The 2026 MLB regular season is in full-swing. Even with a smaller slate on the books Thursday, there is no better time to dive right into the action. Pitchers are already ranked by price, with the ones who are projected to perform better eating up more of your budget, but I am here to add my two cents. I’ll be sharing my own rankings for the six starting pitchers for DFS in the three-game Thursday afternoon contest that locks at 12:10 p.m. ET.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $100K Relay Throw ($25K to 1st)
1. RHP Rhett Lowder, CIN (@ MIA)
Salary: $7,800
2025 Stats: N/A (Injury, Minors)
2026 Stats: 2 G, 2 GS, 11.0 IP, 1-0, 1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 9 K, 4 BB, 0.2 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 29 G, 20 GS, 119.0 IP, 6-8, 4.57 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 97 K, 43 BB, 1.1 WAR (Steamer)
2. RHP Max Meyer, MIA (vs. CIN)
Salary: $8,300
2025 Stats: 12 G, 12 GS, 64.2 IP, 3-5, 4.66 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 68 K, 20 BB, 0.5 WAR
2026 Stats: 2 G, 2 GS, 9.2 IP, 0-0, 4.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 11 K, 5 BB, 0.2 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 32 G, 22 GS, 137.0 IP, 8-9, 3.99 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 129 K, 48 BB, 2.0 WAR (Steamer)
3. RHP Jack Flaherty, DET (@ MIN)
Salary: $8,500
2025 Stats: 31 G, 31 GS, 161.0 IP, 8-15, 4.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 188 K, 59 BB, 2.5 WAR
2026 Stats: 2 G, 2 GS, 8.1 IP, 0-1, 7.56 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 8 K, 8 BB, 0.0 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 27 G, 27 GS, 149.0 IP, 9-9, 3.90 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 163 K, 58 BB, 2.4 WAR (Steamer)
4. LHP Jeffrey Springs, ATH (@ NYY)
Salary: $7,300
2025 Stats: 32 G, 30 GS, 171.0 IP, 11-11, 4.11 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 138 K, 54 BB, 1.7 WAR
2026 Stats: 2 G, 2 GS, 11.1 IP, 1-0, 2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 9 K, 4 BB, 0.4 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 27 G, 27 GS, 155.0 IP, 9-10, 4.50 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 135 K, 53 BB, 1.9 WAR (Steamer)
5. LHP Ryan Weathers, NYY (vs. ATH)
Salary: $7,500
2025 Stats: 8 G, 8 GS, 38.1 IP, 2-2, 3.99 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 37 K, 12 BB, 0.2 WAR
2026 Stats: 2 G, 2 GS, 8.0 IP, 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 11 K, 5 BB, 0.3 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 35 G, 18 GS, 114.0 IP, 10-10, 3.77 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 116 K, 42 BB, 1.4 WAR (Steamer)
6. RHP Mick Abel, MIN (vs. DET)
Salary: $6,800
2025 Stats: 10 G, 8 GS, 39.0 IP, 3-4, 6.23 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 39 K, 16 BB, 0.1 WAR
2026 Stats: 2 G, 1 GS, 7.1 IP, 0-2, 11..05 ERA, 2.86 WHIP, 7 K, 7 BB, 0.0 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 30 G, 21 GS, 123.0 IP, 7-8, 4.62 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 109 K, 61 BB, 0.9 WAR (Steamer)
