Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in dynasty and redraft. The FanRanked staff dynasty board has Yamamoto ahead, Yamamoto #20 and McLean #34, and the expert consensus agrees (#46 and #20). The community agrees too, 76.2 to 67.1. For 2027 redraft, the consensus has Yamamoto ahead, #19 to #62, and Frank's 2027 projection agrees ($14.4 and $20.8).
JD on Nolan McLean (Oct 20, 2026): Nolan McLean stands in a tier of his own for me, because he's in a weird spot where there feels like a big gap between him and the top 7 starters, but he's very clearly better than the next starter after him, Logan Gilbert, mainly due to his age. My favorite thing about McLean is the way he spins it. He has a 98th percentile curveball in xwOBA allowed at .163, and some of the PitchingNinja videos of his highest RPM pitches look like straight witchcraft. Despite his elite-looking curveball, it's actually his sinker that was his most valuable pitch by far, having saved an incredible 27 runs this season, leading to an ERA reduction versus the average of 1.35. That was by far the most valuable sinker in baseball this year in total run value (although Josh Hader(?)) Was better on a rate basis per 100 pitches). I would love to see a guy like McLean with an elite defense behind him, because I feel like the sinker/curveball combo would really play up with a team like the Brewers behind him. Unfortunately he will have to settle with the Mets' defense going forward, who ranked 25th last year, and I don't see a path to them getting much better.
JD on Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Oct 2, 2026): I will always have the utmost respect for Yamamoto for coming in on zero days' rest in Game 7 last year and throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings to get the save and lock down the World Series. It's the same respect I have for Nathan Eovaldi covering 6 innings in extras out of the bullpen in the 2018 WS for the Red Sox after throwing an inning in relief in the previous two games. Seriously, take a moment to watch this highlight video (and especially key in on the dugout after he gave up the walkoff HR in the 18th): https://www.mlb.com/news/nathan-eovaldi-a-red-sox-hero-in-game-3-c299755566 But I digress; Yamamoto is one of the most bankable guys in the big leagues right now and I think he is the safest ace you could have on your team right now. There's really no weak part in his game except the team he is on, as the Dodgers frequently use a 6-man rotation and will never need to push at the end of the regular season with how dominant their roster is, and that makes Yamamoto not as reliable in the fantasy playoffs. If you're in a roto format as opposed to a head-to-head, he's probably more valuable to you because you can bank his stats early. Don't be afraid to sell Yoshi at your league's trade deadline next year if the Dodgers doing their thing - you will probably get a haul back and you won't risk his potential rest interfering with your fantasy championship.
Data as of . Consensus boards refresh daily; the staff board moves when it is republished.
| Metric | Nolan McLean | Yoshinobu Yamamoto |
|---|---|---|
| Team | NYM | LAD |
| Position | SP | SP |
| Age | 25 | 28 |
| Staff Dynasty Rank | #34 | #20 |
| Dynasty Consensus Rank | #46 | #20 |
| Redraft Consensus Rank | #62 | #19 |
| Community Rating | 67.1 | 76.2 |
| Expert Sources | 15 | 15 |
| Dynasty Rank Range | #36–#168 | #13–#36 |
| 2027 Projected Value | $14.4 | $20.8 |
| 2026 $ Earned | $14.0 | $31.0 |
| 2027 Projected Rank | #78 | #42 |
| 30-Day Consensus Move | Down 4 spots | Up 3 spots |
| Stat | Nolan McLean | Yoshinobu Yamamoto |
|---|---|---|
| IP | 179.2 | 185.0 |
| W | 12 | 14 |
| SV | 0 | 0 |
| ERA | 3.16 | 2.53 |
| WHIP | 1.17 | 0.87 |
| K | 194 | 182 |
| K/9 | 9.7 | 8.9 |
Price a Nolan McLean-for-Yoshinobu Yamamoto trade in the Dynasty Trade Calculator · compare their 2027 dollars in the Roto & Redraft Trade Analyzer