Fantasy Baseball 2019 Player Comparison: Kershaw or Flaherty
By Bill Pivetz
When drafting your fantasy baseball team, you have to decide between Player A and Player B. I’m here to decide for you between Clayton Kershaw and Jack Flaherty.
The fantasy baseball starting pitcher pool is interesting this season. With the league ERA constantly rising and more batters selling out for power, finding an ace to lead your rotation is tougher than ever. That’s why when deciding between two pitchers can make or break your season. This player debate is deciding between aging veteran in Clayton Kershaw and a rising star Jack Flaherty.
Kershaw has been a staple for seven straight seasons, between 2009 and 2015. He had an average season of a 2.30 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 235 strikeouts and a 16-7 record. Kershaw was a guaranteed first-round pick and was even drafted first overall.
Unfortunately, Father Time and the injury bug have teamed up in an attempt to take down one of the best pitchers over the last decade. Kershaw made just 21 starts in 2016, posting a 1.69 ERA, 0.725 WHIP, 172:11 K:BB ratio and a 12-4 record. That is still a ridiculous line. Some pitchers would love to have that. The disappointment was that Kershaw missed 10 starts between July and August.
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He came back in 2017 to make 27 starts. He made 26 starts, but his ratios were the worst in years. Kershaw had a 2.73 ERA and 1.041 WHIP with just 155 strikeouts. He averaged 6.2 innings per start, the worst since his rookie season.
Kershaw is dealing with a shoulder injury and has been kept off the mound over the last couple of weeks. He finally threw a bullpen session on Monday. If he doesn’t suffer any setbacks, he could make his ninth Opening Day start. Though, it may not be likely.
FantasyPros has a modest projection for Kershaw. Over 25 starts, they have Kershaw posting a 2.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 161 strikeouts and 12 wins. Still not a bad line, but for someone with an ADP of 66.2 in ESPN leagues, that’s not good enough.
There is a pitcher going about a round later that I would love to draft. Flaherty looked good in his first full season in the Cardinals rotation. Over 28 starts, he had a 3.34 ERA, 1.106 WHIP, 182:59 K:BB ratio and an 8-9 record.
He’s pitching well in spring training. In four games, two starts, he has a 2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 19 strikeouts and three walks. As the Cardinals No. 2 pitcher, he’s going to have a chance to make at least 30 starts.
FantasyPros projects him for a 3.51 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 189 strikeouts and also 12 wins. Pitching in the revitalized NL Central make give Flaherty trouble. With Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp and Yasmani Grandal joining the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Christian Yelich makes this an interesting division for pitchers.
Next. Fantasy Baseball 2019: 5 Late-Draft Starting Pitchers. dark
The difference between the two’s ratios should equate to more than a round in ADP. But, the reduced starts for Kershaw brings them closer together. 101ESPN.com had a post about Flaherty possibly winning the NL Cy Young. There were a couple of NL front office guys boasting about Flaherty. He’s someone I’m targeting as my SP2.