By: Jared Leonard|@JaredLeonard77(Twitter)
Starting Pitchers Tier 1:
C. Kluber | Cle |
M. Scherzer | Wash |
C. Kershaw | LA-D | He won’t be on any of my teams. I don’t think he will make 30 starts and I’m very concerned about his back issues.
C. Sale | Bos |
N. Syndergaard | NY-M | I love Thor this year, I think he will win NL Cy Young.
M. Bumgarner | SF |
L. Severino | NY-Y |
C. Carrasco | Cle |
J. Verlander | Hou |
S. Strasburg | Wash | Not a fan, I think he’s too injury prone.
Tier 2:
C. Martinez | StL| Will have his best season as a pro.
J. DeGrom | NY-M |
J. Berrios | Min | I love his upside. He’s my dark horse for AL Cy Young this season.
Y. Darvish | Chi-C |
J. Paxton | Sea | I really like his potential, but he is an injury risk. If he stays healthy, he could have the potential to win 17-20 games.
D. Keuchel | Hou |
L. Weaver |StL | Hopefully he lives up to the hype, or a lot of fantasy owners will be very disappointed.
D. Price | Bos | Could be AL comeback player of the year.
J. Quintana | Chi-C | Will be the best pitcher on the Cubs this year.
R. Ray | Ari | I feel regression coming here.
A. Nola | Phi | Love Nola
C. Archer | TB |
J. Samardzija | SF | So consistent and undervalued, love where you can draft this guy (ADP 157) for the numbers he puts up. Will throw 180+ innings and get 180+ strikeouts. Plus, San Fran is much improved.
J. Lester | Chi-C |
R. Hill | LA-D |
A. Wood | LA-D |
Z. Greinke |Ari | I think he’s on the back end of his career and I think this current injury could affect him through out the season. 3/19 Update: it was reported that Greinke had a really good bullpen session over the weekend, he’s moving back up my board.
Tier 3:
G. Cole | Hou |
J. Gray | Col | I know he pitches in Coors, but he’s a good young pitcher and will put up big strikeout numbers.
T. Bauer | Cle | Could be his breakout season. I’m buying in.
J. Montgomery | NY-Y | One of my top sleepers at starting pitcher and he’s a great value (ADP 265).
M. Tanaka | NY-Y | His elbow issues scare me.
D. Pomeranz | Bos |
F. Hernandez | Sea |
S. Gray | NY-Y |
C.C. Sabathia | NY-Y | Still a quality pitcher.
C. Morton | Hou | Can he repeat last years numbers? I think he can come close.
Z. Godley | Ari | Could end up being Arizona’s top pitcher this year.
G. Gonzalez | Wash | Won’t repeat last years numbers.
M. Stroman | Tor |
J. Cueto | SF | Could be NL comeback player of the year.
G. Richards | LA-A |
J. Arrietta | Phi | He’s lost a step and shouldn’t be looked at as a fantasy ace anymore.
C. Hamels | Tex |
K. Hendricks | Chi-C |
S. Ohtani | LA-A | I’m not sure how the Ohtani experiment is going to work out, so I’m staying away for this year. 3/19 Update: has struggled all spring, has control issues and can’t hit MLB pitching. He’s moving down my board.
Tier 4:
K. Fullmer | Det |
D. Duffy | KC |
A. Cobb | FA |
D. Bundy | Bal |
L. Lynn | Min |
D. Salazar | Cle | Gets hurt too often for me.
L. McCullers | Hou | Could end up in the bullpen, I’m staying away.
M. Wacha | StL |
T. Roark | Wash |
J. Teheran | Atl |
C. Rodon | Chi-W |
A. Reyes | StL |
R. Porcello | Bos |
T. Walker | Ari | Nicer sleeper option.
Z. Davies | Mil |
E. Rodriguez | Bos | I like his upside and pitches for a good team.
J. Taillin | Pit | Could start showing some dominance this year.
K. Gausman | Bal | He was a highly touted prospect and everybody is overlooking him because of some subpar seasons. He’s entering the prime of his career and he’s only 27.
P. Corbin | Ari |
J. Nelson | Mil |
A. Heaney | LA-A |
Tier 5:
J. Faria | TB |
J. Odorizzi |Min |
L. Castillo | Cin |
B. Snell | TB |
JA. Happ | Tor |
M. Leake | Sea | Love this guy at the back end of fantasy rotations.
M. Estrada | Tor |
A. Wainwright | StL |
K. Maeda | LA-D | Could have a nice rebound season.
D. Straily | Mia |
H. Ryu | LA-D |
M. Minor | Tex | Could be very undervalued.
M. Foltynewic | Atl | Another great late round starting pitcher with some big upside potential.
M. Harvey | NY-M | I like Harvey to rebound this year and be a pretty good pitcher. Dark Knight days are over though.
C. Anderson | Mil |