Not too surprisingly, this year, it seems like there has been even more (than usual) erratic pitching results. Some pitchers have enjoyed some success, which often leads to decisions on whether they should be added to your fantasy targets. We are specifically looking for two things: First, we want a pitcher who can have a fairly significant positive impact over the last six weeks of 2025. That's tough. Secondly, we want a big bonus in value for 2026. These pitchers need to be more or less ignored so you can add them to your protection list for very little.
That said, I would like to feature a few pitchers who have seriously impressed me with now potential and future potential at this point in the season. This is a mix of young and old, kids and veterans, trying to convince me they are possible fantasy stars. Every year a handful of pitchers break through with a partial career year, and early returns suggest these might be some of the more likely.
You might consider aggressively pursuing these arms:
Kodai Senga (Mets) – I've liked just about everything about Senga since the first time I saw him pitch. He eventually made it to the top of my kids list, and I was preparing for a big splash. Unfortunately, he has failed to reach consistency with his trademark pitch, a phantom fork ball. He began to drop on many prospects lists as he struggled, but I have a long memory and I
Not too surprisingly, this year, it seems like there has been even more (than usual) erratic pitching results. Some pitchers have enjoyed some success, which often leads to decisions on whether they should be added to your fantasy targets. We are specifically looking for two things: First, we want a pitcher who can have a fairly significant positive impact over the last six weeks of 2025. That's tough. Secondly, we want a big bonus in value for 2026. These pitchers need to be more or less ignored so you can add them to your protection list for very little.
That said, I would like to feature a few pitchers who have seriously impressed me with now potential and future potential at this point in the season. This is a mix of young and old, kids and veterans, trying to convince me they are possible fantasy stars. Every year a handful of pitchers break through with a partial career year, and early returns suggest these might be some of the more likely.
You might consider aggressively pursuing these arms:
Kodai Senga (Mets) – I've liked just about everything about Senga since the first time I saw him pitch. He eventually made it to the top of my kids list, and I was preparing for a big splash. Unfortunately, he has failed to reach consistency with his trademark pitch, a phantom fork ball. He began to drop on many prospects lists as he struggled, but I have a long memory and I am pretty confident he will get things together. At his best, he has a solid repertoire of above average offerings he will throw in any count or situation to show off that fork ball. His command has been somewhat suspect before the injuries, but it's improving. He works up and down in the zone, and everything moves. I can almost promise a few more growing pains, and being on and off is no help, but he's back and close to taking another step forward. Keep the faith.
Luis Castillo (Mariners) – I like Seattle's pitching staff. George Kirby and Bryan Woo are studs by any other name. But, as good as they are, I'm not sure they have the highest ceilings on the staff. Castillo developed in the Cincinnati system, but he gradually became disenchanted and he left for Seattle. He has done something you don't see very often, and I'm not sure why. At one time he featured an excellent change-up, but he nearly abandoned it, and is now a four-seamer/slider guy who actually needs a third pitch to help against lefties. Where did that change-up go? If it was a big part of his arsenal today, he'd be an ace. I can't answer the question, but I have seen enough of his pitches over the years to know what he might have available.
Roki Sasaki (Dodgers) – Pitchers pretty steadily arrive in the United States from Japan and Korea. Not surprisingly, those arrivals are accompanied by various levels of expectation. He was very young (just 23) when he came over from Japan, and few if any Asian players came with more fanfare. The region has become known as a classroom where arms go to learn the art of pitching. They may not be pure flamethrowers, but they generally have a good understanding of command, pitch mix and the importance of arsenal. Sasaki is a bit different. He hits the upper 90s and grasps the art, so his arrival was much anticipated. It hasn't gone well … yet. He pitched rather poorly for the Dodgers before hitting the IL with shoulder woes after just 34 innings. I'm convinced the two are related. Let's see what happens when he gets healthy and comfortable. I rank him a very attractive stash, and think we could see a huge season in 2026.
Jesus Luzardo (Phillies) – Here's another one I have been touting for a long time. Luzardo is quickly making a name for himself – both good and bad. Additionally, he has suffered through a series of injuries, which makes it harder to get in sync. He made just 12 2024 starts because of elbow and back injuries. He has pretty much taken a regular turn this year and has logged 11 wins and notched a favorable 158 strikeouts in just 139 innings. We're not seeing his best, though. He's been a little too hittable and a bit too generous with free passes, but those will improve with his stuff. The southpaw Luzardo normally features a nice moving fastball (his velocity has dipped), but I love his slider/change-up combo. Like most developing kids, the occasional meltdown is possible, but I really like where he's going if he can just get and stay healthy.
MacKenzie Gore (Nationals) – These next couple of guys are perhaps just a bit more speculative. I'm not quite ready to tag them with an "elite" endorsement, at least not yet, but they have done some things to warrant a lot of attention. Gore has struggled with command but he has been one of those guys who, no matter how bad the numbers got, kept tossing discreet little hints. In the first half he was among the MLB leaders in strikeouts. Unfortunately, he was also right there in walks. Gore has to command his fastball, consistently hitting his spots to keep hitters off balance against his off-speed offerings. His strikeouts are down a bit as he focuses on staying on the plate, but I'm convinced they will be back. I'm monitoring that.
Michael Soroka (Cubs) – This list was originally compiled just before it was announced Soroka was going on the injured list with a shoulder strain. He'll heal. And he'll be back, but for how long? All he has done is go 3-8 with a rather ugly 4.86 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with 90 punch-outs in 83 innings. He had a very promising future while pitching for Atlanta, but he missed most of 2020-2023 seasons with injuries. Various teams, most recently the Cubs, are willing to see if he can get back to that promising form.
Some Notable Rotation Ramblings:
- A huge hit to the Phillies. Ace Zack Wheeler has been diagnosed with blood clots in his throwing shoulder. They aren't something to be taken lightly, and he won't throw until they haven cleared up. It's also difficult to say how long that might take. They won't put him at risk, so we just need to monitor this.
- Okay, Max Fried, what are you thinking? The first half of the season you were both productive and consistent. I have watched Fried's last two starts for the Yanks, and they have been similar. Pitch after pitch looks very good, but without warning, he serves up a meatball. A couple of those can ruin a good outing.
- The Braves are looking forward to the return of Chris Sale who has been on a rehab assignment with Double-A Columbus. He pitched four innings (56 pitches) in his most recent outing, so they are hoping one more rehab start this weekend will have him ready to return to the rotation later this month.
- It's been a long time. The Orioles' Kyle Bradish has been out since he had Tommy John surgery last June. I usually avoid using pitchers in their first start or two following a long layoff, but he struck out nine over five shutout innings in his most recent rehab start, so I am tempted to bypass my hesitation.
- How many teams can say one of their best starting pitchers has hit more than 40 home runs? The answer is one. The Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani continue to be a unique situation. Too bad he rarely gets deep enough in his starts to qualify for a win, but his ratio, ERA and strikeouts all count on the fantasy scoresheet.
- Staying healthy has never been a big part of Jacob deGrom's resume, and the Rangers' ace is again suffering shoulder soreness. They are skipping his most recent scheduled start, and the team's medical staff will be evaluating the shoulder. They desperately need him back as their playoff chances fade.
Endgame Odyssey:
With Felix Bautista being declared out for the remainder of the year, Baltimore may be slipping into a closer by committee. Yennier Cano and Corbin Martin are the likely right-handers while Dietrich Enns and Keegan Akin are the probable southpaws. None of them are high on my list. I thought the Dodgers might be trying Alexis Diaz at closer as he started the ninth with a one-run lead. He allowed a single and struck out two before being replaced by southpaw Jack Dreyer when the Padres brought up a lefty pinch hitter. He has nasty stuff if he could throw more strikes. The Marlins continue to employ a true committee with four different pitchers taking turns in the ninth inning. Calvin Faucher and Anthony Bender (recently hurt) look like their best options, but Lake Bachar and Ronny Henriquez are also taking an occasional turn. The Phillies' Jhoan Duran was carted off the field last Friday with an ankle injury, but he bounced right back and recorded a save two days later. The Phillies activated Jose Alvarado from the restricted list, but with Duran on board, he is unlikely to close.
Find out which projected starters are going and when with RotoWire's Probable Pitchers page!
