P Rankings 2017 Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Rankings Projected Rounds: 1. Clayton Kershaw, P, Los Angeles Dodgers: Round 1, 2. Max Scherzer, P, Washington Nationals: Round 2, 3. Madison Bumgarner, P, San Francisco Giants: Round 2, 4. Noah Syndergaard, P, New York Mets: Round 3, 5. Corey Kluber, P, Cleveland Indians: Round 3, 6. Johnny Cueto, P, San Francisco Giants: Round 3, 7. Felix Hernandez, P, Seattle Mariners: Round 4, 8. Stephen Strasburg, P, Washington Nationals: Round 4, 9. Justin Verlander, P, Detroit Tigers: Round 4, 10. Chris Sale, P, Boston Red Sox: Round 4, 11. Yu Darvish, P, Texas Rangers: Round 4, 12. Carlos Carasco, P, Cleveland Indians: Round 5, 13. Jacob deGrom, P, New York Mets: Round 6, 14. Jon Lester, P, Chicago Cubs: Round 6, 15. Jake Arrieta, P, Chicago Cubs: Round 6, 16. Kyle Hendricks, P, Chicago Cubs: Round 6, 17. David Price, P, Boston Red Sox: Round 7, 18. Rick Porcello, P, Boston Red Sox: Round 7, 19. Chris Archer, P, Tampa Bay Rays: Round 8, 20. Carlos Martinez, P, St. Louis Cardinals: Round 8, 21. Masahiro Tanaka, P, New York Yankees: Round 9, 22. Aaron Sanchez, P, Toronto Blue Jays: Round 9, 23. Danny Duffy, P, Kansas City Royals: Round 10, 24. Zack Greinke, P, Arizona Diamondbacks, 25. Kenta Maeda, P, Los Angeles Dodgers: Round 10, 26. Matt Harvey, P, New York Mets: Round 10, 27. Gerrit Cole, P, Pittsburgh Pirates: Round 11, 28. Cole Hamels, P, Texas Rangers: Round 11, 29. Jose Quintana, P, Chicago White Sox: Round 11, 30. John Lackey, P, Chicago Cubs: Round 11, 31. Dallas Keuchel, P, Houston Astros: Round 11, 32. Lance McCullers, P, Houston Astros: Round 11, 33. Julio Teheran, P, Atlanta Braves: Round 11, 34. Michael Fulmer, P, Detroit Tigers: Round 11, 35. Rich Hill, P, Los Angeles Dodgers: Round 13, 36. Jon Gray, P, Colorado Rockies: Round 13, 37. Danny Salazar, P, Cleveland Indians: Round 14, 38. James Paxton, P, Seattle Mariners: Round 14, 39. J.A. Happ, P, Toronto Blue Jays: Round 14, 40. Tanner Roark, P, Washington Nationals: Round 15, 41. Aaron Nola, P, Philadelphia Phillies: Round 15, 42. Julio Urias, P, Los Angeles Dodgers: Round 15, 43. Sean Manaea, P, Oakland Athletics: Round 15, 44. Steven Matz, P, New York Mets: Round 15, 45. Matt Shoemaker, P, Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim: Round 15, 46. Jameson Taillon, P, Pittsburgh Pirates: Round 15, 47. Drew Pomeranz, P, Boston Red Sox: Round 16, 48. Jharel Cotton, P, Oakland Athletics: Round 17, 49. Trevor Bauer, P, Cleveland Indians: Round 18, 50. Josh Tomlin, P, Cleveland Indians: Round 19


2017 Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Rankings





Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: March 24, 2017.



  1. Clayton Kershaw, P, Los Angeles Dodgers

    Clayton Kershaw is still the #1 pitcher in Fantasy Baseball even with his injury risk. Kershaw is the top prospect for Fantasy Baseball after Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.



  2. Max Scherzer, P, Washington Nationals

    Max Scherzer had 20 wins in 2016. He also led the MLB with 284 strikeouts which is why you can argue he's the top pitcher after Clayton Kershaw in Fantasy Baseball.



  3. Madison Bumgarner, P, San Francisco Giants

    Madison Bumgarner is the safest #1 starter when healthy. Kershaw deals with injuries and you can argue that Scherzer is more of a #2, but still Bumgarner



  4. Noah Syndergaard, P, New York Mets

    If Noah Syndergaard stays healthy he is on pace for 200 innings pitched and 250 strikeouts. The 24-year-old pitcher may be due for a career season.



  5. Corey Kluber, P, Cleveland Indians

    Corey Kluber dominated in the 2016 MLB Playoffs. I expect Kluber to build on that momentum in 2017.




  6. Johnny Cueto, P, San Francisco Giants

    Johnny Cueto had more wins than Maidson Bumgarner as the Giants #2 starter. He does not get you as many strikeouts as Bumgarner though.



  7. Felix Hernandez, P, Seattle Mariners
    Felix Hernandez declined in 2016. At the same time, I feel like he's due for a comeback season in 2017.



  8. Stephen Strasburg, P, Washington Nationals

    Stephen Strasburg is capable of winning 20 games. Strasburg is a guy that you don't know what you are getting on the mound. That's why its hard to rank him higher than this spot.



  9. Justin Verlander, P, Detroit Tigers

    Justin Verlander regained his confidence in 2016. Justin Verlander may be due for a comeback year in 2017.



  10. Chris Sale, P, Boston Red Sox

    Chris Sale was a dominant #1 starter on the Chicago White Sox. He will be the #2 pitcher in Boston's rotation, but I honestly believe he's the best pitcher on their staff.




  11. Yu Darvish, P, Texas Rangers

    Yu Darvish can be an effective #1 starter when healthy. Durability is a huge concern with Darvish though.



  12. Carlos Carrasco, P, Cleveland Indians

    Injuries limited Carlos Carrasco in 2016. Carrasco needs to stay healthy in 2017, but if he does he will have a strong season.



  13. Jacob deGrom, P, New York Mets

    Jacob deGrom can be an ace for the Mets when healthy. Injuries affected him in 2016 though.



  14. Jon Lester, P, Chicago Cubs

    Jon Lester had a 2.44 ERA in 2016 going 19-5. Lester is projected to have a 3.36 ERA in 2017 which is slightly worse than his 3.34 ERA in 2015.



  15. Jake Arrieta, P, Chicago Cubs

    Jake Arrieta dominated in 2015. He was effective in 2016, but he didn't dominate like he did in 2015.




  16. Kyle Hendricks, P, Chicago Cubs

    Kyle Hendricks threw a 2.13 ERA in 190 innings pitched. Hendricks had the best ERA among Cubs pitchers and many consider him a viable #1 starter in Fantasy Leagues.



  17. David Price, P, Boston Red Sox

    David Price begins 2017 injured. I still believe he will be better than Rick Porcello this year.



  18. Rick Porcello, P, Boston Red Sox

    I think Rick Porcello will be the biggest disappointment for Fantasy Baseball owners in 2017. Porcello is coming off a career season, but remember his ERA was over 4.00 in 2015.



  19. Chris Archer, P, Tampa Bay Rays

    Chris Archer dealt with injuries the last two years. He's a top 20 pitcher, but you are taking a huge risk on him.



  20. Carlos Martinez, P, St. Louis Cardinals

    Carlos Martinez is a young and upcoming pitcher. Martinez will be the Cardinals biggest asset in 2017 with Alex Reyes on the DL out for the season.




  21. Masahiro Tanaka, P, New York Yankees

    Masahiro Tanaka is the Yankees best pitcher. Tanaka is the one pitcher on the Yankees that can be a difference maker.



  22. Aaron Sanchez, P, Toronto Blue Jays

    Aaron Sanchez is a good starter to target in the later rounds. Sanchez went 15-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 2016.



  23. Danny Duffy, P, Kansas City Royals

    Danny Duffy is the one reliable starter on the Royals. He went 12-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 2016 after posting a 4.08 ERA. I think Duffy is due for a huge year with 200-210 strikeouts, but I also see him matching his 12-15 wins from last year. His ERA is the wild card as it may go up or down, but Duffy is one player to keep an eye on.



  24. Zack Greinke, P, Arizona Diamondbacks

    Zack Greinke sucked in 2016 with the Diamondbacks after dominating 2015 with the Dodgers when he led the National League with a 1.66 ERA. Greinke will be a steal if he reverts to his 2015 form, but he could also suck in 2017.



  25. Kenta Maeda, P, Los Angeles Dodgers

    Kenta Maeda is a reliable starter he can have an ERA of under 4.00 with an ERA of around 3.00. Maeda had a 3.48 ERA in 2016, but he was used as a #1 starter when Kershaw was injured which is why his ERA was higher in his first career MLB season.




  26. Matt Harvey, P, New York Mets

    Matt Harvey may end up having a comeback year in 2017. Injuries and a crappy ERA really limited him in 2016.



  27. Gerrit Cole, P, Pittsburgh Pirates

    Gerrit Cole has a 3.23 ERA in 4 seasons with the Pirates. I know he finished with a 3.88 ERA in 2016, but he had a 2.78 ERA heading into August. Cole is a player to keep an eye on as he is someone you can get late.



  28. Cole Hamels, P, Texas Rangers

    Cole Hamels can still pitch like a #1 starter. Being 33-years-old is our biggest concern with Hamels.



  29. Jose Quintana, P, Chicago White Sox

    Jose Quintana enters a contract year with the White Sox and he's the teams #1 pitcher. Quintana is a player that I expect to get dealt at the 2017 MLB Trade Deadline.



  30. John Lackey, P, Chicago Cubs

    John Lackey enters a contract year with the Cubs. The 38-year-old pitcher should have a good season, but I don't think the Cubs will be able to replace him so easily.




  31. Dallas Keuchel, P, Houston Astros

    Dallas Keuchel won the 2015 AL Cy Young Award. He struggled in 2016 with a 4.55 ERA. Kluber won the Cy Young and had a down year the following season, but then rebounded. I sort of expect something like that from Keuchel who could end up being a huge bargain in Fantasy leagues.



  32. Lance McCullers, P, Houston Astros

    Lance McCullers may actually jump Keuchel as the Astros opening day starter if he can put everything together in 2017. McCullers did better than Keuchel last season.



  33. Julio Teheran, P, Atlanta Braves

    Julio Teheran isn't great, but he isn't terrible either. You can argue he's a #4 pitcher in most Fantasy leagues despite being the Braves #1 starter. His best season is still yet to come since Teheran is only 26-years-old.



  34. Michael Fulmer, P, Detroit Tigers

    Michael Fulmer dominated in his first MLB season. Fulmer may do even more moving forward.



  35. Rich Hill, P, Los Angeles Dodgers

    Rich Hill dominated in 2016. The issue with Hill is that he's 37-years-old.




  36. Jon Gray, P, Colorado Rockies

    Jon Gray has been awful the last two years. Many expect Gray to finally blossom in 2017 though.



  37. Danny Salazar, P, Cleveland Indians

    Dann Salazar could have a comeback season if he stays healthy in 2017. Salazar's season ended early in 2016.



  38. James Paxton, P, Seattle Mariners

    James Paxton struck out Mike Trout four times in a game. Paxton had a losing record and a 3.79 ERA in 2016 though.



  39. J.A. Happ, P, Toronto Blue Jays

    J.A. Happ went from the Pirates tot he Blue Jays in 2016. Happ was okay and did better with the Blue Jays than the Pirates.



  40. Tanner Roark, P, Washington Nationals

    Tanner Roark dominated as a #3 starter in 2016 complimenting Washington's top 2 aces. Roark could get 200 innings again. I expect his ERA and strikeouts to decline though in 2017.




  41. Aaron Nola, P, Philadelphia Phillies

    Aaron Nola was promising in 2015, but poor in 2016. He can revert to being a top 25 pitcher with a strong 2017 season. Nola is a good #4 starter to add.



  42. Julio Urias, P, Los Angeles Dodgers

    Julio Urias is only 20-years-old. Urias went 5-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 15 starts with 8 no decisions.



  43. Sean Manaea, P, Oakland Athletics

    Sean Manaea struggled in 2016. Manaea may end up taking the #1 spot from Sonny Gray though if he can improve in 2017 assuming Gray declines.



  44. Steven Matz, P, New York Mets

    Steven Matz had a 3.40 ERA. I want to see if Matz can cut that back to 3.30 and limit his number of walks. I see him as a #5 starter.



  45. Matt Shoemaker, P, Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim

    Matt Shoemaker got placed on the 60 day DL in November. Shoemaker is someone you shouldn't sleep on and you can get him for next to nothing.




  46. Jameson Taillon, P, Pittsburgh Pirates

    Jameson Taillon finally goit some MLB experience in 2016. He has durability concerns though and it would be a miracle if he can get 190 innings pitched in 28 starts which is what the Pirates are hoping from him.



  47. Drew Pomeranz, P, Boston Red Sox

    Drew Pomeranz was once a top 5 pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. Pomeranz finally put everything together and was a reliable #4 starter for the Boston Red Sox.



  48. Jharel Cotton, P, Oakland Athletics

    Jharel Cotton is a guy that did well for the Athletics after being called up from the minors. Cotton is another dark horse on this Athletics rotation.



  49. Trevor Bauer, P, Cleveland Indians

    Trevor Bauer showed he could be a #2 starter in the 2016 MLB Playoffs despite being Cleveland's #4 starter when Carrasco and Salazar are healthy. That's why Bauer came in at 49 despite his shaky ERA during the regular season.



  50. Josh Tomlin, P, Cleveland Indians

    Josh Tomlin showed he could be a #3 starter in the 2016 MLB Playoffs despite being Cleveland's #5 starter when Carrasco and Salazar are healthy. That's why Tomlin wraps up our top 50.



Draft Utopia 2017 Fantasy Baseball Rankings








Comment Box is loading comments...