Starting pitchers are the foundation of a great fantasy baseball team. Building your team around a group of solid, consistent, and statistically sound aces will only aid in your quest for fantasy infamy.
That being said, drafting a group of starting pitchers for your team who don’t posses any of the before mentioned qualities will land you in a world of hurt.
There is quite a bit of depth at starting pitcher this season, all the more reason to spend time researching them. Preparation and research can not be stressed enough before entering your draft-room. It’s what separates the winners, from the losers.
Fortunately, the AGSH team has already lightened the research load for you! Below is our top 25 starting pitcher rankings in fantasy baseball for 2015. The rankings may not be an exact science, but they are a step in the right direction. The rest of the work will fall on you. Enjoy!
1. Clayton Kershaw– Reigning National League Most Valuable Player Clayton Kershaw is a freak of nature on the mound and at the top of his game. Kershaw has averaged 17 wins, 233 K’s, a .201 BAA, and a 2.04 ERA over the last three seasons. Last season Kershaw had an impressive 21 perfect PQS starts, which is 3 better than in 2013. Did I mentioned he just entered his peak years?
2. Felix Hernandez– The word dominance is defined as “power over others.” Felix Hernandez is the embodiment of a power pitcher. Every time Hernandez sets foot on the mound he exudes power over batters. His average number of wins over the past three years may only be at 13, but King Felix brings much more to the table than just wins. An average of 18 perfect PQS starts, 224 K’s, a .227 BAA, and a 2.75 ERA over three seasons is not something that goes unnoticed. It actually propels him to the top of most lists, which is why he’s our number 2 on this one. Oops, almost forgot to mention those 21 perfect PQS starts he had last season. Bonafide ace. Enough said.
3. Chris Sale– Despite the fractured right foot, and the fact that he will most likely miss his opening day start, Sale is still a top tier starter. If you’re like me you will be counting on his stock to fall due to fantasy owners playing it safe. Just remember you don’t have to. ⇑
4. Max Scherzer– Dominant pitcher + established pitching staff= arguably the best pitching staff in MLB. With Scherzer now taking the mound as a National, look for him to be more dominant than ever. Those 241 strikeouts Scherzer has averaged over the past three seasons will help persuade you in case your skeptical. ⇑
5. Johnny Cueto–
Coming off an injury plagued 2013 season, Cueto became a red flag to a great number of fantasy owners in 2014. However, Cueto came roaring back to silence all of the haters. In 2014 Cueto pitched 244 innings, won 20 games, posted a 2.25 ERA and had an insane 22 perfect PQS starts (More than Felix Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw). Health is still in question for Cueto, but his upside should leave no doubt. ⇑
6. David Price– Price regressed statistically in 2014, but his overall dominance (16 perfect PQS starts) on the mound has not. Expect a significant bounce back. ⇑
7. Stephen Strasburg– A 14-11 record may not seem very flashy to most fantasy owners, but if you examine his numbers more closely, you will find a veritable stat goldmine in Stephen Strasburg. 19 perfect PQS starts in 2014, 210 K’s, a .227 BAA, and a 3.10 ERA over the last three years indicates to me that Strasburg is about to blow up. In case you forgot, he will also be pitching behind Max Scherzer. ⇑
8. Madison Bumgarner– Although he was standing on a stage months ago being awarded the 2014 World Series MVP, and a Chevy Colorado loaded with “technology and stuff,”
Madison Bumgarner’s skills over the season as a whole were not that impressive. Bumgarner had only 13 perfect PQS starts during the regular season, losing a bit of that dominance he has displayed over the past few years. Even though he dominated throughout the postseason, all of those extra innings could catch up to him in 2015. Proceed with caution. ⇔
9. Adam Wainwright– Elbow soreness in 2014, and now fresh off of an abdominal strain during Spring Training, Adam Wainwright is not looking like the picture of health these days. If Wainwright can remain healthy, he will still be a top tier starter whose capable a 2013-14 repeat. However, if the injuries persist…⇓
10. Yu Darvish– Not only did Yu Darvish reach statistical career lows last season, he is now facing season ending Tommy John Surgery, due to a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. Translation? Stay away. ⇓
Check back with Wednesday for the rest of our top 25 starting pitchers in fantasy baseball for 2015!
Mandatory Featured Image Credit: Monte Simco, Flickr
matthewsprayberry
I am a huge fan of my wife, my wonderful daughter, baseball, old school wrasslin', movies, and friends. Dislikes? The killing off of Quicksilver (Oops…too soon?), People who don't tip, Reality TV, and Daredevils new costume (I'm sorry it just looks stupid).
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