Stuff+ Is Lying to You About These Five Pitchers in 2026 Fantasy Baseball
By admission, Stuff+ only evaluates the raw physical characteristics of a pitch. Velocity, movement, spin rate. What it doesn't account for is pitch command and placement, which are crucial when it comes to accurately evaluating if a pitcher really has the right stuff. Stuff+ is all about hard-throw fastballs, disregarding if they are thrown for strikes or get a pitcher out.
Think about Nuke LaLoosh. Sure, he threw a 101-mph fastball, but what good is that pitch if it's going to veer way left of the plate and hit the mascot?
Fellow saber-stat Location+ measures whether pitches land in the right place, but that's calculated separately. So, because of these omissions, Stuff+ grades on an odd curve. Elite pitchers are graded in the 120-130 range, and hovering around the 100 league average is considered, well, average. However, a pitcher with a low Stuff+ grade could have a high Location+ grade because "raw nastiness" and actual pitching accuracy are calculated separately.
And if Stuff+ isn't giving fantasy managers the full story, then they are missing out on high-value fantasy assets as a result.
The Five Pitchers Stuff+ Is Lying About
Logan Webb
The Giants' iron man had a sluggish start to his 2026 campaign and is currently on IL with knee inflammation. Add in an abysmal 95 Stuff+ grade, and managers will think they need to move on from the right-hander.
However, his Location+ grade is 105, which shows he has great command of his pitches. Per Statcast, Webb also has a high chase rate (34.9%), which shows he can throw batters off his pitches, and he adds a high 42:15 K:BB ratio.
Webb has command of his pitches, and his underlying stats show he can overcome a slow start. But the narrow scope of Stuff+ doesn't show that
Aaron Nola
The Phillies righty is in a similar boat as Webb. He is off to a slow start in 2026 with a big 5.91 ERA, and his Stuff+ grade is a modest 105.
But Nola has a track record of being a durable pitcher. His 46:18 K:BB ratio through 45.2 innings pitched is sound, and his LOB% remains a solid 70.2%. Plus, Nola's chase rate is above average at 31.6%, showing his swing-and-miss "stuff" is still intact, even if Stuff+ isn't showing that.
Cristopher Sanchez
Nola's teammate has been on fire. But his modest Stuff+ grade, which measures his 94-mph fastball velocity and not much else, just isn't doing him justice. Probably because Sanchez isn't a fastball guy, but has a three-pitch arsenal that works very well for him.
The southpaw has a 1.82 ERA and an 80:14 K:BB ratio over 64.1 innings pitched. His chase rate is 37.3%, and batters who do make contact off his pitches are hitting into ground ball outs 59% of the time. Statcast shows in technicolor that Sanchez has incredible accuracy when placing his three go-to pitches.
Framber Valdez
Valdez is an innings-eater, going five-plus in all but two outings so far this season. But, he only throws his four-seam fastball 1% of the time. So, his Stuff+ grade is a lukewarm 106.
Admittedly, Valdez's strikeout percentage has gone down in 2026. (Down to 18.3% from 23.3%.) However, he has also allowed two or fewer runs scored in eight of his first 10 starts this season. And he has only allowed five home runs on 56 hits over 55.0 innings pitched. That could be because batters are still chasing his sinker, cutter, slider, and changeup 34.3% of the time.
Shota Imanaga
Stuff+ really doesn't seem to like Imanaga's pitching arsenal, giving him a below-average grade of 93. Even his Location+ grade of 108 isn't stellar. Still, the Cubs' lefty is dealing.
Imanaga possesses a 61:16 K:BB ratio with just seven homers given up on 45 hits through 58.2 innings pitched. His chase rate is high at 39%, and he's leaving hitters stranded on base 74.2% of the time. Except for an unfortunate eight-run day against the Brewers where he only lasted 4.1 innings, Imanaga has pitched five or more in every outing in 2026. He has also tallied double-digits in strikeouts twice, which Stuff+ doesn't consider.
Fantasy Strategy and Roster Advice
Buy, Hold, or Sell-High Right Now
The moral of the story? Fantasy managers can't rely on Stuff+ alone to determine if a pitcher is worth rostering. Adding Location+ and other underlying metrics is the best way to examine what kind of fantasy asset a pitcher can be.
And since Stuff+ alone makes these five pitchers look less desirable, they are all buy-low candidates in May. Sanchez and Imanaga are good pickups for "win-now" situations. Webb and Nola are good buy-low candidates for rosters that can afford some patience, especially since Webb will be coming off the IL. Managers considering Valdez will get a pitcher who can pitch deep into games, but carries some volatility since his strikeout rate has gone down this season.
Whoever you choose to roster, just remember to check all the important stats. Stuff+ isn't a one-stop shop for analyzing fantasy assets.
Questions About Stuff+, Answered
Why is Stuff+ misleading about certain 2026 pitchers?|
Stuff+ measures raw pitch traits but does not account for command, placement, or sequencing, which can make pitchers outperform their grades.
Which five pitchers have low Stuff+ but are still performing well?
Logan Webb, Cristopher Sanchez, Aaron Nola, Framber Valdez, and Shota Imanaga are highlighted as pitchers whose results outperform their Stuff+ grades.
Should I buy or sell these pitchers based on Stuff+ grades?
These pitchers are presented as buy-low or hold candidates rather than players to fade based solely on Stuff+.
How important is Location+ compared to Stuff+ in fantasy evaluations?
Location+ provides additional context by measuring command and placement, helping identify pitchers whose effectiveness exceeds their raw Stuff+ grades.
Are these pitchers' performances sustainable in 2026?
Underlying indicators including strikeout-to-walk ratios, chase rates, run prevention, and workload are used to support continued effectiveness.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 4:54 PM.