Week 16 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.
Sorry for missing last week, folks. See, we didn’t really have set rotations for teams until Monday and at that point, we collectively decided that we should press pause for a week.
This week, we run into the fun time in the season when the trade deadline messes — in a fun way, of course — with rotations, as players get shipped in and out. Just remember that when you’re setting your rosters for the week.
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
Max Scherzer (NYM) (8/1 @WAS, 8/6 vs. ATL)
Logan Webb (SF) (8/1 vs. LAD, 8/7 @OAK)
Yu Darvish (SD) (8/2 vs. COL, 8/6 @LAD)
Kevin Gausman (TOR) (8/2 @TB, 8/7 @MIN)
Luis Garcia (HOU) (8/1 vs. BOS, 8/7 @CLE)
Jon Gray (TEX) (8/1 vs. BAL, 8/6 vs. CHW)
Michael Kopech (CWS) (8/1 vs. KC, 8/6 @TEX)
Widely-Rostered Options
Tyler Anderson (LAD) (8/2 @SF, 8/7 vs. SD)
Maybe Anderson should be higher and we should stop doubting him, but it’s still a week with two matchups I don’t love and a profile that I love even less.
Triston McKenzie (CLE) (8/2 vs. ARI, 8/7 vs. HOU)
McKenzie has found another gear of late, and I was so, so close to putting him in the top tier this week. The matchup against the Astros is enough for me to bump him down a tier, though. I am, however, still starting him.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) (8/2 @NYY, 8/7 vs. LAA)
Gilbert looks like he’s going to outperform his peripherals all season. We’ll see if the rotation plans stick with Luis Castillo coming into the fold. As of now, I’d fade him in shallower leagues with the Yankees matchup.
Spencer Strider (ATL) (8/2 vs. PHI, 8/6 @NYM)
Strider bounced back against the Phillies after struggling his last two times out. He’ll get the chance to do it again this week in a tough double-dip against his N.L. East foes. I’m starting him and hoping for a repeat of last time out.
Adam Wainwright (STL) (8/2 vs. CHC, 8/7 vs. NYY)
I’m really interested in seeing what Wainwright’s ADP is next year after putting up yet another good season at age 40. He twirled his way to success over the Blue Jays his last time out, which should help your confidence starting him with the Yankees due up.
Mike Clevinger (SD) (8/1 vs. COL, 8/5 @LAD)
I love this spot for Clevinger with the Rockies in San Diego — maybe with Juan Soto helping him out offensively? — but of course, he has to face the Dodgers. I’m starting him hoping that the Colorado matchup offsets the Dodgers one.
In the Danger Zone
Charlie Morton (ATL) (8/3 vs. PHI, 8/7 @NYM)
It’s been so, so frustrating with Morton this year. A rollercoaster, of sorts. Just when he looks like he’s turning it around, he gets lit up again. The numbers under the hood still look good, but I’d lean toward sitting him given the matchups.
Lucas Giolito (CWS) (8/2 vs. KC, 8/7 @TEX)
Imagine before the season having Giolito in the dangerous tier when he’s facing the Royals and Rangers. Listen, I’m still probably going to start him because I’m a gluten for punishment, but I don’t at all feel great about it.
Tarik Skubal (DET) (8/1 @MIN, 8/6 vs. TB)
I’d probably sit him anyway, but with his name being in trade rumors, it’s hard to trust that he gets both starts.
Drew Rasmussen (TB) (8/2 vs. TOR, 8/7 @DET)
Not only does he have to face the Blue Jays this week, but he’s thrown more than five innings just once since June 10.
Nathan Eovaldi (BOS) (8/1 @HOU, 8/6 @KC)
Eovaldi has given up 16 earned runs — with just eight strikeouts — over his last 13 innings pitched. Yikes.
Streamers Rostered in Under 50% of Leagues
Cal Quantrill (CLE) (8/1 vs. ARI, 8/6 vs. HOU)
I’ve made it known that I’m not a Quantrill guy. The profile isn’t what I look for in a pitcher, and he’s been hit around of late. I’m fine starting him at Arizona, but the Houston matchup relegates him to 15-team territory for me this week.
Josiah Gray (WAS) (8/1 vs. NYM, 8/6 @PHI)
The future is bright for Gray, but that future is going to wait at least a week for me with the two heavy-mashing clubs on the schedule.
Braxton Garrett (MIA) (8/1 vs. CIN, 8/7 @CHC)
Streamer of the week? Streamer of the week. Garrett should get two decimated offenses in the Reds and Cubs who are both selling everything they have. Fire him up.
Kyle Gibson (PHI) (8/2 @ATL, 8/7 vs. WAS)
I’m not a Gibson fan, either, but he did make easy work of Atlanta last week. I’m OK using him — mainly for the Washington matchup — this week in 12-teamers.
Keegan Thompson (CHC) (8/2 @STL, 8/7 vs. MIA)
The good part about the Cubs being so bad is that Thompson’s solid season is flying under the radar, making him an intriguing target in dynasty leagues and for 2023. For next week, I’m fine starting him.
Brady Singer (KC) (8/2 @CHW, 8/7 vs. BOS)
Singer is taking a big step forward, but I’m still hesitant to trust him given the track record and potential for the two Sox teams.
Streamers Rostered in Under 25% of Leagues
N/A
Not Unless You’re Desperate
Marco Gonzales (SEA) (8/1 @NYY, 8/6 vs. LAA)
Andrew Heaney (LAD) (8/1 @SFG, 8/6 vs. SDP)
Brad Keller (KC) (8/1 @CHW, 8/6 vs. BOS)
Domingo German (NYY) (8/1 vs. SEA, 8/7 @STL)
Kutter Crawford (BOS) (8/2 @HOU, 8/7 @KCR)
Spenser Watkins (BAL) (8/1 @TEX, 8/7 vs. PIT)
Chris Archer (MIN) (8/1 vs. DET, 8/6 vs. TOR)
Antonio Senzatela (COL) (8/1 @SDP, 8/6 @ARI)
Spencer Howard (TEX) (8/2 vs. BAL, 8/7 vs. CHW)
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Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.