Welcome to the FantasyPros Week 8 starting pitcher fantasy baseball rankings. Every week, we’ll take a closer look at the upcoming week and rank every starting pitcher based on their overall skills, recent production, head-to-head matchup and park factor. These rankings are for the period from Monday, May 18th, to Sunday, May 24th.
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Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers Guide: Week 8
Be sure to take a look at expert consensus rankings (ECR) as a helpful tool when setting your lineups. You can also take advantage of our Pitcher Planner’s resource for probable pitchers as well as our streaming pitcher rankings.
Top 50 Starting Pitchers (May 18th to May 24th)
| Rank | Pitcher | Matchup(s) |
| 1 | Bryan Woo | vs. CWS, @ KCR |
| 2 | Nolan McLean | @ WSH, @ MIA |
| 3 | Dylan Cease | @ NYY, vs. PIT |
| 4 | Shota Imanaga | vs. MIL, vs. HOU |
| 5 | Parker Messick | @ DET, @ PHI |
| 6 | Framber Valdez | vs. CLE, @ BAL |
| 7 | Ryne Nelson | vs. SFG, vs. COL |
| 8 | Shane McClanahan | vs. BAL, @ NYY |
| 9 | Michael King | vs. LAD, vs. ATH |
| 10 | Will Warren | vs. TOR, vs. TBR |
| 11 | Max Meyer | vs. ATL, vs. NYM |
| 12 | Sonny Gray | @ KCR, vs. MIN |
| 13 | MacKenzie Gore | @ COL, @ LAA |
| 14 | Nick Lodolo | @ PHI, vs. STL |
| 15 | Robbie Ray | @ ARI, vs. CWS |
| 16 | Zac Gallen | vs. SFG, vs. COL |
| 17 | Seth Lugo | vs. BOS, vs. SEA |
| 18 | Reid Detmers | vs. ATH, vs. TEX |
| 19 | Christian Scott | @ WSH, @ MIA |
| 20 | Mitch Keller | @ STL, @ TOR |
| 21 | J.T. Ginn | @ LAA, @ SDP |
| 22 | Chris Sale | @ MIA |
| 23 | Shohei Ohtani | @ SDP |
| 24 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | @ SDP |
| 25 | Cristopher Sanchez | vs. CLE |
| 26 | Paul Skenes | @ TOR |
| 27 | Jacob deGrom | @ LAA |
| 28 | Chase Burns | @ PHI |
| 29 | Cam Schlittler | vs. TOR |
| 30 | Jose Soriano | vs. ATH |
| 31 | Jesus Luzardo | vs. CIN |
| 32 | Spencer Strider | @ MIA |
| 33 | Emmet Sheehan | @ SDP |
| 34 | Davis Martin | @ SFG |
| 35 | Zack Wheeler | vs. CLE |
| 36 | Emerson Hancock | vs. CWS |
| 37 | George Kirby | @ KCR |
| 38 | Logan Gilbert | @ KCR |
| 39 | Eduardo Rodriguez | vs. COL |
| 40 | Kyle Bradish | @ TBR |
| 41 | Ranger Suarez | @ KCR |
| 42 | Joe Ryan | vs. HOU |
| 43 | Trey Yesavage | @ NYY |
| 44 | Ryan Weathers | vs. TBR |
| 45 | Payton Tolle | @ KCR |
| 46 | Bailey Ober | @ BOS |
| 47 | Connelly Early | @ KCR |
| 48 | Kyle Harrison | @ CHC |
| 49 | Edward Cabrera | vs. MIL |
| 50 | Gavin Williams | @ DET |
Smash Spots
Jose Soriano (SP – LAA) vs. ATH
Jose Soriano has hit a bit of a wall after a spectacular start to the season, but he should be able to get back on track in a home start against the Athletics.
Emmet Sheehan (SP – LAD) @ SDP
After a slow start to the season, Emmet Sheehan has found his groove. He is ready for another strong outing on the road against the Padres.
Davis Martin (SP – CWS) @ SFG
We have to keep riding the wave with Davis Martin, as he continues to outperform his underlying metrics. He’s been one of the most surprising stories of the 2026 season.
Risky Starts
Trey Yesavage (SP – TOR) @ NYY
Trey Yesavage has been sharp since returning to action, but he’s in a tough spot at Yankee Stadium against one of the best offenses in the Majors.
Kyle Harrison (SP – MIL) @ CHC
Kyle Harrison is having a breakout season, but it’s always risky playing a pitcher against a patient Cubs lineup at Wrigley. What if the wind is blowing out that day?
Edward Cabrera (SP – CHC) vs. MIL
Edward Cabrera has been inconsistent this season. In a home start against a Brewers offense that is starting to heat up, this feels a bit risky.
Two-Start Pitchers
Ryne Nelson (SP – ARI) vs. SFG, vs. COL
Ryne Nelson has gotten into a rhythm, so we need to fire him up with confidence in two terrific home matchups against the Giants and the Rockies.
MacKenzie Gore (SP – TEX) @ COL, @ LAA
MacKenzie Gore got back on track with an eight-inning outing against the Diamondbacks in his last start. While a start at Coors Field is risky, we can’t pass up the two-step that also includes the strikeout-prone Angels.
Christian Scott (SP – NYM) @ WSH, @ MIA
Christian Scott has shown some strikeout upside in his return to action, so we can bet on 10+ strikeouts in these two starts against the Nationals and the Marlins.
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