Pitchers Experts Love to Draft for 2026 Fantasy Baseball

Identifying top pitching targets based on expert consensus rankings and ADP

Mar. 19, 2026 at 7:19am

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When preparing for fantasy baseball drafts, knowing which players to target and avoid is crucial. This article highlights several notable pitchers the experts are high on compared to their average draft position (ADP), including George Kirby, Jesus Luzardo, and Emmet Sheehan.

Why it matters

Understanding which pitchers the experts are willing to reach for can help fantasy managers identify value picks and build a well-rounded roster. This information can give drafters an edge in competitive leagues.

The details

George Kirby's 2025 stats regressed, but his underlying metrics remained strong, suggesting a bounce-back is likely. Jesus Luzardo had an impressive first season in Philadelphia, and Emmet Sheehan took a big step forward in 2025 with improved strikeouts and ratios. All three pitchers profile as valuable SP2 or SP3 options based on their 2026 projections.

  • Kirby's 2025 season saw a 4.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.
  • Luzardo threw 183 2/3 innings for the Phillies in 2025, with a 3.92 ERA and 216 strikeouts.
  • Sheehan improved his strikeout rate to 30.6% in 2025, up from 25.8% the previous year.

The players

George Kirby

A starting pitcher who has a history of elite command and durability, despite a dip in his surface stats in 2025.

Jesus Luzardo

A starting pitcher who had a strong first season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025, throwing 183 2/3 innings with a 3.92 ERA and 216 strikeouts.

Emmet Sheehan

A starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who took a meaningful step forward in 2025, improving his strikeout rate, walk rate, and other underlying metrics.

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The takeaway

This article highlights several pitchers that fantasy experts are targeting in 2026 drafts, providing valuable insights for managers looking to build a well-rounded and competitive roster.