Fantasy411: 5 strong buy-low candidates

Hope you took advantage of the All-Star break and actually, you know, took a bit of a break. Because the marathon that is the fantasy baseball season is back at it already. There’s very little rest for those who are weary — or even those who are winning.

With the non-waiver Trade Deadline fast approaching (it’s Monday, Aug. 1, this year), MLB clubs already have started wheeling and dealing (Drew Pomeranz, anyone?). That should be a signal to you to do the same. Whether you’re in first place and looking to hang on or in fifth and hoping to make a push, go ahead and shake things up by making a savvy acquisition or three.

Need some ideas about which players to target? Glad you asked.

Clayton Kershaw, SP: When it comes to elite players who are practically impossible to trade for, Kershaw is right at the top of that list. Usually.

After all, what owner in his or her right mind is going to trade away the best pitcher on the planet, especially when said pitcher is in the middle of his best season yet? And yes, it’s hard to imagine Kershaw could be better than he has been the past five years, but with a 1.79 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 16-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio … he is.

So what gives? Well, the 28-year-old Dodgers left-hander is dealing with a herniated disk in his lower back that has kept him on the DL since late June. The injury doesn’t appear to be super serious, as Kershaw came away just fine after a 60-pitch simulated game over the weekend. But the club made it clear its franchise player won’t be rushed back at the risk of re-injury.

That’s just the sort of news that can be used in an attempt to pry Kershaw from his admittedly not-100-percent-confident owner. It’s a bold, aggressive move that will require paying almost a full premium — but not quite. And those tend to win leagues when they pay off. If ever there’s a time to even consider a shot at Kershaw, it’s right now.

Andrew McCutchen, OF: Perhaps the best thing that could be said about McCutchen’s first half is that he still has almost an entire second half to make good on turning his season around.

In truth, the 29-year-old former MVP hasn’t been awful — he just hasn’t been himself. Anyone who drafted him in the first round surely was expecting more than a …

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