Rotation Roundup - And Off We Go

We’re barely a week into the 2026 MLB season, and things already are quite difficult. Pitchers are just now making their first pass through the rotation, and things are clear as mud. Injuries have already taken hold and are wreaking havoc on the most carefully thought-out draft day plans.

I’d like to say that we are starting to see clarity, but that’s all relative. It’s never a dull moment when it comes to starting pitchers, and the good news is that we have you covered all season. Not all pitchers began the season pitching in the true order of their rotation, and some teams have a few more days until they need a fifth starter. However, depth charts are starting to fall into place. That is, until they change again.

Now, let’s strap in and take a look at some of the early-season news that stood out to me.​

Cody Ponce, Toronto Blue Jays

Photo Credit: mlb.com

Well, that was fun while it lasted. For 2.1 innings, we had Cody Ponce locked in after he returned from Asia this winter. All it took was Ponce covering first base for everything to go bust. Now, the right-hander is sidelined for a substantial amount of time with an ACL injury.

It’s unclear who takes Ponce’s place in the rotation, even as Lazaro Estrada took his roster spot and will likely make the next start. After a 5.73 ERA in Triple-A last season, though, I’m not expecting much from Estrada. With the signing of Patrick Corbin, I'd say the Blue Jays aren't either. Corbin still needs to be built up so we won't see him right away, but he's another veteran arm to keep in reserve. However, against the tough AL East, I'm not sure how much of an impact he'll make.

Max Scherzer, Toronto Blue Jays

Photo Credit: Field Level Media

Brought in to be a temporary depth piece to the back-end of the rotation, Max Scherzer appears to have a good hold on taking a regular turn. Yes, it was the Colorado Rockies, but Scherzer held them to just one unearned run over six innings while scattering five baserunners. This was a continuation of a strong Spring Training, and you should take advantage of it as long as he’s healthy. There likely wasn’t much attention paid to Scherzer in fantasy drafts, but at this point in the season, he deserves our attention. The fact that we went six innings in his first start is a welcome development.

Sign up for Prospects Live

Your one stop shop for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball, MLB Draft, Baseball Card & MiLB Baseball content. Blending Data & Scouting into our Player Evaluation

Subscribe

Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

This post is for subscribers only

Become a member to get access to all content

Subscribe now