Pelicans vs Bucks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

After snapping their five-game losing skid, the Milwaukee Bucks look to make it two straight wins when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pels have dropped the first two games of a four-game road trip, but taking on the Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo gives them the edge against the spread in my Pelicans vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks on Wednesday, February 4.

Pelicans vs Bucks prediction

Pelicans vs Bucks best bet: Pelicans -4.5 (-115)

Life without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) hasn’t been great, as the Milwaukee Bucks dropped three straight before beating the Bulls 131-115 on Tuesday.

That point total is an outlier, though, as the Bucks had been averaging just 100 points per game across their previous three outings.

They’re 1-3-0 against the spread without their star, but the ship wasn’t right with "The Greek Freak" at the helm, either, with Milwaukee going just 2-8-0 ATS in its last 10.

The New Orleans Pelicans are struggling too, dropping three of four and averaging just 104.5 points per game, which ranks fourth-worst in the NBA over that span.

The one advantage they do have, and have maxed out on, is playing with a rest advantage.

The Pels are 5-2-0 ATS in that scenario, the second-best mark in the league. Throw in the fact they’ve covered two of the last three against the Bucks, plus no Giannis, and this feels like a good cover for New Orleans, which is 4-2-0 ATS  in its previous six road games.

Pelicans vs Bucks same-game parlay

A Kyle Kuzma scoring binge is a great time to wager the Under on his scoring line. He’s gone for 25+ three times this season, and he’s scored 13 points or less in the follow-up, going for single digits twice.

Trey Murphy III is coming off a 27-point effort last game against Charlotte, but his 22.5-point scoring line is a little inflated, considering he’s topped that mark just twice in his last eight.

Pelicans vs Bucks SGP

  • Pelicans -4.5
  • Kyle Kuzma Under 17.5 points
  • Trey Murphy III Under 22.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Queen of the Court

Bucks guard Ryan Rollins scored 21 against Chicago and has gone for 20+ in four of his last five, making his 19.5 line very gettable.

And Derik Queen has worked the glass well of late, pulling down at least seven rebounds in four of his last six games. Milwaukee is also a Bottom-4 rebounding team in the NBA.

Pelicans vs Bucks SGP

  • Pelicans -4.5
  • Kyle Kuzma Under 17.5 points
  • Trey Murphy III Under 22.5 points
  • Ryan Rollins Over 19.5 points
  • Derik Queen Over 7.5 rebounds

Pelicans vs Bucks odds

  • Spread: Pelicans -4.5 (-115) | Bucks +4.5 (-105)
  • Moneyline: Pelicans -185 | Bucks +155
  • Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-110) | Under 222.5 (-110)

Pelicans vs Bucks betting trend to know

New Orleans has covered the spread in each of its last seven games as a favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Bucks.

How to watch Pelicans vs Bucks

LocationFiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
DateWednesday, February 4, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVPelicans+, FDSN Wisconsin

Pelicans vs Bucks latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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Checking in with the former Ohio State players currently in the NBA

Jan 20, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) bring the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Action around the NBA is starting to heat up. Not only is the league’s trade deadline on Thursday afternoon, next weekend will be the annual All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Currently there are eight former Ohio State players on NBA rosters, and one of them has already been moved ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.

With the season having already passed the halfway point when it comes to games played, now feels like a good time to give an update on how the former Ohio State players currently in the NBA have been doing this season, and what might be expected for them the rest of the way.


Mike Conley

After starting more than 60 games in each of the last two seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mike Conley has seen his role diminish this season, averaging a career-low 18.5 minutes per game and 4.4 points per game.

In the 44 games he has played this season, Conley only reached double figures in three games, scoring 10 points on all of those occasions. The last time the guard hit that mark was on November 19th against the Washington Wizards.

On Tuesday, Conley was shipped to Chicago in a three-team trade that also involved the Detroit Pistons. By moving the veteran guard, Minnesota reduced their luxury tax bill from $24 million to $3.8 million, which will help them in their pursuit of Giannis Anteteokounmpo. The Bulls also acquired Jaden Ivey from the Pistons in the trade, as well as Anfernee Simons in a separate trade.

Unfortunately for Conley it’s unlikely he is going to see much playing time in Chicago. The Bulls are loaded with younger guards, which will likely have Conley riding the bench the rest of the season. Conley’s best hope for seeing any playing time is if he can agree to a buyout with the Bulls and find a team who could use his services.


Brice Sensabaugh

The most exciting former Buckeye in the NBA this year has been Brice Sensabaugh. Unfortunately Sensabaugh plays for the Utah Jazz, who are one of the worst teams in the league.

Sensabaugh is averaging 12 points per game this season, which is the highest mark of his three-year NBA career so far.

The forward is coming off a January where he averaged 18 points per game, and scored at least 20 points in seven games. His best effort came against Chicago when he scored 43 points. The increased scoring didn’t help Utah on the court, as the Jazz were just 2-11 in games Sensabaugh played in last month.

The rest of the season became a little muddier for Sensabaugh when the Jazz agreed to a trade with Memphis, acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. from the Grizzlies. The addition of those three players could see Sensabaugh’s minutes cut for the remainder of the season.


Jae’Sean Tate

While Sensabaugh won’t be sniffing the playoffs this year, Jae’Sean Tate will be in the postseason this year with the Houston Rockets. With Kevin Durant sitting out on Wednesday night, Tate actually had one of his best games of the season, tying a season-high with eight points in a 118-114 win over the Indiana Pacers.

The 2.7 points per game and 8.2 minutes per game are both low marks in the six-year NBA career of Tate, but he has still appeared in 30 games this season for a team that is headed to the playoffs. Even though Tate is far down Houston’s depth chart, if his number is called there is no question that he will give maximum effort on the court.


D’Angelo Russell

Another former Ohio State player who could be moved before the trade deadline is D’Angelo Russell. The Dallas guard has only appeared in one game in 2026, scoring 8 points in 19 minutes against Chicago on January 10th.

One would think that would injuries to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis the Mavericks would want a veteran like Russell on the floor. Instead, Dallas has opted to let rookie Cooper Flagg run the show and is leaning on veterans like Naji Marshall and Max Christie.

In 26 games this season, Russell is averaging 10.2 points per game, which is a career-low. Russell’s best effort of the season came on the first day of November when he scored 31 points against Detroit in a game played in Mexico City.

If Russell isn’t moved at the trade deadline, it is possible he could agree to a contract buyout with the Mavericks and find a team who could use his services down the stretch run of the season.


Jamison Battle

Following one season at Ohio State, Jamison Battle has spent the first two years of his NBA career with the Toronto Raptors.

Battle’s role is currently a bench guy who usually sees the majority of his playing time in blowouts. Through 36 games this season, Battle is averaging 8.5 minutes per game, which is half the amount of what he received last year.

Battle’s best game of the season came on Halloween when he was a perfect 7-7 from the field, scoring 20 points in a NBA Cup group stage win over Cleveland. Since then Battle has reached double figures in scoring in just two games, with both of those contests coming in December.

Even though he isn’t playing much, at least Battle is on a team heading to the playoffs, as the Raptors currently have a 30-21 record, which is fourth-best in the Eastern Conference.


Malaki Branham

Another former Buckeye who is seeing less than 10 minutes of playing time per game is Malaki Branham.

The former first round pick is averaging 4.6 points per in 9.8 minutes per contest for the Washington Wizards. In his first season with Washington after three years with the San Antonio Spurs, Branham has appeared in just 28 games.

Despite playing on a team that is just 13-35 this season and riding the bench, Branham is coming off his best game with the team after scoring 17 points in 22 minutes on Friday against the Lakers.

It will be interesting to see if his performance last time out leads to the former Ohio State forward seeing more opportunities the rest of the year with a Washington team that doesn’t have anything to play for.


E.J. Liddell

Much like Sensabaugh and Branham, E.J. Liddell is on a team that has essentially already been eliminated from playoff contention.

So far in 2026, Liddell has appeared in just three games for a total of 17 minutes. At least Liddell is still playing hard in the little playing time he is receiving. On Sunday, Liddell scored a season-high 5 points in the 130-77 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Liddell’s situation might be the toughest to deal with, since he isn’t seeing much playing time on a team that is really bad. At least Utah and Washington have some interesting young players on their roster. The same can’t really be said about Brooklyn.

Hopefully the Nets give Liddell some more playing time so he can generate a little bit of interest for wherever the next stop in his NBA journey might be.

Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings 2026: Bryan Woo, Eury Pérez rise up in top 150 SP list

It’s that time again! Pitchers and catchers will soon report for spring training, so it’s time to dive into my rankings for 2026.

This is now my third year publishing my top 150 starting pitchers. I published a version of these in November, but obviously, there have been some changes after the offseason. If you’ve read my work before, you know I generally hate publishing starting pitcher rankings because they never feel done to me. As somebody who spends a lot of time watching/thinking about pitching, I always feel like there are tweaks I want to make or pitchers who I constantly change my opinion of.

It’s important to note that I only partially rely on surface-level stats when constructing my rankings. I will look at last year’s SIERA, K-BB%, swinging strike rate (SwStr%), and Ideal Contact Rate (ICR) to get a sense of how the pitcher performed (even though I usually remember), but much of my analysis is done by breaking down a pitcher’s arsenal. I’ll use the Pitcher List pages, plus my knowledge of the pitcher, to get a sense of whether I believe the pitcher can consistently pound the strike zone and miss bats, and whether he has a deep enough arsenal to pivot if something isn’t working. I don’t use projections in my pitcher analysis, so you may see some variation from typical rankings, and I’m OK with that.

As always, the pitchers are split into tiers, which I’ve named with movie quotes this year, so you can hopefully understand why the pitchers are ranked where they are. The tiers themselves are more important than the rankings inside the tiers, so I wouldn’t split hairs over a few spots in the rankings.I’ve also ranked these pitchers as if I’m doing a 12-team league, so safe but boring low-end starters take a hit in value, etc.

PLEASE READ: I went to a lot of effort to ensure I share my thoughts on the rankings below, so you’ll find short blurbs with my thoughts “off the dome” for these guys. I would highly encourage you to read the blurb and not just focus on the ranking because it allows you to get a sense of WHY I have the pitcher ranked where I do, and if that logic makes any sense to you.

OK? Ok, so let’s get started.

RankPlayerTeam

"I'm king of the world."

1Tarik SkubalTigers
2Garrett CrochetRed Sox
3Paul SkenesPirates

Yes, I know what happens in "Titanic," but in that moment, nobody had it better than Jack and Rose. In this moment, nobody has it better than these three arms. They were my top three in November, and nothing has changed that. I'd imagine these are everybody's top three starting pitchers.

Look, all three of Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Paul Skenes are elite, so you're kind of splitting hairs here. For me, there are a few deciding factors. For one, Crochet and Skubal miss more bats, ranking 1st and 2nd in all of baseball in strikeout rate. Skubal and Crochet also threw more innings than Skenes last year, and Skenes pitches for the worst team of the three, which could impact win totals. Crochet and Skubal have more clearly dominant out pitches in my mind, and so I lean with the two of them over Skenes and favor Skubal because he has a longer track record of success than Crochet.

"Not me. I'm in my prime."

4Yoshinobu YamamotoDodgers
5Bryan WooMariners
6Cole RagansRoyals
7Logan GilbertMariners
8Max FriedYankees
9Hunter GreeneReds
10Cristopher SanchezPhillies

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the “workhorse” of the Dodgers’ rotation, making 30 starts. He looks like the most likely candidate to lead the team in innings in 2026 and was electric when he was on the mound. I know some people have concerns about him pitching in the World Baseball Classic and then starting this season healthy, but this is a guy who threw over 190 innings per season in consecutive seasons in Japan; I'm not overly worried about his durability. We just saw what 170 innings from him does for your fantasy team, and you'd be ecstatic if he does it again.

Last season, I said that Bryan Woo would be a top-20 pitcher if he could stay healthy, but I didn’t rank him there because I didn’t believe in his health. Whoops. Woo has great fastballs and improving secondaries, and is perhaps the highest upside pitcher in this tier if we could guarantee health. We can't, unfortunately, so you might feel that this is too large a risk to take (and I mostly don't draft starting pitchers early enough to take ones in this tier, so I may agree). However, I think this is where he belongs based on his talent.

Cole Ragans was in my top 10 heading into 2025 after posting a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 223 strikeouts in 186.1 innings the season before. However, he battled through a groin injury last year and wasn't able to live up to those expectations. Still, he came back from his groin injury healthy at the end of the season and was striking out tons of batters, which makes me confident that he will head into 2026 with the same potential for excellence.

Logan Gilbert battled some injuries this past season and continues to struggle to maintain a consistent approach. However, despite that, he also continues to produce, registering a 3.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 32% strikeout rate. Maybe I’m too high on him because he has yet to deliver at the level of a true fantasy stud, but he has all the tools and an elite home park. It will happen one season. Perhaps this is the one.

Max Fried is just about as safe as they come. He’s had minor injuries over the last two seasons, but we know that when he’s on the mound, he is really good in every category without being a true elite standout in any. There is very little risk with Fried.

Hunter Greene was electric in 2025, posting a 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 31.4% strikeout rate. He added velocity on both his fastball and slider and also established better command with the slider, which negated the need for a crucial third pitch. However, he was also on the injured list for almost two months with a groin/hip/back injury. The good news is that it wasn't an arm injury, but the increase in velocity will always make him a higher risk of injury.

Cristopher Sanchez was a breakout star in 2025, posting a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 26.3 percent strikeout rate in 202 innings. He pitches for a strong team and has an elite changeup to put away righties. The breakout feels very real; however, I don't think we're going to see the ratio production that we saw last year because that came with an 80% left-on-base rate and some strong hit luck. I do think Sanchez is good for an ERA around 3.00, and so I'd be more than happy with him as my ace.

Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

“Well, I’m always dreaming, even when I’m awake. It’s never finished.”

11Hunter BrownAstros
12Jacob DeGromRangers
13George KirbyMariners
14Joe RyanTwins
15Spencer SchwellenbachBraves
16Kyle BradishOrioles
17Logan WebbGiants
18Chris SaleBraves
19Shohei OhtaniDodgers

I discussed Hunter Brown in my presentation at First Pitch Arizona, and there are a few things that make me pause a bit. His fastball command was poor last year, with a fastball zone rate under 50%, and his entire arsenal grades out poorly in Pitcher List’s PLV model, which takes location into account. I don't want to over-weigh those things, and I still think Brown is good, hence the ranking, but I have some pause about placing him in the tier above until we see the fastball command improve and a true secondary pitch standout from the rest.

Jacob deGrom pitched 172.2 innings in 2025, and we know he’s elite when he gives us volume. Yes, he’s not as dominant as he was in previous seasons, and there’s no guarantee that he pitches over 130 innings next season, but I can take the gamble here.

I know many people have George Kirby higher, but some red flags jumped out at me when I did my FPAZ presentation. His best secondary to righties is a slider that posted just a 14% swinging strike rate, which is fine but not truly elite, and his fastball zone rate has decreased in each of the last two seasons. I don’t love that combination if I want an SP1 for my team. He does feel like a safer bet for innings than most of the other arms in this tier, which is why he's ranked above them, but I'm not sure his upside is as high.

Joe Ryan’s season nose-dived a bit once the Twins started selling off pieces and not contending. I can’t really blame him for that. The talent is there, and I expect him to be on a new team (eventually) that may have some direction on how to establish a consistent approach with his secondaries. Even without a new team, Ryan has an elite fastball and a deep pitch mix that gives him safety even if that one secondary pitch hasn't truly emerged.

Spencer Schwellenbach also came up in my presentation at FPAZ. I'm just such a big fan of what he brings to the table: a true six-pitch mix with a plus fastball, a slider for whiffs to righties, and a splitter for whiffs to lefties. I know he fractured his elbow because of his increased velocity, but I don't think he needs that added velocity to be really good. If he comes back throwing 96, I'll still have him cemented as a top 20 starting pitcher.

Yes, I have Kyle Bradish in this tier. I look at him a bit like I looked at deGrom heading into 2025 after deGrom came back and made three starts in 2024. We have seen that Bradish is healthy, and we’ve seen what he can do when he is. His slider and curve are elite secondary pitches that will help him rack up strikeouts, and he understands that his four-seamer isn't an elite pitch, but he has a good approach and command of it to keep hitters off the barrel.

Logan Webb used to be a fringe top 10 pitcher because of his innings reliability and solid ratios. However, we’ve seen his WHIP become a bit less consistent thanks to some pitch mix tinkering. I’m not sure Webb has settled into what type of pitcher he wants to be, and maybe the new coaching staff can help with that. My concerns about his WHIP and the infield defense behind him (Luis Arraez at 2B? Gross), have him down near the bottom of this tier for me.

Chris Sale remains elite when he's on the mound, but we also know that he’s rarely on the mound for the full season. Similarly, Shohei Ohtani is in this tier thanks to his confusing workload. We assume the Dodgers will use a six-man rotation or limit his innings in some capacity in 2026. Ohtani has elite strikeout upside and a great chance at wins, but what if he throws just 130 innings? It’s certainly possible, so workload concerns keep both of these guys a little lower than their raw talent would indicate.

“I know that if I wasn’t scared, something’s wrong because the thrill is what’s scary.”

20Freddy PeraltaMets
21Eury PerezMarlins
22Dylan CeaseBlue Jays
23Pablo LopezTwins

This is a tier of pitchers who have clear ace upside but plenty of question marks either about health, team context, or lack of track record. I will certainly target at least one pitcher in this tier, maybe two, but I don’t think I can wait around and take one as my ace.

Freddy Peralta was tremendous this past season, but he had 18th-percentile four-seam fastball command and benefited from the dead ball, which led to far fewer home runs than usual. However, he also leaned on his curveball a bit more often, which was a solid move for him. I think the batting average luck will regress to the norm a bit, but he also gets a ballpark upgrade moving to Citi Field, so I'm treating Peralta as if he'll produce slightly below the level we saw last year.

I’m fully in on Eury Perez heading into 2026, as I noted in my FPAZ presentation. Last year, he featured a sweeper with a 22% swinging strike rate to righties and a harder slider with a 21% swinging strike rate to lefties. He throws a 98 mph fastball with an elite zone rate and has a deep five-pitch mix. He's now another year removed from Tommy John surgery, and I think this is the breakout season.

Speaking of poor fastball command, Dylan Cease had an 8th-percentile zone rate on his four-seamer last year. That's, um, not good. At this point, I think we know who Cease is. No approach or team will change that. He has toyed with adding new pitches, but can't seem to find consistency with them. He'll have stretches where he's nearly unhittable and stretches where he can't find the zone. It may even out in the end, but the process will be a huge headache.

Pablo Lopez has said that he was healthy enough to pitch at the end of the season and would have if the Twins had been in contention. I know we don't always take players at their word when it comes to their health, but it makes some sense here, so I'm ranking Pablo as if he's healthy. That's a pitcher I had in the top 10 heading into last season, so even if I was overly bullish on him then, I still think he has the ability to be a top 25 starting pitcher this season.

"I wish I could have trusted you."

24Framber ValdezFree Agent
25Nick PivettaPadres
26Drew RasmussenRays

These are all pitchers who have some track record of success and have spiked really strong seasons, so I know, intellectually, they belong in this range, but I just can't shake the feeling that I don't trust them.

Framber Valdez is who he is at this point. He’s a two-pitch pitcher who relies heavily on his curveball and will have stretches of elite production and stretches where he gets hit too hard. However, he has never been bad, and I can’t see him becoming bad, no matter where he signs.

Nick Pivetta had his best HR/FB% season ever, and you have to think the deadened ball we saw in 2025 had something to do with that. What if that ball isn’t back in 2026? Can we really trust a pitcher who only has one season with an ERA under 4.00? Maybe I should, but, for me, this ranking is as far as my trust goes.

Really, the only knock against Drew Rasmussen last year was volume, which is to be expected after coming off Tommy John surgery. He’ll no longer be pitching home games in a minor league park, and I think he could push six or seven innings in most of his starts now. He’s not the highest upside arm, and there's a good chance the Rays just keep him around 160 innings, so that’s why he’s in this tier.

“It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

27Tyler GlasnowDodgers
28Ryan PepiotRays
29Michael KingPadres
30Blake SnellDodgers
31Cam SchlittlerYankees
32Jacob MisiorowskiBrewers
33Shota ImanagaCubs
34Nick LodoloReds
35Bubba ChandlerPirates
36Chase BurnsReds
37Jesus LuzardoPhillies
38Edward CabreraCubs
39Tatsuya ImaiAstros
40Robbie RayGiants

All of these guys have the upside to finish inside the top 20 overall starters, but also have clear warts or a lack of track record, which adds some volatility. However, if I can get an established ace earlier in my drafts, I'd love to snag at least two of these guys.

I have more concerns about Tyler Glasnow’s health than I do most of the other pitchers in the top 25, and so this may be the year I finally decide not to rank him that highly. He'll be healthy to start the season, so you can bank on the production from him now and adjust later, if need be, but he has only one season in his entire career with over 120 innings, so I can't in good conscience expect more than that from him.

Like all Rays pitchers, Ryan Pepiot will no longer be pitching in a minor league park, which could mean fewer home runs, which were a major problem for him in 2025. He continues to rock really above-average H/9 rates and a solid swinging strike rate, and I think this is the season it comes together.

Michael King was my 8th-ranked starting pitcher coming into last season, but a shoulder injury sapped much of that production. However, that was due to a pinched nerve and not any issue that was connected to baseball, so I'm not going to use that injury as a knock on his durability. Even if I can’t give him 180 innings again, I also can’t pretend that I don’t love the skillset, so this feels like a good place to rank him.

We know Blake Snell is never a good bet for a full season, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out and said in January that Snell's arm was "exhausted" from the postseason run, and he was delayed in starting his offseason program. There's now a very good chance that Snell will not be ready to start the season. I know he may still get to 130 innings, but it's really hard to draft somebody inside the top 20 or 25 starters if they're not going to be ready to start the season, and we also know they're highly unlikely to throw more than 130 innings. I may let somebody else deal with the headache.

I have come around a bit on Cam Schlittler, but I still have some concerns, which I outlined in my FPAZ presentation. For starters, he’s so fastball heavy. He has a four-pitch mix, and three of them are fastball variations. He doesn't throw a single pitch to righties that's under 91.5 mph, unless you count a curve that he only uses 5% of the time, which I don't. I think that could be an issue over the longer season. Also, his four-seam fastball had below-average command. That’s not great. Factor in a massive jump in velocity that has me worried about a Schwellenbach-type injury, and I just can't go much higher than this.

I think the hype for Jacob Misiorowski has outpaced the results a little bit. Yes, he’s tons of fun, but there were valid concerns about his command coming into the season, and he posted a 4.36 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 66 MLB innings. The strikeouts are awesome, but the Brewers may be cautious with his innings, and the WHIP may always hurt you a bit.

We saw the home run issues come into play for Shota Imanaga again in 2025, and he also battled a hamstring injury; however, I think the talent is there, and the Cubs should be a good team with a solid defense behind him. He doesn't walk batters, which will keep his WHIP down, but his fastball velocity dipped last year, and I just don't think he's anywhere near the fantasy ace that we previously thought he was.

Yes, I’m this high on Nick Lodolo. He just had the best season of his career. His curve is a tremendous swing-and-miss pitch, and he features multiple fastball variations for all hitters. His hit suppression has always been strong, and the command has improved over the last few seasons. Health and his home park are the only big bugaboos, but he is exactly the type of SWATCH (Southpaw With a Tight Changeup) that Nick Pollack and I discussed on the "On the Corner" podcast has proven to be a real recipe for success.

People are so ready to write off Bubba Chandler because the Pirates keep him in the minors forever, and then he got frustrated and started over-throwing or trying to prove himself, which led to command issues he hadn’t had before and didn’t show in the majors. Then he got to the majors and looked like one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. I’m a believer.

Chase Burns’ strikeout upside is real, which we know because he posted 10+ strikeouts across four starts at one point in the season. He also had a 4.24 ERA over that stretch as well. He has a narrow pitch mix and gives up more contact on his fastball than you’d think at his velocity. Oh, and his home park sucks. However, the slider is a wipeout pitch, and I think there could be a step forward in 2026 given how quickly he progresses through the minors. I think those strikeouts will outweigh some of the negatives, which is why I have him here, but I have some concerns.

Jesus Luzardo is tremendously volatile; we know this, but a new sweeper was a tremendous addition for him, and we know that the Phillies will put him in a solid position for wins regularly. But I think we've already seen his upside. I don't believe there is another level to unlock, and I think consistency will always be something that eludes him, so I had to keep him in this tier.

I’m a sucker for Edward Cabrera. He made the change to use his sinker as his primary fastball in 2025, and it led to massive improvements in command. That allowed him to get ahead in the zone more and set up his plus slider and curve, both of which had SwStr% over 18.5%. Yes, there may always be an injury or innings cloud over Cabrera, but we have finally seen him start to make the changes we wanted to see from him, and I think a new organization is only going to push those changes further. Plus, the Cubs have a much better infield defense than the Marlins, so I think we have the makings of a potential top-25 arm here if we get a full season of health (which we probably won't, hence the ranking).

I wrote about Tatsuya Imai earlier this offseason in our Player News blurbs, which you can check out here, but I said: “The 27-year-old Imai is coming off a strong season that saw him post a 1.92 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 178/45 K/BB ratio in 163 2/3 innings. It was his second straight season with 163 or more innings, and he continued to show that he could return his mid-to-high 90s velocity on his fastball over a full year. He also posted a career-high strikeout rate that was better than Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s mark in his final NPB season. In addition to his high strikeout totals, Imai has proven to be a solid groundball pitcher with a six-pitch mix that includes a slider, changeup, splitter, curveball, and sinker.” I think people are unfairly worried about his performance or his innings totals, and I'm more than happy to scoop up shares.

Robbie Ray added a changeup and had some stretches of solid production that push for top 25 value, but he also has below-average fastball velocity and command, which I don’t love. He still only throws one fastball type, and the swing-and-miss wasn’t really present for him this past season. He may be more of an SP2-3 in fantasy now.

Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

“I like you. So there’s that. I guess I have that.”

41Sandy AlcantaraMarlins
42Nolan McLeanMets
43Sonny GrayRed Sox
44Cade HortonCubs
45Ranger SuarezRed Sox
46Trevor RogersOrioles
47Kevin GausmanBlue Jays
48Andrew AbbottReds

I always believed Sandy Alcantara was more of a safe SP2 than an ace. I was wrong for a while, but perhaps it’s settling in a bit now. Alcantara seemed to get a little bit back to himself at the end of the season, but he’s going to remain a low-upside arm with slightly more volume risk than we had seen previously. I’d prefer if he were traded, but Miami was feisty down the stretch, so maybe they could be in for a solid season.

Nolan McLean was another rookie I covered in my FPAZ presentation. There are a few things I really liked about him, like his deep pitch mix, his velocity, his sinker command, and the growth he showed in 2025. I didn’t love that his sweeper, which was his main secondary pitch to righties, posted just a 5.8% swinging strike rate. That’s not gonna cut it over a long season, so he’ll need to either tweak that pitch or his approach because he's simply not going to get enough strikeouts against righties if that pitch is not a consistent two-strike weapon.

Sonny Gray is now with the Boston Red Sox, which gives him a pretty big team context upgrade. I also trust Andrew Bailey and the Red Sox pitching staff to optimize Gray's pitch mix, which is still plenty deep and full of pitches that he can locate well. He can also be a workhorse that they need, so the innings should be there. At this point, we know what we’re getting from Gray, and it’s usually pretty solid.

Cade Horton had a tremendous year and showed a deeper arsenal than we originally thought with a much-improved changeup. However, he also had a 20% strikeout rate and gave up a lot of contact. It’s not hard contact, and the defense behind him is good, so that works, and he seems like a pitcher who will eat 180 innings per season, but without the potential for more strikeouts, it's hard for me to rank him higher than this.

I recorded a video with James Schiano covering our thoughts on Ranger Suarez signing with the Red Sox,so you should check that out. Yes, his velocity has been going down, but his command is elite, and he's a groundball pitcher, which will help in Boston. He has spent his whole career pitching in a hitter's park, so that shouldn't worry anybody. We know who he is at this point.

Trevor Rogers came out of nowhere in 2026 to put up a top-25 season in a little over 100 innings. It was so out of the blue that it may seem like a fluke, but he rode a new sinker and a plus changeup to that tremendous season. Should we believe that he can do it again? I think it’s MOSTLY true, but I’m not banking on another top 25 season with such mediocre fastballs. He'll be solid for you, but he's a mid-rotation arm for your fantasy team.

Kevin Gausman is all about his splitter. We know that. He had it for much of the year last season, but he also lost it at times. He has yet to add another fastball variation (maybe he can’t), and so he will continue to be a slightly volatile arm that will be hard to use when the splitter is off. That will always cause me to be a little cautious when I rank him.

I was never a big fan of Andrew Abbott, but some pitch mix changes led to a little more swing-and-miss in his game in 2025. He leaned into his curveball more and added in a cutter, which helped alleviate some of the pressure on his four-seam fastball. He also just got better as a pitcher. His changeup took a step forward and will always perform well against righties. He’s kind of like Trevor Rogers in that way. I just wish he had a better home park.

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

49Trey YesavageBlue Jays
50Bryce MillerMariners
51Gavin WilliamsGuardians
52MacKenzie GoreRangers
53Kodai SengaMets
54Aaron NolaPhillies
55Shane BazOrioles
56Emmet SheehanDodgers

I can’t quite figure out Trey Yesavage, and I need to be honest about that right now. He’s like Kevin Gausman, except he has a slider that can help him when his splitter abandons him. However, that slider didn't really miss bats in a small sample size last year and got hit really hard, so can we trust it? Yesavage also doesn’t have near the track record of success that Gausman does. His four-seamer has average velocity and has proven to be hittable with fairly average swing-and-miss metrics. I don’t love that and think he will be drafted too high based on his postseason performance.

Bryce Miller is coming off elbow surgery to remove bone spurs and has yet to establish consistent success at the big league level. His splitter is a solid pitch, but it's really more of a changeup. He locates it in the zone way more often than a normal splitter and has just league-average swinging strike rates (SwStr%) on it. He does use it often in two-strike counts, but the PutAway Rate on it is below league-average, so it's not really a pitch he gets punchouts on. He has also tinkered with a curve, slider, and sweeper to go along with his sinker. None of those pitches has really popped as an above-average secondary, so this is where the path to improvement lies with Miller. I think he’s good, and I like his home park, but I don’t quite trust him yet.

Gavin Williams was “my dude” in 2025, and it didn’t work for most of the year. However, he was tremendous in the second half, so maybe it’s starting to come together. I think he’s more of a “thrower” than a pitcher, so he can’t always execute as well as he wants, and that will likely limit his overall fantasy upside. However, I love the fact that he's adding multiple fastball variations, which helps his four-seamer up in the zone pop more. If I could trust him, he'd be up by Cam Schlittler and Chase Burns and those other high upside arms.

Could MacKenzie Gore, on a new team with veterans like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, help him unlock the consistency that has been evading him? His new slider looked great early on, but we continue to see Gore struggle to maintain a level for a full season. But, hey, if you draft him here and then cut him over the summer when he starts to pitch poorly, you’ve probably returned good value on the draft slot. If you want even more detailed thoughts, I recorded a video on the Gore trade this offseason.

Kodai Senga has not been the same guy we saw in his rookie season, but I don't think he's as far off as many believed. He still has that solid cutter to act as his high strike rate fastball and an elite Ghost Fork for swings and misses. The execution of his pitches wasn't as precise as we saw in 2023, but Senga was so good early in the 2025 season that he posted a 3.02 ERA on the year despite utterly melting down after he returned from a hamstring injury. That's the other component: injuries have played a huge role in his struggles over the last two years. However, he's not dealing with arm issues, and I still believe in the arsenal, so I’m willing to buy back in if the price dips like this.

It will be an even year, so Aaron Nola will be great. Kidding. Kind of. Nola battled injuries throughout the season, but he didn’t showcase a velocity dip or much of a change in his elite curveball. I expect a bounce-back season for Nola, to a certain extent, but I think he is more of a fantasy SP3-4 at this point in his career.

Shane Baz is another pitcher who will benefit from no longer playing in a minor league park, and is another pitcher I discussed in my FPAZ presentation. His inability to truly replace his former slider has led to some swing-and-miss concerns against righties, but he has never really allowed hard contact, and the new cutter is a solid enough pitch against righties that the floor feels a bit safe here. I'm also not ruling out the possibility that he continues to tweak his pitch mix and finds that swing-and-miss pitch to righties again.

The news that Blake Snell is likely going to be delayed to start the season means that Emmet Sheehan has the inside track to open the season in the Dodgers' rotation. I felt like he was a good bet to beat out Roki Sasaki anyway, but now he has another level of cushion. Who knows how long he'll stay in the rotation, but that was the argument against Dustin May heading into last year, and the Dodgers were so banged up that May kept starting. He wasn't particularly good, but I think Sheehan is a far better pitcher.

“Life is pain, highness.”

57Shane McClanahanRays
58Nathan EovaldiRangers
59Brandon WoodruffBrewers
60Kris BubicRoyals
61Shane BieberBlue Jays
62Carlos RodonYankees

Pretty simply, this is a tier full of pitchers who ended the season injured or have major health questions to answer coming into spring training. Unlike a tier you'll see later, these are all pitchers who COULD be healthy for spring training, but there remain some question marks.

Shane McClanahan missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and was expected to start the 2025 season in the Rays' rotation. However, a nerve issue in his final start of spring training led to him being sidelined all year. McClanahan has already been throwing, and Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander also said that McClanahan has "a day in the rotation," which means that fantasy managers should expect him to be ready to start the season and also pitch once every five days for Tampa Bay. McClanahan has a career 3.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 28% strikeout rate. He is an elite starting pitcher. If we assume that he will be rusty and on a pitch count early on in the season, then McClanahan could be just a decent starter early on and then settle back into a solid arm. To me, that makes him a good target if you're outside the top 40 starting pitchers and already have a strong foundation for your rotation.

It's really two injuries for Nathan Eovaldi. The right-hander was shut down in August with a rotator cuff strain, but then also underwent sports hernia surgery during the offseason. Eovaldi has said that he’s fully recovered from the rotator cuff strain and that he's coming into spring training as healthy as he has in years past. That's the key part for me. I don't love drafting pitchers who are coming off a rotator cuff injury; however, Eovaldi has battled arm injuries many times throughout his career. When you draft him, you know that you're getting good production when he's on the mound, but not a full season of innings. That's why his draft cost never gets too high, so I won't be changing the way I draft him in 2026.

Brandon Woodruff was supposed to return from shoulder capsule surgery mid-way through the 2025 season, but then he was hit by a line drive in the elbow while pitching in the minors, and then sprained his ankle on the same rehab process. When he did come back, he looked good, posting a 3.20 ERA in 64.2 innings with a 0.91 WHIP and a 32% strikeout rate. A decent amount of that success, in my opinion, was because of his new cutter, which gives him three fastball variations that attack hitters from similar release points, but with different movement profiles. That can be devastatingly confusing for a hitter. The downside is that Woodruff suffered a lat strain in September and missed the postseason. The team claims that the strain is not connected to the previous shoulder surgery, but having so many injuries to the shoulder area is concerning. I'm willing to bet that Woodruff will be good again in 2026. I'm just not willing to count on him for more than around 120-130 innings.

Kris Bubic was really good in 2025, but suffered a rotator cuff strain in July and missed the remainder of the season. He has also dealt with shoulder injuries and Tommy John surgery in previous years, which is why he has never pitched more than 130 innings in an MLB season. I think Bubic is a talented pitcher, and I think he'll be in the Royals' rotation to start the season, but I'm not banking on more than 130 innings from him so there will have to be a discount if I'm going to take him, and I'd prefer he not be one of the top four starting pitchers on my team.

Back in November, I should had Shane Bieber around my top 20, but then we got a report that he was dealing with forearm soreness at the end of the season. Couple that with his surprise decision to pick up his $18 million player option in Toronto, and I can't help but feel like Bieber also knows his arm is a ticking time bomb. On top of that, Bieber had just a 13% swinging strike rate overall in 2025 and features below-average velocity on his fastball. The introduction of the cutter has been great for him, but it has limited his strikeout upside a bit, so when paired with his injury risk, I had to move him down.

Carlos Rodon claims that he's aiming to be ready at the start of the season, but it's a little hard to trust that. Also, remember that Rodón also had left shoulder surgery in 2017, Tommy John surgery in 2019, and a forearm strain in 2023, so there are a lot of shoulder/elbow injuries in his past that we can't ignore. I like Rodón, and I had him ranked inside my top 25 before the elbow surgery. Now, I just can't see him pitching 175 innings, as he did in three of the last four years. That's going to cut into a lot of his productivity, but I could see drafting him outside of the top 40 starting pitchers, especially if I had an IL spot for him to begin the year.

"When I'm with you, I feel safe."

63Luis CastilloMariners
64Seth LugoRoyals
65Noah CameronRoyals
66Matthew BoydCubs
67Ryne NelsonDiamondbacks

There likely isn't a ton of upside with these arms, but they provide a relative sense of safety, which I'm OK with at this point in the draft.

Luis Castillo and Seth Lugo are who they are at this point in their career. The results are likely to always be there, but we’re no longer getting elite production. I'd rather have them in 15-team leagues.

Noah Cameron and Matthew Boyd are the epitome of a SWATCH. Both of them are lower-velocity pitchers with good command of a deep arsenal and a changeup that eats up right-handed hitters. I’m not sure how trustworthy they will be year-over-year, but that approach led to tons of success for them last year, and I could see it happening this year as well. Especially since they both have good defenses behind them.

Ryne Nelson seems all but assured of being in Arizona’s rotation this year, so we can avoid that headache again. Hopefully. However, he remains an elite fastball pitcher with a limited arsenal of secondaries. I do like his fastball, and his combination of elite vertical movement and low arm angle makes it really hard to hit. Having that as a foundation is great. But we've now seen two full seasons where he can seem to land on a secondary he trusts or one that is effective enough to be relied on. Unless he locks in on one of them, it's hard to see much growth for him, but what we have seen has been solid so far.

“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”

68Tanner BibeeGuardians
69Spencer StriderBraves
70Ian SeymourRays
71Joey CantilloGuardians
72Ryan WeathersYankees
73Grayson RodriguezAngels

This whole tier is full of players who have been the proverbial rake in our face once or twice before, but I think there is enough there to remain somewhat intrigued.

Tanner Bibee’s had a really bad season thanks to poor secondaries that failed to cover for his average fastball. However, I like the idea of him going to multiple fastball variations to cover up for that weak four-seamer, and we have seen his secondaries perform well in the past. That plus his locked-in spot in the Guardians rotation means that I’m likely to take a gamble in 2026 since most people have jumped way off the bandwagon.

Yes, I’m this low on Spencer Strider. He returned from his second Tommy John surgery with a much worse fastball and poor command. Strider's fastball was slower, lost vertical movement, and also lost its flat attack angle, which led to a 7% decline in swinging strike rate. It did not get better as the season went on, and he doesn’t have a deep enough arsenal to survive a step back with his fastball like that. Could his fastball regain some of its juice? Of course, but it's a longer road back than many believe.

Ian Seymour is another SWATCH. He used his changeup 32% of the time last year and threw it to both righties and lefties, with success as a swing and miss pitch or command pitch based on who he's attacking. His four-seam fastball is a good pitch against lefties and a mediocre pitch against righties. However, he keeps it up in the zone well to righties, which is important because that's also where he throws a cutter that he uses 27% of the time to righties. That fastball pairing is really just about limiting damage and then setting him up to use the changeup. Seymour has always been one of the top prospects in Tampa Bay's farm system as a starter and led all qualified minor leaguers in ERA in 2024 when he posted a 2.35 mark. He was a good starting pitching prospect before they used him as a reliever so they could expedite his path to the majors. I think he's in for a breakout season as a starter in 2026.

I've been a fan of Joey Cantillo's for a little bit, and I spoke with him in August of last season about how his time in the bullpen shaped his ability as a starting pitcher. Cantillo rejoined the rotation at the end of the year and, in his final 10 starts of the season, posted a 2.48 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 54/22 K/BB ratio in 54.1 innings. He had a really strong 32.5% CSW and 13% SwStr% over that stretch as well. The next step forward for Cantillo, which we started to see down the stretch, is to regain some of the lost velocity on his four-seam fastball and also get more comfortable with his curve to give him a third pitch he can trust. That could lead to a breakout season for the 26-year-old. In fact, I may actually need to move him up.

Ryan Weathers was traded to the Yankees in the offseason, and I recorded a video with my full thoughts on the trade. Weathers was a "sleeper" in spring training due to a bump in velocity and some pitch mix tweaks, but he was limited to 38.1 innings and posted a 3.99 ERA with 22.3% strikeout rate that was also his career high. Those are not great numbers. However, Weathers does have the raw tools for a much better season. If the velocity holds and he throws his sinker as often as he claims he will, that should help him versus left-handed hitters, and then his changeup and slider can be good weapons for righties. Of course, the biggest obstacle to success for him will be health.

I'm pretty out on Grayson Rodriguez, which is why he's ranked down here. In March, he was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation, and it seemed like surgery would be on the table. However, the right-hander was certain he would return, only to suffer a lat straight in April that put him on the IL. Then, in July, he re-injured his right elbow and eventually had debridement surgery in August to clean up bone spurs in his elbow. The concern for me, aside from the elbow issues, is that Rodriguez has now been on the IL three separate times with right lat strains since 2022. When you add in the fact that the Orioles traded him to the Angels this offseason, when his value was near its lowest, that's not a glowing endorsement for what the organization thought of his health. He's now on a worse team with a worse track record of developing pitching, so this is not a situation I want any part of.

“That kid’s long gone. This old man is all that’s left. I gotta live with that.”

74Zach EflinOrioles
75Merrill KellyDiamondbacks
76Jack FlahertyTigers
77Joe MusgrovePadres
78Jameson TaillonCubs
79Zac GallenFree Agent

It was a tough season for Zach Eflin, who suffered a lat strain in April and then landed on the IL again in June with a lower back injury. He returned after a month but only pitched in two games before landing on the IL with a back injury again. He would eventually undergo a lumbar microdiscectomy to fix a nerve-related disc issue in his back over the offseason. On one hand, he wasn't dealing with an arm issue. On the other hand, back injuries for a 32-year-old are a bit concerning. Still, it was a disc issue that was corrected via surgery, so I don't imagine he'll have many residual issues in 2026. Over his two healthy seasons in the AL East, he's essentially been a 3.50 ERA pitcher with a 22% strikeout rate and 1.10 WHIP. That will play in most formats, and that's what I expect him to get back to in 2026.

Merrill Kelly is rock solid. He lacks any real upside for fantasy baseball, so this isn't a pick I'm targeting in 12-team leagues, but he's fine near the end of your draft. He seems to be a good bet for innings, will be on a good team, and has a deep arsenal of pitches that allows him to attack both righties and lefties with success. There's nothing wrong with that kind of security for the end of your rotation. It's just not sexy.

Is Jack Flaherty on the downswing? Perhaps. His fastball velocity is down, and his breaking balls didn’t miss as many bats as they used to. However, he still got plenty of strikeouts, and that was with a weird approach of low fastballs for called strikes to set up his breaking balls low. Flaherty's fastball is too flat to work low in the zone, which is why he gave up so much hard contact. There is a path for him to become a strong fantasy asset again, but changes will need to be made.

Joe Musgrove got hurt in the NL Wild Card round back in 2024 and then had Tommy John surgery. He started throwing bullpens in August and is apparently on track to return at the start of the season and will not be on any kind of strict innings limit in San Diego, which is good news. However, part of Musgrove's value before injury was his floor. Since the start of the 2021 season, Musgrove has pitched to a 3.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 25.5% strikeout rate in 559.1 innings. That's helping you in most formats. Given that he didn't pitch at all last season and is coming off Tommy John surgery at 33 years old, we have to expect regression for Musgrove. Perhaps he's closer to his 3.73 career ERA and more of a 23% strikeout rate arm. If you wanted to take a gamble on that late in 15-team leagues, I can still see the value in his floor, but his profile, coming off an injury, is not as alluring in shallow formats.

Jameson Taillon has a deep arsenal of pitches and can command the strike zone with any of them. Plus, he has a strong defense behind him. That seems to give him a pretty safe floor every season. He also added a kick-change last year, and it was a great weapon against left-handed pitching, which was sorely needed. He’s not going to strikeout many hitters, which is why I'd target him more in deeper formats, but there is something to be said for pitchers with a safe floor on good teams.

As of now, we don't yet know where Zac Gallen will pitch next year. What we do know is that he's now had three straight seasons of allowing an Ideal Contact Rate over 40%. His swinging strike rate has declined for three years in a row, down to 10.6% last year. His CSW has also declined for three years in a row. His ERA has increased for three years in a row, and he's posted a 1.26 WHIP in each of his last two seasons. After his 2022 season, I mentioned that I was worried about how much contact he gave up and thought a regression was coming. That regression has hit hard the last two seasons. I don't think he's as bad as we saw him last year, but I think he needs a good defense behind him and maybe an attack plan change if he's going to get back to being a top 40 or 50 starting pitcher in fantasy baseball.

"I just can't afford any more delays, and you're a fish that causes delays."

80Gerrit ColeYankees
81Justin SteeleCubs
82Jared JonesPirates
83Zack WheelerPhillies

I like all of these pitchers from a talent standpoint, but none of them are expected to open the season healthy and in their starting rotations. I've learned the hard way in recent seasons that expecting pitchers who are coming off an injury to return and be consistent producers is a fool's errand. It's far more likely that it takes weeks or months for these guys to return and get back to the level that we expect of them, which means it's hard for me to rank them any higher than this.

Gerrit Cole is expected to return in June, but I am considerably lower on Cole than many of my Rotoworld colleagues. Cole suffered from right elbow inflammation and a nerve issue in 2024. He was able to pitch most ofthe year, but then he had elbow soreness in March and underwent Tommy John surgery. Those two issues back-to-back for a pitcher who's 35 years old doesn't make me feel great. When he returns, we have to acknowledge that he wasn't even the same strikeout pitcher before the injury. In 2023, he had a 27% strikeout rate, and that fell to 25.4% in 2024. He's no longer a 30% strikeout rate arm, and we know that he's not going to throw more than about 110-130 innings. From 2021 on, Cole has had a 3.15 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 686 innings, so if we're assuming some post-injury regression, is he a 3.40-3.50 ERA pitcher with a 25% strikeout rate and plus WHIP? That's certainly useful, but it's not a fantasy ace. Add the time missed to that, and I can't take him inside my top 40 pitchers in drafts.

Justin Steele is another pitcher with an inexact timeline for return. He had internal brace surgery on his elbow back in the middle of April, which should mean he can return to the mound early in the season. In January, we got an update that Steele feels "back to normal," and is planning to report to spring training with the rest of the pitching staff. While that is good news, we know that he's also going to use spring training to ramp up and is unlikely to break camp with the team. That could put him back sometime in late April or in May. So we have a pitcher with a 3.18 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 24.4% strikeout rate in 450 innings since the start of 2022 potentially returning in May. Even if we bake in some regression there, that's a 3.50 ERA type of arm with just under one strikeout per inning pitching for one of the better teams in the NL. You're not rushing to draft that arm early in drafts, but it's a pretty nice addition to your rotation later in drafts.

Jared Jones had an internal brace procedure in May and began throwing in December. We know thathe started throwing bullpens in January and that he "is targeting a timeline of sometime between March and May." There has also been a report that Jones could be used out of the bullpen to start the season, if the Pirates wanted to ramp him up without having him pitch in the minors. Jones was pretty good as a rookie in 2024, posting a 4.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts in 121 innings. He is predominantly a two-pitch pitcher, and we saw with Spencer Strider last year how hard it can be for pitchers with just two main pitches to return from a procedure like this. Precise command is even more important if you have a limited arsenal, so that could make this a tight needle to thread for Jones.

Zack Wheeler's situation is confusing to me. In August, he was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome and a shoulder blood clot. He had surgery at the beginning of September and was given an eight-month timeline for return at the time, which would have put him on track for May, but the team had also indicated they would be cautious with him. Now we're hearing that Wheeeler has begun throwing from 75 feet and could be available “near the start of the season.” The issue here is that "near the start of the season" apparently means anytime between Opening Day and late May. That's a two-month window where we might see Wheeler back on the mound, and then we have to acknowledge that he's coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which has been tricky for many starting pitchers to do.

Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

"I like you, man, but you're crazy."

84Troy MeltonTigers
85Roki SasakiDodgers
86Reid DetmersAngels
87Jack LeiterRangers
88Zebby MatthewsTwins
89Will WarrenYankees
90Andrew PainterPhillies
91Landen RouppGiants
92Hurston WaldrepBraves
93David PetersonMets

Do these guys have rotation spots? Some do. Some are fighting for them. Some are likely in the rotation but don't have a long enough track record of success to believe in. Regardless, there's a story you can tell yourself with all of these pitchers that leads to fantasy success.

Nick Pollack really talked me into Troy Melton at the end of last season due to Melton’s 97 mph four-seamer with seven feet of extension and flat attack angle. He also has a good slider and a deep pitch mix, but what he might not have is a spot in the rotation now that the Tigers signed Drew Anderson. That keeps Melton in this tier for me.

Roki Sasaki has some flaws. He's really just a two-pitch pitcher with a four-seam fastball that didn't miss bats last year and a splitter that he can't throw for strikes so he relies on swings outside of the zone. I know he's talking about adding in new pitches, but we saw him try a cutter last year and it just wasn't good. I still think he may wind up as an elite closer, but he has an inside track to win a rotation spot now that Blake Snell is unlikely to start the year on time.

I covered my interest in Reid Detmers in another article on post-hype pitchers. As a reliever for the Angels last season, Detmers posted a 3.96 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 30% strikeout rate. He was even better when you factor in a brief adjustment period to his new role. From June 1st on, Detmers posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 33% strikeout rate. In that stretch, we saw him change his pitch mix and approach in ways that I think he can carry over into the rotation.

There is a lot to like about Jack Leiter. He has a good four-seam fastball with plus velocity, good extension, and a great height-adjusted vertical attack angle, which allows it to miss plenty of bats at the top of the zone. He added a sinker for strikes that allowed the fastball to play up, and his changeup produced whiffs to both righties and lefties. However, he only had a 23% strikeout rate last year because both his slider and curve did not perform well against righties in two-strike counts. The sinker led to some blister issues, and he still has some command issues with his four-seamer. He's only 25 years old, and we could easily see growth this season, but we'll need to see his secondaries take a step forward in 2026.

Zebby Matthews appears in that same post-hype pitchers article. He has a flat fastball with mediocre extension that he commands well in the zone, which leads to above-average swinging strike rates against both righties and lefties. I understand that it's not an elite fastball, and it did get hit hard this year, but I think he can miss bats with it, especially if he starts to use the cutter and sinker more often to keep hitters from sitting on the four-seamer. Zebby's slider is also a plus pitch. It had a 22% SwStr% last year, and it's effective to both righties and lefties because it's a hard, gyro slider. He throws it often in two-strike counts to all hitters, and it has plus PutAway Rates to both, with an elite 28% rate to lefties. Having a platoon neutral secondary like that is an awesome foundation. I just believe in him, man. I don’t know what to tell you. He has a deep pitch mix of solid offerings, and I know he lacks that true plus pitch, but I think he can find a sequencing and approach that will unlock success.

Will Warren had a strong stretch over the summer, but his first full MLB season was more of a rollercoaster. His four-seam fastball missed plenty of bats against righties, as did his sweeper, thanks to a sinker he also mixed in. The approach to lefties is where we get into some issues. His four-seamer performed far worse against lefties, the sweeper is not a great pitch to opposite-handed hitters, and his changeup is also not a plus whiff pitch to lefties, even though it did perform pretty well in two-strike counts. You can see the path forward here, but I need to see improvement in his plan against lefties, and he could also be at risk of losing his rotation spot if he's not performing well enough when Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole are back.

Hey, Andrew Painter is another pitcher from that post-hype article. He returned from Tommy John surgery in 2025 but had a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 23.4% strikeout rate in 106.2 innings at Triple-A. Not being on the mound for two years and then pitching poorly when he did return has a lot of people questioning just what kind of upside Painter has. However, he still showed off that big fastball that can touch triple digits while pairing that with a plus changeup, a hard slider, and a slower curve. The command of everything was a little off in 2025, but the movement profiles were similar enough to what we saw before the surgery, and his arm held up to over 100 innings of professional baseball again. Those are all positive signs.

Landen Roupp was pitching well for the Giants before a comebacker off his knee ended his season. He made some pitch mix tweaks in the offseason that helped him win a spot in the Giants' rotation, and his sinker and kick-change are a nice pairing with a curveball that crushed right-handed hitters. I don't love that Luis Arraez is playing second base behind him, but we also see new pitches perform better in their second season, so Roupp could have another level in him.

Hurston Waldrep was really good in 2025, posting a 2.88 ERA in 56.1 MLB innings. That did come with a 1.19 WHIP and just a 24% strikeout rate, but it was a nice bounce-back for the former first-round pick after a rough stretch in 2024. During the season,I discussed some of the changes that Waldrep made to propel that breakout, like adding a sinker and a cutter, and changing his mechanics to create a more consistent landing spot. Those changes helped his command and also helped him hide his mediocre four-seam fastball, but his pitch mix remains a collection of average pitches and a good splitter. If another one of those secondary offerings takes a step forward, I could see myself moving Waldrep up, but I think there will be some rough stretches in 2026 when that splitter isn't working.

David Peterson made some strides last year by adding depth on his slider and trying to backfoot it more against righties. He has good enough velocity on his fastball and elite extension, so I have no concerns against lefties. I'd love to see his changeup be a bit more consistent to make me believe that he's a pitcher you can hold on your roster all year, but he and Manaea are the only lefties that the Mets have, so I think Peterson gets every chance to stay in this rotation.

“I’m an old soul... I have nothing in common with the people out there, and they have nothing in common with me.”

94Quinn PriesterBrewers
95Bryan BelloRed Sox
96Shane SmithWhite Sox
97Casey MizeTigers

Nobody expected Quinn Priester to do what he did in Milwaukee. After being traded to Boston in 2024, Priester revamped his pitch mix and then got an opportunity to show off his stuff after being traded to Milwaukee. Much like Tobias Myers in 2024, Priester can pound the zone with a pretty deep arsenal of pitches and keep hitters off the barrel. It led to a 3.32 ERA but just a 20% strikeout rate. I'm not sure that will ever really change. His slider and cutter can miss bats to righties at times, but they are reliant on location. I just don't see the upside in Priester.

Brayan Bello changed his entire approach in 2025, adding a cutter and attacking the strike zone with three fastball variations. That led to an impressive 3.35 ERA but just an 18% strikeout rate. The right-hander is now a sinker/sweeper arm who will induce grounders with that sinker, but the strikeouts won't come unless that sweeper takes a step forward, which he hasn't been able to do for years. The new approach has given him a safer floor, but unless his sweeper or his changeup find a level we didn't see in 2025, then Bello is really just a ratio play.

Shane Smith was pretty good in his first year as a big league starter, posting a 3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 23.5% strikeout rate in 146.1 innings. His raw stuff isn't overly impressive, but he kept hitters off the barrel with multiple fastball variations, and then brought three secondaries to the table as well. The curveball and changeup both posted above-average SwStr%, but the command of all of his secondaries leaves a lot to be desired. I think we should see a step forward in Smith's refinement in 2026, but I don't like his fastballs or his team context

Casey Mize doesn’t miss bats, and he has struggled to develop a consistent breaking ball for years. Also, his four-seam fastball is bad, and he keeps throwing it 35% of the time. Is there a path forward for him? Sure, but he has to make some real changes, and I just don’t see a high ceiling.

“I live for the simple things. Like how much this is gonna hurt.”

98Lucas GiolitoFree Agent
99Reese OlsonTigers
100Grant HolmesBraves
101Corbin BurnesDiamondbacks
102Spencer ArrighettiAstros
103Reynaldo LopezBraves

Now that we're outside of the top 100 starting pitchers, I'm not going to provide write-ups on each one.

Reese Olson and Lucas Giolito both ended the season hurt, and Giolito also doesn't have a team as of now. I'm going to need to see both of them pitch in spring training before I can make a final decision on where to rank them.

In August, Grant Holmes was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear. Instead of opting for surgery, Holmes decided on a non-surgical rest or rehab path. Atlanta is claiming that Holmes is fully healthy and will be full-go for Spring Training. I know that Holmes has said he feels good, but this feels like a grenade that could go off at any time, with an upside that's not high enough for the risk.

All of these pitchers are hurt but claim to be ready for the start of the season, except for Corbin Burnes, who likely won't return until after the All-Star break. Burnes was diagnosed with ligament damage in his elbow in June of last year and then had Tommy John surgery in the middle of the month. Over the winter, Burnes himself saidthat he was "looking at probably sometime in July" for his return. Specifically, he mentioned the All-Star break, which was also Shane Bieber's target return date last year. We know that Bieber had one setback, which pushed his return date, and he only pitched 40.1 innings last season. We may get the same thing from Burnes. Even if Burnes does come back after the All-Star break, you're likely looking at 10 starts for a pitcher who has 444 strikeouts in his last 452.1 innings. This is not a gamble I'm taking in any redraft formats.

Spencer Arrighetti impressed us in 2024 and was going as a top 50 starting pitcher heading into 2025. Then he fractured the thumb on his pitching hand when he was hit with a ball during batting practice. That sidelined him for four months, and he didn't look like the same pitcher when he returned. Yet, that's to be expected since the thumb is so crucial to grip and spin for pitchers. I was ready to throw all of 2025 out the window and jump back on the Arrighetti train. Yet, Arrighetti ended the season on the IL with an elbow strain. It was something he didn't have to get surgery for, andhe was back throwing bullpens by January. He claims he'll be ready for the start of spring training, but he also isn't guaranteed a spot in the rotation after the Astros signed Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows, and Ryan Weiss to add to a group that also includes Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Lance McCullers Jr.

Reynaldo Lopez made one start in 2025 before landing on the IL with right shoulder inflammation and eventually undergoing surgery. On a positive note, the surgery revealed no structural damage, only inflammation, and Lopez was back throwing in July. However, by the end of August, it was clear that the Braves were not going to be contenders, so the team decided to shut Lopez down. Given that Lopez has battled injuries for much of his career and has thrown over 66 innings just once since 2019, it's fair to question his health.

“It all boiled down to one inevitable conclusion: I was just totally clueless.”

104Mike BurrowsAstros
105Jonah TongMets
106Jose SorianoAngels
107Luis GilYankees
108Clay HolmesMets
109Cristian JavierAstros
110Bailey OberTwins
111Jacob LatzRangers
112Sean ManaeaMets
113Yusei KikuchiAngels
114Matthew LiberatoreCardinals
115Connelly EarlyRed Sox
116Parker MessickGuardians

This tier is filled with starting pitchers that I can see the upside for, but I either have no idea if I can trust them, or I'm not sure if they even have a rotation spot, which makes it hard to draft them.

Mike Burrows is another pitcher with a pretty mediocre fastball but a decent array of secondaries that I think could take a step forward if his new team can optimize his mix for success. He's in a better spot now. I also like Jacob Latz and think he's a solid deeper league play.

Jose Soriano and Luis Gil are impossible to understand. You never know when they're going to have a good game, but they'll certainly have many of them.

I believe that Bailey Ober can go back to being a solid but not elite fantasy starter. Connelly Early would also be great, but I don't think he has a rotation spot in Boston, and I've talked enough in my pitch mix articles about pitchers taking a step forward with new pitches in their second season, so it makes sense for me to believe that Clay Holmes' revamped arsenal becomes more consistent in 2026.

We've seen Sean Manaea and Yusei Kikuchi be top 40 starters just a year ago, and I'm not ready to write their obituaries. I'll have some shares of both of them.

I guess Matthew Liberatore is the Cardinals' ace this season. We saw flashes from him in 2025, and he ended the season with three good starts in his last four. We saw his four-seam velocity rise and fall during the year, so that will be crucial for him in 2026. When he can sit 94-95 mph and then keep that changeup low, he can be effective against righties with a curve that works to all hitters. He's not as safe a ratio arm as some of the other pitchers in this tier, but he's going to get a long leash with some workable ratios.

"There are times when you suddenly realize you’re nearer the end than the beginning.”

117Tyler MahleGiants
118Brady SingerReds
119Michael WachaRoyals
120Nestor CortesFree Agent
121Mitch KellerPirates
122Chris BassittBlue Jays
123Michael SorokaDiamondbacks
124Drew AndersonTigers

Michael Soroka was pretty good in between his injuries in 2025 and now finds himself with a better team in a better home park. Tyler Mahle was also really good, but a lot of that feels fluky to me. He gave up so much contact, and he's not the strikeout pitcher he used to be, but he landed in a good spot for himself in San Francisco. I could have some interest in Nestor Cortes, but I need to see where he lands.

The Tigers signed Drew Anderson to a $7 million contract in the off-season, so he’s going to get every chance to earn a spot in the starting rotation. Early reports are that his velocity gains from Korea have carried over, as well as the new kick change he added to his arsenal when he was over there. I don’t think he’s gonna come in and light the world on fire, but we’ve seen pictures like Meryl Kelly come back from Korea with a better approach and deeper pitch mix and become solid MLB starters.

"What would you say you do around here?"

125Payton TolleRed Sox
126Cody PonceBlue Jays
127Johan OviedoRed Sox
128Robert GasserBrewers
129Jacob LopezAthletics
130Logan HendersonBrewers
131River RyanDodgers
132Luis MoralesAthletics
133Slade CecconiGuardians
134Ryan BergertRoyals
135Sawyer Gipson-LongTigers
136Kyle HarrisonRed Sox
137Richard FittsCardinals
138Brandon SproatBrewers

I'm not going to get into detailed blurbs about all of these guys, but this whole tier is filled with pitchers who have an argument to be fantasy viable, but I'm unsure if they have a rotation spot to start the year. If there's more clarity on any of these guys actually winning a spot in the rotation then some of them would get some big jumps, but, at this moment, it's hard to for me to say with any certainly that any of these guys other than Slade Cecconi will be in the rotation, and I just don't believe in Slade's arsenal enough to keep his strikeout rate from last season.

I covered Robert Gasser in that post hype starting pitchers article. In 2024, Gasser ranked as the 6th-best prospect in Milwaukee's system. He was coming off a 2023 season where he led all of Triple-A in strikeouts with 166 in 135.1 innings. That came with a 3.79 ERA and seemed to announce him as a legitimate prospect. He struggled to start the 2024 season, still got a call-up to the big leagues, and posted a 2.57 ERA in 28 innings across five starts, but the strikeouts didn't carry over, and then he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. However, Gasser did return for 43.2 innings in 2025, including a 2.37 ERA and 27.3% strikeout rate in 38 Triple-A innings. The Brewers have no lefties in their rotation, and it's not like Chad Patrick is a lock to hold down the fifth spot.

“I get so bored I could scream.”

139Max ScherzerFree Agent
140Adrian HouserGiants
141Tyler AndersonFree Agent
142Hunter DobbinsCardinals
143Zack LittellFree Agent
144Dean KremerOrioles
145Jose QuintanaFree Agent
146Jordan MontgomeryFree Agent

This tier is all pitchers who you could take some chances on as later-round picks in deeper formats. I can't see any of these guys being 12-team viable right now.

Max Scherzer claims he’s healthy enough to pitch right now. He also claims he’s comfortable waiting until midseason to sign with a team. He has never really pitched poorly when he’s been on the mound, so at this point, I’m expecting about 80 to 90 innings of solid work from him this season. I will only draft him here if he’s signed with a team by spring training.

"So you're telling me there's a chance"

147Cade CavalliNationals
148Mick AbelTwins
149Taj BradleyTwins
150Braxton AshcraftPirates
151Thomas WhiteMarlins
152Alek ManoahAngels

Yes, that says Alek Manoah. As of now, he's healthy and has the inside track to be a member of the Angels' rotation. We're not that far removed from him being an elite prospect and pitching like an AL Cy Young candidate. We may never get back to that level, but maybe he can just be a solid and dependable starter?

Houston Astros Prospects Who Could Breakout in 2026

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 22: Ethan Frey #16 of the LSU Tigers hits a RBI double against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers during the third inning during game two of the Division I Baseball Championship held at Charles Schwab Field on June 22, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

With pitchers and catchers set to report to Spring Training in just a couple of weeks, the Astros’ farm system continues to take shape. While the system has undergone significant changes in recent years due to promotions and trades, there remains intriguing talent throughout the organization. Here are three prospects who could be poised for a breakout in 2026.

Ethan Frey

Frey was selected by the Astros in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft, with the organization going over slot to ensure his signing. The former LSU standout broke out during his junior season, hitting .331 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, and 50 RBIs over 62 games. The 21-year-old carried that momentum into his professional debut, where he impressed by hitting .330 with five doubles, three home runs, 17 RBIs, and a strong 20-to-25 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His performance translated to an outstanding 166 wRC+ in his first taste of pro ball. Under the hood, the numbers were just as encouraging, as Frey posted an elite 6.2% swinging-strike rate along with an 83.4% contact rate. For comparison, 2024 first-round pick and current No. 3 overall prospect in baseball JJ Wetherholt recorded a 6.7% swinging-strike rate and an 83.8% contact rate in his own pro debut. Given Frey’s advanced contact skills and the potential for significant power as he continues to develop, he looks like a strong candidate to take a major step forward in 2026.

Ryan Forcucci

Forcucci is a right-handed pitcher listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds whom the Astros selected in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Although he made only five starts during the 2024 college season, he was dominant in that limited sample, posting a 2.16 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 25 innings. The right-hander features a mid-90s fastball that has touched 97 mph, paired with a wipeout slider in the 80s that gives him a true swing-and-miss weapon. Forcucci underwent Tommy John surgery in June, sidelining him for the remainder of 2024 and all of the 2025 season, but he has since returned to full health. This offseason, he has been throwing in West Palm Beach as he works his way back into game shape. Forcucci also shows above-average command, and within the Astros’ development system, it’s likely his pitch mix will evolve from what it looked like in 2024. With his combination of stuff, command, and projection, he has the potential to develop into an above-average starter and could begin to show that upside during the 2026 season.

Anthony Huezo

Huezo was selected by the Astros in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of high school. After a challenging first year in professional baseball, he took a significant step forward in 2025. The 19-year-old spent most of the season in the Florida Complex League, where he hit .231 but led the team with an .856 OPS while also posting six home runs and 12 stolen bases, flashing an intriguing blend of power and athleticism. Huezo finished the season strong after a promotion to Fayetteville, hitting .301 over 22 games and showing noticeable growth at the plate. The underlying data supports the breakout, as he recorded a 90th-percentile max exit velocity of 107 mph and posted an eye-popping 27% barrel rate, the highest among 19-year-olds listed on Baseball America’s Hit+ leaderboard. Although his 2025 season ended a couple of weeks early due to injury, Huezo is now healthy and has been dominating in the Australian Baseball League this offseason. Through 30 games, he is hitting .340 with six doubles, six home runs, 22 RBIs, and a 1.031 OPS. Entering the 2026 season at just 20 years old, Huezo has the tools and momentum to climb quickly up prospect rankings.

Good Morning San Diego: Padres need Nick Pivetta to replicate his 2025 season; Sheel Seidler, Seidler family reach agreement

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 17: Nick Pivetta #27 of the San Diego Padres throws a pitch in the first inning during a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 17, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Nick Pivetta joined the San Diego Padres rotation after the start of Spring Training last season, and he proved himself to be the best arm in the rotation throughout the year. Pivetta has been mentioned in trade rumors throughout the offseason, but as the team gets closer to Spring Training it appears he will be back on the mound for the Padres in 2026. Can he have another career year in San Diego that sees him mentioned as a Cy Young candidate? The Padres and Friar Faithful would like to think so. Pivetta announced at Padres FanFest he is not going to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic this spring because he wants to focus on getting ready for the season and helping the Padres win a World Series.

Padres News:

  • According to a report from Dennis Lin of The Athletic, Sheel Seidler and the Seidler family have reached an agreement that will end the bulk of the claims the widow of late owner Peter Seidler brought against two of his brothers, Matt and Bob, in a lawsuit last year. However, some of the claims made by Sheel Seidler in the lawsuit remain.
  • The offseason is slowly but surely coming to an end and that is a reason for San Diego fans to be excited. There have not been many moves this offseason that have inspired Padres fans to start making postseason plans, but there is still time for San Diego president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller to make the “blockbuster move” that was rumored to be in the works following the MLB Winter Meetings. The question asked by Gaslamp Ball in this week’s Padres Reacts Survey is do you think Preller and the Padres will make a significant trade or signing prior to the start of Spring Training?
  • The Padres infield has age, experience and long-term contracts but what does that mean for the 2026 season? Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribunelooks at what the veteran group has to offer on the dirt and whether Gavin Sheets can be the answer at first base in his Padres spring training primer.

Baseball News:

What will be the main storyline of Braves Spring Training 2026?

FORT MYERS, FL- FEBRUARY 28: Jared Shuster #84 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on February 28, 2023 at the Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, Truck Day has come and gone. Spring Training action, though, is still some weeks away. That gives us ample time to speculate: with an unsettled 2025 season, there’s all sorts of opportunity for the narrative to take hold while the games don’t matter.

My memory goes back to “Shuise Control” and the time Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd dominated — only for that to be largely moot for the season as a whole. But there are probably lots of others that can be pulled from the annals of Grapefruit League history as far as the Braves are concerned.

Anyway, what do you expect to dominate discussion in late February and March this year? Health or lack thereof from pitchers? Clarity, or fuzziness, on how Grant Holmes and Reynaldo Lopez fit into the pitching picture? Me? I want to see the bats do something in Spring Training that suggests they’re working on a new offensive approach — basically the opposite of last year’s Spring Training, where the bats were mostly just trying to get stuff over with as quickly as possible for whatever reason, with the added facet of using Spring Training as, well, training for what’s going to be put in place for the season offensively. Not sure how likely that is given last year in all sorts of respects, but it is what it is.

Have at it.

Five Dodgers ranked in Baseball Prospectus top 101 prospects

EASTLAKE, OH - APRIL 27: Zyhir Hope #51 of the Great Lakes Loons throws the ball back to the infield during the game between the Great Lakes Loons and the Lake County Captains at Classic Park on Sunday, April 27, 2025 in Eastlake, Ohio. (Photo by Lianna Holub/MiLB.com)

Baseball Prospectus unveiled its top prospects on Wednesday, and the usual quartet of outfielders are among five Dodgers ranked in the top 101 prospects in baseball heading into 2026.

Josue De Paula is the top-ranked Dodgers prospect, which was telegraphed in November when the Baseball Prospectus team ranking list was released. On the national list, De Paula is ranked 14th this year, down a bit from ninth overall last preseason.

BP wasn’t just high on De Paula last year. They ranked his outfield teammate Zyhir Hope eighth overall, the highest 2025 rankings for both. This year, Hope is ranked 18th overall. The only outfield prospects ranked above De Paula and Hope are No. 1 overall Konnor Griffin, a Pirates shortstop/outfielder, plus Max Clark of the Tigers (sixth) and Carson Benge of the Mets (10th).

Hope hit .266/.376/.428 with a 131 wRC+, 13 home runs, 29 doubles, and 27 stolen bases in 127 games last season, the bulk of which for High-A Great Lakes before getting promoted to Double-A Tulsa for the final week of the season. He also played in the MLB Futures Game in Atlanta in July.

“A sub-70% contact rate in the low minors is a bright crimson flag, although Hope was less of a passive, pick-a-keyhole slugger in 2025 than previous years,” Jeffrey Paternostro wrote of Hope in November. “There’s some kinks to work out at the plate for sure, and he’s unlikely to bump above an average hit tool in the majors, but the on-base and slugging ability should still carry the day.”

Shortstop Emil Morales is the only non-outfielder Dodger ranked in BP’s top 101, checking in at 56th overall. That’s his highest ranking to date on the four top-100/101 lists he’s made

ProspectPos2026 rank2025 rank
Josue De PaulaOF149
Zyhir HopeOF188
Eduardo QuinteroOF27NR
Mike SirotaOF34NR
Emil MoralesSS56NR

Red Sox News & Links: Sox reportedly exploring addition of yet another outfielder

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 27: Jarren Duran #16, Ceddanne Rafaela #3 and Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after a 3-2 victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 27, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday, I wrote that I’m starting to accept the increasingly likely possibility that the Red Sox are not going to add an infielder before opening day, leaving second base to be covered by a platoon of Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton. It seems to me to be a clear case of roster mismanagement to enter the season with holes in the infield while the outfield remains overcrowded (arguably for the second year in a row). And yet, Craig Breslow doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, a new report says that the Red Sox are exploring the possibility of adding yet another outfielder, specifically a right-handed one in an attempt to balance out the lineup. (Katie Woo, Will Sammon, The Athletic)

There’s no question that the Red Sox lineup could really use a right-handed bat, even if there doesn’t seem to be much room for one that doesn’t come with an infield glove. But they will begin the season with a little extra wiggle room in the DH rotation, as Triston Casas is not expected to be “full go” until at least the start of May. But that still leaves five players for four spots, even before any hypothetical right-handed outfielder is added to the mix. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

Perhaps they’re pivoting to the outfield because they’ve given up Isaac Paredes (to the extent that they were ever seriously in on him, that is). The General Manager of the Houston Astros, Dan Brown, recently stated that they are planning on having Paredes in the lineup this year, though the repeated “right nows” in this statement seem to leave a lot of wiggle room:

And let’s face it, beyond Paredes and the pipe dream of Nico Hoerner, there just isn’t that much exciting infield talent out there. Ramon Urias has been named as a possibility and the Sox have checked in on him, but they don’t seem too tempted and have shown only “lukewarm interest” in him. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

Though the Sox have procrastinated in the infield, they continue to be very active in adding minor league pitchers. The latest addition is 33-year-old Kyle Keller, who has spent the last four years finding success as a reliever for the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants in Japan. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

Celtics vs Rockets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Three-game win streaks are on the line Wednesday as the Boston Celtics travel to Toyota Center to face the Houston Rockets.

With Anfernee Simons traded to the Chicago Bulls, my Celtics vs. Rockets predictions call for a strong performance from Payton Pritchard.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this marquee matchup on Wednesday, February 4.

Celtics vs Rockets prediction

Celtics vs Rockets best bet: Payton Pritchard Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)

Payton Pritchard is averaging a career-best 26.5 PRA this season, and he’s gone for 25+ in 23 of 49 appearances.

He’s posting 24.7 at home compared to 28 on the road, and he's gone for 25+ in 14 of 24 away games. 

The Boston Celtics’ electric guard has been even more productive as of late, averaging 28.2 PRA across his last seven games. He’s hit the Over on this line four times in that span, including a 26/4/7 showing in Tuesday's win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Pritchard shifted to the bench in favor of Baylor Scheierman against the Mavs, but he still saw 35 minutes as Boston kept its lineup tight.

Pritchard finished with just 19 PRA in his first matchup with the Houston Rockets, but he saw only 26 minutes in that game. Since January 1, he’s logged 32.4 minutes per game, including 33.9 minutes per game on the road.

With Anfernee Simons traded to the Chicago Bulls, Pritchard should be in line for big minutes and big numbers.

Celtics vs Rockets same-game parlay

The Celtics got smoked in their last matchup with the Rockets, but they're playing better basketball now and should keep this one competitive.

Boston is 16-10 ATS on the road and 6-3 ATS as the road underdog, while Houston is 8-13 ATS at home and 8-12 as the home favorite. 

Boston allows the second-fewest points per game this season, and Houston allows the fourth-fewest. The Celtics and Rockets have each hit the Under in eight of their last 10 games.

Houston is 7-13-1 O/U at home, and Boston is 10-16 O/U on the road. 

Celtics vs Rockets SGP

  • Payton Pritchard Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
  • Celtics +5.5
  • Under 216

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sengun stuffs stat sheet

Alperen Sengun has hit the Over on this combo line in four straight, and I expect him to extend that streak tonight. He's averaging 16.8 rebounds + assists at home, and he's gone for 16+ in 12 of 17 at Toyota Center.

Celtics vs Rockets SGP

  • Payton Pritchard Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
  • Celtics +5.5
  • Under 216
  • Alperen Sengun Over 15.5 rebounds + assists

Celtics vs Rockets odds

  • Spread: Boston +5.5 (-110) | Houston -5.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Boston +180 | Houston -220
  • Over/Under: Over 216 (-110) | Under 216 (-110)

Celtics vs Rockets betting trend to know

The Rockets have hit the Under in 17 of their last 21 games (+12.60 Units / 55% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Rockets.

How to watch Celtics vs Rockets

LocationToyota Center, Houston, TX
DateWednesday, February 4, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVSpace City Home Network, NBC Sports Boston

Celtics vs Rockets latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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Vancouver Canucks Gameday Preview #57: Dueling With The Golden Knights In The Final Game Before The Break

The Vancouver Canucks (18–32–6) take part in their final game before the 2026 Winter Olympic break when they face the Vegas Golden Knights (25–16–14) later tonight. This marks the final game of the Canucks’ mom’s trip, with the team’s first game resulting in a 6–2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday. Vegas’ last game took place on Sunday, during which they lost by a score of 4–3 to the Anaheim Ducks. Tonight’s match is not the Golden Knights’ last before the break, however, as they will also face the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow night. 

This is the first time the Canucks and Golden Knights will face each other this season, as the two teams’ other matchups aren’t until March 30 and April 7. By the time they face each other again, Vancouver and Vegas will likely have their respective post-season fates locked-down. 

Vegas will be a desperate team heading into tonight’s game, as the Golden Knights’ last win came against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 23. Throughout their current five-game losing streak, Vegas has dropped all but one of their games by a single goal. Two of these losses were against Pacific Division teams. 

For the Canucks, a win tonight would be a good morale booster as the team prepares to enter the 2026 Winter Olympic break. After a long stretch of losses as well as injury after injury, Vancouver will benefit from a break to re-set and rest during what has undoubtedly been a difficult season.   

Players To Watch: 

Teddy Blueger

Since returning to the Canucks’ lineup on January 21 against the Washington Capitals, Teddy Blueger has scored four goals and tallied one assist. The centre’s presence in Vancouver’s lineup has been greatly missed from both a defensive and depth perspective, though the fact that he’s been contributing offensively definitely helps. As a pending UFA and soon-to-be Olympian for Team Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Blueger will be a player to watch as the Canucks take part in their final game before the break.  

Pavel Dorofeyev

Dorofeyev has gotten off to an impressive start for Vegas this season, putting together a team-leading 24 goals as well as 17 assists. He’s already 12 points away from setting a new career-high with 27 games remaining in the Golden Knights’ season. Throughout his past 10 games, the forward has scored seven goals and potted one assist, though his point totals have been limited to three throughout his team’s five-game losing streak.  

Feb 22, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad (20) skates ahead of Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Feb 22, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad (20) skates ahead of Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Vancouver Canucks (18–32–6): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 13–21–34

Filip Hronek: 5–27–32

Jake DeBrusk: 13–15–28

Brock Boeser: 12–13–25

Evander Kane: 9–16–25

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1

Kevin Lankinen: 7–18–4

Nikita Tolopilo: 3–3–1

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Vegas Golden Knights (25–16–14): 

Points: 

Jack Eichel: 19–45–64

Mitch Marner: 15–41–56

Mark Stone: 20–35–55

Tomáš Hertl: 22–26–48

Pavel Dorofeyev: 24–17–41 

Goaltenders: 

Akira Schmid: 15–6–6

Carter Hart: 5–3–3

Adin Hill: 3–3–3

Carl Lindbom: 2–4–2

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:00 pm PT 

Venue: T-Mobile Arena 

Television: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 650

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site

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Is Jeremiah Jackson really a utility player?

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 28: Jeremiah Jackson #82 of the Baltimore Orioles fields a ground ball during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 28, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jeremiah Jackson made his major league debut the day after the Orioles traded Cedric Mullins to the Mets. The trade deadline marked the unofficial end to a season that was lost over the first two months. Any fans still tuning into MASN or MASN2 (RIP) on a given night were left looking for fun stories and surprise candidates to help the team in 2026 and beyond.

Enter Jackson—a 25-year-old looking to finally break into the big leagues after being selected by the Angels in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft. The Orioles signed Jackson as a minor-league free agent prior to the start of last season.

Jackson had never exceeded Double-A during his time with Los Angeles or a stint in the Mets’ organization. The former Mobile, Alabama resident slashed .254/.291/.412 over the first two months with Chesapeake, but he became a star of Camden Chat’s minor league recaps once he reached Triple-A.

Jackson slashed .377/.400/.673 with 11 homers and 22 RBIs over 40 games with Norfolk. The same guy that hit a measly .205/.245/.373 over 122 games at Double-A the year prior now featured an OPS over 1.000.

Baltimore’s front office took notice. With plenty of holes to plug, the Orioles recalled Jackson and cut him loose. The team had room in the lineup without guys like Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn, but Jackson arrived without a default position.

Jackson had made 12 appearances at second, 50 at shortstop, 13 at third, two in left field, and one in right between Chesapeake and Norfolk. Shortstop was out of the question with Gunnar Henderson on the roster, and Jackson Holliday wasn’t going to be displaced at second base. Jordan Westburg needed to start at either second or third.

Jackson spent a majority of August playing right field, but third base opened up when Westburg sprained his ankle. At the end of the year, Jackson had 34 major league appearances in right, 13 at third and one game at second base.

The rookie brought his hot bat to the big leagues and slashed .276/.328/.447 over 170 at bats. He went deep five times, drove in 21, and scored 20. With those numbers and an infielder/outfielder position, Jackson immediately emerged as the leading candidate for Baltimore’s “utility” position in 2026.

Jackson made for a tremendous story, and he’ll hold value as long as he continues to swing like that. But there’s one elephant in the room here—is Jackson really a “utility man?”

A utility infielder traditionally possess the ability to play shortstop, and a utility outfielder must play a respectable center field. Jackson has never played either of those positions at the major league level.

Jackson played plenty of shortstop in the minors, but would new skipper Craig Albernaz trust him in big league action? Holliday could play the position with Westburg sliding over to second if Henderson needed a breather.

The Orioles could definitely use another bench option in center field behind Colton Cowser, but Jackson hasn’t played the position since logging 14 games at Double-A in 2023. The Orioles roster is filled with corner outfielders, and it remains to be seen whether Baltimore would trust Dylan Beavers to play up the middle. If not, Leody Taveras appears to be the favorite while Enrique Bradfield Jr. gets at bats at Triple-A.

Jackson exceeded his rookie limits last season, but he still holds three minor-league options. The Orioles could send Jackson to Norfolk to hone his defensive skills. Bradfield Jr. doesn’t need the defensive reps, and the organization routinely bounces players around the infield in the minors.

Baltimore’s lineup possesses significant fire power at full strength. Pete Alonso adds even more power potential to Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle at first base, while Henderson, Westburg and Holliday all feature All-Star potential. The outfield corners are littered with guys like Beavers, Taylor Ward, Tyler O’Neill and maybe even a healthy Heston Kjerstad.

This team needs a utility player that it can trust on the defensive side of the ball. The Birds will have Jackson’s defense under a microscope in Sarasota. If he passes the eye test, he could head north with a roster spot. If not, he’ll qualify as valuable offensive depth for injury-prone guys like Westburg and O’Neill.



What do you think of the Phillies’ Playoff Odds?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 04: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after defeating the Miami Marlins 7-1 in Game Two of the Wild Card Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 04, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

FanGraphs has published their projected playoff odds, which means the season draws near. Soon we will have real baseball to bicker and banter over between ourselves. But in the meantime, we can argue over playoff odds. The Phillies are projected by FanGraphs to have a 65.7% chance to make the playoffs, and an 18.9% chance to defend their NL East Title. Both the Braves and the Mets are given better playoff and division odds.

Today’s question is: What do you think of FanGraph’s projections for the Phillies? Too pessimistic? Too optimistic? About right? Make your case.

Columbus Blue Jackets (63 pts) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (53 pts) Game Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets are at home to take on the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 7 PM.  

Chicago Blackhawks - 21-24-9 - 51 Points - 3-5-2 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 6th in the Central

Columbus Blue Jackets - 25-20-7 - 57 Points - 7-3-0 in the last 10 - Won 3 - 5th in the Metro.

Team Notes Per CBJ PR

  • Columbus has won a season-high six-straight games, as well as 10 of its past 11 games overall, while outscoring opponents 42-26 since Jan. 11 following its 3-0 victory at New Jersey last night.
  • CBJ lead the NHL in wins, points pct. (.909) and team save percentage (.916) and rank second in goals-against/game(2.36), sixth-T in goals for/game (3.82) and seventh in power play pct. (29.6) over that stretch.
  • The club has scored the opening goal in nine of the past 11 games and has scored the first goal in 33 contests, tied for fourth-most in the NHL in 2025-26.
  • Columbus leads the NHL in goals by defensemen and ranks fourth in points with 42-98-140 in 55 contests.
  • CBJ conclude their 11th of 16 back-to-back sets of the season (13-5-3 .690 pts. pct;) vs. Chicago tonight.
  • The Jackets have allowed two power play goals over the last eight contests and lead the league in penalty kill pct. since Jan. 17 (91.7 pct., 1st in NHL; 22-of-24).

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

  • Charlie Coyle has notched 9-6-15 in the last 11 contests and ranks second-T in the NHL in goals since Jan. 11.
  • Jet Greaves (5-0-0, 2.47 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO) and G Elvis Merzlikins (5-1-0, 2.03 GAA, .925 SV%, 1 SO) have each won five games for the Blue Jackets since Jan. 11.
  • Boone Jenner (203 career assists) is one assist from tying RW David Vyborny for the third-most all-time in CBJ history.
  • Kirill Marchenko, who missed last night's game due to illness, has points in his past four games (1-4-5) and in 15 of his last 19 contests since Dec. 22 (9-11-20).
  • Mathieu Olivier (two goals at New Jersey) has notched multiple points in three of the past four games (4-2-6).
  • Zach Werenski has recorded assists in five-straight games (8 assists) and points in six consecutive (1-8-9). He leads NHL blueliners in goals (tied, 19), points (61), multi-point efforts (20), points-per-game (1.20), even strength goals (16), even strength points (45) and shots on goal (181) this season.

Blue Jackets Stats

  • Power Play - 19.9% - 18th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 76.9% - 28th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 170 - 18th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 176 - 21st in the NHL 

Blackhawks Stats

  • Power Play - 19.5% - 19th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 85.6% - 1st in the NHL
  • Goals For - 151 - 26th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 176 - 20th in the NHL

Series History vs. The Blackhawks

  • Columbus is 43-46-2-13 all-time, and 22-21-1-8 at home vs. Chicago.
  • The Blue Jackets are 7-0-1 in the last 8 games of the series and have won 6-straight overall.
  • The winning team has scored four or more goals in 11-straight meetings and 13 of the last 15 in the series overall since Feb. 11, 2021.
  • The CBJ beat the Blackhawks 4-2 on January 30th
  • The winning team has won by multiple goals in each of the past nine meetings, including seven instances of by at least three goals.
  • The teams have combined for six-plus goals in 12 of the past 15 contests, including nine with seven or more goals.
  • The Blue Jackets have recorded a power play goal in six of the past eight meetings (6-of-21; 28.6 pct.).

Who To Watch For The Blackhawks

  • Tyler Bertuzzi leads the Blackhawks with 25 goals.
  • Connor Bedard leads Chicago with 30 assists and 53 points.
  • Goalie Spencer Knight is 16-17-7 with a SV% of .909.
  • Arvid Soderblom is 5-9-2 with a SV% of .874.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Blackhawks

  • Zach Werenski has 21 points in 19 career games vs. the Blackhawks.
  • Boone Jenner has 12 points in 23 games.
  • Charlie Coyle has 15 points in 39 games against Chicago.

Injured Reserve

  • Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 17 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 153

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.  

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Let us know what you think below.

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Michigan Sportswatch Daily Listings

(All times Central)
Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts
Thursday, February 5
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN'S)
6:30 p.m.

Penn State at Michigan — FS1, Fox Sports App, Fubo Sports

NBA BASKETBALL
7 p.m.

Washington at Detroit — FDSN Detroit, Monumental SN 2, NBA League Pass

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

Cavaliers vs. Clippers predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for February 4

The NBA was busy yesterday afternoon with a handful of big names changing teams. The biggest of those trades saw James Harden on the move once again in his career. The 9-time All-Star is now a Cleveland Cavalier. Ironically, the Cavs (30-21) take the court tonight against his old team, the Los Angeles Clippers (23-26) in Southern California.

This is the fifth time the veteran has been traded in his career. In 2012 the former Arizona State Sun Devil was traded from OKC to Houston. In 2021 Harden went from Houston to Brooklyn before going from Brooklyn to Philly in 2022. His stay in Philly was brief as he was traded from the Sixers to the Clippers in 2023 before landing in Cleveland yesterday.

The backcourt in Cleveland is possibly the league’s best…on the offensive end.

The Clippers now employ Darius Garland, the son of former Clipper Winston Garland. The Cavs’ point guard has played well – 18PPG and 6.9AST – but has played sparingly due to foot and toe injuries.

 

Neither Garland nor Harden is expected to play for their new teams tonight, but we can expect to see the NBA’s 6th-leading scorer, Donovan Mitchell (28.8PPG), and a resurgent Kawhi Leonard (27.6PPG).

 

This is the second of two games scheduled between these teams this season. The Cavs won on November 23, 120-105, in Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell had 37 points to lead the Cavaliers to the win.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers at Clippers

 

  • Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
  • Time: 10:30PM EST
  • Site: Intuit Dome
  • City: Inglewood, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSN Ohio, FDSN SoCal

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

 

Game Odds: Cavaliers at Clippers

 

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

 

  • Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers (-130), Los Angeles Clippers (+110)
  • Spread: Cavaliers -2.5
  • Total: 223.5 points

 

This game opened Cavaliers -1.5 with the Total set at 221.5.

 

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

 
Read More: Winners and Losers from the Harden Trade

Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers at Clippers

 

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • PG Donovan Mitchell
  • SG Sam Merrill
  • SF Jaylon Tyson
  • PF Dean Wade
  • C Jarrett Allen

Los Angeles Clippers

  • PG Kris Dunn
  • SG Kobe Sanders
  • SF Kawhi Leonard
  • PF John Collins
  • C Ivica Zubac

 

Injury Report: Cavaliers at Clippers

 

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • James Harden (personal) is doubtful for tonight’s game
  • Evan Mobley (calf) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
  • Max Strus (foot) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Los Angeles Clippers

  • Darius Garland (toe) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
  • TyTy Washington (hamstring) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
  • Bradley Beal (hip) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
  • Chris Paul (susp) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Cavaliers at Clippers

  • The Cavaliers are 13-10 on the road this season
  • The Clippers are 13-10 at home this season
  • The Clippers are 24-25 ATS this season
  • The Cavaliers are 20-31 ATS this season
  • The OVER has cashed in 24 of the Clippers’ 49 games this season (24-25)
  • The OVER has cashed in 24 of the Cavaliers’ 51 games this season (24-27)
  • Kawhi Leonard has scored at least 20 points in each of his last 28 games
  • Jaylon Tyson has totaled at least 4 assists in 7 of his last 8 games
  • Jarrett Allen has pulled down at least 9 rebounds in 4 of his last 7 games

  

Rotoworld Best Bet

 
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Cavaliers and Clippers’ game:

 

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Cavaliers on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cavaliers -2.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 223.5

 

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

 

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

 

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)