Here are the fantasy implications following the Los Angeles Dodgers placing SP Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury:
Season-Long Fantasy Leagues
Red alert! Kershaw was having arguably the greatest season by a starting pitcher in the history of baseball and had easily justified his first-round ADP through his first 16 starts. Kershaw obviously needs to be stashed in a DL-slot until he's activated. Sadly, it's no guarantee he'll be ready to go in the allotted 15 days, causing great distress among the fantasy community.
In keeper leagues, it gets a little trickier. Kershaw owners who have either bottomed out or are on the cusp of being out of contention should start considering trade options now. While returns may be slightly lower due to the uncertainty of the injury, he's still the best pitcher in the game and should yield several inexpensive keepers in auctions or top prospects in other formats.
Waiver Wire Options
Who are we kidding? There is absolutely no one who can fill Kershaw's shoes in fantasy. He's the very best there is. Still, you'll need to ride the waiver wire wave until he's back and perhaps there's a diamond available in the rough. Still, it will in no way ease the pain.
- SP Julio Urias, Dodgers: While Urias does have a pending innings limit, one which was anticipated to kick in as early as now, it looks like he could stick around the rotation until the All-Star break. Owned in fewer than 40 percent of leagues, he has harnessed the strikeout potential and finally went six innings in his last start. He's a worthy option with Kershaw shelved.
- SP Kevin Gausman, Orioles: Gausman has been up and down, but he sports a decent 3.93 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP and 8.21 K/9 over 13 starts. He has only a single win, odd for a team with a .610 win percentage. Gausman should be used as a matchup-based flier for now.
- SP Jon Gray, Rockies: Similarly, Gray will have his good outings and his bad ones. He has better K numbers than Gausman, but he has been worse at limiting the damage. No one is ideal in place of Kershaw, but Gray will restore some of the lost strikeouts.