The Cheapest Rookie Cards of the Pitchers Who Could Decide This Postseason
With MLB's 2026 postseason underway, a handful of standout pitchers still have surprisingly affordable rookie cards. Here is what Jacob Misiorowski, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and Cam Schlittler cards are actually selling for right now, and why collectors say they are undervalued.
Postseason Pitching Is Where Card Values Move Fastest
Every October, a handful of pitchers turn a strong start into a permanent bump in card demand. Heading into the 2026 MLB postseason, several of the league's most talked-about arms still have rookie and early cards trading for well under $500, which makes now a reasonable window for collectors who want exposure before a signature postseason outing changes the math.
Jacob Misiorowski
The Detroit Tigers right-hander has been touching triple digits consistently, sitting at 105.5-plus mph with a 1.86 ERA this season. His 2026 Bowman Chrome Sterling Autograph is still available ungraded for around $380, a modest price for a pitcher one scout described simply as "pretty much unhittable."
Paul Skenes
The reigning Cy Young winner has had a rockier 2026 with his command, but the Pittsburgh Pirates ace remains one of the most talked-about arms in baseball. His 2024 Topps Chrome Update X-Fractor parallel can still be found for roughly $75, cheap relative to his track record even if he is, in one evaluator's words, "still able to be a dominant force" when his command is on.
Tarik Skubal
Back-to-back Cy Young Awards have not fully caught up to Skubal's card prices yet. His 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospects card in gem-mint condition is still available for around $85, which collectors consistently flag as undervalued given his recent move to one of the sport's hottest markets.
Cam Schlittler
One of the breakout stories of the 2026 season, the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander has posted a 1.94 ERA and is drawing AL Cy Young buzz. His 2026 Topps Series One Autograph is priced around $265 ungraded, still well below what a deep postseason run would likely command.
Before You Buy
- Ungraded prices swing fast once the postseason spotlight hits; decide your price ceiling before a big start happens, not after.
- Autograph and pre-rookie chrome parallels tend to hold value better long-term than short-print inserts.
- Grading now, before a signature postseason moment, can be cheaper than grading after demand spikes submissions industrywide.
Postseason pickups like these are easiest to evaluate in person, where you can check centering and corners before you buy. Find a card shop near you at The Card Shop Finder to shop this October's breakout arms locally.