Bounceback Candidates to Draft: Pitchers (Fantasy Baseball)

Some players, most actually, just have a bad year during the course of their career. Often, it can be largely attributed to an injury, perhaps multiple. At other times, it can be difficult to explain. Whatever the case, for fantasy baseball purposes, a sub-par season can lead to a valuable “buying” opportunity. The purpose of the list below is to point out some of the potentially strongest bounce-back candidates for 2026.

Fantasy Baseball Bounceback Targets

Cole Ragans (SP – KC)

Cole Ragans met the hype as a potential breakout candidate in 2024. The hard-throwing southpaw was named an All-Star and finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting, recording a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 223 strikeouts across 186.1 innings. Ragans’ 29.3% strikeout rate was good enough for sixth among all qualifying pitchers, and that number was significantly higher in 2025.

Ragans struck batters out at a ridiculous 38.1% rate last year. That was the entirety of the progress he would make year over year, as he was limited to 13 starts due to multiple IL stints. Ragans never really settled in for a long stretch, and his HR/FB (12.3%) rate and batting average on plays (BABIP) mark of .354 strongly suggest he dealt with more than his share of poor luck. Backing that up, his 4.67 ERA covered up a 2.67 expected ERA. The 28-year-old is healthy now and ready to return to ace form for the Royals.

Spencer Strider (SP – ATL)

Spencer Strider missed almost all of 2024 after having elbow surgery following his second start of that season. Many expected 2025 to be a bounce-back campaign, but he was only able to make one start before May 20th.

After Strider was back for good, the results were a roller coaster, and he really struggled through a three-start stint in August. He did follow that up with a strong finish, though, posting a 2.50 ERA over his final six outings of the season.

The former All-Star also finished the season with 131 strikeouts across 125.1 innings. Strider may never regain the elite velocity and movement he once possessed, but he should still be far better than a 4.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.