We are in the home stretch of the fantasy regular season, and we are going to be a little bit picky with who we are just throwing into our lineups for two starts. It’s a short week as it is, with fewer options – especially viable ones – than we have on a week-to-week basis.

Let’s get right into it as we look ahead to Week 19 of the fantasy season.

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 Friday afternoon.

Don’t Think Twice

Max Scherzer (8/22 @NYY, 8/28 vs. COL)

Tony Gonsolin (8/22 vs. MIL, 8/28 @MIA)

Adam Wainwright (8/23 @CHC, 8/28 vs. ATL)

Robbie Ray (8/23 vs. WAS, 8/28 vs. CLE)

Noah Syndergaard (8/22 vs. CIN, 8/27 vs. PIT)

Jordan Montgomery (8/22 @CHC, 8/27 vs. ATL)

Michael Kopech (8/22 vs. KCR, 8/27 vs. ARI)

Sonny Gray (8/22 vs. TEX, 8/27 vs. SFG)

Widely-Rostered Options

Lucas Giolito (8/23 @BAL, 8/28 vs. ARI)
It’s been such a disappointing season for Giolito this year and just imagine in April saying that you’d think twice about starting him in a matchup against the Orioles and Diamondbacks. He’s coming off of a pounding against Houston his last time out, and he has a 7.39 ERA over the last month. The Orioles are a borderline playoff team, and I am looking elsewhere this week unless I really need that extra start.

Ranger Suarez (8/23 vs. CIN, 8/28 vs. PIT)
Suarez, on the other hand, has been sneaky good over the last month – and season, really – posting a 1.19 ERA in his last 30.1 innings pitched. This week, he gets a double-tap against the Reds and Pirates – both of which are anemic offenses. He’s only 68 percent rostered (hello, football season), but he’s our streamer of the week this week.

Corey Kluber (8/22 vs. LAA, 8/27 @BOS)
I don’t love Kluber. I don’t even think he needs to be rostered. But he’s been … fine. He’s been a fine, volume-type streamer, and he gets two disappointing offenses this week. But those offenses can still put up runs on occasion, making Kluber a borderline streamer this week in non-points leagues.

In the Danger Zone

Nathan Eovaldi (8/23 vs. TOR, 8/28 vs. TBR)
I’m not an Eovaldi guy despite the upside he has. But he’s given up 21 home runs this season, which are the most for any pitcher who hasn’t thrown 100 innings and tied for sixth in the league overall. Toronto is seventh in the league in team home runs, while the Rays sit toward the bottom. He’s a fade for me this week.

Streamers Rostered in Under 50% of Leagues

Edward Cabrera (8/22 @OAK, 8/28 vs. LAD)
Cabrera is who we hoped Sixto Sanchez would be. He’s showing frontline ace-type stuff and is going to be a popular target for drafts next year. This week, he gets a juicy matchup with the A’s but then has to face the Dodgers. I’m going to roll the dice with him unless I’m protecting ratios to an extreme measure.

Ross Stripling (8/23 @BOS, 8/28 vs. LAA)
Credit where credit is due for Stripling, who has just been fantastic for the Blue Jays this season. The Blue Jays are at a key point in their season and need strong pitching going forward. While both teams have the ability to get hot – as we mentioned above – Boston and Los Angeles sit 25th and 26th in the league, respectively, in team wRC+ at 87 and 85. Fire Stripling up.

Streamers Rostered in Under 25% of Leagues

Nick Lodolo (8/23 @PHI, 8/28 @WAS)
Missing time in the middle of the season has allowed Lodolo to have an increased workload down the stretch for the Reds. The Phillies have handled lefties surprisingly well this season but still lack Bryce Harper and possibly Kyle Schwarber. Washington doesn’t scare me at all, and I’m leaning toward using Lodolo in 12-teamers this week.

Domingo German (8/22 vs. NYM, 8/28 @OAK)
Bias aside here, German could be used with Oakland on his schedule. He’s been fine of late but isn’t going to go deep into games for you. The Mets matchup isn’t ideal, so he’s a 15-team league option at best.

Jake Odorizzi (8/22 @PIT, 8/28 @STL)
Another deep-league option is Odorizzi. It’s pretty much by default with the Pirates on the schedule. If he can hold his own against the Cardinals, he should come out with positive ROI for fantasy managers.

Not Unless You’re Desperate

Zach Plesac (8/23 @SDP, 8/28 @SEA)

German Marquez (8/23 vs. TEX, 8/28 @NYM)

Drew Smyly (8/22 vs. STL, 8/27 @MIL)

Roansy Contreras (8/22 vs. ATL, 8/28 @PHI)

Daniel Lynch (8/22 vs. CHW, 8/28 vs. SDP)

Austin Voth (8/23 vs. CHW, 8/28 @HOU)

Cole Ragans (8/22 @MIN, 8/28 vs. DET)

Tucker Davidson (8/22 @TBR, 8/28 @TOR)

Zach Logue (8/23 vs. MIA, 8/28 vs. NYY)

T.J. Zeuch (8/22 @PHI, 8/27 @WAS)

Adam Oller (8/22 vs. MIA, 8/27 vs. NYY)

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Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.