2017 Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Rankings
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: March 24, 2017.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Corey Kluber, P, Cleveland Indians
- Corey Kluber dominated in the 2016 MLB Playoffs. I expect Kluber to build on that momentum in 2017.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Justin Verlander, P, Detroit Tigers
- Justin Verlander regained his confidence in 2016. Justin Verlander may be due for a comeback year in 2017.
- 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.
- Yu Darvish, P, Texas Rangers
- Yu Darvish can be an effective #1 starter when healthy. Durability is a huge concern with Darvish though.
- 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.
- Jacob deGrom, P, New York Mets
- Jacob deGrom can be an ace for the Mets when healthy. Injuries affected him in 2016 though.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- David Price, P, Boston Red Sox
- David Price begins 2017 injured. I still believe he will be better than Rick Porcello this year.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cole Hamels, P, Texas Rangers
- Cole Hamels can still pitch like a #1 starter. Being 33-years-old is our biggest concern with Hamels.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Michael Fulmer, P, Detroit Tigers
- Michael Fulmer dominated in his first MLB season. Fulmer may do even more moving forward.
- Rich Hill, P, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Rich Hill dominated in 2016. The issue with Hill is that he's 37-years-old.
- Jon Gray, P, Colorado Rockies
- Jon Gray has been awful the last two years. Many expect Gray to finally blossom in 2017 though.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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