Now that the season is over halfway finished, it is time to start grinding the two-start pitchers to give you an advantage over your competition.

Each week, I will be giving you a breakdown of the two-start options for your fantasy leagues broken up into the following tiers:

• Must Start: The guys that you have to start because of their talent and/or matchups.
• Should Start: These are the guys that are rostered in most formats and probably should be in your lineup.
• Here We Go: Pitchers that you are probably starting in most formats but have some level of risk to them.
• Feeling Lucky: Pitchers available in less than 25% of leagues that are risky but viable in deeper formats.
• Desperate Measures: Pitchers you shouldn’t use unless you have no other choice.

These are projected two-start pitchers and are subject to change.

Must Start

• Gerrit Cole (NYY) at CHW, at MIA
• Zach Eflin (TB) vs STL, vs CLE
• Dylan Cease (CWS) vs NYY, vs MIL
• Sonny Gray (MIN) at DET, at PHI
• Spencer Strider (ATL) at PIT, at NYM
• Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs COL, at CHW
• Julio Urias LAD) at SD, vs COL
• Alex Cobb (SF) at LAA, vs TEX
• Eduardo Rodriguez (DET) vs MIN, at BOS

Should Start

Kutter Crawford (BOS) vs KC, vs DET

Crawford has been fantastic as of late, posting a 2.18 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20.2 innings since the break. This is a fantastic two-step versus two of the worst offenses in baseball, so he is pretty close to a must-start in all formats.

Cole Ragans (KC) at BOS, vs STL

It may be crazy to see Ragans high, but Ragans has looked really good since getting traded to the Royals. He has a great matchup versus the Cardinals to end the week and a decent one in Boston.

Dane Dunning (TEX) at OAK, at SF

Dunning should probably be a must-start at this point, but I keep waiting for the wheels to fall off. They shouldn’t this week, considering these are two fantastic matchups in great pitching ballparks. I still think he is a sell high, but wait until after this week.

Here We Go

Grayson Rodriguez (BAL) vs HOU, at SEA

Rodriguez has pitched very well since returning from the minor leagues, posting a 3.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. He has a tough matchup vs. Houston and an easier one in Seattle, but he has been good enough to trust him in most formats.

Ranger Suarez (PHI) vs WAS, vs MIN

Suarez has been up and down this season, but while there is always a risk to his high-contact approach, the matchups are pretty decent to take advantage of. Minnesota has been the worst team this season in terms of OPS against left-handed pitching, and the Nationals are not a team to be afraid of.

Josiah Gray (WAS) at PHI, vs OAK

Gray has been really good this year, dropping his home runs rate from 2.3 HR/9 to a 1.11 HR/9 this season. There is risk here because Philly is finally playing well. The upside is Oakland is truly an atrocious offense. I think I will roll with this one.

MacKenzie Gore (WAS) at PHI, vs OAK

A lot of what I said in terms of the matchups for GRay applies to Gore. However, it is a bit better for Gore than Gray because Philadelphia has been mediocre at best versus left-handed pitching this year, so I am more inclined to use Gore over Gray if that is the predicament I am in.

Feeling Lucky

Braxton Garrett (MIA) at CIN, vs NYY

Garrett has been up and down this season, but he seems like he is getting back on track over his last two starts. He has a really tough start in Cincinnati which is why I am really skeptical about using him here, but the upside is enough that you probably should in deeper formats.

Mitch Keller (PIT) vs ATL, vs CIN

After a really amazing start to the season, Keller has struggled over his last six starts, allowing a 7.49 ERA in 33.2 innings. He has allowed over two home runs per nine innings in that span. On top of that, these are about two of the worst matchups possible. They are in Pittsburgh, which has been the best park to pitch in this year, but I wouldn’t roll with him outside of NL Only leagues.

Kodai Senga (NYM) vs CHC, vs ATL

Senga has quietly been pretty good in spite of a bad walk rate. The walk rate scares me a bit because of the tough end-of-the-week matchup versus the Braves. This one has some risk, but if you need strikeouts, it might be worth risking, but the chance for wins and great ratios might be a little tougher this week.

Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs TOR, at TB

Bibee has pitched very well since joining the Guardians rotation. However, these are two matchups that are a bit scary. The Blue Jays and Rays are both top 10 teams in OPS versus right-handed pitching this year, so I would be really careful about picking my spot with him here.

Yonny Chirinos (ATL) at PIT, at NYM

Chirinos will almost always be in the Desperate Measures tier except when he has two amazing matchups versus bad offenses in two great pitcher’s parks like he does this week. He won’t get you much in terms of strikeouts, but he could end up with two wins and great ratios.

Desperate Measure

• Seth Lugo (SD) vs LAD, at ARI
• Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs LAD, vs SD
• Peter Lambert (COL) at MIL, at LAD
• Kyle Freeland (COL) at MIL, at LAD
• Osvaldo Bido (PIT) vs ATL, vs CIN
• Brandon Williamson (CIN) vs MIA, at PIT
• Drew Smyly (CHC) at NYM, at TOR
• Xzavion Curry (BOS) vs TOR, at TB
• Carlos Carrasco (NYM) vs CHC, vs ATL
• Ken Waldichuk (OAK) vs TEX, at WAS
• Hyun Jin Ryu (TOR) at CLE, vs CHC
• Matt Manning (DET) vs MIN, at BOS
• Jameson Taillon (CHC) at NYM, at TOR
• Dallas Keuchel (MIN) at DET, at PHI
• Tony Gonsolin (LAD) at SD, vs COL

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