Starting Pitcher Chart – May 15th, 2026

by Paul Sporer

May 15, 2026

Daily SP Chart archive
2-Start podcast episode
SP Rankings (last update: 4/27 | next: wk of 6/1)

Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.

The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, and recently added opponent’s K% (also v. SP handedness), my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues – essentially a shallow, medium, deep league setup – and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. 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 for standard 5×5 roto leagues, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment. I usually do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.

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Starting Pitcher Chart May 16th

Rk	PITCHER	Team	Opponent	10	12	15+	IP	ERA	WHIP	K%	OPP K%	opp wOBA RK
1	Cam Schlittler	NYY	at NYM	x	x	x	53.1	1.35	0.81	29%	21%	30
2	Emerson Hancock	SEA	v. SDP	x	x	x	47.2	3.21	1.01	27%	23%	26
3	Joe Ryan	MIN	v. MIL	x	x	x	44.2	3.43	1.03	25%	20%	11
4	Trey Yesavage	TOR	at DET	x	x	x	13.1	0.68	1.35	26%	22%	12
5	Braxton Ashcraft	PIT	v. PHI	x	x	x	48.2	2.77	1.05	27%	21%	20
6	Randy Vásquez	SDP	at SEA	x	x	x	44.1	3.05	1.17	23%	24%	7
7	Spencer Strider	ATL	v. BOS	x	x	x	9.1	2.89	1.29	35%	23%	29
8	Edward Cabrera	CHC	at CHW	x	x	x	46.1	3.88	1.32	22%	25%	22
9	Tanner Bibee	CLE	v. CIN	x	x	x	45.1	4.17	1.35	23%	24%	24
10	Sean Burke	CHW	v. CHC		x	x	44	3.68	1.09	20%	20%	8
11	Blake Snell	LAD	at LAA		x	x	3	12.00	2.67	28%	24%	7
12	Spencer Arrighetti	HOU	v. TEX		x	x	28.2	1.88	1.33	24%	22%	13
13	Michael Wacha	KCR	at STL		x	x	51.1	2.63	0.99	21%	23%	17
14	Janson Junk	MIA	at TBR		x	x	44.1	3.25	1.11	18%	19%	10
15	Ty Madden	DET	v. TOR			x	11	2.45	0.73	29%	19%	23
16	Connelly Early	BOS	at ATL			x	42.2	3.16	1.22	22%	20%	5
17	Jack Leiter	TEX	at HOU			x	42.2	4.85	1.43	26%	22%	5
18	Clay Holmes	NYM	v. NYY			x	48.1	1.86	1.01	19%	23%	3
19	Aaron Nola	PHI	at PIT			x	42	5.14	1.48	24%	22%	4
20	Chad Patrick	MIL	at MIN			x	35.1	3.06	1.36	18%	24%	16
21	Tyler Mahle	SFG	at ATH				41.2	5.18	1.49	23%	21%	6
22	Dustin May	STL	v. KCR				42.2	4.85	1.43	18%	22%	14
23	Shane Baz	BAL	at WSN				44.1	5.48	1.56	19%	21%	15
24	Kyle Freeland	COL	v. ARI				30	6.00	1.47	21%	19%	12
25	Aaron Civale	ATH	v. SFG				41.2	2.59	1.39	18%	21%	28
26	Jesse Scholtens	TBR	v. MIA				27.1	3.29	1.17	18%	21%	18
27	Andrew Abbott	CIN	at CLE				46.1	4.47	1.51	16%	19%	9
28	Jack Kochanowicz	LAA	v. LAD				45.1	3.97	1.35	15%	21%	2
29	Zack Littell	WSN	v. BAL				36.1	6.94	1.60	10%	24%	19
30	Merrill Kelly 켈리	ARI	at COL				26	7.62	1.92	16%	25%	9

Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues

Intro

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 – essentially a shallow, medium, deep league setup – and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. 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.

12 Comments

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Alexander WolffMember since 2025

2 months ago

I need one start over this weekend, H2H points with QS. Burke vs CHC, Holmes vs NYY, or Soroka at COL. Roll with Burke today or add someone?

Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff

Reply to Alexander Wolff

I’d go with Burke. Soroka maybe the better talent but at COL is scary and Holmes getting NYY pushes me off him

AnonMember since 2025

Wind at 10+:

DET – in from R at 11
MIN – out to center at 11
NYM – in from L at 11
CHW – in from R at 13

No rain issues

TooncesMember since 2022

Could you please explain the color coding for the wOBA Ranking. What color is good from the pitching perspective and how do the colors rank? Thank you. I didn’t see any explanation for that.

BlueJeanCommitteeMember since 2025

Reply to Toonces

green good red bad

Reply to BlueJeanCommittee

Yes green good/red bad gets you most of the way there. Higher the number is better for the pitcher (ex. Bibee is facing the 24th best team vR). Blue is best for the 30th ranked team vL or vR and Black is worst for the 1st ranked team vL/vR (so won’t necessarily see Blue/Black daily) and then Yellow is just 11-19.

The color coding might not stay forever, but I’m liking it so far. I can add it an explanation to the Intro if I make this more of a permanent feature. Great question and ty to BlueJean for the assist!

Michael MaynesMember since 2025

I looked at early ‘s next projected 9 starts and he could be considered a bench for 5 of them including today. How do you approach rostering him in a 6×6 cat 12 tm cat league. He is the worst or 2nd worst SP i roster.

Reply to Michael Maynes

Might be time to start looking for a replacement after next week’s at KCR as he get ATL again after. Ratios aren’t well-supported by his skills meaning you might just eat regression. Perhaps tonight can be a do-or-die for him and if you see something at ATL, he can stay, but a meh or worse outing puts him on the chopping block this wknd? I wouldn’t auto-cut or anything, but there are a lot of 2-start guys next wk who could be available on a 12 wire and worth a look.

David Klein

Snell just got scratched from his start no word why but it’s Snell so it’s probably yet another injury.

Reply to David Klein

Yeah this is part of rostering him. You take the uncertainty for the upside (or don’t… definitely manager choice, I don’t blame anyone who passes on this player type)

eMetsMember since 2018

Ah, I miss the K-BB column …… love the Chart, consult it every day – thanks Paul.

Reply to eMets

Oh i didn’t realize that got lopped off. I will look into that!