Indians Corey Kluber: 2017 Fantasy Value

Corey Kluber has been dominant in the postseason for the Indians. After surviving a few first rough months of the season, he was lights out. What is his fantasy value heading into 2017?

Corey Kluber’s performance for the Indians this postseason is unreal. Over 24 innings he has allowed on two runs, while striking out 29. His dominance is carrying the Indians, and people may finally now be ready to appreciate how good he really is. But, what is his fantasy value heading into 2017?

It seems like a eternity ago, but Kluber entered the 2016 season with some questions based on his so-so performance in 2015. Yet, he has silenced any concerns that his 2014 Cy Young campaign was a fluke. He would go on to post a, 18 W/3.14 ERA/1.05 WHIP/227 K/3.26 FIP line, ranking him as one of the best SP in all of MLB.

However, the first two months of the season did it go too well, and fantasy owners were panicking. Kluber simply did not have it in April or May, as he posted a 4.00+ ERA is each month. He did not have a feel for his slider, and he consistently had to navigate through trouble. But, once the calendar turned to May, Kluber did not look back.

Over the rest of the season, he did not post an ERA over 3.45. Once he found the feel for his wipe out slider, it was game over for batters. Kluber throws two variations of his slider, one that dives down like a slurve, and one with more traditional movement. From May on, his slider induced at least a 28% Whiff rate!

He also lowered his LD and Soft contact rate surrendered below 20% this season, showing just how locked in he was. Even though it was not as impressive as in 2014, the contact rates he was surrendering this season were right in line, if not lower in some cases, this season.

Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are usually the first two pitchers to go in fantasy drafts, but Corey Kluber has to join that conversation next season. He has strung together now four quality seasons, and if not for a rough start to 2016, he would have secure another Cy Young award.

The Klubot is in full shutdown mode right now, and look for that to continue next season. The Indians will be a solid club once again next season, so there is no reason to believe that another 9 win debacle. He is a sheer lock for 200+ K as well, so he will continue to be a steady weekly force. It is time to add him to the tier of SP that go in the first two rounds.