Top 24 Starter Value Drops to $227

The 2026 fantasy baseball season saw the top 24 starting pitchers by average draft position generate only $227 in total value. That total falls well below the five-year average of $259.1 recorded between 2021 and 2025. The drop reflects a year where three first-round picks underperformed, with only eight of the top 24 draft positions finishing inside the top 24 in final value.

The value shift moved to the middle of the board. Starters ranked 25th through 36th produced $155.6 in value in 2026. That figure is close to the peak of $172.1 that same group achieved in 2024. These mid-tier arms nearly out-earned the top 12 starters, who generated $158.94. The 13th through 24th pick range earned just $67.83, a gap that has widened in recent years.

Several pitchers drove the mid-tier surge. Jacob Misiorowski, Cam Schlittler, Chase Burns, Sonny Gray, and Zack Wheeler provided the most value in that bracket. However, the group also included underperformers such as Spencer Strider, Emmett Sheehan, and Nick Lodolo. Tyler Glasnow, Brandon Woodruff, and Blake Snell missed time due to injury, limiting their fantasy returns. The class also featured many unproven young arms like Nolan McLean and Eury Perez, which added variance to the picks.

Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers emerged as the top performer of the year. He posted a 1.80 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP, and 252 strikeouts in 174.1 innings. His WHIP and 37.9% strikeout rate ranked second in Major League Baseball history, excluding the shortened 2020 season. Cam Schlittler of the Yankees followed closely with a 1.95 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 239 strikeouts. The analysis places Misiorowski as the premier draft target for 2027, with Schlittler and Tarik Skubal close behind.

Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox represented the largest letdown among early picks. His season declined after six starts, though analysts note his early-round value was defensible based on upside. Paul Skenes of the Pirates showed signs of fatigue late in the year. He finished with a 3.82 ERA and 1.12 WHIP but recorded a 4.56 ERA over his final four and a half months. His strikeout rate dropped to 22% in August and September.

Looking at the 2027 outlook, Drew Rasmussen of the Rays and Jesús Luzardo of the Phillies are positioned as risers. Rasmussen handled a career-high workload, while Luzardo converted his 2025 projections into actual results. Zack Wheeler also rose after returning from thoracic outlet surgery, finishing with a 1.67 ERA in his final six starts. Skenes and Crochet lead the list of decliners, joined by Blake Snell, Kyle Bradish, and George Kirby. Bradish posted a 4.12 ERA before a hernia ended his campaign.