All articles tagged with #pitching
Justin Verlander returns to the Detroit Tigers in 2026, aging but still the same ace as his 2011 MVP days, with the 43-year-old taking the mound for Detroit in the season’s early games and rekindling a long-dormant reunion with the club that drafted him.
MLB’s Opening Weekend showcased a new era with Automatic Balls and Strikes calls driving overturned calls and strategic challenges, while contenders like the Dodgers and Yankees looked strong and the Blue Jays posted a record-setting start on the mound. A wave of top prospects—DeLauter, Wetherholt, Murakami, McGonigle—made big MLB debuts, helped by Dylan Cease’s sharp outing for Toronto as the rotation dominated early. Not all teams found instant success, with Seattle and Philadelphia facing rough starts.
Pitcher List launches the inaugural 2026 two-start pitcher rankings, sorting projected two-start starters into four tiers—Set-and-Forget, Most Likely Start, Questionable, and Avoid—with brief notes on each pitcher’s matchup risk and upside, plus a teaser for a weekly “Two-Start Streamer of the Week.”
Cam Schlittler worked 5.1 innings of no-run, one-hit ball with eight strikeouts as the Yankees shut out the Giants 3-0, backed by Aaron Judge’s two-run homer and Giancarlo Stanton’s 414-foot moonshot. David Bednar earned the save, and New York secured a series-clinching win as they head into a potential sweep tomorrow against Will Warren and Tyler Mahle on FOX.
Royals were shut out 6-0 by Atlanta on Opening Day as Cole Ragans walked and allowed four runs in four innings; Bailey Falter allowed two runs over three relief innings, while Alex Lange pitched a clean eighth. Kansas City had five hits and limited offense, though the top of the order reached twice. They’ll try to rebound against Michael Wacha and Reynaldo López in the next game, which will be televised on FOX.
The 2026 MLB season opens with the Yankees routing the Giants 7–0, and 22 teams kick off a packed day of action. marquee pitching matchups include Mets vs Pirates with Paul Skenes facing Freddy Peralta, Red Sox vs Reds featuring Garrett Crochet vs Andrew Abbott, Tarik Skubal’s start for Detroit against the Padres, Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers hosting the Diamondbacks, and a Guardians–Mariners nightcap. Skenes returns from World Baseball Classic form, Skubal is in his final season before free agency, and Ohtani aims for MVP glory as teams chase the postseason.
Roki Sasaki’s spring struggles—low strike rate, high ERA and multiple walks in short outings—have the Dodgers rethinking his development, with a likely path back through the minor leagues and a multi-year process to regain his dominant form, though manager Dave Roberts says he still believes in him.
Didier Fuentes has dazzled in Braves spring training, throwing 9 innings with 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 hit-by-pitch and 17 strikeouts, while sitting at 97–99 mph and flashing three above-average pitches. Braves coach Jeremy Hefner says he’s a work in progress but showing real development, making a late-opening-day call-up unlikely but increasing the odds of a future big-league role as the season unfolds after more minor-league seasoning.
An expert panel ranked 90 pitchers for 2026, placing Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes in the top tier as unanimous aces, with Skubal regarded as the current No. 1 and Skenes joining the elite circle after his Cy Young-winning season. The rankings use a five-tier system and exclude pitchers returning from major surgery; the list also highlights a deep field of notable starters (e.g., Yamamoto, Crochet, Snell, Sale) and emphasizes health and durability as key factors for the season ahead.
In a high-stakes WBC clash, Venezuela’s upset of Japan put them on a collision course with Team USA in Miami. The deciding factor is bullpen availability: if Venezuela can deploy its top relievers, it holds the edge; otherwise the Americans’ deeper lineup and fresher arms could tilt things in their favor. Starting pitching is close, with McLean vs. Rodriguez, and predictions vary—from Venezuela 6, USA 3 to USA 7, Venezuela 1—highlighting a tight, bullpen-driven battle.
Team USA closer Mason Miller’s availability for the World Baseball Classic final remains undecided as Padres manager Craig Stammen says his usage will be evaluated after outings. Miller, who has saved two USA games and struck out 10 in four innings, says he wants to pitch but must be smart; if he takes the mound Tuesday it would be his third appearance in five days. The final decision hinges on how he feels and performance, with Mark DeRosa managing the staff.
Paul Skenes delivered a calm, efficient 4 1/3 innings in Team USA’s 2-1 World Baseball Classic semifinal win over the Dominican Republic, earning manager Mark DeRosa’s praise as a “special presence” and reinforcing his role as a pitching pillar for the U.S. as they move toward the final; the game spotlighted star power, tense moments, and Skenes’ Air Force Academy background, with former teammates in attendance highlighting the personal backdrop to the performance.
Samurai Japan’s shift toward power hitting and offense backfired in an 8-5 World Baseball Classic quarterfinal loss to Venezuela, revealing a lack of depth beyond Ohtani, Suzuki, and Yoshida and a pitching staff built on undersized, control-focused arms. With Ohtani unavailable to pitch and questions about Japan’s approach, the team must redefine its identity—balancing offense with defense and stronger pitching if it hopes to contend in future international events like the Olympics and the next WBC.
Team USA survived a tense World Baseball Classic quarterfinal vs. Canada to advance to the semifinals against the Dominican Republic, powered by a pitching edge led by Logan Webb and a bullpen that steadied after a late Canadian rally. USA capitalized with insurance runs from the bottom of the order, including Brice Turang and Pete Crow-Armstrong, while Canada’s Bo Naylor homered to trim the deficit before the late-game lockdown.
A comprehensive 2026 guide for 12-team fantasy baseball drafts, outlining a core philosophy (build a solid floor, use the waiver wire, avoid ‘best-ball’ tactics), plus round-by-round hits across positions, pitching-heavy plans, closer and catcher guidance, and links to rankings and tools to help you draft and adjust throughout the season.