MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Friday 5/1/26

The 2026 MLB regular season is in full-swing. There’s another jam-packed slate on the books for Friday, so there is no better time to dive right into the Daily Fantasy 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 have my own DFS rankings for the top 10 starting pitchers in the 11-game Friday night contest that locks at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Rally Cap [$50K to 1st]

1. RHP Zack Wheeler, PHI (@ MIA)

Salary: $9,500

2025 Stats: 24 G, 24 GS, 149.2 IP, 10-5, 2.71 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 195 K, 33 BB, 4.0 WAR
2026 Stats: 1 G, 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 6 K, 3 BB, 0.2 WAR
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 24 G, 24 GS, 140.0 IP, 10-7, 3.23 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 159 K, 39 BB, 3.2 WAR (Steamer)

2. LHP Robbie Ray, SF (@ TB)

Salary: $9,300

2025 Stats: 32 G, 32 GS, 182.1 IP, 11-8, 3.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 186 K, 73 BB, 2.2 WAR
2026 Stats: 6 G, 6 GS, 33.1 IP, 2-3, 2.70 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 35 K, 14 BB, 0.3 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 25 G, 25 GS, 144.0 IP, 8-9, 4.17 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 152 K, 60 BB, 1.3 WAR (Steamer)

3. RHP Will Warren, NYY (vs. BAL)

Salary: $8,900

2025 Stats: 33 G, 33 GS, 162.1 IP, 9-8, 4.44 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 171 K, 65 BB, 2.1 WAR
2026 Stats: 6 G, 6 GS, 31.1 IP, 3-0, 2.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 37 K, 7 BB, 0.9 WAR
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 36 G, 17 GS, 110.0 IP, 7-6, 3.87 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 110 K, 40 BB, 1.3 WAR (Steamer)

4. RHP Bryan Woo, SEA (vs. KC)

Salary: $9,000

2025 Stats: 30 G, 30 GS, 186.2 IP, 15-7, 2.94 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 198 K, 36 BB, 3.6 WAR
2026 Stats: 6 G, 6 GS, 35.0 IP, 1-2, 3.86 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 27 K, 6 BB, 0.6 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 25 G, 25 GS, 150.0 IP, 9-8, 3.70 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 146 K, 36 BB, 2.4 WAR (Steamer)

5. LHP Shane McClanahan, TB (vs. SF)

Salary: $8,200

2025 Stats: DNP
2026 Stats: 5 G, 5 GS, 23.0 IP, 2-2, 3.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 25 K, 13 BB, 0.6 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 21 G, 21 GS, 122.0 IP, 8-7, 3.47 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 136 K, 43 BB, 2.7 WAR (Steamer)

6. LHP Noah Schultz, CHW (@ SD)

Salary: $8,500

2025 Stats: 17 G, 17 GS, 73.0 IP, 4-5, 4.68 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 76 K, 45 BB (AA, AAA)
2026 Stats: 3 G, 3 GS, 15.1 IP, 1-1, 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 18 K, 9 BB, 0.4 WAR
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 18 G, 18 GS, 103.0 IP, 6-7, 4.13 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 92 K, 48 BB, 1.1 WAR (Steamer)

7. RHP Emmet Sheehan, LAD (@ STL)

Salary: $8,700

2025 Stats: 15 G, 12 GS, 73.1 IP, 6-3, 2.82 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 89 K, 22 BB, 2.1 WAR
2026 Stats: 5 G, 5 GS, 26.1 IP, 2-0, 4.78 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 28 K, 9 BB, 0.4 WAR
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 33 G, 18 GS, 115.0 IP, 8-6, 3.84 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 130 K, 43 BB, 1.9 WAR (Steamer)

8. LHP Joey Cantillo, CLE (@ ATH)

Salary: $7,400

2025 Stats: 34 G, 14 GS, 95.1 IP, 5-3, 1 SV, 3.21 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 108 K, 42 BB, 1.5 WAR
2026 Stats: 6 G, 6 GS, 30.1 IP, 1-1, 2.97 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 34 K, 13 BB, 0.5 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 41 G, 17 GS, 116.0 IP, 7-7, 3.91 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 121 K, 53 BB, 1.2 WAR (Steamer)

9. LHP Cole Ragans, KC (@ SEA)

Salary: $8,300

2025 Stats: 13 G, 13 GS, 61.2 IP, 3-3, 4.67 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 98 K, 20 BB, 2.1 WAR
2026 Stats: 6 G, 6 GS, 27.0 IP, 1-4, 5.00 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 33 K, 18 BB, -0.2 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 24 G, 24 GS, 134.0 IP, 9-7, 3.44 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 166 K, 56 BB, 2.8 WAR (Steamer)

10. RHP Eury Pérez, MIA (vs. PHI)

Salary: $8,000

2025 Stats: 20 G, 20 GS, 95.1 IP, 7-6, 4.25 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 105 K, 32 BB, 1.9 WAR
2026 Stats: 6 G, 6 GS, 31.1 IP, 2-2, 4.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 33 K, 14 BB, 0.1 WAR
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 22 G, 22 GS, 123.0 IP, 7-8, 4.12 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 136 K, 47 BB, 1.9 WAR (Steamer)