Starting Pitcher Chart – April 20th, 2026

by Paul Sporer

April 20, 2026

Daily SP Chart archive
2-Start podcast episode
Preseason SP Rankings (update later this wk!)

Welcome to the Daily SP Chart.

Note: 2026 data is now featured in the chart as of April 13th! We’re still dealing with small samples, but I’ve taken out the 2025 data and you will now see the pitcher’s current numbers and the wOBA rank for their opponent this year so far!

The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.

These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more value focusing on roto. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations, you don’t really need a shiny stat to be convinced on starting guys like that. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get you an answer when I can. I try to do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.

I’ll add some 1-x commentary in the morning.

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SP Chart for April 20th, 2026

Rk	PITCHER	Tm	Opp	10	12	15+	IP	ERA	WHIP	K-BB	opp wOBA RK	Commentary
1	Dylan Cease	TOR	at LAA	x	x	x	20.2	1.74	1.26	22%	9	He’ll have his downswings like he does every year, espec. w/a 14% BB
2	Emerson Hancock	SEA	v. ATH	x	x	x	23.2	2.28	0.76	25%	18	Skills surge behind the ratios (29% K, 25% K-BB, 11% SwStr); still a light SwStr for such a lofty K%, but we’re riding this out
3	Reid Detmers	LAA	v. TOR	x	x	x	22.2	3.57	1.06	21%	10	Moved back to Monday, now gets a 2-step w/a trip to KCR this wknd
4	Seth Lugo	KCR	v. BAL	x	x	x	24.1	1.48	0.99	16%	19	The quintessential Team Streamer is an easy start in a 2-step w/both at home
5	Kyle Bradish	BAL	at KCR	x	x	x	19.2	5.49	1.63	13%	25	Not a lot better last time out, but also not worse — I’ve been eyeing this 2-step as a big test for his rosterability in shallower lgs
6	Sonny Gray	BOS	v. DET	x	x	x	20.1	4.43	1.28	8%	12	Leaning on the track record a bit longer; meager 8% K-BB countered a bit by 56% GB… just don’t think he’s cooked
7	Spencer Arrighetti	HOU	at CLE	x	x	x	6	1.50	1.17	22%	21	Big strikeout upside but also too many BB will yield volatility
8	Jack Flaherty	DET	at BOS	x	x	x	20	4.05	1.40	8%	23	B2B gems incl. 13 Ks in 11.7 IP; still 3 BB in each but back in the lineup confidently
9	Max Meyer	MIA	v. STL	x	x	x	19.2	4.12	1.32	13%	20	This is more about the 2-start w/a trip to SFG this wknd but I don’t mind this as a one-off in shallower formats, too
10	Justin Wrobleski	LAD	at COL		x	x	17	2.12	0.76	2%	19	His insane .154 BABIP is driving the ratios entirely w/a whopping 2% K-BB
11	Aaron Nola	PHI	at CHC		x	x	22.1	4.03	1.30	19%	13	Check that Wrigley wind before running this; at ATL this wkd makes this a rough 2-step
12	Bryce Elder	ATL	at WSN		x	x	23.1	0.77	1.03	18%	16	18% K-BB gives his start more credence but it stills feel like he’s way over his skis
13	Colin Rea	CHC	v. PHI			x	17.1	3.63	0.98	17%	11	13 pt GB% and 4 pt K-BB jumps have him peaking rn; still mostly the 3.95/1.25 guy from last yr
14	Michael McGreevy	STL	at MIA			x	21.2	2.49	0.83	11%	8	Heed the 4.44 SIERA; love the 4% BB but a .188 BABIP & 87% LOB are carrying the ratios
15	Rhett Lowder	CIN	at TBR			x	23	3.52	1.13	9%	10	Another non-dominant arm running well but that 9% K-BB screams mid-4.00s ERA
16	Slade Cecconi	CLE	v. HOU			x	19.2	5.03	1.37	9%	4	HOU is raking so I’d probably take the 2-step in a weekly, but not dying to use this today
17	Jesse Scholtens	TBR	v. CIN			x	9.2	0.00	0.83	11%	30	Might be a deep lg 2-step of note, but not really seeing any talent changes behind early success
18	Jake Irvin	WSN	v. ATL				19	6.16	1.47	11%	2
19	J.T. Ginn	ATH	at SEA				16.1	3.31	0.98	6%	14
20	Jose Quintana	COL	v. LAD				8	5.63	1.88	-14%	1

Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues