8 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: Starting Pitchers (2026)

Our experts share the starting pitchers to target and avoid in 2026 fantasy baseball drafts, including Cristopher Sanchez.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 7:49am

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Here are the top fantasy baseball sleepers at starting pitcher our experts are targeting in their 2026 drafts.

Why it matters

With the 2026 fantasy baseball season approaching, identifying undervalued starting pitchers can provide a significant advantage for fantasy managers looking to build a competitive roster.

The details

The article highlights several starting pitchers that experts believe could outperform their current draft position, including Chad Patrick, Bailey Ober, Joey Cantillo, Kodai Senga, Braxton Ashcraft, Cody Ponce, Jack Leiter, and Ryan Weathers. The experts provide analysis on the strengths and potential breakout factors for each of these sleeper pitchers.

  • The 2026 fantasy baseball season is set to begin in the spring of 2026.

The players

Chad Patrick

A starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers who had a 3.53 ERA and 25% strikeout rate last year, and is working on adding a new pitch to complement his existing arsenal.

Bailey Ober

A starting pitcher who is being drafted much later this year compared to last year, after a down season that was attributed to a hip injury he was playing through.

Joey Cantillo

A starting pitcher with a good changeup and curveball, who could take a big step forward if he can improve his walk rate.

Kodai Senga

A starting pitcher for the New York Mets who missed time due to injury in 2025 but showed dominant stuff when healthy, including his famous ghost forkball.

Braxton Ashcraft

A rookie starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who had a 2.71 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 69.2 innings last season, and could be poised for a breakout in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Named the Opening Day starter for the Brewers, Chad Patrick had a 3.53 ERA last year, with a 25% K%. He's working on a Slurve to complement his fastball and cutter, which could lead to a jump in his strikeout rate. He's going outside the top 350 overall players and undrafted in most leagues. He's a great bet to see if the K's jump, and if not, you can move on to a streamer.”

— Chris Welsh, FantasyPros

“Bailey Ober is one of my biggest sleepers. He's going in drafts as the 82nd starting pitcher off the board after being drafted as the 25th starter in drafts last year. He had a down year, to put it lightly, but he said it was due to a hip injury he was trying to play through. Heading into drafts last year, he was coming off three seasons of a mid-to-high-3s ERA with an exceptional WHIP. At ADP 280 overall, he's basically free.”

— Chase Davis, FantasyPros

“Kodai Senga started the 2025 season on the injured list, but once he returned, he looked like the same dominant pitcher thanks to his famous ghost forkball. Senga finished the season with nearly a strikeout per inning and a 2.99 ERA, showing that his swing and miss stuff remains elite when healthy. The New York Mets roster that has added significant offensive firepower, Senga should find himself in far more winning situations. If he can stay healthy for a full season, the strikeout upside and strong ratios give him the potential to dramatically outperform his draft position. Getting a pitcher with ace-level ability at the end of your draft is exactly the type of move that can win fantasy leagues.”

— Muntradamus, Beast Dome

What’s next

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The takeaway

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