Price: $11,700
Max Scherzer posting ridiculous numbers is nothing new. He has a strikeout rate north of 30.0% in each of the last three seasons, while his skill-interactive ERA (SIERA) has been below 3.00 twice in that time. But even by those lofty standards, he has been absolutely dominant to open 2018.
His 2.22 SIERA and 40.0%(!) strikeout rate both rank second among qualifying pitchers, while his 17.4% swinging-strike rate ranks first. Six of his eight starts have seen him top 50 FanDuel points, and his 53.8 per game on the season ranks second among pitchers.
Today's matchup against the Diamondbacks puts Scherzer in a great spot to keep producing as well. Arizona has been below-average against right-handed pitching this season, ranking 24th with an 88 wRC+. Making things even more promising from a fantasy standpoint, their 24.6% strikeout rate against righties is also the sixth-highest in the Majors.
Scherzer has unparalleled strikeout upside, making him well worth paying up for, even on a slate flush with pitching options.