Sports US

Starting Pitcher Chart – April 16th, 2026

Welcome to the Daily SP Chart.

Note: 2026 data is now featured in the chart as of April 13th! We’re still dealing with small samples, but I’ve taken out the 2025 data and you will now see the pitcher’s current numbers and the wOBA rank for their opponent this year so far!

The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.

These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more value focusing on roto. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations, you don’t really need a shiny stat to be convinced on starting guys like that. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get you an answer when I can. I try to do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.

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SP Chart for April 16th, 2026

Rk
PITCHER
Tm
Opp
10
12
15+
IP
ERA
WHIP
K-BB
opp wOBA RK
Commentary

1
Max Fried
NYY
v. LAA
x
x
x
28
1.93
0.75
14%
3
Ks have been a little light but nothing to worry about

2
Kris Bubic
KCR
at DET
x
x
x
18
2.50
0.83
24%
24
It would be so fun to see him stay healthy all year

3
Chase Burns
CIN
v. SFG
x
x
x
16.1
3.31
1.29
14%
29
Hit for the first time in his last start but he’s a rotation lock for least ~10 starts barring inj. or extreme skill change

4
Braxton Ashcraft
PIT
v. WSN
x
x
x
17
2.12
1.00
23%
12
Electric start incl. 17 Ks and just 1 BB in his L2; WSN hitting well, too, so not a walkover matchup

5
Parker Messick
CLE
v. BAL
x
x
x
17.2
0.51
0.91
17%
5
There’ll be regression – will it be gradula or a hit parade where the .227 BABIP shoots up?

6
Shane Baz
BAL
at CLE
x
x
x
16
4.50
1.56
11%
20
He hasn’t been great but he’s made it 5+ in all 3 starts and hasn’t been bad; it’s gotta get better soon, though

7
Landen Roupp
SFG
at CIN
x
x
x
16.2
3.24
1.14
19%
28
Love the BB gains (7%) but he’s squeezing every ounce out of that 10% SwStr to get a 26% K

8
Steven Matz
TBR
at CHW

x
x
16
3.94
0.94
19%
20
Quietly pitching very well incl. 15 Ks in his L2 after just 4 in his season debut

9
Jack Leiter
TEX
at ATH

x
x
14.2
4.91
1.36
24%
21
LAD jumped him in the 1st inn. and he couldn’t get it on track; I’m a little nervous in Sacramento

10
Luis Castillo
SEA
at SDP

x
x
13
6.92
1.77
16%
15
B2B sub-4 IP outings was rough, espec. after the gem v. NYY to open the yr; not cutting, but not a must-start

11
Keider Montero
DET
v. KCR

x
10.1
1.74
0.68
21%
23
Running hot right now, expectations should be his career ratios: 4.42 ERA/1.32 WHIP; decent matchup, but high risk

12
Ryan Weiss 와이스
HOU
v. COL

x
11
7.36
2.09
16%
22
It’s been a rough 11 IP but he still has a 16% K-BB and the Rockies are always a spot to consider

13
Brandon Sproat
MIL
v. TOR

10.1
10.45
2.32

19
Not out overall, but need to see something before placing him back in the lineup

14
Foster Griffin
WSN
at PIT

15.1
1.76
1.11
10%
18
I want to be excited for his return to MLB, but a 10% K-BB and 8% SwStr are rough; 99% LOB doing most of the work

15
Anthony Kay
CHW
v. TBR

14.2
2.45
1.16
5%
14
Similar to Griffin w/the huge ERA-SIERA split and I don’t want to be around for come down

16
Walker Buehler
SDP
v. SEA

12.2
4.97
1.26
11%
17
I’m just going to be terrified every time I start him and I’m not sure the upside is worth that headache

17
Jacob Lopez
ATH
v. TEX

13.1
7.43
2.18
-3%
29

18
Tomoyuki Sugano
COL
at HOU

16.2
2.16
0.78
14%
2
He’s somehow survived a 2.2 HR9 but HOU give him the Regression Special here

19
Patrick Corbin
TOR
at MIL

4
9.00
1.75
10%
22

20
Walbert Urena
LAA
at NYY

1.2

4.80
-7%
7

Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues

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