The first week of the 2026 fantasy baseball season has arrived, as the MLB campaign gets going in earnest. This can be a weird week, particularly for head-to-head formats. To get you ready, here’s a look at five pitchers to consider targeting for the upcoming week.

Best Week 1 pitchers to target

• SP Connelly Early (Red Sox)
• SP Max Meyer (Marlins)
• RP Riley O’Brien (Cardinals)
• RP Paul Sewald (Diamondbacks)
• SP Brandon Sproat (Brewers)

Connelly Early was very good late last season for the Red Sox. And, Early will look to ride the momentum into 2026.

We spotlighted Early as one of those buy-low candidates in late rounds during drafts earlier this week. However, he’s still available in many leagues and is worth a grab this coming week. Early, who struck out 16 over 17 spring innings, will get the Reds on March 29.

Next up are two pitchers who will make starts this weekend, notable for head-to-head leagues that run until the 29th.

Max Meyer gets the Rockies in Miami on March 29th. We’ve yet to see Meyer, a former first-round pick, take that true next step forward as a Major League pitcher. Injuries have played a role in that. But this past spring, Meyer did very well, as he struck out 12 over seven innings and didn’t allow a run.

The fastball ran as high as 97 MPH but sat mostly 94-95 in exhibition play.

Lastly, Brandon Sproat will make his first regular-season start as a Brewer at home on March 29 against the Brewers. It’s not a sure-fire hit, as the White Sox should be better in 2026. However, it is one of the more favorable options for this upcoming weekend.

Next up are our highlighted relievers, specifically those with save potential.

There are a few teams that have uncertainty with respect to how things will be handled in the late innings. Some teams don’t have defined closers, while others, like the Pirates, have committed to a non-traditional approach with who could be considered their best high-leverage reliever.

Riley O’Brien received a lot of run as one of two high-leverage late-inning options for the Cardinals last season, alongside JoJo Romero. That should continue in 2026. O’Brien had a good, yet uneven spring, as he walked five but struck out five over 4.2 IP.

O’Brien will walk a lot of batters, which is a problem and makes him a riskier reliever option. But, for those who need saves, it’s hard to complain.

As for the Diamondbacks, it looks like Paul Sewald will be the primary option in Arizona. He’s one of several save candidate pitchers, along with Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson.

The problem is that Ginkel and Thompson have had temporary runs as “the guy” over the past two years, and neither performed well. Sewald, on the other hand, has significant closer experience both with Seattle and Arizona.

It’ll be a dance for the D-Backs until the team gets A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez back, which may not happen for some time.

Check out more of our fantasy baseball coverage, including a look at the best hitters to target for Week 1.