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8 Fantasy Baseball Breakouts: Starting Pitchers (2026)
Our experts share the starting pitchers to target and avoid in 2026 fantasy baseball drafts, including Cristopher Sanchez.
Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:50am
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Here are the top fantasy baseball breakouts at starting pitcher our experts are targeting in their 2026 drafts.
Why it matters
Identifying breakout starting pitchers can provide a significant advantage in fantasy baseball drafts, as these players often outperform their draft position and provide excellent value for fantasy managers.
The details
The article features insights from several fantasy baseball experts on their top breakout starting pitcher candidates for the 2026 season. The experts highlight pitchers like Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, Chase Burns, Nick Lodolo, Tyler Glasnow, Bubba Chandler, Eury Perez, and Tatsuya Imai as potential breakouts based on factors such as improved pitch velocity, swing-and-miss stuff, underlying metrics, and opportunity for increased innings.
- The article was published on March 13, 2026.
The players
Shane Baz
A starting pitcher who saw a nearly 2 MPH increase in his fastball velocity year-over-year and has a 125 stuff+ curveball, putting him in position to be a top 30 starting pitcher in 2026.
Kyle Bradish
A starting pitcher who ranked 5th in K-BB% among all pitchers with at least 30 innings in 2025, putting him in position to greatly outperform his current ADP as the 22nd starting pitcher off the board.
Chase Burns
A starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds who has elite swing-and-miss stuff, striking out 156 hitters while allowing just 79 hits and 29 walks in 109.1 innings across the Majors and Minors in 2025.
Nick Lodolo
A starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds who had a 3.33 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 2025 and could see more strikeouts after increasing his curveball usage late in the season.
Tyler Glasnow
A starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who has elite strikeout stuff and the potential to dominate any lineup in baseball when healthy, with the added benefit of pitching for one of the best offenses in the league.
What they’re saying
“Shane Baz was clearly affected by the minor league ballpark he pitched in last year, as he had a 5.90 ERA at home and a 3.86 ERA on the road. He pumps 97 on his fastball, which was almost a two MPH increase year over year. His curve has a 125 stuff+ and a solid WHIFF rate, to go along with an overall 107 stuff+ rating. Baz is in a much better pitching environment, with great run support, and has the chance to be a top 30 SP in 2026.”
— Chris Welsh, FantasyPros
“Kyle Bradish is my top breakout pitcher. He's going as the number 22 starter off the board, and I think he'll greatly outperform that. Among all pitchers with at least 30 innings in 2025, Bradish ranked fifth in K-BB%. He was in the company of Mason Miller, Aroldis Chapman, and Edwin Diaz… as a starter. The only question is how many innings his innings will be limited to.”
— Chase Davis, FantasyPros
“I'm sure I won't be the only one with this answer, but my top breakout pick is Chase Burns. His strikeout upside is nearly unmatched. Burns only made eight starts for Cincinnati last season. He struck out 10 batters in four of those eight starts. For reference, Paul Skenes struck out 10 batters once in 32 starts. Burns is not as polished as Skenes yet, but he has all the tools. He struck out 156 hitters while allowing just 79 hits and 29 walks in 109.1 innings last year across the Majors and Minors. I expect Chase Burns to have a breakout season in 2026.”
— Mick Ciallela, Fantrax
“Nick Lodolo quietly made some massive strides late last season, posting a 3.12 ERA and 0.96 WHIP backed by excellent underlying numbers after the All-Star break. The southpaw submitted the second half's highest CWS rate (34.1%) and second-best swinging-strike rate (16.2%) among all starters, leading to an excellent 25.1 K-BB% and 2.77 SIERA. While drafters shouldn't ignore the health and home park risks, Lodolo offers immense upside outside the top-100 picks.”
— Andrew Gould, FantasyPros
“Tyler Glasnow has the type of strikeout stuff that can dominate any lineup in baseball. When he is healthy, he already pitches like an ace, and pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers only increases his win potential with one of the best offenses in the league behind him and now Edwin Diaz to wrap up games. Glasnow's strikeout rate is elite, and if he can put together a full season, he has the upside to finish among the very best starting pitchers in fantasy baseball and compete for a Cy Young.”
— Muntradamus, Beast Dome
The takeaway
Identifying breakout starting pitchers with elite stuff, improved underlying metrics, and increased opportunity can provide a significant advantage in fantasy baseball drafts. The experts highlighted several pitchers who fit this profile, including Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, Chase Burns, Nick Lodolo, and Tyler Glasnow, among others. Closely monitoring these players' progress and performance during the offseason and spring training can help fantasy managers gain an edge in their drafts.
