Every baseball team needs an ace (or two) if they want to win it all. That wisdom applies to fantasy baseball teams, too. Although you could draft an amazing, talented lineup of batters, your team would be limited if you neglect pitching. The strategy below will reveal how to draft the best pitching rotation in your league while maintaining good hitters.
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Fantasy Baseball Strategy: Drafting Pitchers Early
When Should You Draft Pitching Early?
Aces are very valuable. Sometimes, they are not first-round valuable. In recent years, many of the earliest-drafted pitchers have disappointed fantasy managers. For example, 2024 first-rounder Spencer Strider needed season-ending UCL surgery after throwing just nine innings.
Luckily, injuries and disappointment are not always the norm. Last season’s highest two-ranked pitchers per average draft position (ADP) were Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal. Both players went on to win the Cy Young Award. 2025 added credibility to the strategy of drafting pitchers early and reinforced the value of an ace pitcher.
Drafting a pitcher early is risky, but drafting a batter is not risk-free. Yes, pitchers are much more likely to have a season-ending injury due to the unfortunate presence of UCL issues. Although often healthier, batters can suddenly disappoint and have an unexpectedly bad season. Look no further than 2025 late first-rounder Mookie Betts, who followed up a Silver Slugging 143 OPS+ season with a mediocre 104 OPS+ year. The point is, both pitchers and batters can disappoint. There is always risk early in the draft, and that should not discourage you from drafting pitchers if you want a dominant rotation.
Fantasy managers are sometimes afraid to draft pitchers early due to the health risks they associate with starters. If you participate in a league with timid members like this, then this strategy is especially for you. You can use your league mates’ preference towards batters to gather the surplus of pitching they leave behind.
Drafting pitchers early also depends on league settings and format. In category leagues, pitching often accounts for about half of the stats. Leading the league in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, and/or saves would be extremely beneficial towards winning the league. On the other hand, points leagues are a total accumulation of stats, and it does not matter if they originate from pitching or batting. Drafting pitchers early is more beneficial for category formats, at least in most situations.
No matter what, remember that any team needs to be well-balanced. Just like a great lineup struggles with bad pitching, elite pitching will not get very far with weak hitting.
The First Rounds
Drafting pitchers early in the early draft should include drafting one ace. Flexibility is always a good idea, but it is important not to get carried away here. This strategy will offer plenty of rounds to acquire pitching talent. There is no rush.
Usually, I do not suggest drafting a pitcher in the first round. This year is unique. If you really want to draft a star rotation, why not start off with a superstar? For this strategy, try to draft one of the reigning Cy Youngs (Skubal or Skenes) and count on them anchoring a soon-to-be excellent rotation. Garrett Crochet is another strong option.
The reason why I suggest acquiring one of these starters is the potential gap in talent after they fall off the board. An entire ADP round of talent separates these three from the fourth-ranked pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Adding one of these starters begins an enviable rotation.
After drafting an ace, use the rest of the early rounds to acquire hitters. It is important to always remember balance, even if your roster will be pitcher-focused.
The Middle Rounds
The middle of the draft is the time to draft hitters. This may seem counterintuitive to this draft strategy. However, the late rounds are desolate when it comes to drafting batters. Typically, it is much easier to draft late-round pitching talent than hitting talent. So, this is the time to solidify your lineup.
Although the middle of the draft is for batters, it is not the time to ignore pitching. Focus on bats, but also keep an eye out for good pitchers who fall. Maybe you see, say, Framber Valdez, fall a round later than he is supposed to be drafted. Moments like that are the perfect time to capitalize and improve your rotation.
Relief Pitchers
Be sure to remember the value of a lockdown closer. Although many valuable closers can be found in the tail-end of drafts or even free agency early in the season, there is premium value in an elite closer. Consider drafting someone like Edwin Diaz (ADP: 44), Andres Munoz (ADP: 52), or Aroldis Chapman (ADP: 81). Diaz is an especially enticing target after signing a three-year deal with the Dodgers because the Dodgers have had the most wins since 2022 and the third-most saves.
The Later Rounds
This is the fun part. The end of the draft is your chance to take shots. Late round shots on pitchers can often work out. Cristopher Sanchez, ranked in the top 30 for ADP, had a breakout after being drafted past 150 in 2025. He is just one of countless later-round success stories. Who could be next?
Use this section of the draft to draft your sleepers and to acquire some upside. It goes without saying, but also use the late rounds to make sure you have a complete team with enough batters to fill every position. You want to begin the season scouring the waiver wire to improve, not repair, a roster.
By the end of the final rounds, you should have taken chances on several high upside pitchers. In a worst-case scenario, you can swap them out with the inevitable up-and-comers who emerge from waivers.
Conclusion
This strategy is not for everyone. However, if you are confident in pitching, and you want a rotation your league mates can only dream of, this strategy is for you. This strategy is especially helpful in category leagues, but can be applied in any format that values pitching.
Good luck on draft day.
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