The 2026 MLB regular season is in full-swing. There’s another jam-packed slate on the books for Thursday, 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 six-game Thursday afternoon contest that locks at 12:35 p.m. ET.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $30K Full Count [$5K to 1st]
1. LHP Shota Imanaga, CHC (vs. CIN)
Salary: $9,000
2025 Stats: 25 G, 25 GS, 144.2 IP, 9-8, 3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 117 K, 26 BB, 0.9 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 41.1 IP, 3-2, 2.40 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 43 K, 10 BB, 1.3 WAR, 20.9 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 22 G, 22 GS, 136.0 IP, 8-8, 3.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 126 K, 32 BB, 2.0 WAR (Steamer)
2. RHP Seth Lugo, KC (vs. CLE)
Salary: $9,200
2025 Stats: 26 G, 26 GS, 145.1 IP, 8-7, 4.15 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 125 K, 55 BB, 0.5 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 43.2 IP, 1-1, 2.68 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 37 K, 13 BB, 1.4 WAR, 16.9 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 22 G, 22 GS, 135.0 IP, 7-8, 4.39 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 117 K, 46 BB, 1.6 WAR (Steamer)
3. RHP Mitch Keller, PIT (@ ARI)
Salary: $7,900
2025 Stats: 32 G, 32 GS, 176.1 IP, 6-15, 4.19 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 150 K, 51 BB, 2.5 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 41.0 IP, 3-1, 2.85 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 31 K, 12 BB, 1.1 WAR, 16.3 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 24 G, 24 GS, 139.0 IP, 8-9, 4.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 119 K, 45 BB, 1.8 WAR (Steamer)
4. LHP MacKenzie Gore, TEX (@ NYY)
Salary: $8,200
2025 Stats: 30 G, 30 GS, 159.2 IP, 5-15, 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 185 K, 64 BB, 2.9 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 34.2 IP, 2-2, 4.67 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 45 K, 18 BB, 0.5 WAR, 15.9 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 24 G, 24 GS, 134.0 IP, 8-8, 3.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 155 K, 55 BB, 2.3 WAR (Steamer)
5. RHP Zac Gallen, ARI (vs. PIT)
Salary: $7,500
2025 Stats: 33 G, 33 GS, 192.0 IP, 13-15, 4.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 175 K, 66 BB, 1.1 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 32.1 IP, 1-2, 4.45 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 20 K, 10 BB, 0.5 WAR, 7.9 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 24 G, 24 GS, 140.0 IP, 8-9, 4.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 127 K, 48 BB, 1.6 WAR (Steamer)
6. LHP José Quintana, COL (vs. NYM)
Salary: $6,000
2025 Stats: 24 G, 24 GS, 131.1 IP, 11-7, 3.96 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 89 K, 50 BB, 0.8 WAR
2026 Stats: 5 G, 5 GS, 24.1 IP, 1-2, 4.07 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 12 K, 11 BB, -0.1 WAR, 8.1 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 20 G, 20 GS, 112.0 IP, 5-9, 5.47 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 77 K, 46 BB, 0.7 WAR (Steamer)
7. RHP Jake Irvin, WSH (vs. MIN)
Salary: $7,000
2025 Stats: 33 G, 33 GS, 180.0 IP, 9-13, 5.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 124 K, 62 BB, -0.4 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 34.2 IP, 1-4, 4.93 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 39 K, 15 BB, 0.5 WAR, 13.2 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 27 G, 18 GS, 105.0 IP, 5-7, 4.50 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 86 K, 36 BB, 0.8 WAR (Steamer)
8. RHP Rhett Lowder, CIN (@ CHC)
Salary: $6,800
2025 Stats: N/A (Injury, Minors)
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 35.1 IP, 3-2, 5.09 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 26 K, 14 BB, 0.9 WAR, 10.6 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 28 G, 19 GS, 113.0 IP, 6-8, 4.67 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 88 K, 42 BB, 0.8 WAR (Steamer)
9. RHP Slade Cecconi, CLE (@ KC)
Salary: $7,200
2025 Stats: 23 G, 23 GS, 132.0 IP, 7-7, 4.30 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 109 K, 32 BB, 0.7 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 35.2 IP, 1-4, 6.56 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 28 K, 13 BB, -0.2 WAR, 7.6 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 21 G, 21 GS, 118.0 IP, 6-8, 4.57 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 98 K, 35 BB, 0.8 WAR (Steamer)
10. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson, MIN (@ WSH)
Salary: $6,500
2025 Stats: 23 G, 22 GS, 111.1 IP, 7-4, 4.04 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 107 K, 46 BB, 1.2 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 34.2 IP, 0-5, 6.49 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 17 K, 14 BB, -0.3 WAR, 3.5 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 16 G, 16 GS, 85.0 IP, 5-6, 4.85 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 70 K, 35 BB, 0.6 WAR (Steamer)
