# Best workhorse starters

> The best workhorse starters in MLB 26, ranked against the whole field rather than by overall, with the ratings behind each pick and live prices.

Canonical: https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/best/workhorse

Goes deep into games.

154 cards ranked

**Ranked on:** Stamina 34% · H/9 20% · K/9 18% · BB/9 16% · HR/9 12%. Ranked among cards rated 90 overall and above — below that the order is simply the overall rating again.

| # | Card | OVR | Why | Buy now |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Cristopher Sánchez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-cristopher-sanchez-d6b3ccf6) | 99 | PHI · 2026 Finest · BB/9 100% · H/9 99% | 82,000 |
| 2 | [Nolan McLean](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-nolan-mclean-5f04a288) | 99 | NYM · 2026 Finest · Stamina 100% · K/9 98% | 152,235 |
| 3 | [Garrett Crochet](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-garrett-crochet-b8658ec8) | 99 | BOS · Milestone · Stamina 99% · H/9 99% | 12,777 |
| 4 | [Jake Arrieta](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/finest-jake-arrieta-1916b8bf) | 99 | CHC · Finest · H/9 99% · Stamina 98% | 6,200 |
| 5 | [Randy Johnson](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spooky-randy-johnson-c40fa296) | 99 | SEA · Spooky · Stamina 99% · H/9 99% | 775,000 |
| 6 | [Jacob Misiorowski](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-postseason-jacob-misiorowski-579ba259) | 99 | MIL · 2026 Postseason · K/9 99% · H/9 99% |  |
| 7 | [Bob Gibson](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/awards-bob-gibson-86f5efd8) | 99 | STL · Awards · Stamina 100% · HR/9 97% |  |
| 8 | [Justin Verlander](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/awards-justin-verlander-e594aff8) | 99 | HOU · Awards · HR/9 99% · Stamina 98% |  |
| 9 | [Max Fried](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-max-fried-fc17ff9e) | 99 | NYY · 2026 Finest · HR/9 100% · H/9 99% | 14,985 |
| 10 | [Logan Webb](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/the-show-classics-logan-webb-bee50caa) | 99 | SF · The Show Classics · HR/9 99% · BB/9 98% |  |
| 11 | [Jesús Luzardo](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-jesus-luzardo-39b2fda3) | 99 | PHI · 2026 Finest · K/9 99% · BB/9 98% |  |
| 12 | [Paul Skenes](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-topps-update-series-baseball-paul-skenes-e91e8a77) | 99 | PIT · 2026 Topps Update Series Baseball · Stamina 98% · BB/9 98% |  |
| 13 | [Max Scherzer](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/cornerstone-max-scherzer-f9bbbe3d) | 99 | WAS · Cornerstone · Stamina 99% · HR/9 97% |  |
| 14 | [Andy Pettitte](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/awards-andy-pettitte-c303e117) | 99 | NYY · Awards · BB/9 100% · HR/9 99% | 11,600 |
| 15 | [Dontrelle Willis](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-dontrelle-willis-1152018e) | 99 | MIA · Milestone · Stamina 100% · K/9 96% | 6,699 |
| 16 | [Mike Mussina](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/subway-mike-mussina-d60162eb) | 99 | NYY · Subway · Stamina 99% · BB/9 98% |  |
| 17 | [Jered Weaver](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-jered-weaver-3594bc76) | 99 | LAA · Milestone · Stamina 99% · H/9 97% | 23,846 |
| 18 | [Clay Buchholz](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spooky-clay-buchholz-51c6fddc) | 99 | BOS · Spooky · Stamina 100% · BB/9 98% |  |
| 19 | [Chris Sale](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-chris-sale-6f691501) | 99 | ATL · 2026 Finest · BB/9 99% · K/9 97% | 78,498 |
| 20 | [Gavin Williams](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-postseason-gavin-williams-7e5d31f2) | 99 | CLE · 2026 Postseason · K/9 99% · H/9 99% |  |
| 21 | [CC Sabathia](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-cc-sabathia-cc120fe2) | 99 | NYY · Milestone · K/9 98% · Stamina 98% | 7,889 |
| 22 | [Cam Schlittler](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-cam-schlittler-a35e319b) | 99 | NYY · 2026 Finest · BB/9 98% · K/9 97% |  |
| 23 | [J.R. Richard](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spooky-j-r-richard-f890680f) | 99 | HOU · Spooky · Stamina 100% · HR/9 99% | 22,850 |
| 24 | [Freddy Peralta](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-postseason-freddy-peralta-945afd2e) | 99 | TB · 2026 Postseason · BB/9 98% · Stamina 98% |  |
| 25 | [Payton Tolle](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-payton-tolle-64cbf702) | 99 | BOS · 2026 Finest · BB/9 99% · Stamina 96% |  |
| 26 | [Nick Martinez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-postseason-nick-martinez-434b7cea) | 99 | TB · 2026 Postseason · BB/9 100% · H/9 99% |  |
| 27 | [Pedro Martinez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-pedro-martinez-5be34915) | 99 | BOS · Milestone · Stamina 98% · BB/9 97% | 62,981 |
| 28 | [Whitey Ford](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/field-of-dreams-whitey-ford-50d685a1) | 98 | NYY · Field of Dreams · Stamina 96% · H/9 95% |  |
| 29 | [Kerry Wood](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spooky-kerry-wood-9a0b49a3) | 99 | CHC · Spooky · Stamina 100% · K/9 99% |  |
| 30 | [Parker Messick](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-parker-messick-a70a65bc) | 99 | CLE · 2026 Finest · BB/9 99% · Stamina 96% |  |
| 31 | [Dylan Cease](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-dylan-cease-fde70d66) | 99 | TOR · 2026 Finest · K/9 99% · H/9 99% |  |
| 32 | [Michael Wacha](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-michael-wacha-82b29511) | 99 | KC · 2026 Finest · BB/9 99% · Stamina 99% | 15,332 |
| 33 | [Logan Gilbert](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-logan-gilbert-888a8bd4) | 99 | SEA · 2026 Finest · BB/9 99% · K/9 98% |  |
| 34 | [Anibal Sanchez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/ranked-1000-anibal-sanchez-3680bb5f) | 99 | MIA · Ranked 1000 · Stamina 99% · HR/9 97% |  |
| 35 | [Jamie Arnold](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/pipeline-jamie-arnold-0911501a) | 99 | OAK · Pipeline · HR/9 99% · Stamina 95% | 6,199 |
| 36 | [Eduardo Rodriguez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-eduardo-rodriguez-2e80b1bb) | 99 | ARI · 2026 Finest · BB/9 99% · Stamina 98% | 10,900 |
| 37 | [Cliff Lee](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/awards-cliff-lee-dbdb0ae5) | 99 | CLE · Awards · BB/9 100% · Stamina 98% | 34,748 |
| 38 | [Johan Santana](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-johan-santana-e9cf365f) | 99 | NYM · Milestone · Stamina 99% · HR/9 99% | 44,879 |
| 39 | [Andrew Alvarez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-andrew-alvarez-1719744a) | 99 | WAS · Spotlight · HR/9 99% · H/9 94% | 7,439 |
| 40 | [Drew Rasmussen](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-finest-drew-rasmussen-38f87012) | 99 | TB · 2026 Finest · BB/9 99% · H/9 97% | 8,499 |
| 41 | [Felix Hernandez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/awards-felix-hernandez-4e7281b9) | 99 | SEA · Awards · Stamina 99% · HR/9 97% |  |
| 42 | [John Donaldson](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/the-negro-leagues-john-donaldson-2f5dbbcf) | 99 | FA · The Negro Leagues · HR/9 99% · K/9 95% | 88,900 |
| 43 | [Cam Caminiti](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/pipeline-cam-caminiti-2d421c86) | 99 | ATL · Pipeline · HR/9 99% · H/9 96% | 5,992 |
| 44 | [Cool Papa Bell](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/the-negro-leagues-cool-papa-bell-99c684e8) | 99 | FA · The Negro Leagues · BB/9 97% · Stamina 97% | 83,739 |
| 45 | [Foster Griffin](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-foster-griffin-4edf7f65) | 96 | WAS · Spotlight · BB/9 96% · Stamina 95% | 8,699 |
| 46 | [Michael King](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-postseason-michael-king-3089247a) | 99 | SD · 2026 Postseason · Stamina 98% · K/9 97% |  |
| 47 | [Reid Detmers](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-reid-detmers-8e60a5d8) | 99 | LAA · Spotlight · BB/9 97% · HR/9 95% | 36,999 |
| 48 | [Chase Burns](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-topps-update-series-baseball-chase-burns-723fcf23) | 99 | CIN · 2026 Topps Update Series Baseball · K/9 95% · Stamina 95% |  |
| 49 | [Jacob deGrom](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-jacob-degrom-9bd7158c) | 99 | TEX · Spotlight · BB/9 97% · K/9 93% | 29,743 |
| 50 | [Aaron Nola](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-aaron-nola-7cacd1fc) | 99 | PHI · Milestone · Stamina 97% · K/9 94% |  |
| 51 | [Gerrit Cole](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-postseason-gerrit-cole-19a509b0) | 99 | NYY · 2026 Postseason · BB/9 99% · Stamina 96% |  |
| 52 | [Peter Lambert](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-peter-lambert-1aece83d) | 98 | HOU · Spotlight · H/9 97% · Stamina 92% | 10,000 |
| 53 | [Noah Cameron](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/topps-now-noah-cameron-535a637a) | 97 | KC · Topps Now · Stamina 99% · HR/9 90% | 9,000 |
| 54 | [Peanut Johnson](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/the-negro-leagues-peanut-johnson-8ff2deda) | 99 | FA · The Negro Leagues · BB/9 100% · HR/9 99% | 11,049 |
| 55 | [Cal Quantrill](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-cal-quantrill-026601bb) | 99 | TEX · Spotlight · BB/9 98% · H/9 94% |  |
| 56 | [Al Leiter](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/signature-al-leiter-c93cbd51) | 97 | NYM · Signature · Stamina 97% · K/9 97% | 225,000 |
| 57 | [Sandy Alcantara](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-sandy-alcantara-4fdd3da4) | 97 | MIA · Milestone · BB/9 96% · Stamina 95% |  |
| 58 | [Casey Mize](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/new-threads-casey-mize-d95f2c85) | 99 | SD · New Threads · BB/9 96% · H/9 94% | 8,669 |
| 59 | [Ryan Sloan](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/pipeline-ryan-sloan-9a274fcf) | 99 | SEA · Pipeline · BB/9 97% · K/9 93% | 9,069 |
| 60 | [Bryan Woo](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-bryan-woo-59528d61) | 99 | SEA · Spotlight · Stamina 98% · BB/9 94% | 28,000 |
| 61 | [Ranger Suarez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-ranger-suarez-b30c7166) | 97 | BOS · Spotlight · HR/9 99% · Stamina 94% | 29,856 |
| 62 | [Roy Halladay](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/field-of-dreams-roy-halladay-30468476) | 99 | PHI · Field of Dreams · BB/9 99% · HR/9 97% |  |
| 63 | [Seth Hernandez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/pipeline-seth-hernandez-45b0c38c) | 99 | PIT · Pipeline · K/9 93% · HR/9 93% |  |
| 64 | [Zach Thornton](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/topps-now-zach-thornton-b9b36921) | 97 | NYM · Topps Now · HR/9 97% · H/9 95% |  |
| 65 | [Connor Prielipp](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-connor-prielipp-b083d936) | 99 | MIN · Spotlight · HR/9 98% · BB/9 96% |  |
| 66 | [Sonny Gray](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/milestone-sonny-gray-b7f7771f) | 96 | BOS · Milestone · Stamina 95% · K/9 93% |  |
| 67 | [Rhett Lowder](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/topps-now-rhett-lowder-db4c44fe) | 97 | CIN · Topps Now · HR/9 99% · H/9 94% |  |
| 68 | [Roy Oswalt](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/finest-roy-oswalt-6e1a8488) | 99 | PHI · Finest · Stamina 98% · BB/9 93% | 6,899 |
| 69 | [Martín Pérez](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-martin-perez-6d7aa66a) | 99 | ATL · Spotlight · H/9 95% · K/9 94% | 7,725 |
| 70 | [Cole Ragans](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/topps-now-cole-ragans-66c5cbb1) | 97 | KC · Topps Now · HR/9 96% · Stamina 95% | 6,499 |
| 71 | [Gio Rojas](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-draft-gio-rojas-52ce99d2) | 97 | TEX · 2026 Draft · Stamina 94% · K/9 93% |  |
| 72 | [Kyle Bradish](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/topps-now-kyle-bradish-1462064d) | 94 | BAL · Topps Now · K/9 94% · HR/9 92% | 7,220 |
| 73 | [Kade Anderson](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/pipeline-kade-anderson-7c8e26c0) | 99 | SEA · Pipeline · BB/9 96% · H/9 90% |  |
| 74 | [Carson Bolemon](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-draft-carson-bolemon-e6231293) | 96 | SF · 2026 Draft · K/9 92% · Stamina 91% | 6,958 |
| 75 | [Steve Carlton](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/all-star-steve-carlton-edc096e7) | 96 | PHI · All-Star · Stamina 99% · HR/9 85% | 8,150 |
| 76 | [Dustin May](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/new-threads-dustin-may-0136a957) | 99 | MIL · New Threads · K/9 94% · HR/9 92% | 11,900 |
| 77 | [Tarik Skubal](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/new-threads-tarik-skubal-f35232fa) | 99 | LAD · New Threads · BB/9 97% · Stamina 94% |  |
| 78 | [Walker Buehler](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-walker-buehler-856536b4) | 95 | SD · Spotlight · K/9 92% · Stamina 90% | 7,790 |
| 79 | [Greg Maddux](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/all-star-greg-maddux-b4816ba8) | 96 | CHC · All-Star · Stamina 98% · HR/9 92% |  |
| 80 | [Jackson Flora](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-draft-jackson-flora-f8ca6864) | 98 | SF · 2026 Draft · Stamina 93% · HR/9 90% | 97,497 |
| 81 | [Matt Wilkinson](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/topps-now-matt-wilkinson-bbaacded) | 97 | SF · Topps Now · H/9 99% · HR/9 92% |  |
| 82 | [Liam Doyle](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/pipeline-liam-doyle-2f3689de) | 99 | STL · Pipeline · K/9 92% · HR/9 90% |  |
| 83 | [Hunter Dietz](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-draft-hunter-dietz-709257ee) | 96 | NYY · 2026 Draft · K/9 96% · Stamina 92% |  |
| 84 | [Brody Bumila](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-draft-brody-bumila-6e876917) | 96 | TEX · 2026 Draft · K/9 92% · Stamina 91% | 6,499 |
| 85 | [Jared Jones](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-jared-jones-2774ac01) | 97 | PIT · Spotlight · H/9 91% · K/9 89% | 7,599 |
| 86 | [Jeff Suppan](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/awards-jeff-suppan-d151ff01) | 99 | STL · Awards · Stamina 93% · K/9 89% | 14,655 |
| 87 | [Clay Holmes](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/new-threads-clay-holmes-acd0f861) | 98 | CHC · New Threads · HR/9 93% · Stamina 92% | 6,599 |
| 88 | [Kevin Gausman](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/new-threads-kevin-gausman-e107f22c) | 97 | CHC · New Threads · BB/9 90% · Stamina 89% | 5,625 |
| 89 | [Ryan Weathers](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-ryan-weathers-72649487) | 99 | NYY · Spotlight · K/9 91% · Stamina 90% | 10,188 |
| 90 | [Shohei Ohtani](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-all-star-shohei-ohtani-465b552b) | 99 | LAD · 2026 All-Star · HR/9 96% · Stamina 95% | 97,398 |
| 91 | [Kyle Freeland](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/topps-now-kyle-freeland-eba1f076) | 94 | COL · Topps Now · BB/9 96% · Stamina 91% |  |
| 92 | [Luis Castillo](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/new-threads-luis-castillo-ebeb8de2) | 97 | CWS · New Threads · BB/9 95% · Stamina 92% |  |
| 93 | [Logan Reddemann](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-draft-logan-reddemann-9beefd5c) | 96 | COL · 2026 Draft · HR/9 96% · Stamina 94% | 7,000 |
| 94 | [Justin Wrobleski](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-all-star-justin-wrobleski-2a742637) | 97 | LAD · 2026 All-Star · BB/9 95% · Stamina 94% |  |
| 95 | [Kyle Harrison](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-kyle-harrison-1bfbd734) | 94 | MIL · Spotlight · HR/9 97% · Stamina 92% | 8,108 |
| 96 | [Davis Martin](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-davis-martin-f04c6c3b) | 94 | CWS · Spotlight · Stamina 91% · H/9 89% | 12,331 |
| 97 | [Robin Roberts](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/field-of-dreams-robin-roberts-cf463b61) | 99 | PHI · Field of Dreams · BB/9 99% · Stamina 99% | 13,198 |
| 98 | [Cade Cavalli](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/spotlight-cade-cavalli-a8ee3f8b) | 99 | WAS · Spotlight · Stamina 97% · H/9 93% | 8,894 |
| 99 | [Yoshinobu Yamamoto](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/2026-all-star-yoshinobu-yamamoto-87869460) | 98 | LAD · 2026 All-Star · BB/9 96% · Stamina 94% | 27,000 |
| 100 | [Connelly Early](https://mlbtsdb.com/mlb26/cards/new-threads-connelly-early-9e0a4b7f) | 98 | WAS · New Threads · H/9 96% · K/9 94% | 6,258 |