There is an overwhelming volume of MLB data these days. While sometimes being lost in a sea of arm angles, release points, pitch mixes, velocity surges and barrel rates, fantasy baseball managers in 2026 can sometimes lose sight of simple statistics that have proven to have significant correlation to fantasy success.
For starting pitchers, that stat is K-BB%. Pitchers who are making their own breaks by striking out many batters and limiting free trips to first base are typically able to ride the wave of batted-ball luck and have successful seasons. Here are the top-12 K-BB% leaders thus far. There are some surprising names on the list, which may prompt managers to add certain hurlers via the trade market or waiver wire. Their K-BB% has been listed in brackets beside their name.
Cam Schlittler, Yankees (27.8%)
Schlittler is becoming the newest fantasy ace. He was effective in 14 starts last season (2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP), thrived in October (1.26 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) and has opened 2026 in dominant fashion (1.77 ERA, 0.73 WHIP). His success is well-supported by a 1.53 FIP. Managers who are looking to acquire an ace may be able to get him for less than the established stars.
Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (27.7%)
Although their arsenals are different, Misiorowski has similarities to Dylan Cease (who will be covered later in this article) by being able to offset some walks with a game-changing strikeout rate. His 37.2% strikeout rate currently leads all qualified pitchers. Hopefully he can match Cease’s durability, as starters who throw as hard as Misiorowski sometimes wind up on the injured list. That’s more of a worry for those in dynasty leagues — most managers can enjoy having found a discounted ace on a team that is known for their great work with pitchers.
Nolan McLean, Mets (25.9%)
Managers who believed in McLean’s eight-start sample at the end of 2025 have been rewarded with an ace. His velocity is up, as is his strikeout rate. McLean’s xERA is a dazzling 2.27, and his other ERA estimators are in the same range. Hopefully a dormant Mets lineup can get their act together and give him more run support.
Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers (25.8%)
Glasnow has always collected strikeouts in bunches, and after experiencing regression with his walk rate in 2025, he is back on track this year. We already knew that the right-hander would be effective on a per-start basis. But his value can only climb to a certain point if he continues a career-long pattern of making fewer than 25 starts.
Michael Soroka, Diamondbacks (23.5%)
Soroka may be the riskiest pitcher on this list. His strikeout rate is 7.4% higher than his career mark, which has allowed him to overcome a .333 BABIP that stems from the fact that he is often giving up plenty of hard contact (12.7% barrel rate). Most of the popular ERA estimators believe in the 28-year-old, but Statcast disagrees (4.61 xERA). And the biggest long-term concern remains his durability, as Soroka last logged a 100-inning season in 2019. He’s a sell-high candidate.
Ryan Weathers, Yankees (23.4%)
Weathers is the best waiver-wire option on this list, as he remains available in 49% of Yahoo leagues. The left-hander has been less consistent than others on this list, as he pitched into the eighth inning in two of his six starts but didn’t come out for the sixth frame on three occasions. Still, the overall package has been plenty good enough to make Weathers a waiver-wire gem or undervalued target on the Yahoo trade market.
Will Warren, Yankees (23.3%)
Warren is the second Yankees starter on this list who quickly went from a late-round draft option to a lineup centerpiece. The right-hander hasn’t changed dramatically in any area, as small-but-significant improvements to his strikeout, walk and barrel rates have combined to make him more effective. There is still time to acquire Warren for a reasonable return, and those in shallow leagues may be able to freely add him (73% roster rate).
Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (23.2%)
Gausman seems intent on wrapping up his five-year term with the Blue Jays and riding into free agency on a high note. This is the stingiest he has ever been with walks, and he is matching the strikeout rates from his dominant seasons with the Giants. At worst, he’s a rock-solid No. 2 fantasy starter.
Dylan Cease, Blue Jays (23.2%)
Two pitchers have recorded a 12-strikeout game this season, and Cease has done it twice. He’s continuing a career-long trend of walking more batters than he should, but his ridiculous 35.5% whiff rate is carrying him to success. Cease tends to rotate between good and bad seasons, and this is the year for a good one. But some regression will come when his strikeout rate normalizes.
Chase Dollander, Rockies (23.1%)
Having a Rockies pitcher on this list is by far the most surprising aspect of the article. Dollander has succeeded by following an opener in six of his seven outings, but he also threw seven shutout frames while working as a traditional starter last time out. The right-hander has allowed one or fewer runs in each of his past six appearances and has struck out 25 batters across his past three outings. Even with concerns over his home park, it’s time for him to be added in more leagues (38% roster rate).
Tarik Skubal, Tigers (22.5%)
Skubal is the least surprising pitcher on this list, but it’s worth noting that he’s the only member of the “Big 3” from draft season to make the cut. His current K-BB% is his worst mark since 2022, and he will likely move into the top three on this list by season’s end.
Shota Imanaga, Cubs (21.8%)
After regressing during an injury-impacted 2025 season, Imanaga is back to being a set-and-forget fantasy starter. His improvement stems from reclaiming a solid strikeout rate, as he has always had outstanding control skills. Imanaga gives up plenty of fly balls, which leads to many easy outs and some homers. He walks a fine line with his velocity, but it is back up this year, making him a good trade target.
