First off, these are not the only two starters I like today, nor are they the "best." Big names like Jacob deGrom, Michael King, and Payton Tolle are all pitching today, but their track records and 2026 seasons speak for themselves. Instead, I want to highlight two intriguing guys starting today who are not getting that same level of attention: Ian Seymour (Rays) and Will Dion (Nationals).
Ian Seymour
The Rays lefty has operated in a multitude of roles this year. Today’s start will be his 12th of the year (42nd appearance). He has thus far pitched to a 4.21 ERA (3.59 xERA) in 107 innings with 128 strikeouts. Despite below average velocity, Seymour ranks in the 88th percentile in both chase percentage (34.7%) and strikeout percentage (28.7%), as well as 78th percentile in whiff percentage (29%).
Seymour’s success is largely thanks to his changeup. Throwing it a plurality of the time (29.8%; ), his changeup run value of 6 puts it in the 91st percentile among all offspeed pitches and its 39.3% whiff rate puts it behind only Tarik Skubal, Cristopher Sánchez, and Joey Cantillo for pitchers with at least 500 changeups thrown this year. With a movement profile of 8.1 inches of induced vertical break (IVB) and 15.4 inches of armside run, Seymour does an excellent job locating it right and the bottom and slightly below the strike zone.
Will Dion
As part of the Nationals’ return from the Guardians in the Foster Griffin trade this year, Will Dion has operated exclusively out of the bullpen this year, albeit often in a multi-inning role. Today will be his 19th appearance and first start of the season. In 14 2/3 innings since the trade, he has allowed only four earned runs, a 2.45 ERA. With only six walks and six hits allowed in that same timeframe, his WHIP is a sterling 0.82 with the Nationals.
Similar to Seymour, Dion relies on his changeup as his predominant out pitch. Unlike Seymour, it is not his primary option overall. Dion uses a four-seam fastball 42% of the time, averaging 91.2 mph from a 67° arm angle that trails only Alex Vesia. He also trails only Vesia in induced vertical break on his four-seam fastball. Locating the pitch consistently at the top of the zone with 20.1 inches of induced vertical break allows it to play up.
Complementing the fastball, Dion throws a changeup that holds opponents to a .057 batting average, the lowest mark in baseball among pitchers with at least 100 thrown. He throws the pitch almost exclusively to right-handed hitters (37%) compared to left-handed hitters (8%), creating drastic reverse splits. Facing a Marlins lineup today with seven right-handed starters, and given the likelihood that he will work through the batting order only once, Dion is well positioned to sustain his success.