Hyun-Jin Ryu

Ryu has looked every bit as dominant as he was late last season. In a terrific season briefly interrupted by two short IL trips, he has posted a 2.35 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 157.1 innings. That gives him a 2.22 ERA in his last 40 starts. While his 137 strikeouts aren't spectacular for someone dominating at such an amazing rate, he has issued an astonishingly low 20 walks. Ryu has thrown more than 150 innings for the first time since 2014, so it's not surprising to see natural regression strike down the stretch. He has relinquished seven runs each in back-to-back starts, matching the total of earned runs allowed through his first 15 starts of 2019. Given these struggles, the Dodgers could limit his workload with a playoff berth already firmly in hand. There's nevertheless little recourse but to play the NL Cy Young Award candidate as long as he's healthy.

Ryu's been a solid fantasy starter for several years, but he became an elite one last year and has fully carried it over to 2019.

As we enter August, Ryu is still rocking a sub 1.00 WHIP and a sub 2.00 ERA. Now, whether he can sustain that is clearly a no, but who would complain if he finishes the year with a 2.50 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 200 Ks? Certainly not the guy who drafted him in the 20th round.