With the 2026 fantasy baseball season approaching, tiered rankings emphasize that proactively building a strong starting pitching staff is crucial for success. Unlike previous strategies of delaying pitcher selections, experts now recommend addressing this position early in drafts to secure reliable arms.
Top-tier pitchers like Tarik Skubal ($43), Paul Skenes ($41), and Garrett Crochet ($39) lead the rankings, with Crochet noted as particularly valuable due to his prime career stage, playoff-contending team, and strong defense supporting his performance.