Nick Mariano’s weekly fantasy baseball column returns for the stretch of May 18 through May 24, 2026, offering a deep dive into the upcoming slate of starting pitcher matchups.
Each pitcher receives a confidence score derived from recent performance, rest days, opposing lineup strength and historical trends, then is translated into a 0‑to‑100 grade that appears alongside a concise start‑sit label.
Start‑Sit Categories Explained
Mariano separates his recommendations into three buckets: "Lean Start," indicating pitchers who should be in lineups across most formats; "Lean Sit," advising managers to bench those arms regardless of league size; and "Coin Flip," reserved for matchups that sit on a knife‑edge and require a closer look at league settings or roster needs.
By pairing the confidence grades with these categories, the column gives fantasy managers a clear roadmap for constructing rotations, adjusting bench depth and making last‑minute tweaks before lock‑in, all while keeping the nuances of different league formats in focus.