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Fantasy Baseball: 10 veteran pitchers who can be difference makers in 2020

By Darwin (Deni) Martin

Justin Verlander, Houston Astros (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Justin Verlander, Houston Astros (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers stands in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park in the first inning on August 17, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

Veteran pitchers will be  a valuable commodity for fantasy team  owners and DFS players who are building or fine-tuning their rosters for the 60-game Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season.

How valuable is a reliable veteran pitcher?  Travel back with me in the fantasy baseball “wayback machine” to July 4, 2011 and see who the top pitchers were  then and what they can contribute to the upcoming 2020 season.

The average age of the players on this list is 34 and they have  been in the major leagues at least 9 years. They are a valuable mixture of lefthanders, righthanders, starters and relief pitchers.  Here’s how these talented veterans rate:

1. Justin Verlander, righthanded starter, Houston Astros

  • 2011 – Rated No. 1 by CBS fantasy baseball with 430 points
    • Starting pitcher for Detroit Tigers
    • 11-3 record on 7/4/2011
    • ERA – 2.32 / WHIP – 0.86
  • 2019 – Finished No. 4 among pitchers in the regular season according to MLB.com
    • Starting pitcher for Houston Astros
    • 21-6 record last year
    • ERA – 2.58 / WHIP – 0.80
  • Age – 37 / 15 years experience

Comments – Verlander is destined for the MLB Hall of Fame.  He has 225 wins and 129 losses in his career, has a WHP of 1.14 and was last year’s  Cy Young Award winner as the American League’s best pitcher.  Despite some health issues, Houston hopes to start Verlander against the Angels on Opening Day.

2. Clayton Kershaw, lefthanded starter, Los Angeles Dodgers

  • 2011 – Rated No. 7 by CBS fantasy baseball with 334 points
    • Starting pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers
    • 8-4 record on 7/4/2011
    • ERA – 3.23 / WHIP – 1.06
  • 2019 – Finished No. 10 among pitchers in the regular season according to MLB.com
    • Starting pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers
    • 16-5 record last year
    • ERA – 3.03 / WHIP – 1.04
  • Age – 32 / 12 years experience

Comments – Kershaw is the veteran anchor on the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff.  Word out of the Dodgers training camp is Kershaw is ahead of schedule and will be ready to face the Giants in LA’s home opener.

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