January 19, 2026

It was a tale of two halves for Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore. Before the All-Star break, Gore posted a 3.02 ERA with 138 strikeouts and 35 walks across 110 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old unraveled down the stretch, recording a 6.75 ERA with 47 punch outs and 29 free passes in 49 1/3 innings. Most believe fatigue played a key role in his second-half spiral. Gore concluded the 2025 season with a 4.17 ERA (3.80 SIERA), 1.35 WHIP, 8.9% walk rate (28th percentile), and 185 strikeouts across 159 2/3 innings. He also missed time due to a shoulder and ankle injury, but he is expected to begin the 2026 season in camp. Overall, Gore's biggest struggles are maintaining his velocity throughout the season, which suggests fatigue, and handling left-handed batters. During his four-year career, lefties have slashed .265/.351/.420 against him. The encouraging news is that Gore is just entering his prime, and it's possible he can build on his 27.2% strikeout rate (80th percentile) while improving his command in 2026. Just to be safe, though, fantasy managers should be prepared to offset his inflated ratios and lack of wins. Plan for a 4.00 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. That said, if he makes meaningful strides, he has the upside to be a top-25 fantasy starter.--Marty Tallman