Starting Pitcher Chart – September 3rd, 2026

by
September 3, 2026
Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

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

Outside of Skubal and Sandy, every other 3-x carries some concern:

  • McClanahan gets a TEX team that hits lefties really well and hasn’t reached 6 IP in any of his L6
  • Henderson gets the blazing hot Cubs; Gausman gets the hot-hitting Brewers — I’m sure this’ll be 2-1 now, lol
  • Bennett was uninspiring for 6 straight (5.29 ERA/1.38 WHIP) until his recent gem at NYY
  • Soriano gets a nice matchup, but has just a 1.38 WHIP with TOR
  • Brown was great last time out (6.7 IP/1 ER/10 Ks) but it was only his 2nd start of 0-1 BB all yr (13% BB)

—

Starting Pitcher Chart September 3rd
Rk PITCHER Team Opponent T 10 12 15+ IP ERA WHIP K% K-BB OPP K% opp wOBA RK
1 Tarik Skubal LAD v. STL L x x x 126.2 2.84 0.94 31% 27% 19% 12
2 Sandy Alcantara MIA at KCR R x x x 189.2 3.46 1.19 18% 11% 21% 16
3 Shane McClanahan TBR at TEX L x x x 113 3.19 1.11 22% 14% 24% 5
4 Logan Henderson MIL at CHC R x x x 76.1 2.48 0.83 30% 25% 22% 5
5 Jake Bennett BOS at BAL L x x x 93.2 3.27 1.04 20% 15% 26% 10
6 Kevin Gausman CHC v. MIL R x x x 155.1 4.52 1.27 24% 17% 22% 4
7 José Soriano TOR at CLE R x x x 151.1 3.45 1.28 24% 13% 21% 25
8 Hunter Brown HOU v. CHW R x x x 81 3.33 1.30 25% 12% 24% 14
9 Kade Anderson SEA v. ATH L x x 10 4.50 1.30 20% 7% 25% 11
10 Michael Wacha KCR v. MIA R x x 170.2 3.32 1.10 20% 14% 21% 8
11 Cal Quantrill TEX v. TBR R x x 89.2 3.01 1.10 18% 13% 19% 3
12 Tanner Bibee CLE v. TOR R x x 162.1 3.88 1.16 19% 12% 19% 22
13 Brandon Young BAL v. BOS R x 130.1 3.38 1.34 19% 10% 21% 20
14 Blade Tidwell SFG at PIT R x 37.2 4.54 1.22 20% 12% 24% 2
15 Luis Castillo CHW at HOU R 122 5.31 1.44 19% 12% 22% 11
16 Quinn Mathews STL at LAD L 19.2 5.03 1.58 22% 13% 20% 8
17 Jack Perkins ATH at SEA R 95.1 6.42 1.49 25% 15% 23% 23
18 Carmen Mlodzinski PIT v. SFG R 109 4.05 1.42 18% 11% 21% 12
Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues

Intro

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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Color Coding:

  • Green – Good Matchup (lower OPS output by SP opponent) – 21st to 30th
  • Yellow – OK – 11th to 20th 
  • Red – Bad – 1st to 10th





 

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

3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Pirates HurdlesMember since 2020
2 hours ago

Not that is matters much, but Mlodzinski threw 3 IP last night, it will be Lake Bachar and a bullpen game in PIT today.

0
dominicanppMember since 2025
1 hour ago
Reply to  Pirates Hurdles

How is the Pit bullpen so far?

0
AnonMember since 2020
1 minute ago

Wind:
Wrigley – in frm R center at 8
None other over 10, though a few games at 8-9

Rain:
PIT – 20-30% all day
CLE – 25% mid-game but less both before and after
Wrigley – 30-45% all day
BAL – 30-45% all day

0