Who Should I Draft?
Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander (2023)
Experts' Pick | ||
| Justin Verlander SP - NYM  | Max Scherzer SP - NYM  | |
Expert |
53% Recommended by 21 of 40 experts |
48% Recommended by 19 of 40 experts |
| Rankings | ||
| ECR | # 10 | # 9 |
| Best Rank | # 4 | # 3 |
| Worst Rank | # 23 | # 17 |
| ADP | ||
| Composite | # 32 | # 34 |
| Best Rank | # 19 | # 13 |
| Worst Rank | # 41 | # 44 |
| Projections | ||
| Strikeouts | 184 | 201 |
| Wins | 14 | 12 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| ERA | 2.87 | 3.05 |
| WHIP | 0.99 | 1.03 |
| Misc | ||
| Injury Alert | - | - |
| Expert Ranks | ||
| Andy Behrens Yahoo! Sports | # 7 | # 14 |
| Steve Gardner USA Today | # 6 | # 11 |
| Jeff Boggis Fantasy Football Empire | # 11 | # 12 |
| Muntradamus Beast Dome | # 4 | # 5 |
| Chris Meaney FTN | # 14 | # 15 |
| Christopher Welsh FantasyPros | # 9 | # 13 |
| Nick Mariano RotoBaller | # 9 | # 12 |
| Mike Maher FantasyPros | # 10 | # 11 |
| Brandon 'B_Don' Myers Razzball | # 10 | # 11 |
| Ryan Amore Pitcher List | # 4 | # 7 |
| Todd D Clark The Fantasy Fix | # 12 | # 13 |
| Lucas Spence Pitcher List | # 9 | # 11 |
| Nate Miller FantasyPros | # 10 | # 13 |
| Brad Camara RotoBaller | # 6 | # 7 |
| Joe Pisapia FantasyPros | # 8 | # 17 |
| Scott Youngson Pitcher List | # 4 | # 9 |
| Scott Bogman FantasyPros | # 11 | # 14 |
| Jason Kamlowsky FantasyPros | # 10 | # 12 |
| Kelly Kirby FantasyPros | # 8 | # 13 |
| Taylor Tarter Fastball Fantasy Baseball | # 12 | # 13 |
| Blake Meyer Sports Gambling Podcast Network | # 10 | # 11 |
| Bart Wheeler Hail to Fantasy Football | # 4 | # 3 |
| Julian Tarevski FantasyPros | # 5 | # 4 |
| Josh Shepardson FantasyPros | # 11 | # 4 |
| Andrew Seifter FantasyPros | # 6 | # 4 |
| Fred Zinkie Yahoo! Sports | # 8 | # 5 |
| Pat Fitzmaurice FantasyPros | # 18 | # 6 |
| Travis Argo Fantasy Six Pack | # 10 | # 6 |
| Keith Lott Fantasy Six Pack | # 8 | # 6 |
| Joe Bond Fantasy Six Pack | # 12 | # 6 |
| Pierre Camus Fantasy Endgame | # 8 | # 6 |
| Ariel Cohen FanGraphs | # 8 | # 6 |
| Scott Pianowski Yahoo! Sports | # 10 | # 7 |
| Dalton Del Don Yahoo! Sports | # 8 | # 7 |
| Andrew Gould FantasyPros | # 9 | # 8 |
| Joe Orrico SportsEthos | # 17 | # 11 |
| Jacob W. Dunne Triple Play Fantasy | # 23 | # 12 |
| Greg Smith Superflex.Guide | # 16 | # 12 |
| Jesse Garcia FantasyPros | # 16 | # 15 |
| Ethan Biddle FantasyPros | # 16 | # 15 |
| Justin Verlander SP - NYM | Max Scherzer SP - NYM | |
| 2022 Stats | ||
| Games Played | 28 | 23 |
| Games Started | 28 | 23 |
| Innings Pitched | 175.0 | 145.1 |
| Wins | 18 | 11 |
| Losses | 4 | 5 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Blown Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Holds | 0 | 0 |
| Hits Allowed | 116 | 108 |
| Earned Runs | 34 | 37 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 12 | 13 |
| Strikeouts | 185 | 173 |
| Walks | 29 | 24 |
| ERA | 1.75 | 2.29 |
| WHIP | 0.83 | 0.91 |
| Justin Verlander SP - NYM | Max Scherzer SP - NYM | |
| 2023 Projections | ||
| Games Played | 28 | 28 |
| Games Started | 28 | 28 |
| Innings Pitched | 171.4 | 169.7 |
| Wins | 14 | 12 |
| Losses | 7 | 7 |
| Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Blown Saves | 0 | 0 |
| Holds | 0 | 0 |
| Hits Allowed | 134 | 138 |
| Earned Runs | 55 | 57 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 20 | 21 |
| Strikeouts | 184 | 201 |
| Walks | 36 | 37 |
| ERA | 2.87 | 3.05 |
| WHIP | 0.99 | 1.03 |
| Justin Verlander SP - NYM | Max Scherzer SP - NYM | |
| News | ||
| Justin Verlander struck out five Astros in three and one-thirds innings in Friday’s split-squad spring training game. Scott Youngson Fri, Mar 10th | Max Scherzer allowed no runs and only four hits over seven innings against the Astros in Spring Training action on Saturday. Scherzer struck out eight and only walked one. Scott Youngson Sat, Mar 18th | |
| Max Scherzer is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday against the Nationals. Ari Koslow Mon, Feb 20th | ||
| Notes | ||
| Justin Verlander had Tommy John surgery in 2020 at the age of 37, missed all of 2021 at the age of 38, and won the AL Cy Young Award in 2022 at the age of 39. As a reward for that performance, he signed a two-year contract with the Mets so he and Max Scherzer can arm wrestle for who gets to call themselves the staff's ace. Including the postseason run, Verlander threw 195 innings last season, and even though he has been a workhorse for his entire career, it is fair to question how many more years he can continue to flirt with 200 innings. He struck out 210 batters with a regular-season ERA of 1.75 and a microscopic WHIP of 0.83. Aside from turning 40 in February, fantasy managers need to be wary of the BABIP of .240, which is 30 points below his career average and due to regress. He will come with a senior citizen discount in drafts, but that could be a heck of a steal if he somehow comes close to a repeat performance. Kelly Kirby - FantasyPros | Scherzer started only 23 games in 2022 due to a couple of oblique issues that kept him on the shelf for a couple of IL stints. When he did take the mound, the 38-year-old continued his march of dominance in his new digs. In 145 1/3 innings, Scherzer struck out 173 batters and maintained a 2.29 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. His K% dropped from a super-elite 34.1% to a basic-elite 30.6%. While he does not have any outward signs of decline, some fantasy managers might be wary of investing a high-round pick in a guy who turns 39 in July. But assuming he returns to the 180-190 innings mark, he is well worth the investment. Kelly Kirby - FantasyPros | |
