Post All-Star Break Starting Pitchers to Target

Some call it the second half because it’s easier that way, but there is only 40% of the Major League season remaining. Assuming starting pitchers remain healthy and in the rotation, most will start anywhere from 11 to 14 games between now and the end of the season. There is more than enough time to make up some of our pitching category deficiencies in Rotisserie leagues. Let’s dive into some of the starting pitchers who should be helpful in all fantasy formats and help us finish the season strong.

Landen Roupp, RHP, San Francisco Giants

Roupp wasn’t ever a big-time prospect. The 27-year-old righty played four years at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) and was drafted 356th overall (12th round) by the Giants in 2021. Roupp never cracked the top 100 prospects, though he hovered around 150 in early 2023. He made the team out of spring training in 2024 as a multi-inning reliever, starting off well, then struggling in mid-April before getting being optioned to Triple-A.

Roupp returned in early August, a bit more stretched out, and was lights-out over eight relief appearances and three starts, posting a 0.89 ERA and a 23.5% strikeout rate, before getting crushed in his final start of the season (9 H, 6 ER in 3.2 IP vs. STL). His first full season, in 2025, was a success. Roupp went 7-7 with a 3.80 ERA (4.10 xFIP) over 22 starts (106.2 innings), though he spent time on the IL due to right elbow inflammation and his season ended prematurely after being struck on his right thigh in a game against the Padres on August 20.

The one big flaw in Roupp’s game that I haven’t mentioned yet? Devo. They WHIP it good against him. Last season’s mark was harmful (1.48) and his career rate is 1.39. Roupp’s ability to pitch to the part of the zone he wants to is above average (106 Location+) and his 18.3% Called-Strike rate is impressive (tied for sixth among 86 pitchers with 200+ innings since 2025), but he simply gives up too many hits and walks. His walk rate last season was 9.5% and this season it’s 10.2%.  But there have been plenty of improvements in his second full season, that projecting a strong final 40% of the season isn’t a stretch.

First of all, his strikeout rate is up four ticks from last season, to 25.3%. It’s the 25th highest rate among the 77 pitchers with at least 90 innings. Roupp is in excellent company in barrel rate allowed (3.8%), one of just two qualified starters under four percent, along with NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski (3.2%). Moreover, no qualified starter has a lower hard-hit rate than Roupp’s 28.2%. So, he excels at minimizing hard contact. He doesn’t serve up many longballs either. Last season’s 0.93 HR/9 was slightly better than league average and this season’s 0.65 is much better. Roupp’s ground ball rate is up 3.5% as well — that 48.6% mark ranks 10th among starters.

Roupp has a relatively large differential in ERA (4.27) in vs. his ERA indicators — a 3.29 FIP, 3.68 xFIP, 3.96 SIERA, and a 3.36 ERA. His .306 BABIP isn’t far from league average and his left-on-base rate of 66.6% supports the argument of some slightly bad luck that may turn positive. Most importantly, Roupp makes half of his starts in pitcher-friendly Oracle Park (94 Park Factor is third-lowest in MLB this season) and his repertoire and stuff are strong. His curveball (25% usage) is one of the five best, grading out to a 117 Stuff+ with elite high spin and it elicits a slugging percentage of just .284 from opposing batters. His sinker, cutter, and changeup mix in well, though none are exceptional offerings.

Moreover, Roupp’s home and road splits are near-even, as is his strikeout rate against both lefties and righties. Where he struggles most is on the road against lefties. His two actual implosions this season came on the road — eight earned runs against the Brewers and six against the Diamondbacks — and he’s issued five or more free passes in three of his 18 starts (six against the Diamondbacks in that disaster start two weeks ago.

Roupp recently had his best start of the season, at home against the Blue Jays last Monday. He made it through eight innings for the first time in his young career:

Roupp is scheduled to make the first post-ASB start for the Giants on Friday, on the road against the Mariners. Though it may not be wise to project rotations to remain fluid for the remainder of the season, it doesn’t hurt to glance at what his matchups would look like if he maintained his regular schedule over the next two months. Not too shabby:

• Week 17: Seattle Mariners (away)
• Week 18: Kansas City Royals (away)
• Week 19: Milwaukee Brewers (home), San Diego Padres (away)
• Week 20: Detroit Tigers (home)
• Week 21: Colorado Rockies (home)
• Week 22: Cleveland Guardians (away)
• Week 23: Cincinnati Reds (home), Arizona Diamondbacks (home)
• Week 24: New York Mets (home)

Roupp’s rest-of-season road won’t be all bliss, but his short-term future appears bright and his fantasy production should be helpful. It would not be a stretch to project Roupp to produce a 3.35-3.50 ERA with around 70 strikeouts over 70 innings for the rest of the season. FGDC has him at 3.78 and ZiPS at 3.68 for the rest of the season.

He doesn’t appear to be a pitcher who fantasy managers are going out of their way to acquire, so there may be some meat on the bone in a potential 1-for-1 SP swap. I’d rather roll with Roupp for the rest of 2026 than with José Soriano, Tanner Bibee, Sandy Alcantara, Reid Detmers, and Roupp’s teammate, Robbie Ray. Though, if you’re not as confident and want to start at a lower point, consider offering Luis Castillo, Davis Martin, or Roki Sasaki. The folks who should be targeting such a deal are the ones who can absorb a bit of WHIP damage, but need help in strikeouts and ERA.

Other SPs to Consider:

Joey Cantillo, LHP, Cleveland Guardians

• Averaging seven strikeouts and hasn’t allowed more than two runs over his last six starts
• Only one home run allowed in his last 34 innings
• Boasts an above-average swinging-strike rate of 13.2%
• Half of his starts in Progressive Field (98 overall Park Factor, 78 PF for home runs)
• Decent matchups starting next week if he lines up as currently projected: Week 18 vs. MIN, at TB; Week 19 vs. ARI; Week 20 vs. NYM, Week 21 vs. DET

Cade Cavalli, RHP, Washington Nationals

• Boasts a 2.91 SIERA, 2.59 xFIP, and a 5.8% walk rate over the last month (last six starts)
• Punched out at least seven batters in seven of his last 15 starts, including 13 Ks in Boston on June 30
• Ground ball rate (48.5%) is among the top 20% of qualified starters; only eight homers allowed in nearly 100 innings pitched
• Potential buy-low period if upcoming “tough on-paper” matchups (at ATH, at PHI) don’t go well as the Nats’ schedule gets easier over the final seven weeks

Janson Junk, RHP, Miami Marlins

• Streamer for 15-team leagues (possible at HOU/v SD two-step in the first full week)
• 101 Stuff+, none of his three primary offerings have a negative Run Value
• Plus control: a career 4.5% walk rate (2.8% in 110 IP last season)
• Home park (loanDepot) is tied for fifth-lowest MLB Park Factor (90); third-lowest HR Park Factor (74)