Here are the 2023 fantasy starting pitcher rankings for standard 5x5 leagues.
Rankings
Top 200 | C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP
Why Burnes is No. 1: Burnes may not have won back-to-back Cy Youngs in 2022, but he was still ridiculously good for fantasy managers last season. He recorded the highest win total of his career (12) and posted a sub-3.00 ERA and at least a 10.8 K/9 for the third straight campaign while continuing to keep a sparkling WHIP. He's a solid choice to take as the first pitcher off the board.
Dark-horse pick: Javier is getting a lot of attention after his sterling no-hit performance in the World Series and recent contract extension, so calling him a dark horse might be a reach. But what else do you call the No. 26 pitcher on draft boards? Grab Javier if available because passing up the chance to get a pitcher who posted a 2.54 ERA and 11.7 K/9 campaign might come back to burn you.
Player worth reaching for: Gallen has become an established ace in Arizona, but his stock is trending lower than Javier, Valdez, and Musgrove in some draft circles. This is strange, considering the 27-year-old has posted a sub-2.89 ERA in three of his four seasons while averaging more than a strikeout per inning for his career. Gallen showed he was healthy last season while picking up a career-high 12 wins. That total could increase for the up-and-coming D-Backs, who might surprise people this season.
