Starting Pitcher Chart – May 29th, 2025

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Daily SP Chart archive

The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then usually a note about them (some days are board-only). Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shorthand for 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 valuable focusing on roto.

We had some absolutely crazyyyy weather here in Austin last night so I didn’t get around to writing up today’s short slate.

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Starter Notes May 29, 2025
RK PITCHER GAME 10 12 15+ IP ERA WHIP K-BB 2025 wOBA RK NOTE
1 Zack Wheeler PHI v ATL x x x 70 2.42 0.88 28% 10th Fun DH b/w these 2 tms w/all four SPs being pretty good. AJSS isn’t quite in the class of the others, but still a high upside arm who could pop off today
2 Chris Sale ATL at PHI x x x 61 3.36 1.28 24% 11th Absolutely blazing hot of late: 1.63 ERA/1.03 WHIP/27% K-BB in his L5 (33.3 IP)
3 Cristopher Sánchez PHI v ATL x x x 54 3.17 1.26 20% 10th If we’re picking nits, let’s keep an eye on the control w/3 BB in 4 of the L5 (10% BB in 27.7 IP), but still a great 2.98 ERA during that run
4 MacKenzie Gore WSN at SEA x x x 62 3.47 1.25 28% 12th The 10-hit barrage at BAL is a key part of his 1.40 WHIP over the L5, but can’t argue w/the 3.65 ERA and 24% K-BB that’s come w/it in 27.3 IP
5 AJ Smith-Shawver ATL at PHI x x x 41 3.67 1.42 12% 11th Cooked last time out for 7 ER, but I’m not running from him after 1 dud as he was incredible prior to that
6 Shane Baz TBR v HOU x 54 4.94 1.39 13% 18th I continue to wrestle w/him every 5 days; only 1 ER last time out, but still a 4 K/3 BB outing… downside is severe
7 Ryan Gusto HOU v TBR x 35 4.58 1.53 14% 19th Only 4.3 in return to rotation though solid w/2 ER & 6 Ks
8 José Berríos TOR at ATH x 64 4.22 1.36 11% 14th 4 QS in L5 and then 5.3 IP/5 ER in the other so that kinda gives you the range of outcomes here; the 1.4 HR9 gives me some pause at ATH
9 Jacob Lopez ATH at TOR x 14 2.57 1.57 14% 25th 1 up, 1 down in his 2 starts and I don’t want to overreact to the gem v. PHI, but he’s on my radar now!
10 Emerson Hancock SEA v WSN x 39 5.95 1.65 9% 16th His Game Scores give a good idea of the risk-reward proposition here: 6 starts in 44-59 range (that’s meh to solid if you’re unfamiliar w/Game Scores) and then 2 under 25 (horrendous outings)
Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues





Paul is the Editor of Rotographs and Content Director for OOTP Perfect Team. Follow Paul on Twitter @sporer and on Twitch at sporer.

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David Klein
6 months ago

Damn shame about AJ he said he heard a pop in his elbow.