Fantasy Baseball: 2026 Draft Values Shift to Mid-Tier Pitchers

Fantasy baseball managers who spent their first-round picks on elite starting pitchers faced a rough 2026 season. According to a CBS Sports review, the top 24 starters by draft position generated only $227 in total value. That figure is well below the $259.1 average recorded by that same group from 2021 through 2025. Only eight of those top 24 draft picks finished the year ranked inside the top 24 in overall performance.

The value gap widened sharply in the middle tiers. Starters ranked 25th through 36th produced $155.6 in value during the 2026 season. This number is close to the peak of $172.1 that group achieved in 2024. By comparison, the top 12 starters earned $158.94, and the 13th through 24th starters earned just $67.83. The 25-36 group out-earned the 13-24 group in every season from 2022 through 2026, a trend the analyst refers to as the SP Dead Zone.

Several mid-tier arms drove this surge in value. Jacob Misiorowski, Cam Schlittler, Chase Burns, Sonny Gray, and Zack Wheeler all contributed significantly to the strong showing. However, the group was not without failures. Spencer Strider, Emmett Sheehan, and Nick Lodolo were considered busts, while Tyler Glasnow, Brandon Woodruff, and Blake Snell did not pitch enough innings to justify their draft positions. The 2026 pool also featured many talented but unproven pitchers, including Nolan McLean, Eury Perez, Trey Yesavage, and Bubba Chandler.

Jacob Misiorowski emerged as the year's standout performer. The Brewers right-hander posted a 1.80 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP, and 252 strikeouts in 174.1 innings. His WHIP and 37.9% strikeout rate were the second best in MLB history, excluding the 2020 season. The review identifies him as the best pitcher in baseball and advises managers to draft him before anyone else in 2027. Cam Schlittler of the Yankees finished with a 1.95 ERA and is expected to win the AL Cy Young award, though the analyst places him slightly behind Misiorowski and Tarik Skubal.

Context for the 2027 draft class suggests a different hierarchy. Kade Anderson had a limited impact in a brief debut, while uncertain roles for Didier Fuentes and Grant Taylor should keep their prices low. Hype surrounds Andrew Painter, Jackson Jobe, Noah Schultz, and Hagen Smith, but they are likely to go around the 200th pick. Jared Jones and Walbert Ureña are viewed as strong options because they are young yet possess longer track records than last year's group.

Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox was the biggest bust, as his season unraveled after six starts. Paul Skenes of the Pirates also underperformed, posting a 3.82 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, though his strikeout rate dropped to 22% in August and September. Drew Rasmussen of the Rays and Jesús Luzardo of the Phillies are expected to rise in 2027 drafts. Luzardo's 2026 success followed positive 2025 projections, while Rasmussen handled a career-high workload. Zack Wheeler also moves up the board after returning from surgery and finishing the season with a 1.67 ERA in his final six starts.