Top 5 This Week

Related Posts

Way Too Early Starting Pitcher Rankings: National League

Fantasy BaseballFantasy Baseball Rankings
Dave Funnell
Author: Dave Funnell
8 min.read
Cristopher Sanchez Advanced Stats

Welcome to the Way Too Early Starting Pitcher Rankings: American League Edition for December 2025. Here, I will go over my Top 10 starting pitchers from the National League, reviewing what we saw this past season, what we’re looking for this offseason, and what we can expect in 2026. I will be doing this for every position, so get ready for the ride.

What?! Your fantasy baseball league wasn’t hosted on Fantrax this season? Preposterous! Check out what the Fantrax MLB Commissioner has to offer and we think you’ll be singing a different tune for the 2026 MLB season.

Previous Rankings

Catcher  |  First Base  |  Second Base  |  Third Base  |  Shortstop  |  Outfield Part 1  |  Outfield Part 2  |  Utility  |  Starting Pitcher Part 1  |  Starting Pitcher Part 2  |  Closers  |

Way Too Early Starting Pitcher Rankings: National League

1. Paul Skenes – Pittsburgh Pirates

One could make an argument that Paul Skenes is the best pitcher in baseball and be quite convincing. He threw seven different pitches last season, and four of them had an xBA of AT MOST .200, with three of those pitches being thrown AT LEAST 11% of the time. Additionally, he throws hard, locates well, and strikes out batters at a clip just under 30% of the time. At 23 years old, he’s one of the only pitchers who warrant a first-round pick in 15-team drafts, though playing with the Pirates doesn’t do him many favors with respect to wins. Still, the team has had a tremendous offseason and could make significant improvements for 2026.

2. Cristopher Sanchez – Philadelphia Phillies

Any concerns that arose in 2024, including some late-season struggles, were quickly and abruptly overcome in 2025. Sanchez not only eclipsed 200 innings, but also increased the velocity on all of his pitches across the board by at least 0.9 miles per hour per pitch. Other than a brief forearm strain early in the season, his injury history doesn’t suggest any longstanding worries. Draft him as your ace for 2026.

3. Chris Sale – Atlanta Braves

Time seems to be running out on Chris Sale being a fantasy ace, but it would appear that he’s not yet ready to give up his reign as such. He finished the 2025 season with one of the lowest single-season ERAs of his career and his highest strikeout rate since 2019. The problem with Sale has always been that he is injury-prone. Over his career, he has missed time on the Injured List with 12 various stints. And while most of them could be considered fluky (aka breakages), the fact of the matter is that he still sustained them, and he still missed time. And who’s to say that a soon-to-be 37-year-old won’t be more susceptible to a more serious injury? There are some red flags here of worry, and as such, he gets pushed down from the elite. That said, when healthy, he’s as good as those above him.

4. Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Los Angeles Dodgers

The World Series MVP has earned the number four spot on this list, as there is some worry about his future. First, he suffered through a strained rotator cuff in 2024, and while he didn’t require surgery, it is not always something that fully heals with just rest. Add to that, he threw 173.2 innings in 2025, and then another 50+ innings in the playoffs. Most players would do what he did to win a World Series ring, and nobody is to blame, but that was then, and this is now. He’s also pitching for Team Japan this winter. There have been no reports about significant worries, but this is something to keep in the back of your mind when putting together a team in drafts. That said, if he can maintain the form he established in 2025, he will be a dominant fantasy force in 2026.

5. Hunter Greene – Cincinnati Reds

This one is simple. If you could tell me that every pitcher on this list would throw the same number of innings in 2026, Hunter Greene would be placed at number two. Instead, his injury history suggests that he won’t throw nearly as many, and as such, his value takes a hit. The concerning part of everything involved with him is that, while he throws very hard, only two of his six trips to the Injured List have been arm/shoulder related. There are some concerns that his body can’t hold up for a full season, and other concerns that it’s only a matter of time before his arm/shoulder gives out. That said, when he’s pitching, he’s as dominant as anyone.

6. Logan Webb – San Francisco Giants

Logan Webb was difficult to place on this list because, while he’s a workhorse who pitches extremely well, his numbers aren’t always fantasy-friendly. His 26.2% strikeout rate in 2025 was the second-highest of his career, as he’s always been one to get outs through weak contact. The development of his cutter, while using his changeup even less, helped leave batters off base, and if that continues in 2026, he should be a fantasy ace. That said, since 2023, he’s the only pitcher with over 600 innings pitched, and it may only be a matter of time before something gives way.

7. Blake Snell – Los Angeles Dodgers

Much like the aforementioned Hunter Greene, Blake Snell pitches well when he’s healthy (for the most part). However, his durability cannot be trusted, as he has just two seasons where he’s pitched at least 130 innings. And even when he does pitch, there’s no guarantee that he does so with the effectiveness and efficiency one would want out of an ace. In fact, with five seasons where he’s had a double-digit walk rate, he could be a WHIP killer. What makes him so frustrating is that when he is on, he is lights-out incredible. That’s why, if you’re rostering him, make sure he’s at least your second-best pitcher.

8. Spencer Schwellenbach – Atlanta Braves

Fantasy pundits and players may be afraid to draft Spencer Schwellenbach after his major injury in 2025. The fact of the matter is that his elbow was fractured; he is pain-free as of this writing, and both the UCL and flexor seem to be intact and unbothered with this injury. He had resumed throwing late in September, and the team didn’t rule out a bullpen session before the season ended, but time ran out. He was one of the best young arms in baseball when he was healthy in 2024 and to begin 2025. If you can get him as your SP3 or later in drafts, you’ve done well.

9. Dylan Cease – Toronto Blue Jays

Dylan Cease feels like a cheat code, as this list is based on National League production in 2025. However, as of this writing, Cease has signed on to play in Toronto next season. While he will likely suffer from a park and division downgrade, he was still one of those pitchers who deserved better in 2025. His xERA is more than one run lower than his ERA, and yet he still managed to surpass 200 strikeouts for the sixth consecutive season. Draft him as your SP3 for stability, though be wary about his WHIP, as that number has been at least 1.25 in five of his seven years as a big league pitcher. Still, he’s a workhorse who delivers the goods.

10. Freddy Peralta – Milwaukee Brewers

Freddy Peralta gets the final nod here, simply because of how well he pitched last season, alongside his consistently healthy nature *knock on wood*. After an injury-plagued 2022 season, the 29-year-old has posted three consecutive seasons of at least 165 innings pitched. In that time, he has produced at a high level, sporting a 3.40 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 10.7 K/9 in 95 games started. That’s outstanding, and somewhat underappreciated by the fantasy community. A reminder too that he plays for Milwaukee, a team that knows how to develop pitching at an elite level. Feel confident with him as your SP2, and even better if he’s your SP3.

https://twitter.com/YankeeWRLD/status/2001074019378839813?s=20

Quick Hits

Jesus Luzardo had one of his best seasons to date, and a lot of that was to his health. 2025 and 2023 mark the only two seasons since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in which the 28-year-old lefty has been able to stay off the Injured List in a given year. He is out of my Top 10 based on the fact that I’m not confident in him staying healthy for back-to-back seasons, though I may change my mind before Opening Day… Tyler Glasnow is a dominant force on the mound, but his inability to stay there for an entire season makes him someone who is more tailored toward the role of your SP3 or SP4 in drafts… Nick Pivetta had a career-best year in 2025, marking the only time he’s had an ERA below 4.00. It’s no coincidence that he plays in San Diego, which is an extremely pitcher-friendly ballpark. As long as he remains a Padre, he should also remain within your starting rotation, albeit dependent on price… if the Dodgers didn’t rely heavily on his offensive skills, Shohei Ohtani would move up the rankings. Instead, he’s great when he pitches, but his usage depends on your league rules with respect to eligibility… Eury Perez returned from injury in 2025 and finished with similar numbers to his rookie year. At age 22, and with Tommy John surgery “out of the way”, now might be the best time to buy in on his upside… Don’t forget about Spencer Strider and Sandy Alcantara in drafts. Both are a year removed from Tommy John surgery and have proven in the past that they can each be among the best pitchers in baseball.

Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!

Fantasy BaseballFantasy Baseball Rankings
Previous article
2025-26 Fantasy Hockey Goalie Streamers
Week 13 Fantasy Hockey Goalie Streamers
Next article
Bijan Robinson 2025 Week 17 NFL DFS Plays DraftKings
DraftKings Showdown MNF DFS Plays: Week 17
Dave Funnell
Dave Funnell
Dave has been playing fantasy baseball for many years and plans on doing so for many more.

Share your take!

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Popular Articles