Fantasy Baseball: Where Is Max Scherzer In Our Top Ten Pitchers

St. Louis Cardinals. Adam Wainwright. 10. player. 32. Adam Wainwright was an absolute beast last season posting a 2.38 ERA with a 20-9 record. The 179 strikeouts were not too shabby either. Wainwright did have some minor elbow surgery at the end of last season, but says he is fully healthy. He is already throwing, and plans to appear at spring training on time. He should not be a major health concern heading into this season. The Cardinals have bolstered their lineup by adding talent like the 2014 NL Gold Glove recipient Jason Heyward. Wainwright is 33 years old, but I believe he still has gas left in the tank. He may not be an ideal dynasty league pitcher, but in a larger keeper league, he could be an option for you.. Starting Pitcher

95. Yu Darvish had a bit of a rough summer and wound up being shut down early in August last season. He has already started throwing in December and is considered to be a full participant for spring training. Yu is only 28 years old is still a recommended player in dynasty and keeper leagues. Even with the rough summer, Darvish wound up with 182 Ks and a 3.08 ERA. For some reason Darvish has never been a favorite of mine, but it is hard to argue with his numbers. I would take him as my ninth pitcher off of the board this year.. Starting Pitcher. Texas Rangers. Yu Darvish. 9. player

8. player. 61. Johnny Cueto has really asserted himself as one of the better pitchers in the NL. Sporting a 20-9 record with 242 Ks and a 2.25 ERA really supports that claim. I have no problem taking Cueto as your eight or maybe even higher pitcher off the draft board. The 28-year-old should continue his dominance with the Reds this season and return some similar numbers for those who draft him. Cueto is another guy I like for dynasty and keeper leagues.. Starting Pitcher. Cincinnati Reds. Johnny Cueto

player. 90. Stephen Strasburg is a great pitcher who is coming off of a solid season last year. He set career highs in innings pitched with 215, and recorded 242 strikeouts. Strasburg is poised to climb up this list, and with the addition of Scherzer to the Nationals starting rotation, the Nationals could be an early favorite to win the World Series. I would be looking to add the 26 year old Strasburg in any and all fantasy formats this coming year. He could truly wind up a steal as the seventh pitcher off of the board this season.. Starting Pitcher. Washington Nationals. Stephen Strasburg. 7

player. 31. Madison Bumgarner is shown above hoisting baseball’s grandest trophy in the air. He is quite possibly the reason some of his fantasy owners did the same last season. Bumgarner had a great season for the Giants last year, delivering 219 Ks with a 2.98 ERA and an 18-10 record. At the tender age of 25, Bumgarner is a player that I would love to own in a dynasty format. He looks to have several good years of productivity ahead of him.. Starting Pitcher. San Francisco Giants. Madison Bumgarner. 5

90. Max Scherzer had a very dominant season last year with 252 Ks and a 3.15 ERA. He also gave his fantasy owners 18 wins while only accounting for 5 losses. Scherzer is 30 now, but should have a few good seasons left in him, so I would recommend him in a keeper format. You might look to deal him after a few good games if you own him in a dynasty format. He is also the kind of player who could be useful to deal in any fantasy format if your team falls out of contention to win your league. Scherzer’s move to the NL could and should benefit his strikeout numbers, and I would think that his ERA would improve as well.. Starting Pitcher. Washington Nationals. Max Scherzer. 4. player

Felix Hernandez. 2. player. 62. Felix Hernandez really stepped up last season and set some career bests. His 2.14 ERA, .92 WHIP and 242 Ks were career bests for Hernandez. He also finished with a very respectable 15-6 record. Felix is obviously a player I would recommend across all formats. There are just not enough good things to say about a player like Hernandez. He has an incredible work ethic, and as long as he stays healthy, he will be a force to be reckoned with this year.. Starting Pitcher. Seattle Mariners

Starting Pitcher. Los Angeles Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw. 1. player. 71. Clayton Kershaw has simply been a man among boys for the last few seasons. He is still only 26, even thought it may seem like he has been at the top of his game for several seasons. Kershaw is another player who set career highs across multiple categories last year with a fantasitc 1.77 ERA and .86 WHIP. His 239 Ks were not a career high, but very good nonetheless. Kershaw is definitely your top pitcher off of the board this year and will most likely continue to improve as he has literally every year in the big show. If you can add Kershaw to your pitching staff then by all means do so.