This year’s crop of starting pitchers has a couple of amazing arms that will cost you a first-round pick if you want to roster them, and as much as I hate to say it, taking a pitcher that high is akin to dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight. The same two pitchers were the top two off the board last year, so the waters may seem safe, but beware. Those same waters seemed safe two years ago when Spencer Strider was the top arm off the board. Here are the top 61-90 SP right now in fantasy baseball:
RELATED: Fantasy Baseball starting pitcher rankings for 2026 (1-30)
61) Andrew Abbott, Reds
Started the season late as the Reds brought him along slowly after his 2024 season ended due to injury. He was phenomenal when he finally got going and actually made the All-Star team. The second half was a mixed bag, but his overall numbers show promise as he enters his age-26 season. Buy him expecting similar innings and K numbers with an era around a run higher than last year, and you won’t be disappointed.
62) Gerrit Cole, Yankees
Feb 12, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) works out during spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Missed all of 2025 after undergoing TJS and will be brought back slowly by the Yankees in order to have him at full strength for this season’s second half. He may make it back to the Bronx by May, but expect bumps in the road as he rounds into shape and Aaron Boone manages his workload. At his age, a full return to previous elite levels isn’t a given, but he should be a fixture in a very good rotation with a great offense behind him for at least half of this coming season.
63) Shane Smith, White Sox
He’s young, and he’s pretty nasty, and if the White Sox are ever going to be good again, this guy is going to be the anchor of their pitching staff. That being said, it’s very hard to count on much more than he gave us last year as a rookie. If he matches last year’s stat line, he’s a solid buy here as your 3rd or 4th starter. A step forward could mean 180+ innings and close to 200 Ks.
64) Quinn Priester, Brewers
He bounced from Pittsburgh to Boston before finding a home in Milwaukee last season and ended up being quite the find for the Brew Crew. Over 29 appearances (24 starts), he logged 157.1 innings with a respectable 132 Ks, 3.32 era and 1.24 WHIP. His stuff did kick to another level with an uptick in velocity and the addition of a cutter, which improved both his K rate and groundball %, so a repeat is possible. The wins may be tough to repeat, but he should be a fixture in the rotation for a very good Milwaukee team in 2026.
65) Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks
He’s a 37-year-old soft tosser who typically manages to keep his numbers palatable by throwing a lot of innings. He will take the mound on opening day, which means in the early going, he’ll likely be the lesser of the two starting pitchers on the day he pitches. Early in draft season, in NFBC drafts, he’s been available in the 12-15th round range, which seems safe. He’s a lower upside innings eater that is fine as your SP4 or 5.
66) Chris Bassitt, Orioles
Bassitt found a home in Baltimore after 3 solid seasons in Toronto. He’s about as steady as it gets, even at the age of 37. He should slide right into the Oriole rotation with Bradish, Roger,s and Baz and put up his usual 30 starts worth of work. He’s a nice, solid pitcher that makes a nice counterbalance after you draft one or two of the higher upside young pitchers listed above.
67) Edward Cabera, Cubs
Shipped to Chicago from Miami this offseason, Cabrera has long been a tease for fantasy owners because of his nasty arsenal and K rate. The issue has always been his walks, but last year he managed a career-best 3.14 BB/9, over a career high 137.2 innings. If he can manage to stay in the neighborhood, he could be a bona fide ace. At this point, the upside potential makes him a great pick as your 4th or even 5th starter.
68) Ryne Nelson, Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson (19) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field in Phoenix, on Sept. 24, 2025.
He was shifted from the rotation to the bullpen to make room for Corbin Burnes and then shifted back again after Burnes went down with an injury. For the second straight year, he was Arizona’s most consistent pitcher and looks like he should be a lock for 30 starts, health permitting. He’s just 28 and hasn’t had a history of health issues, so I’m buying him wherever I can get him. All of his numbers have been trending in the right direction for three straight years, and with one more small step, he could end up as a top 25 pitcher. He’s a potential steal in the later rounds.
69) Reynaldo Lopez, Braves
He’s now locked into a rotation spot for Atlanta after missing most of last year due to injury. Previous to coming to the Braves, he had long been a rubber-armed swing man who would bounce from starting to long relief and even closing a few games if needed. At the age of 33, he is now one of the many question marks Atlanta has in their rotation as they come into the 2026 season. If he can somehow come close to the pitcher Atlanta was rolling out every 5 days in 2024, he’s an absolute steal this late in drafts. Don’t buy him expecting a full bounce back, but he should be very solid nonetheless.
70) Bailey Ober, Twins
There was a lot to hate about Ober’s 2025 season. His fastball velo dropped, his K rate dropped, his ERA went through the roof, and he just kept taking the ball every 5 days. As it turns out, he was pitching through an injury to his hip, and his off-season rehab and workouts have his fastball back to previous levels. Entering his age-30 season, I’m willing to buy in at his current draft position to see if he can pick up where he left off in 2024. As of this writing, he is currently going well after pick #200 overall on average.
71) Jose Soriano, Angels
Soriano is at a bit of a crossroads right now. His stuff is just filthy, and he is going to either become an elite starter or he’s going to be moved to the bullpen and become one of the better closers in the game. The plan right now is for him to be a fixture in the Angel rotation for this year, so we’re drafting him hoping for the former over the latter. He has one of the highest velo fastballs amongst starters in the league, as well as elite groundball ability with his heavy sinker. I absolutely love this guy and will roster him every chance I can get at his current ADP that has him going after pick #240 overall. Guys with his arsenal don’t just grow on trees. Upside is 200K and a top 10 CYA finish.
72) Casey Mize, Tigers
He’s not quite as great as we thought he’d be, but he’s not nearly as bad as some people think he is. He’s a former #1 overall pick, and he will be Detroit’s #5 starter this year after the additions of Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander this offseason. There is a very good chance that this kid learns a thing or two from Verlander and is able to reach that next level. He’s just 29 this year, and a breakout isn’t out of the question. Draft him banking on last year’s numbers as a baseline: Sub 4 era, 10+ wins, 8+ k/9 over 150+ innings.
73) Grayson Rodriguez, Angels
He was going to be the Orioles ace for the next 10 years. What happened? It’s a story as old as time itself; the dreaded injury bug has been a dark specter that has haunted Gray-Rod for his entire young career. His rookie season of 2023 was limited to 23 starts due to shoulder and Lat issues, then another Lat strain limited him in 2024, and then he completely missed last season after elbow surgery. The Orioles had seen enough and flipped him to the Angels this offseason for Taylor Ward. A fresh start in a new place may be just what the doctor ordered, and there’s still time for the 26-year-old to reach the levels of greatness we have all hoped for him. He won’t cost you very much on draft day, so if you can get him in the late double-digit rounds as your 6th or 7th starter, why not?
74) Michael Wacha, Royals
Wacha is a steady contributor across the board, with limited upside at this stage of his career. He’s posted a sib 4 era for 4 straight years along with great control and double-digit win totals. The K numbers aren’t great, but he’s a solid roster filler if you need somebody you can count on. He’s the type of guy that will fall in drafts because he’s not sexy. I’ll take him in the late rounds if nobody else wants him.
75) Clay Holmes, Mets
Sep 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
He’s another former short reliever who has recently found success transitioning to the rotation. He did very well, taking on almost as many innings as he had accumulated over the previous 3 seasons combined. He will be a fixture in the middle of the Mets’ rotation and is a solid bet to repeat last year’s line. A step forward in K rate is needed for him to be much more than a mid-rotation innings eater, but he’s been going super late in early drafts, so he’s worth keeping an eye on.
76) Bryce Miller, Mariners
He’s just 27, so I’m willing to buy low on Miller after a rough 2025 season. His 2024 numbers may not happen again, but if they do, he can be a league winner considering where he’s going in fantasy drafts this winter. He’s pretty clearly the 5th starter in Seattle, so he may miss a turn in the rotation every once in a while, but he should be able to mop the floor against the other #5 starters in the league. His current ADP has him going in drafts around pick 247, which is way too late considering his talent level, his home ballpark, and his team context.
77) Brady Singer, Reds
Once a top prospect for the Royals (acquired from Boston), Singer has carved out a career as an innings eater by today’s standards. He has thrown north of 150 innings in each of the last 4 seasons, but the results have been mixed. His K rate has settled in at just under 9 per 9 innings pitched, but his walk rate crept over 3 last year. He’s just 29, so a step up isn’t out of the question, but it doesn’t seem likely. He will be a fixture at the tail end of the Reds’ exciting young rotation and should manage to hold serve with his stat line from the last 2 years.
78) Brayan Bello, Red Sox
On the surface, last season looks like he took a step forward, but in reality, it was more of the same from his previous two seasons, with a little better BABIP luck. In fact, the K rate was his worst in the last 3 years, but that was offset by a lower walk rate as well. He’s just 27 this season, and there is still a chance he can take a step forward, just don’t buy him expecting last year’s stats as a baseline. There’s some risk here that Boston may move him from the rotation if he struggles.
79) Jeffrey Springs, A’s
If you play in a daily transactions league and can stream Springs in road games only, then he’s a great option. He, along with the other starters for the Athletics, had much better success pitching outside of Sacramento than they did pitching in front of their home fans. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a stadium lacking a third deck would be more susceptible to the wind affecting fly balls, as exhibited in Springs numbers from 2025. His ERA rose by almost a run and a half, and his HR/fly ball rate was over 50% higher while pitching at home. The bright spots here are the fact that he was able to stay healthy and that he finished the season strong after a rough start. He’s the only pitcher on the team that I would let near my fantasy roster, and if I can get him cheap in an AL-only league, I’ll take a shot.
80) Justin Steele, Cubs
Opened the season as the Cubs ace, then an elbow injury ended 2025 for Steele. He underwent UCL revision surgery, which has a shorter recovery and rehab period than full TJS. He will likely begin the season on the IL but could be back with the Cubs by early May. We won’t buy in expecting a full return to his pre-injury form, but grabbing him in the late rounds and hoping for a second-half contributor is more than reasonable.
81) Jack Leiter, Rangers
Sep 26, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (35) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Did somebody order the Post Hype Sleeper special? Oh, yes. I did. It’s my favorite. Leiter has had huge expectations on him since the Rangers took him in the 1st round in 2021. He was rushed to the majors twice, but it seems like he has his feet on the ground, and at just 25 years of age, he could be on the verge of a breakout season. What I really like about him right now is his draft price. In recent NFBC drafts, he has been going anywhere between picks #184 and #330, with an ADP of 255. If I can take a shot on a talent like this in round 20, I’m all in.
82) Zebby Matthews, Twins
A big-time prospect who choked on his first taste of the Show. Many will write him off, but I’ll buy back in, especially if I can get him in the reserve rounds. Right now, he’s going well after pick 250 on average, and I am more than willing to take a shot before then. He possesses elite velocity and control and makes for an ideal post hype sleeper target. While other owners are investing high draft capital in the McLeans. Schlittlers and Bubba Chandlers, I’ll take the discount and roll the dice with guys like this.
83) Tatsuya Imai, Astros
He’s a brand-new import from the NPB, and he’s coming off a career year in Japan. The numbers are eye-popping, but almost all numbers in Japan are for pitchers right now, as the entire league pitched to a 3.01 era last year. He will slide in behind Hunter Brown in the Astros’ rotation, and it will be interesting to see what he does here in the States. His recent draft position has been all over the map in NFBC drafts, with him going as high as 77th overall and as low as 389th. I can’t stomach taking a chance on an unproven player like this before pick 120 or so. You could be getting 2024 Shota Imanaga, or you could be getting a full season of what Roki Sasaki did last year.
84) Tyler Mahle, Giants
Mahle has been kicking around now for a bunch of years, and most fans don’t even know who he is, let alone how good a pitcher he is. The main reason for that is he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy anywhere. He’s now pitching in San Francisco, and at just 31 years of age with his shoulder issues from last year behind him, he makes for a nice speculative pick late in drafts.
85) Reid Detmers, Angels
Detmers was a promising starting pitching prospect a few years back for the Angels, but he stumbled a bit in 2023, and then things went completely sideways for him in 2024. Last year, he was moved to the bullpen, and he thrived. His profile fits exactly the type of post hype sleeper that I like to target as a lefty who has met and eventually overcome obstacles as he seemingly developed his slider and curveball while moving away from his sinker. He also scrapped his changeup altogether as he threw it exactly one time last year, and it was hit for a home run. His fastball velocity uptick was likely a result of the move to the pen, and I won’t be shocked if it moves back to the levels of previous years, but that is still good enough to carry a K rate over 25%. He’s been practically free in early drafts with an ADP over 400. I’m buying anywhere I can at the end of my drafts.
86) Kodai Senga, Mets
New York Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner (65) speaks with New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) during the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Aug. 25 – Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
He has the stuff to be an ace, but health has been a bugaboo for him over the past two seasons. When he has been able to take the mound, he has been very good. He has one dominant pitch, his “Ghost Fork”, which has stymied the league to the tune of a 41.8% whiff rate, but his other pitches haven’t been quite as deadly. If he can stay healthy for 25+ starts and post 150+ innings, he could rebound to his 2023 form. Questions about whether or not he is going to make the Met rotation out of camp have his draft price suppressed, so buy him at a discount while you can. As of this writing, his ADP is well north of 250 overall.
87) Spencer Arrighetti, Astros
He was a hot draft pick last year in fantasy after posting a tantalizing 171 Ks over 145 innings as a rookie in 2024. Injuries limited him to just 7 starts last year, and they weren’t even very good. I’ll give him a pass as the season seemed doomed from the get-go when he was injured in a freak accident during batting practice, resulting in a broken thumb in April, which surely affected the entire season. Fantasy managers tend to have the memories of goldfish, so most will just write him off after last year, which will create a buying opportunity that could pay handsomely. At his current ADP of well over 300, I am more than willing to fill my bench with arms like his.
88) Connoly Early, Red Sox
What a wild ride it was for Early in 2025. He dominated AA and then AAA and then found himself pitching in Boston during the pennant chase and in the playoffs. Early doesn’t have an amazing fastball, but he gets swings and misses as well as any of his fellow young guns ranked much higher on this list. He comes at a much cheaper draft price than the others, as he isn’t assured a rotation spot in Boston, but I’m buying him wherever I can at this price. There may be some bumps in the road, but when I see somebody who managed 161 Ks over 119.2 professional innings with a sub 10% walk rate, I’m interested
89) Kris Bubic, Royals
Injuries have always held him back, but last year he looked like he was finally emerging as a top-flight starting pitcher. Through 20 starts, he posted a 2.55 era, with a 1.18 whip with 116 Ks over 116.1 innings, and then? Yep, you guessed it. He’s still just 28, and he comes into camp with a clean bill of health, so I’m willing to take another spin of the wheel with this guy at his current draft price. He hasn’t gone higher than the 10th round in any recent drafts, with an ADP closer to round 17 in 12-team leagues. Don’t reach for him, but if he falls into the double-digit rounds, you could do worse than Bubic as your 5th or 6th starter.
90) Mike Burrows, Astros
Burrows was picked up this offseason from Pittsburgh and has an inside track for a rotation spot in Houston. In 96 innings for Pittsburgh last year, he managed a decent 3.94 era with a 1.24 whip and averaged just over a strikeout per inning over 19 starts. He’s still just 26 years old, and there have been a few times we’ve struck gold when a pitcher moves from the Pirates to the Astros. I don’t think he’s going to be Gerritt Cole or even Charlie Morton, but I can see him being very good if he sticks in the rotation all year.
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