It’s still early, but that doesn’t mean fantasy baseball managers can ignore the warning signs.
Every season, a handful of players stumble out of the gate, whether it’s a dip in underlying metrics, reduced playing time, or simply results that don’t match expectations. While some slow starts are just noise, others signal deeper concerns that could linger well into the season.
In this Featured Pros roundup, our experts break down 12 fantasy baseball players who are causing early concern in 2026. From struggling stars to surprising disappointments, these insights will help you decide whether to stay patient, explore trade options, or start planning an exit before it’s too late.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Players Experts are Worried About
Which underperforming pitcher are you most worried about? Why?
Bubba Chandler (SP – PIT)
“Bubba Chandler has the tools to be a frontline starter at some point, but it may not happen this season. His command troubles that kept him in the minors for most of last season are back, as he’s posting a 19% walk rate and 26.7% CSW that is below league average. It’s hard to believe he’s overachieving with an xBA that is 44 points higher than his actual BAA and a .368 xwOBA that is 33 points higher than his wOBA. There may be flashes of dominance, but expect more inconsistency than anything.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
“Technically, Bubba Chandler has a 3.68 ERA. However, it’s the 1.57 WHIP and 12 BB in 14 IP that have me concerned. This is nothing new for Chandler, who struggled most of last summer in AAA with control issues. Chandler’s inefficiencies haven’t cratered him yet, but I want to emphasize the “yet”. His xERA is 5.60 and a stark reminder that velo isn’t everything. I’d be looking to unload Chandler in redraft leagues. ”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Eury Perez (SP – MIA)
“In a coin flip between Garrett Crochet and Eury Perez, the latter won because I think he is much further away from what we expected him to be. The 23-year-old has an ERA of 5.40 and a WHIP of 1.55, which are basically a must-bench in 12-team, H2H leagues. His expected numbers don’t show much hope, with an xERA of 5.12 and an xFIP of 5.04. His K-BB% is a disastrous 9.9%. Outside of a 7-inning QS against Colorado to open the season, he has gone only 4 innings in two of his last three starts. His Location+ metrics are all below average, and he is struggling mightily with locating his fastball. I am attempting to sell low for almost any return because he will be on the drop list come May if this doesn’t improve.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
“Eury Perez – Part of the worry is from the sky-high expectations with minimal results, but beyond short sample sizes, there are some trends that are a concern. Perez’s command is tanking. He currently has an 85 Location+ on FanGraphs, which is awful. That has manifested into an over 12% walk rate. When he is throwing it in the zone, it’s getting hammered. He is giving up a 17% barrel percentage, which is awful, and he has a 95% meatball swing %, which is essentially the metric that shows he is getting hammered when he throws in the zone. His stuff is still there, luckily, and I am not entertaining drops or anything, but these trends are very worrisome and have recalibrated expectations for the near future.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
Yusei Kikuchi (SP – LAA)
“Yusei Kikuchi looks like a problem through four starts, sitting at a 7.50 ERA and 1.89 WHIP while averaging just 4.5 innings per outing. The underlying numbers are just as shaky — a .404 BABIP suggests some bad luck, but a 45.8% hard-hit rate and consistently loud contact point to hitters really squaring him up. The strikeouts and FIP still hint at some buy-low appeal, but it’s hard to ignore how quickly innings can unravel when the command isn’t there. He’s not a full panic drop yet, but the profile absolutely demands caution.”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.
