In fantasy baseball this season, starting pitching feels filled with question marks. Nearly every arm comes with a concern, whether it’s durability, innings limits, or injury history. There are, however, two exceptions that stand above the rest. The two starters with the initials “SK” appear to be the clear top choices on draft boards.
Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes have both been selected as early as the first round in traditional fantasy drafts. Their combination of upside and stability is difficult to argue against. Skubal anchors a World Series contender and has captured back-to-back Cy Young Awards, while Skenes continues to dominate with elite strikeout numbers and the lowest ERA in baseball over the past two seasons.
Next in the conversation is Garrett Crochet, whose electric strikeout ability keeps him near the top tier. The only concern with Crochet is his past arm issues and questions about workload. Yoshinobu Yamamoto also carries ace-level talent, but after a heavy workload that included postseason innings and international play, the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to manage his innings carefully.
After that group, the next tier features pitchers capable of anchoring a staff but who fall just short of being true fantasy aces. Names like Max Fried, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Hunter Brown, and Cole Ragans all fit that description. They have the talent to lead a rotation but still come with durability or consistency concerns.
Some pitchers carry more obvious red flags. Hunter Greene has electric stuff, but UCL concerns during camp make him a risky pick. George Kirby may have the best pure arm in Seattle, yet he rarely works deep into games, limiting his fantasy upside.
The injured-list group is loaded with big names returning this season, including Jacob deGrom, Brandon Woodruff, Zack Wheeler, Tyler Glasnow, and Kyle Bradish. Wheeler and Bradish might offer the best blend of upside and risk among that group.
For those willing to wait in drafts, late-round value could emerge from young arms like Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, while consistency plays such as Logan Webb, Nick Pivetta, and Luis Castillo remain dependable options.
No matter how you approach starting pitching this season, the position is full of uncertainty. Unless you land one of the “SK” aces early, fantasy managers will need to carefully balance risk versus reward when building their rotation.