Fantasy Aces — The 5 Starting Pitchers Setting 2025 On Fire
A couple of months into the heart of the 2025 season, the fantasy leaderboard is starting to take shape and it’s getting electric. For starting pitchers, it’s a mix of breakout dominance, ace-level consistency, and a few surprise showings. Sure, fantasy points tell a part of the story, but the stats behind them show why these 5 starters are worth every click in your lineup regardless of salary.
Here’s a breakdown of the top 5 fantasy starting pitchers so far in daily fantasy and why they’re absolutely crushing it.
| Pitcher | Fantasy Points | Record | ERA | WHIP | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarik Skubal | 461 | 5-2 | 2.49 | 0.84 | 92 |
| Zack Wheeler | 454 | 6-1 | 2.42 | 0.88 | 88 |
| Chris Sale | 435 | 2-3 | 3.36 | 1.28 | 78 |
| Dylan Cease | 435 | 1-3 | 4.58 | 1.25 | 72 |
| Paul Skenes | 418 | 3-5 | 2.36 | 0.95 | 70 |
Tarik Skubal Is Shoving And Doesn’t Care Who’s Watching
- Fantasy Points: 461
- Record: 5-2
- ERA: 2.49
- WHIP: 0.84
- Strikeouts: 92
Tarik Skubal isn’t just having a good year. He’s wrecking lineups. Again.
He’s sitting on top of the fantasy pitcher leaderboard, and it’s not even close. He’s great all around, but what’s really wild is his home numbers — 4-0 record, 1.83 ERA, and a ridiculous 57 strikeouts in just under 40 innings at Comerica Park. That’s close-the-door kind of stuff and we think he’s just getting warmed up.
Opponents have no room to breathe against him. His WHIP is a slim 0.84, which ranks 3rd in the league, and he’s second in Ks overall with 92 through 11 starts. In his most recent outing, he pitched a complete game, giving up nothing — 0 runs, 2 hits, no walks, 13 strikeouts. Is last pitch of the game was an insane 102.6 mph. It was the most strikeouts ever thrown in a Maddux.
He’s not just a must-start. He’s a must-win.
Zack Wheeler’s Veteran Stuff Is Still Nasty
- Fantasy Points: 454
- Record: 6-1
- ERA: 2.42
- WHIP: 0.88
- Strikeouts: 88
Zack Wheeler is 34, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he’s dealing on the bump.
He’s been money in May and just pitched a shutout performance against Atlanta with 6.2 innings, 0 runs, and 8 punchouts. That was no fluke. Over his last 50 innings against NL teams, he’s allowed only 17 earned runs while striking out 63.
The ERA sits at 2.42, 5th among SPs, and his WHIP is just a tick behind Skubal at 0.88. That’s clean, veteran pitching. No traffic. No damage. It doesn’t get much better than that.
His 6-1 record is tied for 6th overall, and his projected numbers mean he could hit 264 strikeouts by season’s end. He’s keeping the Phillies in games and fantasy teams in the win column. Just because he’s on the older side of things, don’t sleep on this veteran.
Chris Sale Is Turning Back The Clock In Atlanta
- Fantasy Points: 435
- Record: 2-3
- ERA: 3.36
- WHIP: 1.28
- Strikeouts: 78
Forget the record as it doesn’t paint the complete picture. Chris Sale is cooking again and he’s telling the world that his Cy Young last season was no fluke.
With 78 strikeouts through 11 starts, he’s back to missing bats. In his last start, he went 7 strong against a dominant Philly, allowing just 1 run and striking out 6. He’s got 32 strikeouts in May alone, and when he’s on the road, hitters are only slashing singles and bad guesses as he has just 17 earned runs over 46 innings.
His ERA is a little higher than the other top arms, but the whiffs are what keep him fantasy-relevant. In NL play alone, he’s been an absolute menace with 55 strikeouts in 46 innings.
He’s projected for 238 strikeouts. It’s not bad for a guy people thought was washed. He’s not. Can he get another Triple Crown and Cy Young? It wouldn’t be a bad bet.
Dylan Cease Is Better Than His ERA Suggests
- Fantasy Points: 435
- Record: 1-3
- ERA: 4.58
- WHIP: 1.25
- Strikeouts: 72
Dylan Cease is the definition of chaos. But in fantasy, strikeouts are the currency of kings — and Cease prints them like the US Government.
Despite a relatively high ERA of 4.58, he’s tied for 12th in Ks with 72 and has matched Sale’s fantasy total. That says a lot about how valuable his swing-and-miss stuff has been.
In his last start, he racked up 8 strikeouts. He fanned 36 batters in May and 24 against NL opponents in just 19 innings. Even when he’s getting hit, he’s still generating fantasy points and that makes him a volatile but high-ceiling play every day he starts on the mound.
He’s projected to finish with 220 strikeouts. If the ERA drops even a little, his fantasy stock goes even higher. Don’t miss out on Cease regardless of who he’s up against.
Paul Skenes Is Living Up To The Hype
- Fantasy Points: 418
- Record: 3-5
- ERA: 2.36
- WHIP: 0.95
- Strikeouts: 70
Paul Skenes is just 22 years old, but you wouldn’t know it by the numbers. He’s the phenom everyone hoped he would be.
His ERA is 2.36 which is good for 10th best in the league and his WHIP is under 1.00. He’s punched out 70 batters in 68.2 innings, and he’s barely scratched the surface.
Skenes might not have the win-loss record of a Wheeler or Skubal, after all, the rest of the team has a say so in that, but the quality is already there. His last outing was 6 innings of one-run ball with 8 strikeouts. He’s averaging over a strikeout per inning, and he’s projected for 203 Ks across 32 starts.
Despite his age, he’s pitching like a seasoned ace, not a rookie. And he’s doing it for a struggling Pirates team that doesn’t always give him run support, hence the record. That makes his numbers even more impressive. As he matures, he’ll go deeper into games.
These are the 5 Best SPs in DFS
Skubal and Wheeler are the clear top dogs in fantasy right now and it’s not even close. However, the top 5 aces make for a better article than just the top 2. One’s a breakout ace on another year or terror, the other a trusted veteran. Behind them, Sale and Cease are showing the power of strikeouts, even if the wins aren’t following. And Skenes? He’s the future on the mound but he’s already arrived.
If you’re building a DFS lineup, this is the group you want to anchor it. All 5 are putting up serious points, and based on the current pace, they’re not slowing down anytime soon. Get them into your rotation no matter the salary.
Matt Brown
Head of Sports Betting and DFS
Matt’s love for sports betting and daily fantasy sports, coupled with a deep understanding of football, hockey, and baseball, shapes his innovative thoughts on Hello Rookie. He has a B.S. in Aeronautical Computer Science and a M.S. in Project Management.
