Ryan Pepiot

Ryan Pepiot logged a career-high 167.2 innings in 2025, but the underlying metrics point to mild regression risk after his ERA rose to 3.86 with a 4.36 FIP. His strikeout rate dipped to 24.6% (down from 26.3% in 2024) while hard-hit rate spiked to 42.8%, contributing to a career-high 26 homers allowed and a .404 SLG against. The walk rate held steady (9.0%), and his 38.2% ground-ball rate was a modest improvement, but the contact quality trend is worth monitoring. The 2026 projections peg him for similar volume with a mid-3.00s ERA and roughly a strikeout per inning, reinforcing his profile as a stable SP3/4 in fantasy formats. Pepiot's swing-and-miss ability remains intact, and the move back to Tropicana Field should correct the issues with the long ball. However, draft him for ratio stability and workload rather than expecting another skills leap.

Ryan Pepiot avoids arbitration with Rays

Ryan Pepiot and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided arbitration and the righthander will make $3.025 million in 2026.

Fantasy Impact

Pepiot started a career-high 31 games last season for the Rays and went 11-12 with a 3.86 ERA and averaged a strikeout per inning. He has pitched parts of four seasons with the Dodgers and Rays and is 24-21 with a 3.54 ERA in 376 career innings. Pepiot should be at, or near, the top spot in Rays' starting rotation in 2026.