Like I do every week, I’ll break the pitchers down the two-start pitchers into six categories:
- Don’t Think Twice: These are your aces that you start no matter what.
- Widely-Rostered Options: Players rostered in the majority of leagues who should provide a positive return.
- In the Danger Zone: It’s a dice roll to start them given matchups or other factors.
- Streamers Rostered in Under 50% of Leagues: These guys should live on the waiver wire, but you can start them this week.
- Streamers Rostered in Under 25% of Leagues: Same as above but applied to deeper leagues.
- Not Unless You’re Desperate: I don’t recommend these guys unless you’re swinging for the fences.
Let’s take a look at those pitchers scheduled to make two starts for the upcoming week, as projected on CBS as of Sunday afternoon.
*Given the latest breakout, we will be avoiding Cardinals on this list.
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Don’t Think Twice
Patrick Corbin (WSH) (8/10 @NYM, 8/15 @BAL)
Aaron Nola (PHI) (8/10 vs. ATL, 8/15 vs. NYM)
Luis Castillo (CIN) (8/11 vs. KC, 8/16 vs. PIT)
Zack Wheeler (PHI) (8/11 vs. BAL, 8/16 vs. NYM)
Max Scherzer (WSH) (8/11 @NYM, 8/16 @BAL)
Dylan Bundy (LAA) (8/11 vs. OAK, 8/16 vs. LAD)
Widely-Rostered Options
Dallas Keuchel (CWS) (8/10 @DET, 8/16 vs. STL)
The overall results are what you expected to see from Keuchel so far this year, but he did strike out eight batters over seven innings in his last outing against Milwaukee. He’s facing a Tigers offense who absolutely obliterated the Pirates, but that’s more about Pittsburgh than it is Detroit.
Lance McCullers (HOU) (8/10 vs. SF, 8/16 vs. SEA)
McCullers looked great in his first start of the season, but he has given up 12 runs over his last 7.2 innings pitched with only five strikeouts. He’ll get those same Mariners that he faced in his first start on the backend of a two-week start with the Giants giving him a juicy matchup to kick off his week.
Ross Stripling (LAD) (8/11 vs. SD, 8/16 @LAA)
Stripling has been exactly fine this year. Not better, not worse. He gave up four earned in his last outing against the Padres, who he faces again Tuesday. This could blow up in our faces.
Dustin May (LAD) (8/10 vs. SD, 8/15 @LAA)
May has the same matchups as Stripling, and it’s encouraging for May going forward, as he threw six innings in his last start after only going 3.1 in his first of the season.
In the Danger Zone
Sean Manaea (OAK) (8/10 @LAA, 8/16 @SF)
On the year, Manaea has given up 11 earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts. The matchup against the Giants is nice, but the Angels could present a problem for Manaea.
Ryan Yarbrough (TB) (8/10 @BOS, 8/15 @TOR)
If these matchups were at home, I’d trust Yarbrough more, but on the road in Fenway and Buffalo could be a challenge for the southpaw. That said, he did fare well against the Blue Jays in his first start of the year.
Adrian Houser (8/10 vs. MIN, 8/15 @CHC)
Just look at the matchups. That’s enough to tell you why Houser is in this tier. Houser’s been phenomenal so far this year, and if he overcomes these matchups, his 61 percent ownership rate should rise to around 80 percent.
Streamers Rostered in Under 50% of Leagues
Steven Matz (NYM) (8/10 vs. WAS, 8/15 @PHI)
Matz was used for batting practice last time out, and he gets those same Nats who teed off on him Monday. Pass on him unless you need the extra starter.
Randy Dobnak (MIN) (8/10 @MIL, 8/16 vs. KC)
Dobnak is becoming a fan favorite, and after posting back-to-back zeroes in his past two starts, it’s easy to see why. It’s worth mentioning, though, that those starts came against Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and he only struck out five batters in 11 innings. He’s a volume play this week with the Brewers and Royals on the schedule.
Garrett Richards (SD) (8/10 @LAD, 8/15 @ARI)
Two of Richards’ three starts this year have been in Coors Field or against the Dodgers. Well, he gets the Dodgers again this week, and they just scored four earned runs against him in five innings. He’s a risky play this week, and he should be benched unless you need the extra strikeouts and wins.
Streamers Rostered in Under 25% of Leagues
Rick Porcello (NYM) (8/11 vs. WAS, 8/16 @PHI)
Porcello has been horrible this year, and his one-run outing against the Nationals did little to change that. He’s a points-league play only.
Martin Perez (BOS) (8/11 vs. TB, 8/15 @NYY)
Boston ace Martin Perez takes the mound for two starts this week. Imagine saying that to a Red Sox fan in January. You’re not trusting him, especially with the Yankees on the schedule, despite him blanking the Rays in his last time out.
Josh Lindblom (MIL) (8/11 vs. MIN, 8/16 @CHC)
Lindblom looked good last time out, as he struck out seven White Sox, but he has two tough matchups this week. It’s a roll of the dice with Lindblom, but we recommend passing on him.
Sean Newcomb (ATL) (8/10 @PHI, 8/16 @MIA)
Newcomb’s spot seems safe in the rotation after Mike Soroka’s season-ending injury. He’s unlikely to go deep into games and offers little for fantasy managers outside of strikeouts.
Elieser Hernandez (MIA) (8/11 @TOR, 8/16 vs. ATL)
Hernandez is a fantasy industry darling, and he looked solid in his first start of the season with five strikeouts, no runs, and two hits allowed against the Orioles. What held Hernandez back last year was his lack of control, which was on display again, as he walked one and hit two batters. He’s a decent lottery ticket if you want upside.
Not Unless You’re Desperate
Jon Gray (COL) (8/10 vs. ARI, 8/16 vs. TEX)
Robbie Ray (ARI) (8/10 @COL, 8/16 vs. SD)
Kyle Gibson (TEX) (8/10 vs. SEA, 8/16 @COL)
Julio Teheran (LAA) (8/10 vs. OAK, 8/15 vs. LAD)
Michael Fulmer (DET) (8/10 vs. CHW, 8/15 vs. CLE)
Logan Webb (SF) (8/10 @HOU, 8/16 vs. OAK)
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Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.
