2020 Starting Pitcher Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Leagues

March 21, 2020

Dynasty fantasy baseball rankings for the 2020 season at the starting pitcher position. RotoBaller's rankings include the #1 most accurate industry expert!

Even with the baseball season delayed, many are looking for places to cast their stored up fantasy baseball energy. With no drafts or mocks to do, the Dynasty community becomes the primary source of enjoyment. Your team could be looking to continue their dominance, rebuild, or in a worst-case scenario, stick their hands up in frustration. Regardless of the team's competitive situation, everyone wants to add value to their roster.

Starting pitcher has a wide variety of talent, and everyone will be looking at the same players in the upper tier. This could force the market to share the same valuations and control pricing. Future elite options like Jesus Luzardo and Julio Urias will drive the market as well. However, there will always be players in the middle-to-late range that will have people conflicted. This is where you can find values if you believe in players more than others. Don't forget about the value that veterans can bring to your dynasty strategy.

All preseason long, RotoBaller has you covered with the latest rankings for all fantasy baseball league types. Here we present our dynasty rankings for the second base position, put together by analysts Nicklaus Gaut, Pierre Camus, and Ellis Canady. Check out our analysis of all other positions as well, coming soon!

Starting Pitcher Rankings - Dynasty Leagues (March)

In case you missed it, our very own "Big Pick Nick" Mariano was named the #1 overall most accurate industry expert ranker for the 2018 season!

Tier One

Gerrit Cole didn’t win the Cy Young, but he finished the 2019 season with a 20-5 record, 2.64 FIP, and led the majors in strikeouts (326). He also had a league-leading 34% K-BB. Cole used his success in Houston to launch himself into a dynamite free agency. The Yankees saw the same thing fantasy owners did and paid him a hefty sum. To obtain Cole, you’ll need to sacrifice what feels like more than the Yankees did. If you own him, ring that cowbell.

Jacob deGrom has every right to own the top spot, even though he will play most of 2020 at 32 years of age. He is a workhorse that provides excellent ratios and strikeouts across 200 innings of a regular, non-shortened season. Historically, the Mets have been unable to provide deGrom with a suitable number of wins. His age and win total is no reason to offer a discount to anyone looking to purchase deGrom.

Walker Buehler has youth and elite stuff to be in this tier for quite some time. His arsenal is headlined by a fastball that he throws 60% of the time. It is his slider (18%) and curveball (17.1%) that generate the most swinging strikes. Buehler etched his name in the elite tier in 2019 with a FIP (3.01) that ranked fifth among qualified starters.

Tier Two

Bieber has struck gold for some owners, but your perspective will depend on whether you’re buying or selling. Many had concerns prior to 2019 after he lived in the zone 50% of the time in 2018. Bieber cast off any doubters with a 25.5% K-BB that ranked fifth among starters. His 1.30 HR/9 isn’t preferable, but that isn’t going to keep him from the second tier of pitchers. You’ll need to pay a pretty penny to get a premium pitcher who is only 24 years old.

Scherzer led all starters with a 2.45 FIP in 2019. The competitive status of your team defines his value. If you’re rebuilding, Scherzer doesn't have enough time to wait on your squad. You will have to determine the best time to sell. Is it before the season starts or halfway through the season when you can find a team that needs one elite starter to push them towards the championship trophy?

When you win a Cy Young, it’s tough to match that excellence. Few could have expected Snell to have a 2019 riddled with injuries in the form of toe and elbow issues. He was also wholly unlucky with a .343 BABIP, and his performance resulted in a 4.29 ERA (3.32 FIP). Snell’s 2020 season hasn’t started any better with a cortisone injection in his elbow. He is a dominant pitcher when he’s on the mound, but with continued health issues, Snell also has tremendous risk. It might be worth it to see if his owner is shaking in his or her boots, looking to discharge Snell from their roster.

There will always be bumps and bruises with pitchers. Clevinger has had his share of them, but they haven’t stopped him from providing excellent returns. Even with back and ankle injuries in 2019, he matched the previous season’s record (13-4) in only 21 starts. Clevinger utilizes four pitches that each earned a Swinging Strike rate higher than 13.94% (fastball). Even at 30 years of age, Clevinger has plenty of tread left on the tire.

Luis Castillo might want to thank Derek Johnson for some of his 2019 success. He finished with a 15-8 record and a 28.9% strikeout rate. Castillo increased his changeup (32%) usage that generated a 27% whiff rate. He also finished fourth among all qualified pitchers with a 15.9% Swinging Strike rate. Don’t get sidetracked by his 4.02 ERA that was ballooned by a couple of rough outings in the second half. Trust in the 3.70 FIP and be confident that he can repeat. Although, we would like to see the 10% walk rate trimmed down a little bit.

Tier Three

Paddack’s rookie debut couldn’t be any more marvelous. The crowd went wild with each start; unfortunately, the frequency of his starts was inconsistent as the season went along to minimize his innings. Paddack still finished with 153 strikeouts in 140.2 innings. He utilized two pitches, a four-seamer and a changeup, to earn a 3.95 FIP and a 0.98 WHIP. Paddack also led all pitchers with 71.3% first-pitch strikes (minimum 140 innings). There is still room for growth in his arsenal. While many are excited at owning a young fireballer, don’t forget to consider the value he possesses in a trade.

Where are all the people concerned about Patrick Corbin’s health? With back-to-back seasons exceeding 200 innings, 238 strikeouts, and a 14.2% Swinging Strike rate, let’s just consider him a reliable starter worthy of more recognition than what he receives.

Clayton Kershaw bounced back in 2019 after a 2018 season that many thought indicated the end of his elite status. He is no longer the pitcher that sat at the top of the SP totem pole. Even with a velocity (90 mph) that has declined for four-straight seasons, Kershaw is still a premium starter.

Giolito’s terrible 2018 left many supporters lost and concluding that he was another over-hyped pitching prospect. His 5.30 ERA in the first 18 innings of 2019 confirmed that as well, despite a 3.91 FIP. Regardless of what anyone tells you, no one anticipated the phoenix. Giolito rose from the ashes to finish the season with a 3.43 FIP and 228 strikeouts in 176.2 innings. The turnaround stems from an increase in both his fastball (55%) and changeup usage (26%). Giolito also brought back the velocity (94.6 mph) and increased his first-pitch strikes (62%). If you believe in his changes, you’re keeping him. If you doubt them, you’ll be maximizing profit.

Syndergaard has had a rollercoaster career for dynasty leaguers. Selling him now would sacrifice an opportunity to gain value. Check your dedication level.

Glasnow shoves it with a two-pitch mix, a 97.6 mph fastball and a curveball. In 60.2 innings, he had a 2.26 FIP, 33% strikeout rate, and a 50.4% ground-ball rate. The primary concern with Glasnow has been his health. If the health or limited arsenal concerns you, it might be time to consider trading him off.

Tier Four

Charlie Morton has already stated he will be retiring after the 2020 season. At 36 years old, we have to take him at his word. As such, you have one of two options. Your team is competing; therefore you keep him. Or, your team is rebuilding in which case you need to get as much value as possible for him.

Paxton and Greinke are both on the list to own only if you are competing this year. Greinke is here primarily due to his age, and Paxton, who is only 31 years old, slots in due to his continual health issues. Of course, his upside is still tremendous when he is on the field. The optimum situation is to sell after he’s had a streak of consistent health and elite performance.

Soroka put on an impressive display of control in his age-21 season. Don’t get blinded by the 2.68 ERA as his 3.85 xFIP is more telling. Soroka’s 80% Left on Base rate and .280 BABIP were sparkling, a little too much. Even if these regress a bit, he can still sit near a 3.50 FIP. Soroka shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg as most owners want more strikeout upside that a 20% K rate. He also benefits from the Braves giving him continual opportunities for wins. Soroka might still be undervalued.

Everyone expects more from Berrios. Even if he never develops ace-level status, Berrios is still a very good starter. Though he’s lost a tick off his velocity the last three seasons, Berrios came just short of striking out 200 batters for the second-consecutive season. Now is an optimal time to buy as concerns are growing regarding his lack of upside and his second-half struggles of 2019. Let’s be clear, though. While the ERA fell, Berrios’ second-half 3.86 FIP remained the same as his first-half level (3.85). Two hundred strikeouts and a 3.50 annually isn’t out of the realm of possibility. That is a very good dynasty asset.

Tier Five

The Darvish resurgence is in full swing. Yes, he’s 33 years old, but it looks like you can get a couple more years of supreme strikeouts.

Luzardo is the next wave of elite starters, but you already knew that. Multiple injuries in 2019 delayed his season until he could get 12 innings in September. If you’re going to make a pitch for him, do it now. Once he wins the Rookie of the Year, his price will be untouchable. His health has to be a consideration since he’s already had Tommy John surgery (2016) and a few other issues on his record. When he’s on the mound, he exudes confidence and excellence with his three plus pitches.

In regards to Max Fried, every fantasy baseball analyst across the internet agrees. He is the darling of the preseason. Fried is the SP3 everyone wants to own. It is not hard to see with 53.6% ground-ball, 63.7% first-pitch strike, and 18% K-BB rates. If the excitement continues to build, this might be the last time you can get him at a reasonable price.

Kluber, Carrasco, and Bumgarner are all trending in the wrong direction. Bumgarner’s move to Arizona isn’t viewed as a positive as he has a 3.68 FIP away from Oracle Park.

Kluber missed a majority of 2019 with a fractured arm as well as an oblique injury. He didn’t perform well in 35 innings. Five-straight seasons exceeding 200 innings might have finally taken its toll as well. The Rangers staff will attempt to work their magic. It’s time to sell.

Carrasco’s return from a severe malady has been impressive and heartwarming. The question now will be whether he returns to the 200-strikeout pitcher of 2017 and 2018. At 33 years of age, that is questionable. All the best, Cookie.

Tier Six and Lower

The cover of the David Price book might cause some to shrug their shoulders with indifference when looking at his 4.28 ERA and declining 92 mph velocity. Ongoing injuries, 3.62 FIP, and a move to a favorable ballpark/division should persuade you to dust off this old cowboy for one more cattle drive.

The Dodgers have finally cleared a path to consistent starts for Julio Urias. His stuff is undeniable, and he will be in the elite category soon enough. For this, he carries a hefty dynasty tag with him. It is unfortunate that he dealt with a suspension for domestic violence during the 2019 season.

Nate Pearson brings excitement and an inflated cost for some. Sure he throws 100 mph and is a bulldog on the mound. If you think Pearson stays as a starter, he might be a good buy. If you think he ends up in the bullpen, then the price might be a bit too rich.

There is a bunch of helium surrounding Mitch Keller thanks to his undeserved 7.13 ERA and .475 BABIP. His 28.6% strikeout rate and 3.19 FIP are exactly what we want. However, he is still a speculation play, so if someone is trying to make you pay the “he’s already done it” price, look elsewhere.

Currently, German Marquez has four years left in Colorado. If he ever escapes prior to that, his value will skyrocket. Over the last two seasons, he has a 3.31 ERA and a 25.8% strikeout rate away from Coors.

Struggling or rebuilding teams often need a couple of players to break through to increase value for both fantasy teams and trades. Reynaldo Lopez and Dylan Bundy fall in this category.

Lopez didn't have a great year, but he improved to a 4.18 FIP and a 22.5% strikeout rate in the second half of 2019. The addition of Yasmani Grandal might be enough to improve performance and increase trade value.

Bundy isn't sexy, so you can get him quite easily. He benefits from a move to LA. Not only does he have a better park, but Bundy's 53% Pull and 41% ground-ball rates versus right-handers make the Anthony Rendon addition a valuable resource.

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