theScore's Week 11 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Power Rankings

Here is the Week 11 edition of theScore's Fantasy Starting Pitcher Power Rankings, in which we list the top 30 starters in fantasy baseball using standard 5x5 scoring (Value Based Ranks (VBR) provided by FantasyPros; stats through Tuesday):

1. LHP Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (LW: 1)

Fantasy baseball will never see a pitcher become a consensus No. 1 pick, but Kershaw might come awfully close next year. And honestly, would it be that egregious to select him with the first pick overall?

2. RHP Jake Arrieta, Cubs (LW: 2)

Arrieta was masterful against the Pirates last time out, allowing just two hits over six innings while striking out 11. He's going to make boatloads of money in free agency this offseason.

3. LHP Madison Bumgarner, Giants (LW: 8)

Fantasy owners would happily take Bumgarner's last 10 starts over anyone's, except for maybe Mr. Kershaw; the Giants lefty is 6-1 with a 1.12 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 72 1/3 innings in that span.

4. RHP Noah Syndergaard, Mets (LW: 10)

Thor looked back in form in his previous start, fanning 11 Pirates while limiting them to two runs (one earned) over 8 1/3 innings. It was his fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season, and it feels like many more are coming.

5. RHP Jose Fernandez, Marlins (LW: 4)

Fernandez "only" had seven strikeouts against Atlanta on Tuesday, but fantasy owners can't complain after he limited the Braves to a lone hit. He has surrendered fewer than two runs in seven of his last eight starts.

6. RHP Johnny Cueto, Giants (LW: 5)

Cueto has really found his groove by the Bay. The veteran righty has limited opponents to two or fewer runs in nine consecutive starts, allowing just one home run over that span. The strikeouts are back up, as well.

7. LHP Jon Lester, Cubs (LW: 3)

Lester has won each of his last five starts, striking out at least seven batters in all of them. He has become a dependable SP1 in the majority of formats, and should continue to pile up victories behind a powerhouse Cubs lineup.

8. RHP Max Scherzer, Nationals (LW: 7)

The good version of Scherzer is back. After struggling in May despite a 20-strikeout performance, Scherzer has been electric so far in June, going 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 38 Ks and just three home runs against in 28 innings.

9. LHP Chris Sale, White Sox (LW: 9)

Sale owners can breathe a little easier after the lanky lefty halted an extended rough patch with seven innings of one-run, nine-strikeout ball against Boston on Tuesday. Most encouraging were the Ks, which tied a season high.

10. RHP Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (LW: 6)

A back injury cost Strasburg his last start, but he's expected to make his next start this weekend. That said, injuries have been part of the package here for several years now, so fantasy owners are right to be concerned.

11. RHP John Lackey, Cubs (LW: 12)

Lackey hasn't been quite as sharp over his last two starts as he had been over his previous three, but fantasy owners needn't worry. He's still missing bats, and makes for a fine SP2 in the majority of formats.

12. RHP Steven Wright, Red Sox (LW: 13)

Wright continues to amaze, coming off a no-decision in which he held the White Sox to an unearned run over nine sensational innings. The magic might wear off at any time, but until then, he's a fantasy stud.

13. RHP Danny Salazar, Indians (LW: 11)

Walks aside, Salazar has been everything fantasy owners hoped he would be - and has been even more impressive in June (3-0, 1.77 ERA, 24 Ks in 20 1/3 IP). He'll always fall victim to high pitch counts, but that's a minor issue.

14. RHP Julio Teheran, Braves (LW: 23)

The trade cost for Teheran - both in reality and in fantasy - has never been higher, after the electrifying righty threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout against the Mets. He's good, but don't buy high until he's traded.

15. RHP Marco Estrada, Blue Jays (LW: 15)

Estrada made history Tuesday, becoming the first pitcher to allow five or fewer hits while throwing at least six innings in 11 consecutive starts. The wins have been hard to come by, but he has otherwise exceeded expectations.

16. LHP Jose Quintana, White Sox (LW: 16)

Quintana has looked better of late - allowing just five runs over his last 15 2/3 innings while striking out 16 - but is still looking for his first win since May 8. The culprit: Chicago has scored just 10 runs in his previous seven starts.

17. RHP Chris Tillman, Orioles (LW: 20)

Tillman remains a top-20 fantasy option, but owners have had to deal with more rocky starts than they did earlier in the season. Still, he hasn't lost since April 14 and does enough across the board to warrant SP2 consideration.

18. RHP Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks (LW: 22)

It took two months, but the June version of Greinke (4-0, 0.87 ERA, 25 Ks in 31 IP) finally resembles the pitcher who finished as a top-3 fantasy ace in 2015. Don't expect it to last, but enjoy it while it does.

19. LHP Rich Hill, Athletics (LW: 17)

Hill dips two spots as he remains on the disabled list with a groin injury. He isn't close to returning, and fantasy owners without room to stash him have a major decision to make if he's out beyond the All-Star break.

20. RHP Jason Hammel, Cubs (LW: 24)

Hammel's early-season success is driving this ranking, but he's just 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA and five home runs allowed over 25 1/3 innings this month. He's now the Cubs' fifth-best starter - and an SP3 in most formats.

21. RHP Kenta Maeda, Dodgers (LW: 25)

Maeda has put a dismal May behind him, going 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 24 2/3 June innings. He continues to keep the ball in the park, having allowed just one home run over his previous seven starts.

22. RHP Jeff Samardzija, Giants (LW: --)

The good: Samardzija was masterful last time out, going the distance on a four-hitter against Tampa Bay. The bad: He has just 13 strikeouts over his last four starts, putting a serious crimp in his overall fantasy value.

23. RHP Kyle Hendricks, Cubs (LW: 30)

Hendricks is climbing the list thanks to a 12-strikeout performance last time out against the Pirates. Fantasy owners shouldn't get used to him missing that many bats, but he's clearly one of the top value plays of the year so far.

24. RHP Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees (LW: --)

Tanaka returns to the list after eight innings of seven-hit, one-run ball against Minnesota on Friday. But exercise caution if you're looking at trading for him: his strikeout rate is unimpressive, and he isn't a great source of wins.

25. RHP Colby Lewis, Rangers (LW: --)

Lewis makes it into the rankings based on a complete-game two-hitter versus Oakland, but followed that up with a rough outing in which he allowed six runs to Cincinnati. In other words, expect his stay here to be a short one.

26. RHP Justin Verlander, Tigers (LW: 21)

Verlander continues to offer tremendous fantasy value, though his strikeout rate has dipped slightly in June. On the plus side, his control has improved dramatically; he has walked just four batters in 27 2/3 innings this month.

27. LHP David Price, Red Sox (LW: --)

File this under the category "You Can't Predict Baseball": Price went 7-1 with an ERA over 5 in his first 11 starts, but is just 1-3 in June despite a 2.32 ERA. The wins will return as long as he keeps pitching like this.

28. LHP Cole Hamels, Rangers (LW: --)

Hamels is enjoying a June resurgence, capped by 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball last time out against the host Cardinals. The home runs are still a major concern, but he's closer to being elite than he was a month ago.

29. LHP Drew Pomeranz, Padres (LW: 14)

The sheen is beginning to wear off here, with Pomeranz having allowed 11 runs over his last three starts spanning 16 innings. The strikeout rate remains rock-solid, but expect a few more uninspiring outings along the way.

30. RHP Rick Porcello, Red Sox (LW: 28)

Porcello ended a four-game stretch of no-decisions last time out with his best start in nearly a month. He hasn't been able to recapture the strikeout magic of a dominant April, but he's still a borderline SP3-4 in standard formats.