Dodgers Top 2026 MLB Playoff Rotation Tier Rankings — SkimNews
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- Dodgers top the playoff rotation tier rankings despite Shohei Ohtani likely not pitching again this season, with Tarik Skubal (third-best FIP among starters), Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow forming a group "all better than any one arm on five or six" other contenders.
- Brewers rank second behind Jacob Misiorowski, the heavy NL Cy Young favorite who has been "pretty clearly the best pitcher in baseball this year" and its most dynamic pitcher to watch, followed by Logan Henderson and Kyle Harrison.
- Phillies rank third with Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Zack Wheeler all in the top 13 in xFIP among starters — Wheeler didn't make his 2026 debut until late April after 2025 thoracic outlet surgery but has posted ace-level per-inning performance over 20-plus starts.
- Yankees place fourth behind Cam Schlittler, who ranks second in pitcher WAR and is the odds-on AL Cy Young favorite, while 36-year-old Gerrit Cole "doesn't have the same extra gear" he once had and slots behind Max Fried.
- Chris Sale anchors the ninth-ranked Braves at third in starting pitcher ERA but carries a 6.35 career playoff ERA, with his regular-season peripherals in line with his postseason struggles.
- Cubs land in the bottom tier (13th) with their rotation 27th in WAR and bullpen 28th in WAR — the worst marks among the 15 ranked contenders, ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros.
Why it matters: Playoff success hinges heavily on a team's top two arms, and the Dodgers' Skubal-Yamamoto-Snell-Glasnow group gives them a clear edge over contenders like the Brewers and Phillies in a seven-game series. At the other end, the Cubs' 27th-ranked rotation WAR and 28th-ranked bullpen WAR — the worst in the field — make them the most likely short stay in October among the 15 ranked teams.
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