By: Ryan Epperson, Kyle Sonntag and Greg Hoogkamp

In our seventh installment of the Prospects Live Dynasty series, we will look at Starting Pitchers. 

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There are many strategies to think about when constructing a fantasy roster. Due to the inherent risk of repeatedly hurling a ball violently, selecting a starting pitcher in the first or second round is dicey. But it could pay off handsomely if that pitcher stays healthy. The top four dynasty pitchers are well worth investing in those early rounds if you like to live dangerously. For the more risk-averse group, plenty of starting pitchers can still be found in the middle rounds of drafts that could come somewhat close to replicating the numbers of the top guys. But no matter where you decide to grab your first pitcher, there will always be risk. 

No matter when you start filling out your rotation, it’s key to be aware of your league’s scoring format. There are flavors for each taste at almost every point of the draft, but what you need or want can be heavily influenced by your league. Outside of standard 5x5 formats, categories like K/9 and K/BB can push some arms up or down pretty aggressively. Know your league’s rules, know a pitcher’s strengths, and above all else, know that injuries and surprise performances (good and bad) can and will happen. Stay active on the wire all year long, and you’re sure to get your hands on some hidden gems.

Check out our Top 200 Dynasty Starting Pitchers, Top 100 Starting Pitcher prospects in addition to our sleepers in each category. This article will be released at the same time as our Dynasty Podcast on Starting Pitchers. We hope you enjoy.

Top 200 Dynasty Starting Pitchers

1.  Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates, RHP Age: 22 (Overall dynasty rank #13)

2024: 11-3 133.0 IP 1.96 ERA 0.947 WHIP  33.1 K 6.2 BB

There was little question in the Prospect Live office that Skenes would be the number one dynasty starting pitcher. Like Miley Cyrus, he came in like a Wrecking Ball and continued to Party in the USA all season long. I promise I’m done now. There were some concerns after Skenes was drafted, albeit very minor, about his fastball shape and whether it would play at the major league level. It turns out it doesn’t matter much when you throw a thousand miles an hour and, out of thin air, decide to throw a devastating splinker that tunnels so well off the fastball. Skenes deserves all of his Flowers, and anyone lucky enough to roster him should consider themselves in very solid hands. We Can’t Stop raving about him, and outside of the usual injury concerns with pitchers, I expect Skenes to be the top dog in dynasty for a long time. - Ryan Epperson

2. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers, LHP Age: 28 (#15)

2024: 18-4 192.0 IP 2.39 ERA 0.92 WHIP 30.3 K 4.6 BB

To say Skubal burst onto the scene in 2024 may be hyperbolic since he did also post a sub-3.00 ERA in 2023, but that was over just 80 innings. To improve in so many facets of the game, maintain his command and whiff numbers, and more than double his innings pitched was incredibly impressive. He’s not without injury concerns, but what arm is? He’s a “safe” pick at the position, and that safety,, combined with his immense upside, coming into 2025 as the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, make him a slam dunk pick as one of the first arms off of the board. - Kyle Sonntag

3. Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves, RHP Age: 26 (#28)

2024: 0-0 9.0 IP 7.00 ERA 1.66 WHIP 28.6 K 11.9 BB

2023: 20-5 186.2 IP 3.86 ERA 1.09 WHIP 36.8 K 7.6 BB

Strider dominated his first two full seasons (29.5 K-BB% over 318.1 IP) using just a four-seam/slider combination, quickly becoming the best pitcher in MLB. In an effort to improve, Strider introduced a curveball and changeup in his first two starts of 2024 but unfortunately had to undergo Tommy John surgery shortly after. Strider is aiming to return early in 2025 to build on his early-career dominance. This is Strider’s second TJ surgery and while other pitchers have had success after a second operation, you should tuck this in the back of your mind. His value might have dipped just a bit but will slowly rise again as he shows health, so your window to acquiring him is closing. If all goes well, expect 100-120 innings this season, and all systems go after that.  - Greg Hoogkamp

4. Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox, LHP Age: 25 (#29)

2024: 6-12 146.0 IP 3.58 ERA 1.06 WHIP 35.1 K 5.5 BB

The “Biggest Upgrade of Home Team Award” during the offseason goes to Crochet. He escapes the 121-loss White Sox and becomes the ace for an up-and-coming Red Sox squad. Crochet took multiple steps forward in 2024, becoming a legitimate ace. He struck out 35.1% of batters and limited hitters to just a .221 average over 146 innings. His 3.58 ERA doesn’t seem dominant, but all ERA indicators are an entire run lower,, pointing to top-of-the-scaletop-of-the-scale skills. Crochet features an upper 90s fastball (53%), a hard, biting cutter (28%), a sweeper with more than 14 inches of horizontal break (10%), and taste-breaking changeup (6%), all of which induce whiff rates higher than 33%. The comparisons to Chris Sale run deep here, and there is no reason he can’t have a Sale-esque career (or even better?). - Greg Hoogkamp

5. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies, RHP Age: 34 (#32)

2024: 16-7 200.0 IP 2.57 ERA 0.95 WHIP 28.5 K 6.6 BB

Wheeler has to stop rolling at some point, but his 2024 campaign shows no indication that 2025 will be that point. His ERA and WHIP were career highs, his fastball (per Baseball Savant) was the most dominant heater in the league with a 100th percentile run value, and he did so while meeting the 200 IP mark for the second time in his career. He’s been one of the league's most consistent and durable pitchers over the last seven years, so it's no wonder he’s the oldest pitcher in the top 12 on this list. You can feel very comfortable making him your fantasy ace, and in some leagues, you might even see him fall far enough to make him an incredibly strong second pick at the position. If that happens, your pitching staff will be off the races with Wheeler and whoever you decide to stack him with. - Kyle Sonntag

6. Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners, RHP Age: 27 (#33)

2024: 9-12 208.2 IP 3.23 ERA 0.88 WHIP 27.4 K 4.6 BB

One could argue that Gilbert should slot in right after Skubal in our rankings. He consistently pitches deep into games and has surpassed 180 innings pitched in the last three seasons while improving his strikeout rate each year. Nonetheless, if you want to focus on bats in the first round or two, Gilbert is a fine anchor for your staff and is still in the prime of his career. As long as Gilbert continues to pitch for the Mariners, he should be a top-tier pitcher for years to come. There may even be another gear here with the added experience of his already excellent splitter. - Ryan Epperson

7. Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers, RHP Age: 23 (#40)

2024 (NPB): 10-5 111.0 IP 2.35 ERA 1.03 WHIP 28.6 K 7.1 BB

What we get out of Sasaki in 2025 might not be everything everyone wants or expects, but don’t forget that at just 23 years old, he isn’t as finished of a product as even someone like his new teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto was when he came stateside. He had a bit of a down year by his standards in 2024, but when at his best, he showcases a lethal arsenal with what some scouts consider a 70-grade fastball, 80-grade splitter, and 60-grade slider. He’s shown elite strikeout stuff with easy plus command, both in Japan and on the international stage, so the only real reason for concern is injury risk, something the Dodgers know a thing or two about. During negotiations this winter, he reportedly wanted teams to divulge why they thought his stuff. Subsequently,, his numbers took a step back in 2024, and the fact that he did sign with a very well-regarded organization eases my concerns surrounding his long-term health. Year one may not bring the phenom everyone is hoping for as he adjusts to the dramatic culture change and deals with a likely innings limit, but Sasaki has as much upside as anyone when he takes the mound. - Kyle Sonntag

8. George Kirby, Seattle Mariners, RHP Age: 27 (#41)

2024: 14-11 191.0 IP 3.53 ERA 1.06 WHIP 23.0 K 3.0 BB

If Kirby’s arm suddenly falls off (which there is no indication will happen anytime soon, don’t worry), he could have a lucrative career in real estate where the popular motto “location, location, location” fits just as well as it does when talking about his game on the mound. His 99th percentile BB% is truly elite, made even more impressive by the fact that his fastball averages 96 and regularly reaches the upper 90s. His best secondary, a wicked slider, can also be placed anywhere he wants, whenever he wants, and that skill translates to the rest of his arsenal as well. Kirby is also a tinkerer; he’s been working on a splitter over the last two seasons that could elevate his game to another level if he can figure it out. Although the upside isn’t quite as high as others in the top ten, that splitter could go a long way in elevating his ceiling and pushing him even higher up this list in future years. He’s a safe pick with room to grow, something you can’t say about many names this high on the list. - Kyle Sonntag

9. Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres, RHP Age: 29 (#42)

2024: 14-11 189.1 IP 3.47 ERA 1.06 WHIP 29.4 K 8.5 BB

Cease had a nice bounceback in 2024; it was arguably the best season of his career (20.9 K-BB%, 3.10 FIP). Cease threw his slider more than he’s ever thrown it (42.9%), and it was a dominant offering (.208 wOBA, 44.7 Whiff%). He also manipulated it to add more horizontal movement, giving hitters another look. Cease is a durable arm that will give you six innings consistently and has matured as a pitcher, reducing the volatility that plagued him early in his career. A trade could be coming if the Padres don’t have a good start to the season. - Greg Hoogkamp

10. Blake Snell, Los Angeles Dodgers, LHP Age: 32 (#46)

2024: 5-3 104.0 IP 3.12 ERA 1.04 WHIP 34.7 K 10.5 BB

After a late contract signing and horrendous start, Snell pulled a complete 180 and dominated in the second half (68.0 IP, 1.45 ERA, 29.6 K-BB%), even tossing a no-hitter. Snell is the rare pitcher who can get away with a higher walk rate. In fact, he does it by design; Snell won’t give in to hitters. Snell provides high strikeout rates and suppresses hard hits better than nearly every pitcher in the league, but he averages fewer innings per start than anyone in this range. As a Dodger, he will take a regular turn in what might end up being a 6-man rotation, so innings might be a minor concern for Snell. He’s a solid option for the top of your rotation, but try to pair him with an innings-eater to give your team some balance. - Greg Hoogkamp