Replacing an Ace: Other fantasy options while Kershaw sits on the DL

By foxsports
Published

After being diagnosed with a mild disc herniation, Clayton Kershaw received an epidural shot on Wednesday and the Dodgers placed their ace on the disabled list.

How does that impact your fantasy baseball team?

Well, thankfully, it seems as though Kershaw will just miss his allotted two weeks of action and return to the mound.

Los Angeles made a move to replace Kershaw by acquiring Bud Norris from the Braves. Your options are hopefully better.

Junior Guerra, MIL (20.7 percent owned)

Fantasy owners tend to look at the Brewers' opponent for pitching options, but maybe they should look at Milwaukee's rotation. Guerra is currently 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He's also struck out 60 batters in 69.1 innings of action. On June 29th, Guerra had his best outing of 2016: 8 IP, 0 ER, and 7 Ks against the Dodgers. At Miller Park, he is 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA this year. Guerra pitches in Washington D.C. on the fourth of July and at home on July 10th, against the Cardinals.

Daniel Mengden, OAK (11.6 percent)

Oakland's starting pitchers' ERA has been pitiful this season. They currently have a 4.94 ERA, which is 26th in baseball. Compile that stat with the fact that they are dealing with some injuries as well, and you become desperate. So, Mengden got his chance. He has four starts under his belt. In each outing, Mengden has struck out at least five batters and allowed three earned runs or less. He even notched his first win against the Giants at AT&T Park in his last performance.

Jorge De La Rosa, COL (3.8 percent)

On June 1st, De La Rosa had a 10.08 ERA. Then, he worked with pitching coach Darren Holmes to remove a pause in the middle of his windup. Since then, De La Rosa has won four-straight games and has allowed only four earned runs in 21 innings of work. For those who doubt, three of those four outings were at Coors Field.

Need more Kershaw replacement options? Check out Fowler's June Blind Resumes for some more bargain starting pitchers still on many waiver wires.