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 — that we have on a week-to-week basis.
Let’s get right into it as we look ahead at Week 20 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 the 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
- Carlos Rodon (SF): (8/29 vs. SD, 9/4 vs. PHI)
- Corbin Burnes (MIL): (8/29 vs. PIT, 8/3 @ARI)
- Max Fried (ATL): (8/30 vs. COL, 9/4 vs. MIA)
- Zac Gallen (ARI): (8/29 vs. PHI, 9/3vs. MIL)
- Tony Gonsolin (LAD): (8/29 @MIA, 9/3 vs. SD)
- Miles Mikolas (STL): (8/29 @CIN, 9/4 vs. CHC)
- Ranger Suarez (PHI): (8/29 @ARI, 9/4 @SF)
- Jose Berrios (TOR): (8/29 vs. CHC, 9/4 @PIT)
Widely-Rostered Options
Lucas Giolito (CHW): (8/30 @KC, 9/4 vs. MIN)
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 Royals and Twins. The Royals matchup is good, and with an again injured Byron Buxton, I’m leaning toward starting him, but don’t at all feel great about it.
Pablo Lopez (MIA): (8/29 vs. LAD, 9/4 @ATL)
Usually, Lopez is a sit-and-forget, but these are two extremely tough matchups this week for the young righty. The Dodgers and Atlanta rank No. 1 and No. 9, respectively, in wRC+ against right-handed pitching this year. I’m likely using him unless I have a slam-dunk option.
George Kirby (SEA): (8/30 @DET, 9/4 @CLE)
Despite the red-hot Guardians and the suddenly positive regression performing Tigers, I still feel pretty good about this spot for Kirby to not only help with ratios but also lock up a pair of wins.
Lance Lynn (CWS): (8/31 vs. KCR, 9/3 vs. MIN)
What a disappointment Lynn has been this year. You have to think most of it is health-based, and that is part of the reason for the struggles and decreased velocity this season. I feel better with Giolito than I do Lynn, but I’d use him in 15-teamers and he’s a desperation play in 12-teamers.
Frankie Montas (NYY): (8/29 @LAA, 9/4 @TBR)
It’s been one good game and one terrible game so far for Montas in New York. I actually don’t mind the matchups for him here, and it helps that both games are in pitcher-friendly parks. I’m crossing my fingers and hope that I don’t regret starting him here.
Taijuan Walker (NYM): (8/30 vs. LAD, 9/4 vs. WAS)
The back injury was concerning for Walker, but it seems like he’s past it. He’s the perfect daily pick this week, given the disparity between the two matchups here. If faced with a call in a weekly league, I’m benching him due to the chances of him missing his second start of the week are a lot higher than him missing the first start.
In the Danger Zone
Cal Quantrill (CLE): (8/30 vs. BAL, 9/4 vs. SEA)
Quantrill has a 15.9 K%. That’s the second-lowest in baseball among qualified arms to only Marco Gonzales. I absolutely hate the profile and want nothing to do with him on a start-by-start basis.
Mike Clevinger (SD): (9/29 @SFG, 9/4 @LAD)
Speaking of guys I’m not a fan of on or off the field, in this case, I prefer to sit Clevinger this week with two divisional opponents lined up. He’s fine for 15-teamers if you must.
Streamers Rostered in Under 50% of Leagues
Cole Irvin (OAK): (8/30 @WAS, 9/4 @BAL)
Speaking of low K%, Irvin has the fifth-lowest mark among qualified pitchers at 17.4. I’m fine using him as a deep streamer with the Nationals on the docket.
Streamers Rostered in Under 25% of Leagues
Spenser Watkins (BAL): (8/30 @CLE, 9/4 vs. OAK)
Watkins isn’t a sexy name at all, but did you know that he’s given up more than three earned runs just once over his last 11 starts? He’s a sneaky play this week.
Not Unless You’re Desperate
Madison Bumgarner (ARI): (8/30 vs. PHI, 9/4 vs. MIL)
Kutter Crawford (BOS): (8/30 @MIN, 9/4 vs. TEX)
Dane Dunning (TEX): (8/30 vs. HOU, 9/4 @BOS)
Jose Urena (COL): (8/30 @ATL, 9/4 @CIN)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.
Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.