3 Starting Pitchers Poised for Bounce-Back Seasons in 2026

This article looks at how teams shook up their rotations this offseason and what those changes might mean for the year ahead. It digs into big-name signings, depth moves, and the rebound hopes for pitchers like Zac Gallen, Sean Manaea, and Walker Buehler. Injuries, workload, and pitch design could totally change their paths in 2026.

Rotation reshapes, buy-low bets, and rebound paths

Front offices made all sorts of moves, from headline-grabbing signings to bargain-bin depth plays. Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, and Framber Valdez kept popping up in rumors, while the Padres went for cheaper depth.

Zac Gallen used to look like a real ace, but in 2025 he dropped to a 4.83 ERA with a 21.5% strikeout rate. Under the surface, though, things weren’t quite as rough—a 4.28 xERA hints the numbers overstated the problem.

Arizona brought him back for one year at $22.025 million, hoping to buy low. Gallen’s return depends a lot on his breaking pitches, especially a curveball that went from +15 runs in 2024 to -4 in 2025, and cutting down the 31 home runs he allowed.

Zac Gallen: a buy-low path back to frontline form

Gallen’s 2025 stats hid a bigger story about his arsenal. The curveball’s sudden drop-off led to fewer whiffs and more runs.

But that 4.28 xERA? It suggests the skills are still there, just not lining up with the results. Arizona’s deal gives him a shot to reset, focus on a sharper breaking ball, and keep his fastball useful up in the zone.

If he finds the feel for movement and command again, Gallen could anchor a rotation that’s more about depth than spending. Fantasy managers and teams should watch for a rebound, but it’s not a sure thing.

Keep an eye on whether he rebuilds confidence in his breaking stuff, mixes pitches better, and keeps balls in the park. The price is right, but the outlook for 2026 hinges on quick, real improvements in his secondary pitches—and actually holding those gains over a long season.

Sean Manaea: injuries, usages, and the road back

Sean Manaea came into 2025 with some promise, but an oblique strain and elbow trouble limited him to just 60 2/3 innings and a 5.64 ERA. His advanced stats—like a 4.00 xERA and 3.30 xFIP—hinted he deserved better if he could just stay healthy.

He struggled with home runs (1.93 HR/9) and changed his pitch mix, ditching the sinker for a more hittable four-seamer. To get back on track, Manaea needs to regain his mechanics, find the right balance between sinker and four-seam, and get more chases with his breaking stuff.

If he gets his delivery back, trusts his secondary pitches, and keeps the ball in the yard, Manaea could still help as a back-end or mid-rotation arm in deeper leagues. Durability, command, and mixing things up will matter most for him—he’ll need to get both grounders and whiffs to stick around.

Walker Buehler: reclaiming velocity and a back-end path

Walker Buehler was once one of the best, but coming back from Tommy John surgery didn’t go smoothly. In 2025, he put up a 4.93 ERA over 126 innings, with his velocity and strikeouts (16.3%) both dropping.

Boston let him go in August after a rough stretch, and now he’s hoping for a back-end rotation spot in San Diego on a cheap deal. His best shot at sticking is to lean on a better sinker, pitch to soft contact, and keep the ball in the park.

If Buehler finds his velocity and sharpens his secondary stuff, he could still eat some innings late in the year and maybe help in mixed fantasy leagues. Health and confidence in his delivery will matter most for his 2026 story.

If he can blend velocity with a sinker-heavy approach, maybe there’s a late-career bounce left for Buehler—especially in a system that values command and limiting hard contact over pure speed.

What this means for teams and fantasy managers

The offseason really changed how teams look at the middle and back ends of their rotations. For fantasy managers, these situations force you to weigh risk and upside a bit differently.

Here are a few things worth keeping in mind as you sketch out those early- and middle-round strategies:

• Buy-low opportunities—Go after pitchers like Gallen if their underlying numbers suggest better days ahead, even if the main stats don’t pop. Short-term deals make it easier to bail if things go sideways.
• Injury context matters—Manaea’s comeback depends a lot on whether he can stay healthy and settle into a consistent routine. Keep an eye on medical updates and whatever info trickles out during spring.
• Command and control over velocity alone—Teams are starting to trust breaking balls, sinkers, and trickier pitch patterns more. It’s all about cutting down on home runs and getting hitters to chase.
• Depth can pay off—A cheap back-end starter who finds his groove can really steady a rotation. That kind of arm can pile up useful innings in both daily fantasy and season-long leagues.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Three Starting Pitchers Looking To Bounce Back In 2026