Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

There's no real debate at the top of 2026 fantasy drafts: In formats where he is considered one player, Shohei Ohtani remains the clear-cut 1.01 thanks to his unmatched two-way impact. Offensively, his 2026 projections again place him among the game's elite, with 45-plus home runs, triple-digit runs and RBI, and an on-base percentage north of .390 while continuing to anchor the Dodgers' lineup from the leadoff spot. The stolen base ceiling isn't what it was earlier in his career, but projected totals in the high teens still provide a valuable bonus atop his league-leading power and run production.

What truly separates Ohtani, however, is his return as a full-time starting pitcher. His 2026 projections peg him as a top-tier arm, capable of delivering ace-level strikeout totals, strong ratios, and double-digit wins in one of baseball's best team contexts. Even with some workload management baked in, Ohtani's ability to provide elite value on both sides of the ball gives fantasy managers a structural advantage no other player can match. As long as he's healthy, Ohtani isn't just the safest pick in fantasy baseball; he's still redefining what roster construction can look like.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto followed up his MLB debut with a strong 2025, flashing elite command and swing-and-miss ability even as his workload was managed. That, however, went out the window when he threw 37-1/3 postseason innings, bringing his total to 210 in 2025. His 2026 projections show maintained excellent ratios and strikeout efficiency. The year-over-year improvement in pitch efficiency suggests he can work deeper into games moving forward. The biggest knock against Yamamoto is that he pitches for the Dodgers, who have a deep enough staff to go with a six-man rotation or rest elite starters down the stretch (fantasy playoffs) if they wish. In any case, Yamamoto profiles as a high-end fantasy starter whose value is anchored in ratios.

Blake Snell remains one of fantasy baseball's most volatile aces, pairing elite strikeout ability with persistent workload and control risk. His 2025 season with Los Angeles featured a dominant 2.35 ERA and strong run prevention metrics, but it came in just 61.1 innings, reinforcing long-standing durability concerns. The 2026 projections again favor strong ratios and well-above-average strikeout rates, though modest innings expectations cap his overall fantasy ceiling. Snell's swing-and-miss stuff still plays at a Cy Young level when healthy, but his elevated walk rates continue to introduce WHIP volatility. Fantasy designation: High-risk SP2 / ratio-boosting upside play, best suited for managers willing to absorb innings risk in exchange for elite per-inning production.

Tyler Glasnow followed up his 2024 All-Star campaign (3.49 ERA, 168 K in 134 IP) with a strong but abbreviated 2025, posting a 3.19 ERA and .177 BAA across 90.1 innings. The swing-and-miss remained intact (29% K rate), but his walk rate spiked to 11.7%, driving a 3.75 FIP and reminding fantasy managers that command volatility still lurks beneath the surface. His contact quality allowed stayed manageable (88.2 mph EV, 37.6% HardHit%), and he continued to suppress damage despite a slight dip in strikeout dominance year over year. The 2026 projections lean into a rebound in workload with frontline ratios and well north of a strikeout per inning, banking on improved control closer to his 2023-2024 levels. In Los Angeles, team context keeps his win ceiling elevated whenever he's active, but durability remains the swing factor after topping 120 innings just twice in his career. Glasnow profiles as a high-end SP2 with SP1 per-start upside — just be prepared to build in contingency plans for missed time.

Emmet Sheehan took a meaningful step forward in 2025, trimming his ERA from 4.92 in 2023 to 2.82 while improving nearly every underlying indicator. His strikeout rate jumped to 30.6% (up from 25.8%), supported by a 10.9 K/9 and a sharp drop in walk rate (7.6%), leading to a strong 4.05 K/BB ratio. Opponents managed just a .185 batting average and .568 OPS against him, and his HR rate was cut nearly in half (4.4% to 2.4%), signaling improved pitch execution and command within the zone. The profile isn't without volatility — his fly-ball lean (career 0.50 GB/FB) can create some homer risk in tougher matchups — but the swing-and-miss foundation is real, and his 2.93 FIP in 2025 backs up the breakout. If his 2026 projections hold near a double-digit K/9 with solid ratios, Sheehan profiles as a high-upside SP3 in 12-team formats with SP2 weeks when the command is dialed in. On a strong Dodgers roster, the win equity further boosts his fantasy appeal, making him a worthwhile mid-round target for managers chasing strikeouts without paying ace prices.