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MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Thursday 5/28/26

MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Thursday 5/28/26

Published:

By: Sam Connon

The 2026 MLB regular season is in full-swing. There’s a lighter slate on the books for Thursday, but there is still 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 starting pitchers in the three-game Thursday night contest that locks at 6:35 p.m. ET.

Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $100K Bat Flip [$25K to 1st]

1. RHP Spencer Arrighetti, HOU (@ TEX)

Salary: $8,500

2025 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 35.1 IP, 1-5, 5.35 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 31 K, 20 BB, -0.1 WAR
2026 Stats: 7 G, 7 GS, 41.0 IP, 6-1, 1.32 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 40 K, 25 BB, 0.8 WAR, 21.6 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 23 G, 17 GS, 103.0 IP, 5-7, 4.52 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 105 K, 50 BB, 0.7 WAR (Steamer)

2. RHP Paul Skenes, PIT (vs. CHC)

Salary: $10,000

2025 Stats: 32 G, 32 GS, 187.2 IP, 10-10, 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 216 K, 42 BB, 6.5 WAR
2026 Stats: 11 G, 11 GS, 60.0 IP, 6-4, 3.00 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 65 K, 9 BB, 1.6 WAR, 19.5 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 21 G, 21 GS, 124.0 IP, 9-6, 2.98 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 149 K, 33 BB, 3.5 WAR (Steamer)

3. RHP Nathan Eovaldi, TEX (vs. HOU)

Salary: $9,000

2025 Stats: 22 G, 22 GS, 130.0 IP, 11-3, 1.73 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 129 K, 21 BB, 3.7 WAR
2026 Stats: 10 G, 10 GS, 61.2 IP, 5-5, 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 61 K, 14 BB, 0.6 WAR, 18.6 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 19 G, 19 GS, 117.0 IP, 7-6, 3.52 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 115 K, 31 BB, 2.3 WAR (Steamer)

4. RHP Colin Rea, CHC (@ PIT)

Salary: $6,200

2025 Stats: 32 G, 27 GS, 159.1 IP, 11-7, 3.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 127 K, 44 BB, 1.9 WAR
2026 Stats: 11 G, 8 GS, 54.0 IP, 4-3, 4.83 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 44 K, 17 BB, 0.3 WAR, 11.1 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 22 G, 14 GS, 83.0 IP, 5-6, 4.55 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 65 K, 27 BB, 0.5 WAR (Steamer)

5. LHP Patrick Corbin, TOR (@ BAL)

Salary: $7,000

2025 Stats: 31 G, 30 GS, 155.1 IP, 7-11, 4.40 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 131 K, 51 BB, 1.9 WAR
2026 Stats: 9 G, 9 GS, 41.1 IP, 2-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 32 K, 13 BB, 0.6 WAR, 10.5 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 19 G, 14 GS, 79.0 IP, 4-5, 4.44 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 64 K, 26 BB, 0.6 WAR

6. RHP Chris Bassitt, BAL (vs. TOR)

Salary: $5,500

2025 Stats: 32 G, 31 GS, 170.1 IP, 11-9, 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 166 K, 52 BB, 2.4 WAR
2026 Stats: 10 G, 8 GS, 47.1 IP, 4-3, 5.51 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 34 K, 19 BB, 0.4 WAR, 8.1 FPPG
2026 FanGraphs ROS Projections: 19 G, 19 GS, 107.0 IP, 6-7, 4.42 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 92 K, 40 BB, 1.0 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.