MLB: Five First-Round Fantasy Baseball Picks That Will Alter Your Draft Strategy
Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Average NFBC pick: 4
There is no debate whatsoever who the best pitcher in the game is. Kershaw will only be 29 on opening day, yet he’s already established himself as the most dominant pitcher in the modern era.
Kershaw is picked as early as he is due to his tremendous ability when he’s on the mound, with a career 2.37 ERA – not a career year, mind you, for his ENTIRE career!
Kershaw has also posted over a strikeout per inning through his entire career as well, actually picking up his performance in the last three seasons, topping 10 K/9 each of the last three years.
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The issue with drafting Kershaw comes in the fact that in the last three seasons, Kershaw has missed time in two of those years. While on the mound, he’s been incredible, but over the last three seasons, he’s averaged just 27 starts, and while he’s thrown 193 innings with a 1.89 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 11 K/9 in those years, when he’s not on the mound, that leaves a big hole in a fantasy rotation.
Typically, selecting a starting pitcher in the first round allows the fantasy owner to stock up on hitting for a while, sure that he’s got an elite ace locked down.
However, with Kershaw’s most recent issue being a back issue and back issues tending to be problematic and recurring, fantasy owners selecting Kershaw may be best served selecting another starter within the first 5 rounds, and two starters in the first five rounds will put an owner behind the 8-ball as far as offense goes.
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