DKNetwork Logo DKNetwork Logo
MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Friday 5/22/26

MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Friday 5/22/26

Published:

By: Sam Connon

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 12-game Friday night contest that locks at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Hidden Ball Trick [$50K to 1st]

1. RHP Jacob deGrom, TEX (@ LAA)

Salary: $9,500

2025 Stats: 30 G, 30 GS, 172.2 IP, 12-8, 2.97 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 185 K, 37 BB, 3.4 WAR
2026 Stats: 9 G, 9 GS, 50.2 IP, 3-3, 3.02 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 61 K, 8 BB, 1.0 WAR, 20.7 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 20 G, 20 GS, 119.0 IP, 8-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 141 K, 27 BB, 3.0 WAR

2. LHP Payton Tolle, BOS (vs. MIN)

Salary: $8,900

2025 Stats: 7 G, 3 GS, 16.1 IP, 0-1, 6.06 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 19 K, 8 BB, WAR
2026 Stats: 5 G, 5 GS, 30.2 IP, 2-2, 2.05 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 30 K, 7 BB, 0.8 WAR, 20.7 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 17 G, 11 GS, 69.0 IP, 4-4, 4.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 69 K, 24 BB, 1.0 WAR (Steamer)

3. RHP Davis Martin, CHW (@ SF)

Salary: $8,400

2025 Stats: 26 G, 25 GS, 142.2 IP, 7-10, 4.10 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 104 K, 48 BB, 1.3 WAR
2026 Stats: 9 G, 9 GS, 56.0 IP, 6-1, 1.61 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 59 K, 10 BB, 2.1 WAR, 23.7 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 19 G, 19 GS, 114.0 IP, 6-7, 4.16 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 99 K, 38 BB, 1.5 WAR (Steamer)

4. RHP Logan Henderson, MIL (vs. LAD)

Salary: $9,200

2025 Stats: 5 G, 5 GS, 25.1 IP, 3-0, 1.78 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 33 K, 8 BB, 0.8 WAR
2026 Stats: 4 G, 4 GS, 18.0 IP, 1-1, 3.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 23 K, 3 BB, 0.6 WAR, 16.3 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 23 G, 13 GS, 79.0 IP, 5-5, 4.02 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 83 K, 25 BB, 1.1 WAR (Steamer)

5. RHP Logan Gilbert, SEA (@ KC)

Salary: $8,700

2025 Stats: 25 G, 25 GS, 131.0 IP, 6-6, 3.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 173 K, 31 BB, 2.6 WAR
2026 Stats: 10 G, 10 GS, 56.2 IP, 2-4, 4.45 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 57 K, 12 BB, 0.4 WAR, 15.3 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 20 G, 20 GS, 115.0 IP, 7-6, 3.51 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 124 K, 29 BB, 2.1 WAR (Steamer)

6. RHP Kevin Gausman, TOR (vs. PIT)

Salary: $8,300

2025 Stats: 32 G, 32 GS, 193.0 IP, 10-11, 3.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 189 K, 50 BB, 4.1 WAR
2026 Stats: 10 G, 10 GS, 57.1 IP, 3-3, 3.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 53 K, 9 BB, 1.5 WAR, 16.4 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs Projections: 21 G, 21 GS, 128.0 IP, 8-7, 3.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 125 K, 38 BB, 2.2 WAR (Steamer)

7. RHP Bryce Elder, ATL (vs. WSH)

Salary: $8,100

2025 Stats: 28 G, 28 GS, 156.1 IP, 8-11, 5.30 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 131 K, 51 BB, 0.9 WAR
2026 Stats: 10 G, 10 GS, 62.2 IP, 4-2, 2.01 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 56 K, 20 BB, 1.4 WAR, 20.3 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 19 G, 19 GS, 111.0 IP, 6-7, 4.36 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 93 K, 40 BB, 1.1 WAR (Steamer)

8. RHP Gerrit Cole, NYY (vs. TB)

Salary: $8,500

2025 Stats: DNP (Tommy John Surgery)
2026 Stats: DNP
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 20 G, 20 GS, 122.0 IP, 7-7, 4.03 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 119 K, 37 BB, 1.7 WAR (Steamer)

9. RHP Justin Wrobleski, LAD (@ MIL)

Salary: $7,500

2025 Stats: 21 G, 2 GS, 66.2 IP, 5-5, 2 SV, 4.32 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 76 K, 17 BB, 1.5 WAR
2026 Stats: 8 G, 7 GS, 50.2 IP, 6-1, 2.49 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 27 K, 12 BB, 1.2 WAR, 16.5 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 26 G, 12 GS, 86.0 IP, 5-5, 4.49 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 67 K, 32 BB, 0.5 WAR (Steamer)

10. RHP Trevor McDonald, SF (vs. CHW)

Salary: $7,700

2025 Stats: 3 G, 2 GS, 15.0 IP, 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 14 K, 2 BB, 0.4 WAR
2026 Stats: 3 G, 3 GS, 19.0 IP, 2-0, 2.37 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 17 K, 3 BB, 0.3 WAR, 20.7 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 17 G, 8 GS, 55.0 IP, 3-3, 4.11 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 41 K, 21 BB, 0.4 WAR (Steamer)

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.