Fantasy Baseball: 10 Starting Pitchers Expected to See an Increase in Production
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
2016 nF Score: 7.23
2017 Projected nF Score: 10.16
Projected Boost: 2.93
| Year | IP | W | K | BB | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 149 | 12 | 172 | 11 | 1.69 | 0.73 |
| 2017 (Projected) | 215 | 17 | 249 | 41 | 2.39 | 0.97 |
So, Clayton Kershaw is really good at baseball. Who knew?
Based on his track record, it seems like a cruel joke that the Los Angeles Dodgers' ace is on this list, but it's because a back injury limited him to his fewest innings pitched since he was a rookie in 2008 (107.2), along with his fewest wins in a single season since 2009 (8). As we can see from the rest of last year's stats, he was pretty good.
The thing that jumps out is the number of walks he allowed. If he threw enough innings to be a qualified pitcher, his 0.64 BB/9 would've easily led the league, and Josh Tomlin would've come in a distant second with mark of 1.04.
Current Fantasy Draft Information:
This should be the least-shocking thing you read all year -- Kershaw is the first starting pitcher to find a home in fantasy drafts, and his ADP is currently inside the top 5, according to NFBC. If you don't have a top-three pick and he somehow falls in the first round, snatch him up before it's too late.
