Welcome to my debut article, covering three starting pitchers struggling in 2026. Beyond the typical luck and skill factors, we want to examine a pitcher’s pitch mix, movement profile, location, and more to figure out whether these starting pitchers are likely to improve as the season progresses. Two of the struggling pitchers are veterans with a lengthy track record; the third is a less established arm who has teased us with his skills.
Will these starting pitchers perform better soon? Or should we consider dropping or selling low in some formats?
They make us feel like gods. Those pitchers who begin the season on the fringe of being rostered who you stream against a weak offense to begin the season, who then go on to give you five innings with a handful of strikeouts and a win.
In this throw away culture where newer is always better, it’s easy to lose sight of the essentials. And that’s especially true when “newer” means throwing three different fastballs over 97 mph or uncorking splitters that are hurled so fast they necessitate a new name.
That presents an opportunity. To zig where the market is zagging today is to not cast aside the command artists as flukes, but instead to let results come before the flashiest of underlying numbers. If the K-BB% isn’t convincing and the Stuff+ is lacking, there is still a path to success, and to surplus value via waiver wire adds and trades.
As you may have noticed, I skipped last week’s Pitcher Playing Time Changes because when I ran the query of our database to find the significant changes there really weren’t any. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case this week, as evidenced by Tarik Skubal’s surgery to remove a bone chip. Here are the notable swings for starters and relievers alike:
Significant Projected Playing Time Changes, SP, 4/24 to 5/8
Welcome back to the Ottoneu Starting Pitching Planner. Based on the Roster Resource Probables Grid, I’ve organized every starter slated to start next week into four categories: start, maybe, risky, and sit for Ottoneu points leagues. The first and last category are pretty self-explanatory. Starters who fall into the “maybe” category are guys you could start if you need to keep up with the innings pitched pace in points leagues or need to hit your games started cap in head-to-head leagues; they’re good bets to turn in a decent start, but you shouldn’t automatically insert them into your lineup. If you’ve fallen behind on the innings pitched pace or you’re really starving for starts in a head-to-head matchup, you could turn to a “risky” starter or two.
I’ve also calculated a “Matchup Score” for each series using a straight combination of opponent’s home/away wOBA, opponent wOBA over the last 14 days, and the park factor for the ballpark the teams are playing in. It’s indexed so that 100 is average and anything above that is a favorable matchup and anything below is unfavorable. That matchup rating informs some of the sit/start recommendations I’m making, though the quality of the pitcher definitely takes precedence.
Out of all the ERA estimator equations we have, SIERA does the best job at predicting future ERA. That said, they all kind of stink because luck is a meaningful factor here and it’s obviously impossible to predict the type of fortune a pitcher is going to have. Furthermore, underlying skills often change, whether it’s added or reduced velocity driving strikeout rate changes or a pitcher suddenly learning control and improving his walk rate dramatically. So for the ERA equation to be right, it requires the common “all else being equal” caveat that demands that the underlying skills to the same, and that doesn’t always happen.
Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend.
Fantasy baseball managers know that our game is the ultimate test of grit, grind, tenacity, and patience. Unlike fantasy football, where league titles can be won with minimal in-season activity, fantasy baseball leagues require incessant attention and activity. Particularly when it comes to free agent adds and drops. Real-life baseball managers are constantly adjusting batting orders, players are frequently optioned to and promoted from the Minor Leagues, and injuries occur almost daily. There’s no resting on our laurels. We must always stay vigilant with league news and notes and remain active on the waiver wire if we want to win our leagues.
Every week, I’ll dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.
Week 6 Overview
It was a monster week for Byron Buxton (.345-6-5-7-2) who feasted on Mariners and Blue Jays pitchers and was the only hitter with five home runs. The next two top producers were Cardinals Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson. Both hit .390+ with 2 HR and 11 RBI each. The Cardinals had seven games with some tough opposing starters (PIT, LAD), but the duo was unfazed. That 1-4 for the Cardinals (Wetherholt-Herrera-Burleson-Walker) is quite formidable. The Cardinals offense ranks eighth in ISO (.162) and their 44 homers is tied for fourth-most in the majors behind the three powerhouses, the Yankees, Braves, and Dodgers.
Cardinals rookie Nathan Church did not step up for his new fantasy managers. He went 6-30 (.200) with one run and three runs batted in. Expect better production from him in Week 7 as the Cardinals have seven games and are lined up to face all RHP starters.
Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto had an excellent week as well. He went 7-27 (.259), but four of those hits were home runs, and he tied Walker and Burleson for the most RBI (11) in Week 6. Okamoto has deservedly moved up in the batting order. He was the cleanup hitter behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for most of the week, and hit second on Sunday with George Springer out of the lineup and rookie Yohendrick Pinango earning his first leadoff start.
Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter was on an absolute heater. He produced 13 hits in 22 at-bats (.592) — nine singles, three doubles, a homer and two walks. Teammate José Ramírez ran cold, going 4-24 with one run and three runs batted in.
No hitter was colder than Rangers Evan Carter (0-18). Cedric Mullins went 1-15 for the Rays and his slash line is now down to .127/.189/.225. He’s an easy drop in all formats (in case you haven’t dropped already) and he won’t play much this week with the Rays slated to face four left-handed starters. On that note, RHH Jonny DeLuca is a sneaky streamer in Week 7.
There were fewer two-start pitchers last week than usual. Of the 24 pitchers who started two games, only Jesús Luzardo and Clay Holmes won twice, a rate of 12.5% for the two-steppers. Phillies reliever Chase Shugart was the only other pitcher to earn two wins last week, and he did so on the same day, in Thursday’s doubleheader. Luzardo led all pitchers with 18 strikeouts, while posting stellar ratios (1.26 ERA, 0.70 WHIP). Cincinnati’s Chase Burns punched out the second most batters (16 in 13 innings) and brought his ERA down to 2.20 through seven starts.
The biggest disaster two-step of the week was Seattle’s Luis Castillo, who allowed a major-league-high 11 earned runs to the Twins and Royals last week. Castillo’s ratios are up to 6.29/1.66 and he’s allowing a career-high barrel rate of 12.4 percent. Castillo’s velocity is on par with last season’s and his peripherals (4.64 xFIP, 4.45 SIERA), high BABIP (.367) and low LOB rate (58.8%) foretell better days ahead, but there’s no harm in cutting him loose for a potential upgrade in 10- and 12-team formats. It’s been very noticeable that Castillo has been steadily declining over the last few seasons. If he continues to struggle, perhaps Bryce Miller or even super-prospect Kade Anderson can take his spot in the rotation eventually.
Seven relievers earned more than one save one week. Royals Lucas Erceg was the only reliever with three. He looked great in his three appearances, allowing just one hit, one walk, four punchouts and did not allow a run. Last week’s waiver darling Ryan Walker blew not one, but two save opportunities last week. RosterResource currently lists the Giants’ bullpen as a four-man committee with Walker, lefty Erik Miller, and righties Caleb Kilian and Keaton Winn. Kilian would be my bet for team saves leader the rest of this season.
Roster % is the current % of leagues rostering the player; (+/-) is the % of leagues the player was added to in the previous week
Boston’s rookie southpaw Jake Bennett was the top addition in Fantrax leagues. They 25-year-old was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2022 (Rd 2, Pick 6) out of Oklahoma, where he was the top starter in that Sooners rotation with Cade Horton. Bennett escaped his major league debut with a win and just one run allowed in five innings (1.80 ERA) against the Astros, but the corresponding metrics (5.75 FIP, 10.29 xERA) told a tale of great fortune. Bennett may not last beyond a start in Detroit this week, since Sonny Gray is expected to be activated off the IL later this week. The Red Sox could use five innings from him though, to keep their taxed rotation fresh as the Red Sox have seven games this week.
Sean Burke has been an absolute stud this season, boasting a 2.72 ERA (3.75 SIERA), 1.01 WHIP, 5.1% BB, and a 4.3% BRL over nearly 40 innings. He posted a season-high eight punchouts against the Padres on Saturday. His next two starts should be at home against the Mariners and the Royals. He doesn’t have dominant stuff, but he’s certainly on the radar for all formats 12-team and higher. Nick Martinez (Rays) and Janson Junk (Marlins) were two of the most popular two-start pitchers added this weekend. Both have outperformed their peripherals so far this season. Junk has plus control and lines up for two home starts against the Phillies and Nationals. Martinez’s matchups don’t look too awful (vs. TOR, at BOS) considering how poor those offenses have been performing lately.
Not certain why Tyler Phillips was scooped up in 12% of leagues, but that probably includes some leagues that use holds. With Pete Fairbanks on IL, Phillips earned a save on Tuesday, but then pitched three scoreless innings (5th-7th innings) on Sunday in a start where Chris Paddack served up seven runs in 2.2. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough will continue to rely on Phillips in the most important spots, which won’t often be save opportunities. Phillips has been their best reliever (1.27 ERA, 22 K in 21.1 IP), but it doesn’t look that great under the hood — a 12.9% walk rate, 1.36 WHIP, and 4.44 xFIP.
Casey Schmitt was among the most popular hitters added as he’s been one of the only reliable hitters for the Giants lately. Schmitt sports a 15.7% barrel rate and a fine slash (.308/.354/.519) and has earned the coveted three-hole spot in manager Tony Vitello’s offense. Carlos Cortes should see more playing time this week with the Athletics slated to face five right-handed starters this week.
NFBC Online Championship – Top Average Winning Bids
% Lgs Added is the % of leagues that added the player (out of 240 leagues); AWB stands for Average Winning Bid
Another week of building up confidence of fantasy managers and their real-life ones for relievers Jack Perkins and Jacob Latz. This week’s average winning bid was significantly higher than last week’s when I scooped up Latz for $3 in several of my NFBC OC leagues. I spoke kindly of Perkins in last week’s column, and he has yet to betray my trust, though he had a light workload last week (2 G, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 SV). Lefty Hogan Harris is the only semi-reliable reliever in that bullpen right now. Latz is a lefty, but continues to dazzle and could take the ninth-inning gig for himself, if he hasn’t already.
Logan Henderson, Christian Scott, and Cade Cavalli were the most popular starting pitcher acquisitions on Sunday. With Brandon Woodruff hitting the IL, Henderson was called up for Sunday’s start and pitched well, striking out eight and walking none, though he took the loss, giving up two runs in the fifth before punching out the side in the sixth. Henderson has a tough date with the Yankees this week, so make sure you’re not starting him over a comparable starter with a better matchup just because you want the boys on your roster to give him a proper greeting. Do what you believe is optimal for your fantasy squad. A healthy Henderson could easily stick around in this rotation even when Woodruff and Quinn Priester return. Brandon Sproat is probably the next man out, and though Chad Patrick has been solid, it’s possible he also gets the boot if he runs into the Regression Monster over the next two weeks.
Scott lines up for a start against the Rockies at Coors Field. This is another case where we don’t have to force a tough-on-paper start just because we have a shiny new roto toy. If you have Cavalli, you must roll him out there for his two starts (vs. MIN, at MIA), because if not this week, why even roster him? Aaron Nola was already rostered in 85% of OCs, but was scooped up on the remaining teams despite his YTD struggles because a two-start week of Marlins (away) and Rockies (home) is too juicy. If he can’t hack it, feel free to give him the boot.
Rico Garcia looks like the lone man standing atop the Orioles bullpen, at least for now, or until he gets pummeled. That’s exactly what happened this weekend to the other two temp-closer candidates in Ryan Helsley’s stead. When Helsley hit the IL last week, the market speculated on a possible three-man committee with Garcia, Anthony Nunez and veteran Andrew Kittredge, who recently came off the IL himself. Nunez got lit up on Saturday (3 ER, 2 BB) and Kittredge got brutally torched (7 H, 7 R in 0.1 IP) on Sunday. Garcia has been excellent in relief this season (14.2 IP – 16:4 K:BB – 1 H – 1 ER), but doesn’t have much closing experience. Which means new Garcia bag-holders (gross term, by the way) will likely be devasted when veteran Yennier Cano earns the bulk of save chances over the next two weeks. Isn’t that how the closer chaos has been flowing this season?
Cleveland’s top prospect Travis Bazzana should be in the majors to stay. He’s a rookie hitter — there will be ups and downs — but the 23-year-old first overall pick from 2024 should be able to weather the storms and have a respectable first season. He has already scored three runs, drove in two, and swiped two bases in his first five games.
Nice to see Mark Vientos crush two dingers on Sunday before heading to Denver for a three-game series where his squad will face Rockies starters Tomoyuki Sugano, Michael Lorenzen and Jose Quintana. I’ve been steadfastly holding and expect the fruits of my patience to blossom, at least for a short period of time before his next, inevitable slump.
Drop of the Week
It doesn’t feel great to drop a top 100 ADP hitter, but that’s what needs to be done with Agustín Ramírez. It’s not wise to stash a third catcher on rosters with shallow benches, and so we bid adieu to Gus, at least for now. Let’s be sure to track his journey in Triple-A, because Ramírez and Joe Mack could be swapped for one another again in a few weeks. Let’s hope that Ramírez is motivated by the demotion, not demoralized by it. Unless, of course, you’re a Mack bag-holder (ok, I promise I won’t ever type that again).
Welcome back to the Ottoneu Starting Pitching Planner. Based on the Roster Resource Probables Grid, I’ve organized every starter slated to start next week into four categories: start, maybe, risky, and sit for Ottoneu points leagues. The first and last category are pretty self-explanatory. Starters who fall into the “maybe” category are guys you could start if you need to keep up with the innings pitched pace in points leagues or need to hit your games started cap in head-to-head leagues; they’re good bets to turn in a decent start, but you shouldn’t automatically insert them into your lineup. If you’ve fallen behind on the innings pitched pace or you’re really starving for starts in a head-to-head matchup, you could turn to a “risky” starter or two.
I’ve also calculated a “Matchup Score” for each series using a straight combination of opponent’s home/away wOBA, opponent wOBA over the last 14 days, and the park factor for the ballpark the teams are playing in. It’s indexed so that 100 is average and anything above that is a favorable matchup and anything below is unfavorable. That matchup rating informs some of the sit/start recommendations I’m making, though the quality of the pitcher definitely takes precedence. Since we’ve finally reached May, I’ve started using 2026 data to start calculating these matchup ratings.
Adley Rutschman says, “See? I’m not just good in real life, but in fantasy baseball, too!”
On the Agenda:
Closer Chaos
Quick Hits
Various News and Notes
Streaming Pitchers
Closer Chaos
There is always some chaos to report! Last night’s mayhem involved Giants reliever, Ryan Walker. Walker entered the bottom of the ninth with a 2-1 lead in the first game of the doubleheader. Walker gave up a single, run-scoring triple, and the game-winning single to rookie outfielder Justin Crawford. Interim manager Don Mattingly is now 3-0 and also, this is pretty cool:
The Crawfords are the second father-son set to each have a walk-off RBI for the same manager (RBI official since 1920)
Carl & Justin Crawford for Don Mattingly Gary & Daryle Ward for Lou Piniella
Back to this bullpen: it’s an absolute mess! Manager Tony Vitello should make lefty Erik Miller and righty Caleb Kilian the co-closers. Gregory Santos could eventually be a dark horse candidate (I can’t quit that guy).
Tigers veteran righty Kyle Finnegan earned his first save of the season in a 5-2 victory over the Braves. Kenley Jansen blew Wednesday’s save, but isn’t in danger of losing his job, though Finnegan and Will Vest will earn opportunities from time to time. Over 15 appearances (15.2 innings), Finnegan has 15 strikeouts and just one earned run allowed, but has issued 10 free passes.
Meanwhile, my boy “Perky” Jack Perkins earned his third save of the season in a 6-3 victory over the Rangers:
Quick Hits
The hits keep coming for the Mets. Oft-injured outfielder Luis Robert Jr. hits the IL with a lumbar spine disc herniation. His stay will be more than the minimum, as he will be shut down for 7-10 days and given an injection. The Mets also designated relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. for assignment, claimed infielders Andy Ibañez and Eric Wagaman off waivers from the Athletics and Twins, respectively. It’s not even May and their no. 3 hitter is MJ Melendez. Godspeed, Mets fans.
It was his sixth time allowing four or more earned runs in his career 62 starts. Two of those outings were against the Cardinals.
The Braves expect Sean Murphy to be activated early next week. Murphy won’t play every day, but should manage some starts behind the plate and as the DH. None of the Braves bench bats have minor-league options, so it’s likely that whoever gets called up if Michael Harris II goes on the injured list, is the player optioned.
Have a day, Kyle Schwarber!
Kyle Schwarber of the @Phillies is the first MLB player to have a day with:
Brandon Woodruff was pulled after 21 pitches on Thursday after averaging 85 mph on his fastball. Woodruff claims it’s dead arm and that he didn’t feel pain. Regardless, the Brewers will skip his next start and will further assess whether an IL stint is needed. Logan Henderson (17.2 IP – 1.02 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 35.6% K, 12.3% BB) would likely get the call to make the start for Woodruff against the Cardinals in the first half of the week.
A quick check-in on pitchers on rehab assignments:
Tatsuya Imai has been out since April 13 with right arm fatigue and made his first rehab start on Tuesday. Imai allowed five runs and three walks, with just two strikeouts in two innings. He is expected to make another rehab start, which will likely occur with Triple-A Sugar Land. If Imai doesn’t require any more rehab starts beyond the next one, he should return sometime between May 11 and May 14 for the series against the Mariners.
Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole could both be back in the Yankees rotation the week of May 11. Rodón pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in his first rehab start in High-A last week. On Thursday, he dazzled in a rehab start with the Double-A squad, punching out eight batters with one run allowed on five hits in 5.1 innings.
Cole is up to three rehab starts now. He has allowed eight runs (four homers) in 14.1 innings, but has a 10:1 K:BB and only needed 60 pitches to in Wednesday’s Double-A Somerset start to nearly reach six innings (5.2). A rotation of Rodón , Cole, Max Fried, Ryan Weathers, and Cam Schlittler will be a nasty one. The Bronx Bombers would have no choice but to boot Will Warren from it.
It may not seem wise to start pitchers in Sacramento, but we’re not in the dead heat of summer yet and we can make an exception for Cantillo tomorrow. The Athletics have struggled against souhthpaws and have the fourth lowest wRC+ (73) against them. Cantillo will have to be on point with his control. Nick Kurtz has been a walks machine and has a 22.7% walk rate against lefties. In the seventh inning on Thursday, Kurtz was intentionally walked and is now tied with Ted Williams for the third-most consecutive games with a walk (19).
Watch Scott totally redeem himself after walking five of the 10 batters he faced in his 2026 debut.
Pitcher for Tomorrow: Reid Detmers (LHP, LAA) vs. NYM
It’s a solid matchup for Detmers against the reeling Mets who have a .343 SLG and 78 wRC+ against left-handed pitching (bottom five). The Mets might be rolling out Wagaman, Ibañez, Austin Slater, and Tyrone Taylor on Saturday.
Of course, Ruiz couldn’t help himself and swiped a bag to complete the combo meal.
On the Agenda:
Closer Chaos
Quick Hits
Various News and Notes
Streaming Pitchers
Closer Chaos
It’s been an inauspicious start to Kurt Suzuki’s managerial career, mostly due to his mismanagement of the bullpen. Recently released reliever Jordan Romano has all four of the Los Angeles Angels’ saves; the most recent one was way back on April 6. Suzuki continues to deploy veteran lefty Drew Pomeranz in high-leverage opportunities, and it keeps backfiring. Here’s what happened on Wednesday:
The Angels were hoping that Kirby Yates could help the team out in late innings soon, but Yates has been getting shelled on his rehab assignment — seven hits and seven runs allowed over three innings/three appearances. Righty Chase Silseth was mentioned as a potential late-inning option, but his control has been poor (10 walks over 11 innings) and Sam Bachman has 10 walks in 15.1 innings. Fireballer righty Ryan Zeferjahn has been slowly moving up the leverage ladder and might be a waiver wire save spec before the week is over. Zeferjahn has struggled in multi-inning outings, so perhaps management gets the memo and just have him pitch one inning per appearance. Ben Joyce just began a rehab assignment and if all goes well, he could be activated in 3-4 weeks. All in all, it’s full blown chaos in Anaheim!
Texas Rangers lefty Jacob Latz is one step closer to being their full-time ninth-inning guy. He followed Nathan Eovaldi’s seven scoreless innings to fire two scoreless innings of his own (1 H, 1 K) to lock down his second save of the season.
Manager Skip Schumaker might ask righty Jakob Junis to occasionally close games out. Nevertheless, Latz has been the most dominant and reliable option in the bullpen and could run away with the job despite being a lefty. Latz has a 14:3 K:BB with just five hits and two runs allowed over 16.2 innings (13 appearances).
With Miami closer Pete Fairbanks sidelined on the injured list, Calvin Faucher was called upon to close out the Dodgers on Wednesday. Faucher was shaky, walking three batters, but escaped unscathed, earning his first save of 2026. The Marlins took 2-of-3 from the Dodgers.
Quick Hits
#OldFriend (or frenemy?) Jarred Kelenic was called up by the White Sox on Wednesday. He pinch-hit for Luisangel Acuña in the seventh, his first at-bat since April 23, 2025 with the Braves. Kelenic batted .202 with 6 HR, 18 RBI, and 7 SB in 104 PA in Triple-A.
With starting pitcher Casey Mize hitting the IL, the Tigers called up Jace Jung. Jung appeared in 21 games last season (.106/.236/.106) and owns a horrific .190/.315/.230 slash over 149 career major-league plate appearances. Jung shouldn’t be up for long.
With George Springer activated for the Jays, Eloy Jiménez was designated for assignment. Jiménez went 9-31 (.290) with 3 BB and 3 RBI in his part-time three-week stretch.
The Texas Rangers expect to activate Wyatt Langford on Saturday. He hit just one home run in his first 20 games before the forearm injury, with his hard-hit rate down considerably from last season (48.4% to 37.7%).
Hunter Goodman smashed two dingers in Great American Ball Park:
He went 3-4 for four runs scored and increased his batting average from .250 to .269 (a reminder of how early it still is). Goodman’s 37.3% strikeout rate remains among the highest in the majors. His strikeout rate last season was 26.3%.
Right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins will make his Cardinals and 2026 debut on Thursday against the Pirates. A rookie last season, Dobbins made 11 starts for the Red Sox and came over to St. Louis in the Willson Contreras deal in December. He has a 3-0 record with a 4.37 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 19.8% K, and 9.4% BB over five starts for Triple-A Memphis.
Various News and Notes
A couple of valuable closers should be back soon. Daniel Palencia of the Cubs is expected to be activated this weekend as is Phillies righty, Jhoan Duran. Palencia suffered a lat injury on his non-throwing side and Duran is recovering from a minor oblique injury. The quick turnarounds are a good reminder for us to not get carried away with the interim closer hype in fantasy free agency. Caleb Thielbar and Brad Keller were expensive acquisitions in FAAB leagues two weeks ago and we’ll soon be able to say that those dollars were officially wasted.
Injury is officially added to insult as first-round fantasy pick Garrett Crochet was placed on the injured list (retroactive to Sunday) with shoulder inflammation. Crochet says he felt fatigued in his last start and that he lost strength in his shoulder in spring training and really never got it back. Crochet is “pretty confident” he will return by the time those 15 IL days have passed. Struggling starter Brayan Bello appears to have a stay of execution with another turn in the rotation. Sonny Gray should be back next week, but with Crochet out, the Red Sox promoted 25-year-old lefty Jake Bennett. Bennett will make his major-league debut this weekend.
After getting run out of the game by the Nationals in the first inning last Tuesday (four earned runs), Braves manager Walt Weiss announced that Reynaldo López would be moved to the bullpen to work on his mechanics. On Wednesday night, López entered the contest in the eighth inning, and only needed 17 pitches to earn six outs and get credited with the win after Matt Olson’s walk-off home run.
It’s a long season and perhaps López works his way back into the rotation, but it’s also possible that he sticks in the bullpen. It would be a quite formidable one when Raisel Iglesias returns, joining López, Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee, and Didier Fuentes. Even former Rockies gas-can Tyler Kinley has pitched well (1.38 ERA, no homers allowed in 13 innings).
Only 11 games on this Transition Thursday and not many sub-50% starting pitchers on the slate. His Yahoo roster rate has dropped to 27% after two subpar starts, but both those outings were against the scorching Braves offense. Painter is in a good position for a bounce-back start on the back end of a doubleheader where the Giants may not be rolling out their optimal lineup.
Other Options: None, though if you don’t mind some potential ratio damage, Astros righty Peter Lambert should be good for six or more strikeouts.
Pitcher for Tomorrow: Joey Cantillo (LHP, CLE) at ATH
It may not seem wise to start pitchers in Sacramento, but we’re not in the dead heat of summer yet and we can make an exception for Cantillo tomorrow. The Athletics have struggled against souhthpaws and have the fourth lowest wRC+ (70) against them. Cantillo will have to be on point with his control. Nick Kurtz has been a walks machine and has a 22.7% walk rate against lefties.
It feels crazy to type, but we are already ~20% of the way through the 2026 fantasy baseball season. Most starting pitchers have six starts under their belts, and this is roughly the point of the season where fantasy managers start to believe in what we are seeing. As each day goes on, it’s harder and harder to make the case for sample sizes not being legitimate.
I think one of the hardest things to do in fantasy is pull off a sell high deal. You have to part with a player who has done well for you and try to properly value the likely underperforming asset that you will acquire in return. It’s a lot easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
