MLB Positional Fantasy Rankings: Starting Pitchers (Part 1)

Here is Part 1 of theScore's 2016 fantasy starting pitcher rankings (projections provided by Steamer (via Fangraphs) and theScore staff):

Positional Rankings
C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF1 | OF2 | OF3 | DH | SP1 | SP2 | SP3 | RP

1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Kershaw is the best fantasy pitcher in baseball, and warrants a top-4 pick in just about any mixed league format. Expect a slight downturn in strikeouts this season, but he should still lead the league by a wide margin - and yes, you'll still get those minuscule ERA and WHIP totals.

2. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

Scherzer was simply dominant for stretches last season, following up on an impressive 2014 campaign and solidifying his spot in the second round of standard drafts. He'll be among the league leaders in strikeouts and should maintain elite rate stats; he should be more win-lucky in 2016, as well.

3. Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants

One of the more dependable pitchers in the game, Bumgarner is a step below the truly elite but remains a terrific option in the second or third round of most standard fantasy drafts. You know what you're getting here - an ERA somewhere south of 3.00, with decent strikeout totals and few walks.

4. Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

Sale's rate stats took a major nosedive from the year before, though he did lead the league in Fielding Independent Pitching with a rate nearly seven tenths of a point lower than his ERA. That suggests Sale was rather unlucky last season; if he bounces back, he could be a top-5 pitching option.

5. Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

Arrieta's second half last season (12-1, 0.75 ERA, 0.73 WHIP) ranks among the most dominant stretches by any starter in the past 100 years. Don't expect 32 starts like that, but Arrieta has moved to the periphery of the top-5 on the starter list and is a solid fourth-round pick in most formats.

▼6. Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins

Injuries have limited Fernandez to 19 starts the past two seasons, but the fireballer is back at full health and racked up 149 strikeouts over just 116 1/3 innings in 2014-15. Rumors of the Marlins using a six-man rotation in 2016 will cap Fernandez's potential.

7. David Price, Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox landed an absolute whale in Price, who posted a career-low ERA between Detroit and Toronto last season and was one of the biggest factors in the Blue Jays ending their postseason drought. Price is a workhorse, and should be picked in the third round of standard drafts.

8. Jacob DeGrom, New York Mets

DeGrom was sensational in the follow-up to his National League Rookie of the Year campaign, improving on his K/9 while seeing his BB/9 dip significantly. Does he have another level? It's hard to say, but even a duplicate of his 2015 numbers would make him a decent third-round pick.

9. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

Keuchel was a revelation last season, helping guide the Astros to the playoffs and claiming the American League Cy Young Award. Expect some regression, particularly in strikeouts (Keuchel posted an 8.4 K/9 rate, up considerably from his 6.6 mark in 2014), but he's still a viable fourth-round pick.

10. Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

Kluber has had a bizarre two-year stretch in which he has been consistently dominant, but boasts W-L and ERA totals that are wildly divergent. Expect something slightly closer to 2014, when he led the league in victories and FIP. He should be good for 220 innings and is worth a fourth-round pick.

11. Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

Greinke's migration from Los Angeles to Arizona will almost certainly punish his stats, which were wholly unsustainable to begin with. He'll still hover near the top-10 at his position, but don't be surprised to see him emerge as the most overvalued elite pitcher in standard drafts this year.

12. Matt Harvey, New York Mets

Harvey made a great bounceback after missing the entire 2014 season, hovering near the K/9 and BB/9 rates he posted during his breakout 2013 campaign. Expect Harvey to improve on his 2015 stats; he's a safe play at the back end of the fourth round in 10-team leagues.

13. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

A return to health would be a welcome relief for Strasburg, who made just 23 starts last season after racking up 64 the previous two years combined. He has been burned by a subpar Washington defense the past two seasons, but his strikeout rate alone makes him a viable fourth- or fifth-round pick.

14. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs

It's absurd that Lester finished 2015 with a losing record, given how well he pitched for the majority of the season. Expect a solid bounce back in the win column, with solid strikeout totals and an ERA more in line with his previous three seasons. He's a great grab in the fourth round.

15. Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets

Syndergaard had a terrific rookie season, averaging 10 K/9 while limiting opponents to a stingy .268 OBP. The strikeouts are certainly sustainable, as is the low walk rate. Syndergaard should find himself picked in the fifth round of most standard drafts, but has one of the biggest upsides at the position.

16. Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates

Cole came into his own last season, establishing career highs in wins, strikeouts and walk rate while making 32 starts. Another healthy season should produce results somewhere between last season's performance and his 2014 effort. He's in the mix in the fourth or fifth round of drafts.

17. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

Is time catching up to King Felix? Having racked up more than 2,260 innings entering 2016, Hernandez is coming off a so-so season that saw him win 18 games for the first time since 2009, but post a significantly higher ERA and WHIP and a lower K rate than in 2014. He's a medium-risk fifth-round play.

18. Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians

Carrasco looked good in his first full season as a starter, exceeding 10 K/9 and tossing three complete games. He doesn't have the mileage of most 28-year-olds, having started just 84 major-league games; bank on 200+ strikeouts and decent rate stats if he manages a full workload again.

18. Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays

Archer saw a staggering increase in his strikeout rate last season, from 8.0 to 10.7. That rate should decline somewhat, but even something in the 9.5-9.8 range would put Archer on the top-15 periphery. A low wins ceiling and subpar walk rate prevent him from reaching the elite tier.

20. Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics

Gray is a reliable option, but two issues keep him from being a true No. 1 in standard leagues: a career 7.7 K/9 rate that lags behind the top options, and a 2.8 BB/9 mark that also drops him down a tier. He's also a poor finisher, boasting a 13-14 record with a 3.38 ERA in 38 career second-half starts.

21. Johnny Cueto, San Francisco Giants

Cueto was a bust after heading to Kansas City at last season's trade deadline, but is in great position to rebound with the Giants. Cueto may not revert to his 2014 form, but making half his starts at AT&T Park should get his ERA down. He'll need his K/9 rate to climb back above eight, but that's doable.

22. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers

Hamels was dealt to the Rangers at last season's trade deadline and basically gave Texas what he had given Philadelphia: A strong strikeout rate but a few more walks and hits allowed than in years past. Pitching at The Ballpark will dampen his rate stats, but he's still a terrific option for Ks and wins.

23. Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians

Salazar is the most explosive member of the Indians' vaunted three-headed pitching monster, approaching 10 K/9 while lowering his walk rate from the previous season. Salazar still has bouts of ineffectiveness, but he should see further improvement in his strikeout total and is worth a sixth-round pick.

24. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays

Stroman lacks the strikeout potential of the majority of players ahead of him, but has every other tool at his disposal. He returned from a major knee injury late last season and made four sensational starts, proving he's ready to be Toronto's No. 1 option. Draft him confidently in the sixth-to-seventh round.

25. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres

Ross is one of the top strikeout options in the game, but needs to work on his control if he hopes to be a top-10 play. Ross had a league-high 84 walks last season, which contributed greatly to his spike in ERA and drop in wins. Ross is a high-risk, high-reward righty that should be selected in rounds 7-8.