Week 13 is almost here! Like we do every week, we’re going to take a look at the two-start pitchers who you should lock in or at least consider using for the upcoming slate of games.
Like I do every week, I’ll break the two-start pitchers down 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 Saturday morning.
Don’t Think Twice
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) (7/5 vs. LAA, 7/10 @NYM)
Alek Manoah (TOR) (7/4 @OAK, 7/9 @SEA)
Justin Verlander (HOU) (7/4 vs. KCR, 7/9 @OAK)
Carlos Rodon (SF) (7/4 @ARI, 7/9 @SDP)
Julio Urias (LAD) (7/4 vs. COL, 7/9 vs. CHC)
Jameson Taillon (NYY) (7/5 @PIT, 7/10 @BOS)
Luis Garcia (HOU) (7/5 vs. KCR, 7/10 @OAK)
Kyle Wright (ATL) (7/4 vs. STL, 7/9 vs. WAS)
Michael Kopech (CHW) (7/5 vs. MIN, 7/10 vs. DET)
Taijuan Walker (NYM) (7/4 @CIN, 7/9 vs. MIA)
Max Scherzer (NYM) (7/5 @CIN, 7/10 vs. MIA)
Widely-Rostered Options
Nick Pivetta (BOS) (7/5 vs. TB, 7/10 vs. NYY)
I’m not a Pivetta fan. I’ve made that known, but he’s been on a solid roll of late. But with the Yankees on the schedule, I have to give some pause starting him — even if the Rays don’t particularly scare me. I’d lean towards sitting him.
Eric Lauer (MIL) (7/4 vs. CHC, 7/10 vs. PIT)
After seeing his velocity increase after three straight down starts, Lauer came crashing back down his last time out. He can really be dropped, but the Cubs and Pirates matchups are too good not to take advantage of in a two-start week. Try to trade him after his outings.
In the Danger Zone
Michael Wacha (BOS) (7/4 vs. TB, 7/9 vs. NYY)
There’s nothing backing up Wacha’s “good” season so far. What’s more, he has to face the Yankees in Fenway. He struggled his last time out against the Blue Jays, and the regression is going to continue to hit him this week.
Ian Anderson (ATL) (7/5 vs. STL, 7/10 vs. WAS)
I just don’t think Anderson is all that good. He’s always been a polarizing pitcher, but what has he done to justify being rostered in 67% of leagues? If you can’t start him against these two matchups, he probably shouldn’t be on your team. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Anderson get sent to Triple-A.
Hunter Greene (CIN) (7/4 vs. NYM, 7/9 vs. TB)
We’ll get the strikeouts from Greene. That much we know. But the Mets’ offense is really, really good, and he’s going to have to labor in both starts.
Streamers Rostered in Under 50% of Leagues
Zach Plesac (CLE) (7/4 @DET, 7/10 @KC)
It’s really hard to buy into what Plesac is doing, too. There’s nothing under the hood that’s really super encouraging, but he continues to put together solid outing after solid outing. He has two great matchups this week, but I’d look to trade him if I can after he (hopefully) puts together a successful week.
Ranger Suarez (PHI) (7/5 vs. WAS, 7/10 @STL)
The matchups are good for Suarez, and he was actually pretty good in June. He still doesn’t have the overpowering stuff that you’d like to see.
Alex Wood (SF) (7/5 @ARI, 7/10 @SD)
The Diamondbacks are terrible against left-handed pitchers, so that makes Wood semi-attractive this week. The Padres matchup isn’t great — especially with Manny Machado back in the lineup. I’d prefer to use him in 15-team leagues only, if possible.
Streamers Rostered in Under 25% of Leagues
Johnny Cueto (CHW) (7/4 vs. MIN, 7/9 vs. DET)
Despite being actually solid for the White Sox, Cueto should remain a deep-league option only. The Twins matchup is really, really bad, and I’d only use him this week in a daily league where I can plug him in against the Tigers.
Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) (7/5 @OAK, 7/10 @SEA)
I just can’t quit Kikuchi. He looked really good in his last outing against the Rays, but it’s hard to ignore his terrible June. I’d look to use him for sure against Oakland and if I had to, I’d use him against Seattle if that was a deciding factor.
Dane Dunning (TEX) (7/4 @BAL, 7/10 vs. MIN)
Dunning was alternating good and bad starts of late before putting together back-to-back solid outings. I absolutely hate the Twins matchup, but the Baltimore matchup is good enough for me to use Dunning in 15-team leagues.
Not Unless You’re Desperate
Kyle Hendricks (CHC) (7/5 @MIL, 7/10 @LAD)
Graham Ashcraft (CIN) (7/5 vs. NYM, 7/10 vs. TB)
Chris Flexen (SEA) (7/4 @SD, 7/10 vs. TOR)
Madison Bumgarner (ARI) (7/5 vs. SF, 7/10 vs. COL)
Zack Greinke (KC) (7/5 @HOU, 7/10 vs. CLE)
Cole Irvin (OAK) (7/4 vs. TOR, 7/10 vs. HOU)
Dylan Bundy (MIN) (7/4 @CHW, 7/10 @TEX)
German Marquez (COL) (7/5 @LAD, 7/10 @ARI)
Dean Kremer (BAL) (7/4 vs. TEX, 7/9 vs. LAA)
Patrick Corbin (WAS) (7/4 vs. MIA, 7/9 @ATL)
Justin Steele (CHC) (7/4 @MIL, 7/9 @LAD)
Kyle Freeland (COL) (7/4 @LAD, 7/9 @ARI)
Mitch Keller (PIT) (7/5 vs. NYY, 7/10 @MIL)
Andre Pallante (STL) (7/5 @ATL, 7/10 vs. PHI)
Mitch White (LAD) (7/5 vs. COL, 7/10 vs. CHC)
Rony Garcia (DET) (7/4 vs. CLE, 7/9 @CHW)
Jonathan Heasley (KC) (7/4 @HOU, 7/9 vs. CLE)
Braxton Garrett (MIA) (7/4 @WAS, 7/9 @NYM)
Paolo Espino (WAS) (7/5 @PHI, 7/10 @ATL)
Austin Voth (BAL) (7/5 vs. TEX, 7/10 vs. LAA)
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