Fantasy baseball 2026: Why Chase Burns, Roki Sasaki and others could break out with new pitches

In the “laboratory” phase of the fantasy baseball season, the most tantalizing storylines revolve around starting pitchers debuting new or revamped pitches. 

Adding a new pitch to a repertoire is often the key to unlocking a higher tier of performance, as it creates new tunneling opportunities and keeps hitters from sitting on a primary heater.

Nevertheless, this experimentation is a double-edged sword; an unmastered pitch can lead to erratic command, “non-competitive” waste pitches that balloon walk rates or “meatball” strikes that leave the yard. 

Chase Burns is a great example. The Reds’ flamethrower entered camp with a profile already built on high-octane velocity, but the early word from Cincinnati’s camp is that his changeup and curveball have seen “night and day” improvements.

For fantasy purposes, a refined changeup for a high-velocity righty is the ultimate equalizer against left-handed heavy lineups. 

If Burns can consistently locate these secondary offerings, he transitions from a “thrower” to a “pitcher,” potentially jumping from a mid-rotation flyer to a top-20 fantasy starter.

The risk, however, is that if his feel for the new curveball wavers, he may find himself falling behind in counts, forcing him to rely too heavily on a fastball that MLB hitters can eventually time. 

Similarly, Cade Cavalli’s return to the Nationals’ rotation has been headlined by a sharp new sweeper, a pitch he reportedly learned via offseason Zoom calls. The “sweeper revolution” has transformed many careers, but it requires precise finger pressure and release points. 

Though the early spring movement profiles look elite, a sweeper that “hangs” or fails to bite becomes a slow, flat target in the middle of the zone. If Cavalli hasn’t fully internalized the muscle memory for this grip, his strikeout upside might be negated by a sudden spike in home runs allowed. 

Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli (24) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Perhaps the most scrutinized transition belongs to Dodgers’ sensation Roki Sasaki. Already a global phenomenon, Sasaki is working on a two-seam fastball and a “gyro” slider to complement his triple-digit four-seamer and devastating splitter. 

In theory, the two-seamer provides the horizontal movement he needs to generate weak ground balls, while the gyro slider offers a different vertical look. But for a pitcher moving into a 162-game MLB schedule, over-tinkering can be dangerous.

If the new slider shape bleeds into his fastball mechanics, his primary weapon could lose its elite “rise,” making him more vulnerable than he was with a simpler arsenal. 

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Ultimately, the “new pitch” narrative is the consummate gamble for fantasy managers. If these adjustments click, you are looking at a discount ace who provides a massive return on investment.

But if the pitcher loses his primary feel while chasing a new “shiny toy,” your ERA and WHIP will pay the price. The upside is a league-winning breakout; the downside is a roster spot occupied by a pitcher who can’t find the zone. 

Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy, catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Ch. 87) weekdays from 6-8 p.m. and dominate your drafts with the Fantasy Alarm Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide.