunter Brown, SP, Astros

With the likely departure of Framber Valdez in free agency, there is little doubt that Brown is the ace of the Astros staff, especially after making 30 or more starts in each of the past two seasons while posting a 2.94 ERA and a 9.75 K/9. Heading into his age-27 season, the Astros are no longer the incumbent powerhouse they once were, meaning he may not pile up elite win totals but should provide a mid-3s ERA and a 9.5 to 10.0 K/9 over the next three years.

8. Hunter Greene, SP, Reds

On a per-inning basis, Greene is in the conversation for the most electric pitcher in the game, with three pitches carrying a Stuff+ of 111 or higher, including a 99.4 mph fastball that ranked in the 97th percentile in run value. Despite pitching in one of the most hitter-friendly home ballparks, Greene has posted a 2.76 ERA and a 10.5 K/9. Durability has been the issue, as he has averaged just 129 innings per season over that span, with a nagging groin injury limiting him to 107 innings in 2025. Assuming health, Greene remains one of the most dynamic pitchers for ratios and strikeouts heading into his age-26 season.

9. Cristopher Sanchez, SP, Phillies

After a 2024 season in which he posted a 3.32 ERA over 181 innings, we wrote before the season began in March 2025 that Sanchez had “debuted a new cutter while adding 1 to 2 mph across the rest of his three-pitch mix. With his high groundball rate, Sanchez already has a high floor. Add improvements to his arsenal and a big step forward is being projected.” He met those expectations, finishing second in Cy Young voting with 202 innings and a 2.50 ERA. While projections anticipate some regression to an ERA around 3.00 and a K/9 near 9.0, we believe the improvements to his arsenal are real and that level of production represents his floor entering 2026.

10. Joe Ryan, SP, Twins

Over his four-year major league career, Ryan has posted a 3.79 ERA and a 10.1 K/9, averaging just under 3 fWAR per season, with 2024 standing out as the year he set a career high with 181 innings while recording his lowest ERA at 3.42. Now 30 years old, Ryan should be able to match his career-average ratios, with his win totals climbing into the mid-to-high teens if he is traded to a contender, as has been widely speculated.

11. Eury Perez, SP, Marlins

After missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery, Perez pitched 95.1 innings in 2025 with a 4.25 ERA and a 9.9 K/9 while averaging 98 mph on his fastball. Still just 23 years old, Perez should produce sub-4.00 ERAs over the next decade, rack up strikeouts and feature peak seasons with ERAs around 3.00.

12. Trey Yesavage, SP, Blue Jays

If not for his 27.2 postseason innings, during which he posted a 12.7 K/9 and a 3.58 ERA in the highest-leverage environment imaginable, Yesavage might rank a few spots lower. This is not merely recency bias, however, as the 22-year-old was a first-round draft pick and pitches for a championship-caliber team that should provide strong run support and suppress BABIP with its defense. His WHIP may be higher than that of others around him on this list, but given his age and postseason performance, he should be a dynasty anchor for the next decade.

13. Chris Sale, SP, Braves

After throwing 177.2 innings for the Braves in 2024 with a 2.38 ERA, 18 wins and an 11.4 K/9, it appeared that Sale—barring health—remained a dominant pitcher, even at age 36. That caveat resurfaced in 2025, as Sale broke a rib in June and missed more than a month, ultimately finishing the season with 125.2 innings. His performance when on the mound was nearly as strong as in 2024, with a 2.58 ERA, all peripherals under 3.00 and an 11.8 K/9. Heading into his age-37 season, some decline is expected, but a low-3s ERA remains a reasonable projection for 2026, with a gradual rise over the following three seasons.

14. Jacob deGrom, SP, Rangers

With 175.2 innings in 2025, deGrom recorded his highest workload since 2019. While he was not quite as dominant as he had been at his peak, he still posted a 0.92 WHIP, a 2.97 ERA and a 9.6 K/9. His average fastball velocity remains in the 97–98 mph range but, from a Stuff+ perspective, it is no longer the elite offering it once was, as reflected by his lowest FanGraphs grades since 2020. The upside is still evident, but heading into his age-38 season, the chances of consistently reaching that ceiling are becoming increasingly limited.

15. George Kirby, SP, Mariners

Kirby missed two months at the start of 2025 with a shoulder injury. Prior to that, the 27-year-old carried a career 1.09 WHIP and a 3.43 ERA, so assuming health, it was reasonable to expect more of the same. When he returned, his velocity was in line with career norms, but his command slipped, resulting in a 2.1 BB/9, nearly double the 1.1 BB/9 he had posted over the rest of his career. His ERA climbed to an uncharacteristic 4.21, though both his xFIP and SIERA remained under 3.40. In other words, we believe you can invest in the now-28-year-old with confidence and expect solid ratios in a favorable pitcher’s park for a playoff-caliber team. His strikeout totals may not match those of some other aces, but he did post the highest strikeout rate of his career in 2025 at 26%, up from a previous career mark of 23%.

16. Nolan McLean, SP, Mets

A two-way player in college and early in his professional career, McLean has made eye-popping gains since moving to pitching full time. After a dominant season in the minors, he posted a 2.45 ERA across 113.2 innings, mostly at Triple-A. McLean then made eight starts for the Mets over the final six weeks of the season and looked dominant. His ability to generate whiffs and groundballs gives him multiple avenues to record outs.

17. Logan Webb, SP, Giants

For the past four seasons, Webb has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in baseball, averaging 33 starts per year with a 3.22 ERA and never exceeding a 3.47 ERA in a single season during that span, along with an acceptable 8.3 K/9. Heading into his age-29 season, it is safe to expect more of the same: a low-to-mid-3s ERA, a sub-1.20 WHIP and strikeout totals that are slightly below average. With roughly 200 innings per season in a strong pitcher’s park, he remains a solid foundational piece for a dynasty rotation.

18. Bryan Woo, SP, Mariners

In 2024, despite an arm injury that caused him to miss more than a month at the start of the season, Woo pitched a scintillating 121.1 innings with a 0.90 WHIP and a 2.89 ERA. With an xFIP and SIERA of 3.75, regression was expected in 2025, but his season proved to be nearly a mirror image, as he posted a 0.93 WHIP and a 2.94 ERA across 186.2 innings. Boasting one of the best fastballs in the major leagues over the past two years in terms of run value, the only thing keeping the 26-year-old from climbing even higher in the rankings is his shorter track record, which has been dotted with injuries. If he matches his previous performance in 2026, he should easily land in the top 10 of pitcher rankings.

19. Chase Burns, SP, Reds

The Reds have two pitchers with four-seam fastballs sitting at 98-plus mph with more than 17 inches of IVB and 90-plus mph gyro sliders they throw roughly 35% of the time. One is Hunter Greene. The other is Chase Burns. After chewing up the upper minors, Burns was called up in June and made eight starts, posting an outrageous 38% strikeout rate. While his ERA sat at 5.24 over 34.1 innings, a .377 BABIP and a 2.34 xFIP suggested he was dramatically underperforming his underlying metrics. An elbow flexor injury sidelined him for the next month, and when he returned in September, he worked out of the bullpen. In five appearances spanning nine innings, he struck out 27% of batters. Assuming health in 2026, Burns should profile for a mid-3s ERA with a strikeout-minus-walk rate on par with Spencer Strider, but at four years younger.

20. Spencer Strider, SP, Braves

After throwing 318.1 innings in 2022 and 2023 with a remarkable 37% strikeout rate and a 20-win season in 2023, Strider underwent internal brace surgery in 2024 and essentially missed the entire season. Although he returned in 2025, his fastball was more than 2 mph slower than before the surgery, and the Stuff grades that had previously been plus to double-plus were merely average or below, depending on the model, with all of his ERA estimators climbing above 4.00 as a result. The 2026 season will be telling for Strider: if this represents his new true talent level, he profiles closer to a mid-rotation starter with better than a strikeout per inning and an ERA nearer 4.00 than 3.00. The ceiling, however, as he heads into his age-27 season, remains too tantalizing to ignore.

21. Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Brewers

With one of the highest-graded fastball-slider combinations in organized baseball, there was never any doubt about Misiorowski’s raw talent, only whether he would be able to command it after posting a 13% walk rate in 2023 and a 14% walk rate in 2024. For context, the highest walk rate among pitchers who threw at least 100 innings in 2025 was Mike Vasil’s 12.3%, followed by Gavin Williams’ 11.8%. In 2025, Misiorowski appeared to make meaningful progress, cutting his walk rate to a more palatable 12% across 83 innings at Triple-A and earning a call-up to Milwaukee, where he showcased his upside by striking out 12 Dodgers and walking just one over six innings in his fifth start. He finished the season with 66.1 innings and a 4.36 ERA, with estimators in the mid-3s and, more importantly, an 11% walk rate. Heading into his age-24 season, he should be capable of striking out more than 30% of batters, a mark that would have ranked in the top six among major league pitchers with at least 100 innings in 2025, and if he can keep the walk rate in the low double digits, he profiles as a Dylan Cease-type arm.

22. Spencer Schwellenbach, SP, Braves

In 2024, Schwellenbach was a revelation for the Braves, throwing 123.2 innings with a 3.35 ERA, with underlying peripherals that largely matched the results, along with a 25% strikeout rate and a 1.09 WHIP as a 24-year-old. Featuring six pitches, all of which graded as average or better by FanGraphs’ Stuff+ model, Schwellenbach became a popular redraft target and a valuable dynasty asset. A fractured right elbow ended his season in July, however, capping his 2025 workload at 110.2 innings, though he finished with an even better ERA and WHIP. Assuming health, and with the Braves indicating he should be ready for spring training, the 26-year-old profiles for a low- to mid-3s ERA with roughly a strikeout per inning, with additional upside as the converted shortstop continues to refine his craft on the mound.

23. Mason Miller, RP, Padres

Our first relief pitcher off the board, Miller boasts elite stuff and ratios while also being in his mid-20s. Over the past two seasons, Miller has averaged 25 saves with a 2.57 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP and a ridiculous 43% strikeout rate. Having a closer who generates nearly as many strikeouts as a starter provides a strong foundation, with the saves almost serving as gravy.

24. Freddy Peralta, SP, Mets

In the past three seasons, Peralta has averaged 32 starts and 170 innings per year with a 3.40 ERA across 516 innings. Heading into his age-30 season, Peralta was traded from the Brewers to the Mets, and he is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2026 season. For 2026, he should post an ERA around 3.75 with a WHIP near 1.10. Assuming he signs with a contender in 2027, his win totals should remain in the double digits for the next few years.

25. Cole Ragans, SP, Royals

Heading into 2025, Ragans had thrown 258 innings for the Royals with 312 strikeouts, good for a 10.9 K/9, and a 3.00 ERA, leading him to be correctly drafted as an SP1 or SP2. Unfortunately, he was bothered by a groin injury early in 2025, and a shoulder injury in early June ended his season. While throwing-arm injuries are understandably concerning, when Ragans did pitch in 2025 he was arguably better than ever, with an xERA and xFIP nearly a full run lower than his previous two seasons and a ridiculous 14 K/9 across 61.2 innings. He appears fully recovered heading into his age-29 season, and you should expect strong ratios and big strikeout totals, with health-related uncertainty being the primary reason he ranks this low.

26. Blake Snell, SP, Dodgers

After signing a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason, a balky throwing shoulder delayed Snell’s debut until August. Over 61.1 innings, he produced 2 fWAR, with all of his ERA estimators, including the 34 postseason innings he also logged, sitting below 3.20, while striking out 10.6 batters per nine innings. Snell should settle in as a mid-3s ERA pitcher with mid-teens win totals and more than a strikeout per inning.

27. Max Fried, SP, Yankees

The first year of his nine-year, $218 million contract went as well as any Yankees fan—or dynasty manager rostering Fried—could have hoped, as the 31-year-old won 19 games while throwing 195.1 innings with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, ranking as the 10th-best pitcher in 2025. He also posted his best Stuff+ marks of the past five years and the fastest average fastball velocity of his career. From a dynasty perspective, some regression from his scintillating 2025 numbers should be expected. Even so, he should continue to deliver a low-to-mid-3s ERA with win totals befitting a perennial contender, though he is unlikely to produce more than a strikeout per inning. Over the next three years, he can reasonably be counted on as a top 25 pitcher.

28. Cam Schlittler, SP, Yankees

Schlittler is a perfect example of how important early-season waiver moves can be. Entering 2025, Schlittler was off the fantasy radar, but a velocity bump fueled a breakout in the upper minors before he parlayed that into a very impressive stint in the majors. Schlittler shows strong bat-missing stuff with average command. If that command backs up at all in 2026, he could regress toward an ERA closer to his 2025 estimators.

29. Kyle Bradish, SP, Orioles

After his breakout 2023 season, in which he posted a 2.83 ERA over 168.2 innings, Bradish opened 2024 just as strongly, with all of his ERA estimators below 3.00 through his first eight starts. He later landed on the injured list with an elbow injury and ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery. When he returned late in 2025, he hardly missed a beat, striking out 13.3 batters per nine innings across six starts totaling 32 innings, with a 2.53 ERA and all of his ERA estimators below 3.10. He may not exceed 120 to 150 innings in 2026, but heading into his age-29 season he should profile for a mid-to-low-3s ERA, more than a strikeout per inning and a WHIP around 1.10. If he reaches those benchmarks and overcomes the uncertainty that comes with returning from a major arm injury, he will likely be in the top 25 entering 2027.

30. Jesus Luzardo, SP, Phillies

In his first season with the Phillies after being traded following a 2024 campaign in which he missed nearly two-thirds of the year with elbow and back injuries, Luzardo was a revelation, logging 183.2 innings with 15 wins. Despite a mediocre 3.92 ERA, all of his ERA estimators sat below 3.40. Using FanGraphs’ FIP-based WAR, that performance was worth an excellent 5.3 wins. Still young, with Luzardo heading into his age-28 season in 2026, he profiles as an SP2 again with a mid-3s ERA, more than a strikeout per inning and win totals in the mid teens.

31. Pablo Lopez, SP, Twins

With three different injured list stints for three different injuries—a hamstring, shoulder and then forearm—last season, and compounded by the Twins’ roster sell-off at the trade deadline, the year was essentially a write-off for the 29-year-old Lopez. Still, in the 75.2 innings he did pitch, Lopez posted a 2.74 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, though with just an 8.7 K/9, his lowest rate since 2020. Preseason reports indicate he is fully ready for spring training as he heads into his age-30 season. Expect something close to his career norms: a mid-3s ERA, roughly a strikeout per inning and a sub-1.20 WHIP, driven by his stingy career 6% walk rate.

32. Dylan Cease, SP, Blue Jays

Throughout his career, Cease has been an enigmatic and often frustrating pitcher to roster. Although he has thrown more than 165 innings in each of the past five seasons and never posted a strikeout rate lower than 10.6 K/9, his ERA has fluctuated wildly, ranging from elite (2.20 in 2022) and excellent (3.47 in 2024) to painful (4.58 in 2023 and 4.55 in 2025). He is especially frustrating because his FIP has never exceeded 3.72 in any of those seasons despite the inflated ERAs, suggesting a significant element of bad luck. As expected, his BABIP during that span has ranged from the .260s in his best ERA seasons to .320-plus in 2023 and 2025. Moving to the Blue Jays, whose commitment to defense is well documented, it stands to reason that 2026 should land on the favorable side of his outcome range.

33. Andres Munoz, RP, Mariners

From 2019 through 2024, Munoz threw 197 innings with a 2.65 ERA, with all of his peripherals below 2.82, and a 12.4 K/9. He was never the Mariners’ primary closer during that stretch, however, taking a backseat to Paul Sewald or injuries until the second half of 2024. In 2025, he held the role all season and delivered as hoped with 38 saves and a ridiculous 1.73 ERA, though with peripherals roughly a run higher. Still just 27 years old entering 2026, Munoz fits the ideal dynasty closer profile: under 30, pitching for a strong team, carrying a strikeout rate north of 11 K/9 and ratios in the 1.00 WHIP and 3.00 ERA range. Those are essentially his career norms and should remain his level of production over the next three seasons, assuming health.

34. Tyler Glasnow, SP, Dodgers

Injuries will always be part of the equation with Glasnow. He has exceeded 120 innings only twice in his career, and even in an optimistic scenario he likely carries a ceiling of around 140 innings. Within those 100-plus innings, however, Glasnow remains an impactful starter, which is why he still sits on the cusp of the top 30 starters in the game. Over 90.1 innings, he pitched to a 3.19 ERA with a 29% strikeout rate. His walk rate ballooned, however, jumping from 6.7% in 2024 to 11.7%, his highest mark since his rookie season. Glasnow’s stuff backed up as well, though it is unclear how much of that decline was injury-related. The days of Glasnow being valued as a potential elite No. 3 fantasy starter are over.

35. Emmet Sheehan, SP, Dodgers

Sheehan returned from Tommy John surgery early in the summer and worked his way back into the Dodgers’ rotation picture by July, pitching important innings over the final months of the season. He was excellent in his return, posting a 2.82 ERA with a 30.6% strikeout rate and a 7.6% walk rate across 73.1 innings. Sheehan’s slider grades as a plus pitch, as does his fastball, and the continued development of his changeup will be key to allowing him to stick as a starter long term.

36. Shane Bieber, SP, Blue Jays

It was a successful comeback season for Bieber, as he helped the Blue Jays reach the American League pennant. Bieber returned to make seven starts over the final month and a half of the season and pitched fairly well, posting a 3.57 ERA across 40.1 innings. His FIP and xERA were less encouraging, however, with both landing in the 4.50 range. Bieber struck out 23.3% of the batters he faced in his return from Tommy John surgery and showed his signature command with a 4.4% walk rate. Bieber’s stuff grades below average, but his control is plus, and he shows command of a five-pitch mix.

37. Gerrit Cole, SP, Yankees

Cole missed all of 2025 after being limited to 95 innings in 2024 and undergoing Tommy John surgery. He is expected to return to the Yankees’ rotation in the first half of 2026. If he is even 90% of his former self, Cole could be a valuable dynasty asset over the next few seasons. At 35 years old, however, this represents the final stretch of his relevance in dynasty formats, and there is no certainty that his stuff or control fully returns.

38. MacKenzie Gore, SP, Rangers

Gore’s 2025 was a tale of two halves. In the first half, Gore was dominant, pitching to a 3.02 ERA with a 30.5% strikeout rate and a 7.7% walk rate. His season took a hard turn in the second half, however, as a 6.75 ERA over his final 49.1 innings made him difficult to start late in the year. A flyball pitcher who has never been part of an elite pitching development organization, Gore may still have room for gains as he heads into his age-27 season.

39. Nick Pivetta, SP, Padres

We finally saw what a full season of consistency from Pivetta looked like in 2025. He made 31 starts, throwing a career-high 181.2 innings with a career-best 2.87 ERA. Based on his ERA estimators, Pivetta was actually a bit worse in 2025 than he was in 2024, but he benefited from better luck over a much larger sample. He still shows swing-and-miss stuff and solid control, and at age 33 should have a few useful seasons remaining.

40. Michael King, SP, Padres

After an injury-plagued 2025 season in which King dealt with shoulder and knee injuries, he returned to the Padres in 2026 on a one-year deal. If King can repeat, or come close to, his 2024 production over the next few seasons, he could provide strong value. The downside is that King has only one fully healthy season as a starter on his résumé, and there is real risk he does not return to that form.

41. Nick Lodolo, SP, Reds

For the first time in his professional career, Lodolo enjoyed a healthy season. He made 28 starts, throwing a career-high 156.2 innings while posting a 3.33 ERA that was supported by his ERA estimators. Lodolo also showed the best control of his career, walking just 4.8% of the batters he faced. The biggest questions with Lodolo remain his durability and his home park. He did allow a higher home run rate in 2025, which is something to monitor going forward. Even so, he offers a strong combination of pitchability, stuff and deception that continues to drive results.

42. Framber Valdez, SP, Free Agent

Over the past four seasons, few pitchers have been more consistent than the groundball-driven Valdez. He has exceeded 175 innings in every season dating back to 2022 while posting an ERA no higher than 3.66 and a groundball rate of 54% or better. The production slipped slightly in 2025, as Valdez saw his walk rate climb and his strikeout rate dip. Even so, he remains a durable starter capable of piling up innings and counting stats.

43. Kevin Gausman, SP, Blue Jays

After a string of outstanding seasons from 2020 to 2023, Gausman’s new normal surfaced in 2024. He bounced back somewhat in 2025, showing a modest uptick in strikeouts and a drop in walks. The days of Gausman striking out 200 or more batters appear to be over, as the 31.1% strikeout rate he posted in 2023 now feels like a distant memory. Even so, Gausman can still provide innings, solid ratios, counting stats and wins.

44. Jhoan Duran, RP, Phillies

After a few seasons of knocking on the door of the elite closer club, Duran was finally let in during 2025. A midseason trade to the Phillies put him in pole position to be among the first relief pitchers off the board in startup drafts. Duran generates plenty of whiffs and groundballs with a 100-plus mph fastball and an elite secondary pitch. Entering his age-28 season, he could be among the saves leaders for the next decade.

45. Edwin Diaz, RP, Dodgers

The rich get richer, as the Dodgers landed Diaz in free agency entering 2026. While Diaz may not be the player he was three years ago, he bounced back nicely in 2025, saving 28 games while striking out 38% of the batters he faced and trimming his walk rate. It is possible Diaz sees increased usage and save opportunities with the Dodgers, though the exact role is difficult to project. The club has not featured a closer of Diaz’s profile during its recent run, and there is a real possibility he returns to elite production.

46. Cade Smith, RP, Guardians

With the drama in the Guardians bullpen this season, Smith emerged as the club’s closer. He is likely to hold that role going forward and, based on his production over the past few seasons, could rank among the elite closers in the game in 2026. Smith is capable of working multiple innings while generating high strikeout rates, and while he is not a groundball-oriented pitcher, he does a strong job of keeping the ball in the yard and limiting damaging contact.

47. Thomas White, SP, Marlins

One of the top pitching prospects in the game, White fits the archetype of a big-stuff lefthander, a profile that is currently thriving in MLB. White still needs to further hone his command this season, but he features multiple plus pitches that generate whiffs and keep hitters uncomfortable in the batter’s box.

48. Zack Wheeler, SP, Phillies

A shoulder injury ended Wheeler’s season and may have marked the beginning of the end of his run of elite production. Wheeler has played catch this offseason and is working his way back for the start of 2026, but it is difficult to fully trust a return to the form he showed for much of the past decade. Entering his age-36 season, it is reasonable to expect Wheeler to begin fading over the next few years, and there is also a real possibility he retires following 2026.

49. Bubba Chandler, SP, Pirates

The Pirates are chock-full of talented pitching. While Paul Skenes leads the rotation, expectations are lofty for Chandler. The power righthander made his MLB debut in 2025 and showed command, premium stuff and an ability to generate groundballs. Chandler is likely to secure a spot in the Pirates’ rotation in 2026, and it is possible the team around him is the best the Pirates have fielded in a decade.

50. Carlos Rodon, SP, Yankees

After struggling to keep the ball in the yard over his first two seasons with the Yankees, Rodon figured things out in 2025. Unfortunately, his season ended with an elbow injury that has affected his offseason. Entering his age-33 season, Rodon has dealt with injuries throughout his career. How he will be impacted by his most recent elbow flare-up remains uncertain, but it adds a significant amount of risk to what would otherwise be a reliable veteran starter profile.

— Tier 2 —

51. Payton Tolle, SP, Red Sox
52. Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Rangers
53. Jack Flaherty, SP, Tigers
54. Sonny Gray, SP, Red Sox
55. Jonah Tong, SP, Mets
56. Ranger Suarez, SP, Free Agent
57. Tanner Bibee, SP, Guardians
58. Gavin Williams, SP, Guardians
59. Shane McClanahan, SP, Rays
60. Zebby Matthews, SP, Twins
61. Shane Baz, SP, Orioles
62. Luis Castillo, SP, Mariners
63. Edward Cabrera, SP, Marlins
64. Robbie Ray, SP, Giants
65. Shota Imanaga, SP, Cubs
66. Bryce Miller, SP, Mariners
67. Grayson Rodriguez, SP, Angels
68. Sandy Alcantara, SP, Marlins
69. Ryan Pepiot, SP, Rays
70. Brandon Woodruff, SP, Brewers
71. Jared Jones, SP, Pirates
72. Corbin Burnes, SP, Diamondbacks
73. Cade Horton, SP, Cubs
74. Josh Hader, RP, Astros

— Tier 3 —

75. Justin Steele, SP, Cubs
76. Drew Rasmussen, SP, Rays
77. Jeff Hoffman, RP, Blue Jays
78. Aaron Nola, SP, Phillies
79. Kris Bubic, SP, Royals
80. Joe Musgrove, SP, Padres
81. Zac Gallen, SP, Free Agent
82. Taj Bradley, SP, Twins
83. Roki Sasaki, SP, Dodgers
84. Tatsuya Imai, SP, Astros
85. Trevor Rogers, SP, Orioles
86. Ryne Nelson, SP, Diamondbacks
87. Andrew Abbott, SP, Reds
88. Quinn Priester, SP, Brewers
89. Casey Mize, SP, Tigers
90. Grant Taylor, RP, White Sox
91. Kodai Senga, SP, Mets
92. Liam Doyle, SP, Cardinals
93. AJ Smith-Shawver, SP, Braves
94. Brody Hopkins, SP, Rays
95. David Bednar, RP, Yankees
96. Merrill Kelly, SP, Diamondbacks
97. Will Warren, SP, Yankees
98. Kade Anderson, SP, Mariners
99. Brayan Bello, SP, Red Sox
100. Jarlin Susana, SP, Nationals

— Tier 4 —

101. Robby Snelling, SP, Marlins
102. Jaxon Wiggins, SP, Cubs
103. Jack Leiter, SP, Rangers
104. Connelly Early, SP, Red Sox
105. Andrew Painter, SP, Phillies
106. Hurston Waldrep, SP, Braves
107. Troy Melton, SP, Tigers
108. Ryan Helsley, RP, Orioles
109. Pete Fairbanks, RP, Marlins
110. Trevor Megill, RP, Brewers
111. Daniel Palencia, RP, Cubs
112. Devin Williams, RP, Mets
113. Luis Perales, SP, Nationals
114. Jackson Jobe, SP, Tigers
115. Carlos Lagrange, SP, Yankees
116. Gage Jump, SP, Athletics
117. Kumar Rocker, SP, Rangers
118. Ryan Sloan, SP, Mariners
119. Seth Hernandez, SP, Pirates

— Tier 5 —

120. Brandon Pfaadt, SP, Diamondbacks
121. Jose Soriano, SP, Angels
122. Reese Olson, SP, Tigers
123. Robert Suarez, RP, Braves
124. Aroldis Chapman, RP, Red Sox
125. Tanner Scott, RP, Dodgers
126. Raisel Iglesias, RP, Braves
127. Shane Smith, SP, White Sox
128. Max Meyer, SP, Marlins
129. Kyson Witherspoon, SP, Red Sox
130. Cade Cavalli, SP, Nationals
131. Bailey Ober, SP, Twins
132. Noah Cameron, SP, Royals
133. Jamie Arnold, SP, Athletics
134. Caden Scarborough, SP, Rangers
135. Ryan Weathers, SP, Marlins
136. Joe Boyle, SP, Rays
137. Luis Gil, SP, Yankees
138. Matthew Boyd, SP, Cubs
139. Mitch Keller, SP, Pirates
140. Clay Holmes, SP, Mets
141. Brady Singer, SP, Reds
142. Luis Morales, SP, Athletics
143. Chad Patrick, SP, Brewers
144. Justin Wrobleski, SP, Dodgers
145. Logan Henderson, SP, Brewers
146. Reynaldo Lopez, SP, Braves
147. Ben Brown, SP, Cubs
148. Cam Caminiti, SP, Braves
149. Parker Messick, SP, Guardians
150. Tanner McDougal, SP, White Sox
151. Elmer Rodriguez, SP, Yankees
152. Khal Stephen, SP, Guardians
153. Gage Wood, SP, Phillies
154. Travis Sykora, SP, Nationals
155. Hagen Smith, SP, White Sox
156. Trey Gibson, SP, Orioles
157. Noah Schultz, SP, White Sox
158. Bryan Abreu, RP, Astros
159. Mike Burrows, SP, Astros
160. David Hagaman, SP, Diamondbacks
161. JR Ritchie, SP, Braves
162. Johnny King, SP, Blue Jays
163. Seth Lugo, SP, Royals
164. Sean Manaea, SP, Mets
165. Christian Oppor, SP, White Sox
166. Braxton Ashcraft, SP, Pirates
167. Brandon Sproat, SP, Brewers
168. Braylon Doughty, SP, Guardians
169. Slade Cecconi, SP, Diamondbacks
170. Lucas Giolito, SP, Free Agent
171. Carlos Estevez, RP, Royals
172. Owen Murphy, SP, Braves
173. Kendry Chourio, SP, Royals
174. Esteban Mejia, SP, Orioles
175. Ian Seymour, SP, Rays
176. Jurrangelo Cijntje, SP, Mariners
177. Gavin Stone, SP, Dodgers
178. Felix Bautista, RP, Orioles
179. Joey Cantillo, SP, Guardians
180. Hayden Birdsong, SP, Giants
181. Yusei Kikuchi, SP, Angels
182. Cristian Javier, SP, Astros
183. Will Vest, RP, Tigers
184. Kenley Jansen, RP, Tigers
185. Griffin Jax, RP, Rays
186. Jose Berrios, SP, Blue Jays
187. David Peterson, SP, Mets
188. Jacob Lopez, SP, Athletics
189. Jack Perkins, SP, Athletics
190. Zach Eflin, SP, Orioles
191. Clarke Schmidt, SP, Yankees
192. Braxton Garrett, SP, Marlins
193. Landen Roupp, SP, Giants
194. Grant Holmes, SP, Braves
195. David Festa, SP, Twins
196. Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Diamondbacks
197. Tyler Wells, SP, Orioles
198. Michael Forret, SP, Rays
199. Gage Stanifer, SP, Blue Jays
200. Santiago Suarez, SP, Rays