The season has just begun, but several pitchers put themselves on the radar with electric debuts.
Whether they are young hurlers that might be taking a step forward, veteran pitchers looking for bounceback seasons or unheralded pitchers potentially flashing a new upside, we had plenty of pitchers with impressive first games.
For the sake of this exercise, we’re looking at pitchers who haven’t been selected to All-Star Games or received Cy Young Award votes to limit the obvious performances (such as Cristopher Sánchez striking out 10 batters in six scoreless innings or Dylan Cease punching out 12 batters in his first Blue Jays start).
Emerson Hancock, Mariners
6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 9 K, 1 BB (March 29 vs. CLE)
Talk about a complete 180. After posting a 4.81 ERA and 5.49 FIP through his first 162 2/3 innings across three MLB seasons, Hancock dazzled in his first start of 2026, tossing six no-hit innings with a career-high nine strikeouts and a lone walk before he was pulled due to his pitch count (the first Mariners reliever to replace him allowed a hit). Drafted No. 6 overall in 2020, it had been a sluggish start to his MLB career, but the right-hander looked transformed, using his low slot to dominate with high heaters and a nasty sweeper against the Guardians. If Hancock realizes his potential this year, the Mariners rotation could be even better.
Cam Schlittler, Yankees
5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 8 K, 0 BB (March 27 at SF)
Schlittler burst onto the scene as a rookie last season, peaking with a historic postseason start when the right-hander struck out 12 Red Sox hitters in eight scoreless innings to clinch the Wild Card Series. There was plenty of buzz around the talented youngster heading into this season and he certainly lived up to the bill in his first start, striking out eight Giants and issuing no walks in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Even with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón unlikely to return until at least May, Schlittler looks more than capable of holding it down until then. And when everyone is healthy, Schlitter could make this a formidable Yankees rotation.
Andrew Painter, Phillies
5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 8 K, 1 BB (March 31 vs. WSH)
This was a long time coming for Painter, who made his MLB debut after years of top prospect status for the Phillies. Painter (MLB Pipeline's No. 26 prospect) allowed a lone run in 5 1/3 innings against the Nationals, striking out eight batters and only issuing a walk. After missing most of 2023-24 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Painter returned last season and posted a 5.26 ERA in 118 innings in the Minors. Painter has a chance to add even more upside to a Phillies rotation that has consistently been one of the best in baseball for in the 2020s.
Parker Messick, Guardians
6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 5 K, 0 BB (March 30 at LAD)
Messick couldn’t have drawn up a better start to his 2026 season, blanking the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers in Los Angeles over six brilliant innings. The second-year left-hander didn’t walk a batter and excelled at limiting hard contact against one of baseball’s premier offenses. Messick allowed an 85.3 mph average exit velocity on 15 batted balls and got Dodgers hitters to chase on a whopping 40.9 percent of pitches out of the zone. MLB Pipeline’s No. 92 prospect, Messick could be a pivotal member of the Guardians rotation as Cleveland attempts to win the AL Central for a second straight season.
Edward Cabrera, Cubs
5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K, 1 BB (March 30 vs. LAA)
The Cubs sent three prospects, including Owen Caissie, to the Marlins over the offseason to acquire Cabrera, fully believing there was another level for the talented right-hander. So far, that inclination looks wise, after Cabrera one-hit the Angels in six innings in his Cubs debut, striking out five batters and only issuing one walk. Cabrera’s usual electric stuff was on display, leading to 15 whiffs on 40 swings, but just as notable (if not more) was the one walk and 61.3 percent strike rate. After running a career-low 8.3 percent walk rate last season (he had never been below 10 percent in a season), another drop in walks could propel Cabrera to another level.
Chase Burns, Reds
5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 7 K, 3 BB (March 30 vs. PIT)
Burns, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 Draft, has been a budding breakout pick since he made his MLB debut last season. His first start of 2026 could be an indication that a step forward is here after Burns allowed a lone hit across five scoreless innings and struck out seven Pirates hitters. He was pulled after 78 pitches and allowed three walks in his outing, but Burns flashed the high-octane stuff that gives him true ace upside. Even if the Reds are careful building up his innings to begin his MLB career, Burns could blossom into one of the best starters in baseball.
Michael McGreevy, Cardinals
6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 K, 2 BB (March 28 vs. TB)
After plenty of roster turnover over the offseason with the Cardinals undergoing a retooling phase, McGreevy figures to be an important part of the St. Louis club over the next few years. He certainly showed promise in his first start of 2026, tossing six no-hit innings before he was ultimately pulled due to a high pitch count (the Cardinals would eventually allow a hit). As the Cardinals look to find their next rotation mainstays, pitchers like McGreevy have the opportunity to entrench themselves, which the right-hander is certainly progressing to do after his first outing.
José Soriano, Angels
6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K, 4 BB (March 28 at HOU)
Soriano has blossomed into a quality starting pitcher but there’s always been a thought that the talented right-hander has another gear. That upside was on display in his first start of the season, when Soriano struck out seven Astros hitters in six scoreless innings. Notably, Soriano generated 19 swings-and-misses, tied for the second-most of any outing in his career, and topped out at 101.3 mph, the fastest pitch he’s thrown as a starting pitcher. Soriano has always had command struggles (he walked four batters in his debut) but his combination of elite stuff and keeping the ball on the ground (100th percentile groundball rate in 2025) gives him immense upside.
Landen Roupp, Giants
6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K, 2 BB (March 30 at SD)
The Giants were surprisingly quiet on adding starting pitching over the offseason -- only signing Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser to slot behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray -- which might have signaled the club’s trust in Roupp. At least in his first start, that trust looked warranted. Roupp blanked the Padres across six innings, allowing a pair of hits and two walks, while striking out seven hitters. His quality effort earned him a win, the first for the Giants this season. Roupp had everything working in his outing, generating at least three whiffs on four different pitches.
Randy Vásquez, Padres
6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 8 K, 3 BB (March 28 vs. DET)
Here’s one of the most unexpected debuts of the early season. Vásquez had a 3.84 ERA in 133 2/3 innings last season, but that masked the concerning underlying numbers, like his 5.37 expected ERA and 4.85 FIP pegged him for a much higher ERA. After running a 13.7 percent strikeout rate last season -- third-worst among all pitchers with at least 100 innings -- Vásquez struck out eight batters in six scoreless innings against a strong Tigers lineup. Before 2026, Vásquez only had one outing of six-plus innings and eight-plus strikeouts, so this is an encouraging sign for a pitcher who could be a huge X-factor in the Padres returning to the playoffs.
Kyle Harrison, Brewers
5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 8 K, 1 BB (March 30 vs. TB)
It’s been a tumultuous calendar year for Harrison, who began last season with the Giants after years of top prospect status with San Francisco. He was a headliner in the trade that brought Rafael Devers to the Giants, but Harrison’s time in Boston was short-lived when he was sent to Milwaukee last offseason. Given Milwaukee’s history of success with starting pitchers, Harrison ended up in an optimal spot and his first start showed the type of potential he has. After allowing a leadoff home run to Yandy Díaz, Harrison didn’t allow a run the rest of the way and produced eight strikeouts.
Jack Leiter, Rangers
6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 8 K, 1 BB (March 30 at BAL)
Leiter has been slowly blossoming into a quality MLB starter after a rough introduction to the Majors in 2024. Following a 2025 campaign when Leiter posted a 3.86 ERA in 151 2/3 innings, his first start this season was a dandy: The right-hander allowed two runs and struck out eight batters, tied for the third-most in a start in his career. Most encouraging, perhaps, is that four of Leiter’s top strikeout games have all come within his last eight starts dating back to late August of last season. The son of 19-year veteran Al Leiter lso generated 21 whiffs, the most in a start in his career.