The 2026 fantasy baseball season proved historically volatile for starting pitchers, with early-round picks delivering their lowest combined value in six years while mid-round arms nearly matched their production. According to FanGraphs Player Rater data, the top 24 starters by average draft position (ADP) returned just $227 in combined value, down from at least $259.1 in each of the previous five seasons. Meanwhile, pitchers drafted 25th through 36th at the position combined for $155.6 in value, nearly eclipsing the top-12 group's $158.94.
Misiorowski Takes the Throne
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski headlined the breakout class, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and a 37.9% strikeout rate over 174.1 innings. His WHIP and strikeout rate both rank as the second-best in MLB history (excluding the shortened 2020 season). Misiorowski's leap from a 4.36 ERA as a rookie to the game's most dominant starter makes him the consensus No. 1 pitcher for 2027 drafts.
Schlittler, Burns Join Elite Tier
New York Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler (1.95 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 239 strikeouts in 193.1 innings) and Cincinnati Reds rookie Chase Burns (2.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 185 strikeouts in 154 innings) rounded out a remarkable trio of unproven pitchers who shattered expectations. The 2026 draft class featured an unusual concentration of high-upside rookies, a dynamic not replicated in the 2027 prospect pool.
Biggest Disappointments
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, drafted as a first-rounder after 64 consecutive starts without injury, lasted just six starts before his season ended. Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes posted a 3.82 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP but collapsed to a 4.56 ERA and 22% strikeout rate over the final four and a half months. Both face uncertain 2027 valuations.
Notable Risers and Fallers
Drew Rasmussen (Rays), Jesús Luzardo (Phillies), and Zack Wheeler (Phillies) join Misiorowski and Schlittler as major ADP risers for 2027. Conversely, Blake Snell (Dodgers), Kyle Bradish (Orioles), and George Kirby (Mariners) headline the decliners, with Kirby's regression making him a potential trade candidate.
Offseason Landscape
Tarik Skubal leads a free-agent class that includes Sonny Gray, Shota Imanaga, and Zac Gallen, while trade rumors surround Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Sandy Alcantara, and Rasmussen. Top 2027 rookie prospects include Kade Anderson, Liam Doyle, and Brody Hopkins, though Hopkins' control issues (98 walks in 99.1 minor-league innings) temper enthusiasm.
