Spring Training Risers: Fantasy Baseball Pitchers Boosting Fantasy Value

A couple days ago, I wrote a story on MLB hitters who were excelling in spring training. Today, let's discuss several pitchers.

I'll highlight several pitchers, breaking them into their own sections.

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Will Warren - New York Yankees

Warren has been stellar across five spring training starts. He's 1-1 with a 1.77 earned run average, allowing just five runs (four earned) over 20 1/3 innings. 

He's struck out 16 batters, while walking just three. Warren has a 0.74 WHIP and .167 average against him.

Warren is a projected starting pitcher for the Yankees, who have Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt injured right now. All three of those guys are projected back at some point in 2026.

Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil are the other projected starters to kick off the season, but if Warren keeps pitching well during the actual season, he could stick there for the entire 2026 season.

Warren's ADP is 279, so he's just a deep-league fantasy asset. He could work into standard leagues in a hurry if he keeps excelling at the start of the regular season.

Robbie Ray - San Francisco Giants

Ray has a 1.23 ERA over 14 2/3 innings pitched this spring. That's the best ERA among qualified pitchers so far.

Ray has made five starts, striking out 15 along the way. He's allowed two runs on four hits and eight walks. Ray has a 0.82 WHIP and .095 average against him.

His ADP is at 143.9 right now. That's a later pick, so there's not a ton of risk involved in taking him. Ray could be a big-time draft steal if he keeps pitching well into the season. His ADP could rise a round or so and I'd still be happy to take him as well.

Connelly Early - Boston Red Sox 

Early is third in ERA (1.98) so far this spring. He's worked 13 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and three walks.

Early has made five appearances (four starts) and has 11 strikeouts so far. He's got a 0.95 WHIP and .200 average against him.

Early is fighting for a rotation spot, but is on the outside looking in. Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, Brayan Bello and Johan Oviedo are the projected members of the starting rotation, and Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck and Patrick Sandoval are among the injured arms right now.

The offseason moves hurt Early's chances of making the team, but he's still making it a hard choice on whether to have him on the roster or not. At some point in 2026, Early should crack the rotation, but until it happens, there's no fantasy value, of course.

Anthony Kay - Chicago White Sox

Kay has a 2.20 ERA over five starts so far this spring. He's 3-0 and has 15 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings.

Kay has allowed four runs on 13 hits and six walks. He has a 1.16 WHIP and .220 average against him.

Kay is off the fantasy radar after spending the past two years in Japan. He should be cemented into the White Sox rotation, and he could be a fantasy surprise in 2026.

I like the idea of adding him in some deeper fantasy leagues before the season kicks off, just in case he turns this spring training success into regular season success. He could work into standard leagues eventually if he keeps excelling, so everyone needs to keep eyes on him.

Chris Bassitt - Baltimore Orioles

Bassitt has a 2.51 ERA over his four appearances (three starts) this spring. He's got a save as well. 

Bassitt has worked 14 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and eight walks. He's struck out nine batters and has a 1.19 WHIP and .170 average against him.

Bassitt is on a new team this year and is pretty locked into the Orioles' rotation. He might be 37, but if he can still limit runs, there's fantasy value to take advantage of with him.

His ADP is 201, so he's a better deep-league asset. Bassitt could be a standard league streamer from the start of the season though, especially after the spring training he's had. Keep tabs on Bassitt if you aren't willing to roster him right off the bat.

Taj Bradley - Minnesota Twins

Bradley has 19 strikeouts (which leads the league) over 14 innings. He's made four starts.

Bradley has allowed seven runs on 15 hits and five walks. He has a 1.43 WHIP and .278 average against him. The strikeouts are great, but most of his other stats are below-average marks.

He's projected to make the team's rotation, and as long as he does, there's fantasy value to take advantage of. Bradley is off the fantasy radar for now, but big strikeout marks, or a better ERA could help him get into more leagues in 2026. 

Mick Abel - Minnesota Twins

Abel has 17 punchouts over 13 1/3 innings in his four starts. 

Abel has a 1.35 ERA, allowing two runs on nine hits and one walk. He's got a 0.75 WHIP and .196 average against him.

He's also projected to be in the Minnesota starting rotation, but will need to keep pitching well to keep that spot. Abel isn't on the fantasy radar right now, but he could be an asset if he remains in the rotation, and keeps pitching well.

These early-season standouts are ones to keep in mind as the season starts, and they could be early waiver wire darlings if they keep excelling when the games start counting for fantasy purposes.

Drew Anderson - Detroit Tigers

Anderson has a 0.73 ERA over his five appearances (one start). He's got 17 strikeouts already.

Anderson has allowed a run on nine hits and four walks. He has a 1.05 WHIP and .205 average against him.

Anderson is projected to work out of the team's bullpen. Detroit has some high-leverage relievers, so injuries would be the only way Anderson steps into one of those roles. He could be a multi-inning option, which gives him some fantasy appeal, but only in super deep leagues.

We'll see if the 32-year-old Anderson can enjoy a breakout season in the big leagues. He only has 44 1/3 innings under his belt so far, and a 6.50 ERA in those innings.

Grant Holmes - Atlanta Braves

Holmes has made four appearances this spring, including three starts. He's covered 12 1/3 innings.

He's yet to allow a run, while giving up just three hits and one walk. He has 16 strikeouts as well. Holmes has a 0.73 WHIP and .077 average against him.

Holmes is projected to be part of the team's starting rotation. He got in 21 starts over 22 appearances last year, and has had some MLB success over the past two years.

He'll need to stick in the rotation to have the most fantasy value he can. Holmes isn't on the ADP list right now, but he's still a deep-league asset who could eventually work into standard leagues with more good pitching.

Definitely have Holmes on your watch list as the 2026 season starts up. Again, he's been an asset in the past, and could work into more leagues this year, so he's a possible pickup if that happens.