1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
2016 Statistics: 16 starts, 11-2 record, 121 innings, 145 strikeouts, nine walks, 1.79 ERA and 0.73 WHIP (286.0 fantasy points)
Before suffering an injury last month, Kershaw was having one of the best seasons for a starting pitcher in modern MLB history. Dude is posting a 16/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and is yielding a total of 5.5 runners per start. More than this, Kershaw is averaging nearly eight innings per start.
To put this all into perspective, the three-time Cy Young winner has given up one earned run or less in half his starts, finding himself pitching into the eighth nine different times.
Needless to say, once Kershaw returns to the bump, he will again be on pace to earn the National League's top pitching honors. More than this, he'll be a must play in DFS every time he takes to the hill.
2. Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
2016 Statistics: 20 starts, 10-5 record, 135.2 innings, 155 strikeouts, 33 walks, 2.12 ERA and 0.96 WHIP (297.7 fantasy points)
If it weren't for Kershaw, this former World Series hero would be the odds-on favorite to win the Cy Young. He's striking out over 10 batters per inning, is yielding less than seven base runners per start and has posted a sub 1.00 WHIP.
What makes Bumgarner such a dominating DFS play is the fact that he's performing just as well on the road as he is at home.
Home/Away Splits, 2016 | Where | Starts | Record | Innings | ERA | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| Home | 11 | 5-2 | 76.2 | 1.64 | 86 | 1.64 | 0.85 |
| Away | 8 | 5-2 | 53.0 | 2.38 | 60 | 2.38 | 1.13 |
That's what we'd call pretty darn impressive right there. So yeah, make sure you have your eyes on this guy pretty much every time he takes to the will, whether it's in San Francisco or on the road.
3. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
2016 Statistics: 19 starts, 10-6 record, 127.2 innings, 164 strikeouts, 34 walks, 3.03 ERA and 0.96 WHIP (288.7 fantasy points)
When Scherzer is on, he can be the most-dominating pitcher in the game. Here's a guy that's racked up 230-plus strikeouts in each of the past four seasons and currently finds himself on pace to put up over 300 K's this year. He's allowed three hits or less in six starts, yielding one earned run or less nine times. Over the course of his past eight starts, the former Cy Young winner has posted a 1.66 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP.
It's this type of consistency that's made Scherzer one of the most-reliable DFS options in the game. He continually goes seven or eight deep, posting double-digit strikeout nearly every single time he takes to the bump. It really is absurd.
4. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
2016 Statistics: 17 starts, 13-0 record, 114.2 innings, 138 strikeouts, 33 walks, 2.51 ERA and 1.01 WHIP (272.2 fantasy points)
If Strasburg doesn't lose a game this season, he will definitely be in consideration for the Cy Young. As if the perfect 13-0 record wasn't enough, this former top prospect has seen his Nationals post a 16-1 mark in his 17 starts thus far this season. Of those 17 starts, Strasburg has allowed two earned runs or less 12 times.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old ace has been absolutely dominating of late. He's posted a 3-0 record with a 0.94 ERA and 0.73 WHIP while striking out a batter per inning during this span.
What makes Strasburg such an intimidating DFS option is the fact that he's struck out nine-plus batters in over half his starts and boasts a 1.99 ERA on the road. Simply put, he's a must start nearly ever time he takes to the hill.
5. Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
2016 Statistics: 17 starts, 11-4 record, 107.1 innings, 154 strikeouts, 31 walks, 2.52 ERA and 1.02 WHIP (275.3 fantasy points)
Want to talk about domination? When healthy, there's not a pitcher outside of Kershaw and Bumgarner that can dominate the game the way Fernandez does. The 23-year-old enters this season's second half with a career 2.43 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while striking out over 11 batters per nine innings.
This season alone, Fernandez leads the NL in strikeout per nine (12.9) while boasting better than a five-to-one strikeout/walk ratio. He's also yielded one earned run or less in 12 of his 17 starts on the year. And despite giving up six earned against Atlanta two starts ago, Fernandez has not yielded an earned run in four of his past seven starts. Yeah, that's simply amazing stuff right there.