10 League-Winning Starting Pitchers: Fantasy Baseball High Upside Draft Targets and Values

March 4, 2026

Frank analyzes 10 league-winning starting pitchers, fantasy baseball breakouts, values, studs to provide massive return on value in 2026 including Cole Ragans, Eury Perez, Tyler Glasnow, more.

When we use the term "league-winner," we're referring to players with high ceilings who could provide significant profit at their current costs.

In this article, we're going to focus on starting pitchers who can be league-winners. It will be a mix of players in the early, middle, and later rounds. The goal is to swing for the fences to try to find an ace.

So, without further ado, here are my 10 league-winning starting pitchers for 2026 fantasy baseball leagues. All ADP referenced in this piece is from NFBC Draft Champions leagues since the start of February.

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Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals

NFBC ADP: 49.03 (Min: 31, Max: 61)

Reach on Cole Ragans in every draft.

2.52 SIERA, 38.1 K%, 15.8 SwStr% last season.

Insane numbers.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) January 27, 2026

Cole Ragans had underwhelming surface stats last year, including a 4.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, but if you dig under the hood, it will make you excited about what's to come. The Royals' ace put up an impressive 2.52 SIERA with a 38.1% strikeout rate and 7.8% walk rate.

While there are injury concerns here, that's why you're getting a bit of a discount. If all goes well for Ragans this year, he has a legitimate chance to finish as a top-five starter in fantasy baseball. It just depends on your risk tolerance. Personally, I'm all-in on this AL Cy Young candidate.

Kyle Bradish, Baltimore Orioles

NFBC ADP: 71.81 (Min: 58, Max: 97)

Kyle Bradish is going to be a legit ace this season.

2.63 SIERA, 14.6 SwStr% in 32 IP last year.

Once you realize this, you'll understand that the Orioles rotation is better than it looks.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) January 3, 2026

Kyle Bradish looked dominant in his return from Tommy John surgery last season, registering a 2.63 SIERA with a 37.3% strikeout rate and 7.9% walk rate in 32 innings. There's a good chance that the best is yet to come for the 29-year-old righty.

Even though there are whispers of an innings limit, I'm not too concerned. The Orioles desperately need Bradish to pitch like an ace this season if they're to get back to the top of the AL East. I'm betting on 160+ innings with elite ratios and a high strikeout rate from Bradish this year.

Eury Perez, Miami Marlins

NFBC ADP: 81.37 (Min: 62, Max: 101)

Reach on Eury Perez this year.

He gave us a preview of what's to come in his final four starts:

20.0 IP
1.97 SIERA
42.3 K%
5.1 BB%
16.0 SwStr%

126 Stuff+ during that stretch.

For context, Garrett Crochet led MLB with 116 Stuff+ for the year.

Eury will be an ace in 2026.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) February 2, 2026

Eury Perez was outstanding to finish off the 2025 season after returning from Tommy John surgery. In his last four starts, Perez allowed a combined six earned runs with four walks and 33 strikeouts in 20 innings.

The 22-year-old is an emerging ace poised for a career year in 2026. Even though there are innings concerns, especially with the Marlins rebuilding, you should get elite ratios here. I'm betting that we'll see 150+ innings from Perez this year.

Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles Dodgers

NFBC ADP: 123.60 (Min: 102, Max: 145)

I know, you're shaking your head at this one, but hear me out. Literally everyone in the fantasy baseball community is fading Tyler Glasnow. I get it, he's dealt with injuries pretty much every year of his career. His career high in innings pitched is only 134. He's only eclipsed 120 innings twice.

However, the consensus fade of Glasnow has made him a value in drafts, as he often falls out of the top-120. Glasnow is currently healthy, so with Blake Snell (shoulder) already dealing with an injury, we could see the Dodgers lean on the righty more than expected. Even if you get 130+ innings, that should be enough to profit at this price. The question with Glasnow is never skill, only health.

Ryan Pepiot, Tampa Bay Rays

NFBC ADP: 128.77 (Min: 112, Max: 152)

Next up is a pitcher who came to the Rays in the Glasnow trade, so it's a nice transition to Ryan Pepiot here. The former Dodger was inconsistent last season, but playing in a minor league ballpark like George M. Steinbrenner Field will do that to you.

This year, Pepiot will get to pitch at Tropicana Field, so we should see him return to the 26+% strikeout rate that we saw in his first year in Tampa. Now entering his age-28 season, Pepiot should see high volume with 170+ innings and a bunch of strikeouts.

Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates

NFBC ADP: 150.09 (Min: 121, Max: 174)

Everyone is excited for young pitchers who debuted last year, like Nolan McLean, Trey Yesavage, Cam Schlittler, and Chase Burns. However, they're overlooking the prospect who was ranked higher than each of them, Bubba Chandler.

Chandler surprisingly got called up late in the year and had a blowup outing for nine runs in his fourth appearance. However, in Chandler's last three starts, he allowed a combined two earned runs with zero walks and 19 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings. There aren't any innings concerns here, so bet on Chandler to have a nice year for a Pirates team that could contend for an NL wild card spot.

MacKenzie Gore, Texas Rangers

NFBC ADP: 169.21 (Min: 152, Max: 194)

MacKenzie Gore is an obvious breakout with the trade to the Rangers.

27.2 K%, 3.80 SIERA last year.

Rangers had the most pitcher-friendly ballpark in MLB in 2025.

Reach on Gore.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) January 29, 2026

This one is an easy pick, as we're riding with the inconsistent MacKenzie Gore, who showed a high ceiling at times last year, including a dominant outing against the Phillies when he struck out 13 hitters over six frames of one-hit ball. While Gore fizzled out down the stretch, he still put up a career-high 27.2% strikeout rate.

Now, Gore leaves the rebuilding Nationals to join the Rangers, who play in one of the most pitcher-friendly environments in baseball. The change in park factor should be enough for Gore to have a career year with upside for more.

Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians

NFBC ADP: 177.678.45 (Min: 153, Max: 210)

Tanner Bibee is one year removed from a season in which he pitched 173 2/3 innings with a 3.49 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He put up a 26.3% strikeout rate and 6.2% walk rate that season. Last year was a disappointment, but Bibee looks poised for a resurgence.

Still only 26, Bibee seemed to find his groove late in the season. In his last three starts, Bibee gave up a combined two earned runs with four walks and 23 strikeouts in 21 innings. He was tinkering with his pitch mix and may have figured it out. I'm betting on a bounce back here.

Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays

NFBC ADP: 228.30 (Min: 193, Max: 259)

Shane McClanahan hasn't pitched since 2023, but reports out of Rays' camp have been overwhelmingly positive throughout the offseason. I get it, you're concerned with the long lay-off, but we're talking about a pitcher who was a certified ace before the injury.

You can take McClanahan outside of the top-225 picks in most drafts. I think this price will increase significantly as we get closer to the year, once people see that McClanahan is healthy. Don't worry about innings, bet on rates over volume.

Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers

NFBC ADP: 254.23 (Min: 197, Max: 328)

My final pick is similar to Glasnow: it's a Dodgers pitcher who no one wants this year. Everyone is enamored with teammate Emmet Sheehan, but we can't overlook Roki Sasaki. After all, he came to the big leagues with a ton of hype last season for good reason.

Even though Sasaki struggled mightily, he showed flashes of brilliance in his transition to the bullpen, continuously inducing slow dribblers throughout the postseason. I know, Sasaki needs another pitch, but reports indicate that he's working on adding to his repertoire. You can get him at such a low price that his upside is worth a look.

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