Fantasy: Kershaw or Max? Ohtani or Burnes?

Wednesday will be one of the most stacked pitching slates in recent memory.

Even with three games set for a pre-7 p.m. ET first pitch -- and thus not part of the main daily fantasy slate -- there is no shortage of pitcher options for your lineups. You could make a legitimate case for at least 15 starting pitchers.

We've tried to narrow it down for you by taking a closer look at the six aces in action, as well as a handful of potential value options if you want to save a little salary and go that route -- or even mix and match by using one of each.

THE ACES

Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers

The stat(s): 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings
The matchup: vs. D-backs

Breakdown: Kershaw matched a season high by allowing five runs in his last outing, but he also racked up 11 K's -- easily his most in any start. The good news for Kershaw is this game is at Dodger Stadium, and the D-backs are a completely different team away from Chase Field. Arizona is hitting just .214 with a .669 OPS on the road, while averaging only 4.1 runs per game -- a far cry from the .263 average, .770 OPS and 5.3 runs per game at home. Still, with Kershaw being the highest-priced pitcher on such a loaded pitching board, it might be worth looking for better value.

Corbin Burnes, RHP, Brewers

The stat(s): 58 K's, 1 BB
The matchup: vs. Royals

Breakdown: Burnes finally walked a batter in his last outing -- but he was still dominant in his return from a bout with COVID-19. The right-hander has racked up at least nine strikeouts in each of his six outings this season, including in his return on Thursday when he threw only 78 pitches over five innings. He'll likely be closer to his normal workload in this one, as he takes on a Royals team that is in a bit of a freefall, having lost 13 of its last 16 games. Kansas City is hitting just .227 in that span, though the Royals typically don't strike out a bunch. They're tied for the third-lowest strikeout rate in the Majors. Burnes has held the opposition to one run or fewer in five of his six outings, but he's also recorded only one out beyond the sixth inning this season. Again, he should be close to his full workload, but the matchup isn't ideal from a strikeout perspective, even with the Royals' recent struggles.

Max Scherzer, RHP (Nationals)

The stat(s): 0.84 ERA, 30 K's in 21 1/3 IP in May
The matchup: vs. Cubs

Breakdown: Scherzer has been absolutely lights out in his last three outings, allowing just two earned runs over 21 1/3 innings while striking out 30 and walking only two. That includes a 14-strikeout performance against the Yankees in the Bronx, and five scoreless innings against the D-backs at hitter-friendly Chase Field. Now, Scherzer gets a matchup against a Cubs offense that has performed much better over the past month -- and always plays better at home. The Cubs are hitting .267 and averaging 5.4 runs per game over their last 25 games after hitting just .189 and averaging 3.4 runs prior to that stretch. That said, they're still prone to strikeouts (26.1 K% is eighth-highest in MLB) and Anthony Rizzo (back tightness) is day to day. When Scherzer gets rolling, it's hard to find a better option.

Jack Flaherty, RHP, Cardinals

The stat(s): 1.47 ERA in last seven starts
The matchup: vs. Pirates

Breakdown: The bad news is that Flaherty has racked up more than six strikeouts only once this season. The good news is that outing came against the Pirates. Flaherty struck out a season-high nine over six innings in a May 1 start in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are dead last in team slugging percentage, and their 3.5 runs per game rank 29th -- ahead of only the Mets. Flaherty is a safe bet for a solid outing -- and he should have a good shot at picking up a win in this one.

John Means, LHP, Orioles

The stat(s): 1.21 ERA, .152 opponents' BA
The matchup: vs. Rays

Breakdown: Means avoided any type of letdown following his May 5 no-hitter, firing six scoreless innings against the Mets on May 11. He'll now take on the Rays on seven days' rest. Means has held the opposition scoreless in four of his eight starts, and he's yet to allow more than three runs in any outing. Tampa Bay ranks in the middle of the pack in most offensive categories, though it's worth noting that no team has struck out more times this season than the Rays.

Trevor Rogers, LHP

The stat(s): 1.84 ERA, 11.7 K's per 9
The matchup: vs. Phillies

Breakdown: Philadelphia's offense finally got going with a big eighth inning on Tuesday, but it's far from a consistent bunch. The Phillies rank in the lower half of the Majors in most offensive categories, and they have the third-highest strikeout rate in MLB. It doesn't help that they just placed Didi Gregorius on the injured list and J.T. Realmuto remains day to day with a bone bruise near his left wrist. That all bodes well for Rogers, who has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his eight starts this season -- and no more than one run in five of those. The southpaw has 57 strikeouts in just 44 innings, and he's allowed more than four hits only once this season.

VALUE PLAYS

Aaron Civale, RHP (vs. Angels)
Civale doesn't have a ton of strikeout upside (his season high is six) and he allowed a season-high five runs in his last outing, but he's been a consistent option for Cleveland this season. He's completed at least seven innings in half of his eight starts and has recorded at least one out in the sixth inning of every outing. Of course, it also helps that he'll be facing an Angels team that is without Mike Trout.

Zach Eflin, RHP (vs. Marlins)
Speaking of consistency, Eflin has finished at least six innings in each of his eight starts this season. The strikeouts have also picked up of late, as he's racked up at least seven in each of his last four starts after doing so just once in his first four outings. Getting the win, however, won't come easy in this one, starting opposite the aforementioned Rogers.

Zack Greinke, RHP (vs. Athletics)
This play wouldn't be for the faint of heart, as Greinke has been extremely hit or miss this season. He's completed seven innings the same amount of times (four) as he's pitched fewer than five. He's coming off one of those seven-inning outings his last time out, though that came after three consecutive starts of pitching only four frames. Greinke doesn't have more than six strikeouts in any of his nine starts this season.

Corey Kluber, RHP (vs. Rangers)
Kluber may not have rediscovered his Cy Young form, but he's certainly pitched better of late. He has a 2.75 ERA in three May starts, during which he's racked up 22 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings. Whether he can keep that up is anyone's guess, but the Rangers do have one of the higher strikeout rates in the Majors.

Shohei Ohtani, RHP (vs. Indians)
Ohtani is coming off the best start of his MLB career, striking out 10 over seven innings of one-run ball against the Astros. Walks have obviously been a problem at times -- he has 20 in 25 2/3 innings -- but he issued only one free pass in that stellar peformance against Houston. Now, he faces a Cleveland team that ranks 28th in batting average and 29th in OBP -- and has been no-hit twice this season. If Ohtani can maintain the control he had in his last outing, this is a prime matchup for him to vastly exceed his fantasy price point.