2026 Pitching Draft Strategy: Aces, Anchors & the Closer Gamble
Published: February 13, 2026
Duration: 1:12:53
Should you pay up for Tarik Skubal in the first round, or is loading up on hitters the smarter play? Joe Bond, AJ Applegarth, and Corey Pieper debate the pitching draft strategy that actually wins 2026 fantasy baseball leagues—and they don't all agree.
With pitcher IL days skyrocketing (15,000+ days missed in 2024) and starters averaging just 5.19 innings per outing, the old "pocket aces" strategy is getting flipped on its head. The guys hash out whether you need one elite arm or four mid-tier anchors, when it's too early to draft an ace (spoiler: Joe will never take one in...