Welcome back, two-start hoarders. First, this weather has been absolutely atrocious. I walked through eight inches of water to get to my car yesterday. It’s miserable. The awful weather this April has made things a bit more challenging, as two-starters keep getting bumped from one week to the next. The coming week has a seven-game slate for most clubs, and obviously we’re hoping for fewer postponed contests, but keep in mind that Tuesday’s two-starters could easily slide into the two-start slot for week 5.
As always, probable pitchers are subject to change. For a look at all fantasy baseball streamers, click that link.
MUST START
A.J. Burnett (@PHI, @STL); Matt Moore (NYY, @CWS); C.C. Sabathia (@TB, TOR); Felix Hernandez (@HOU, LAA); Max Scherzer (KC, ATL); R.A. Dickey (@BAL, @NYY); David Price (NYY, @CWS); Clayton Kershaw (@NYM, MLW);
- No reason to sit any of these guys.
FIRST TIER
Shelby Miller (@WAS, PIT); Ricky Nolasco (@MIN, CHC); A.J. Griffin (@BOS, BAL); Derek Holland (@LAA, @MIN); Kyle Lohse (@SD, @LAD); Wade Miley (@SF, COL); Tony Cingrani (CHC, @WAS); Ryan Vogelsong (ARZ, @SD); Bartolo Colon (@BOS, BAL); Carlos Villanueva (@CIN, @MIA); Alexi Ogando (@LAA, @MIN); Yovani Gallardo (@SD, @LAD); Hisashi Iwakuma (@HOU, LAA); Jeremy Guthrie (@DET, CLE); Patrick Corbin (@SF, COL); Jose Quintana (CLE, TB); Cole Hamels (PIT, @NYM)
- Plenty of nice options this week and a slew of them are widely available on waivers. Your best bets for scooping are as follows: A.J. Griffin (55% owned in Y! leagues), Tony Cingrani (47%), Jeremy Guthrie (22%), Carlos Villanueva (18%), Patrick Corbin (14%), Jose Quintana (13%), Bartolo Colon (7%), and Ricky Nolasco (4%). You can feel comfortable rolling with any of those eight, and of course, feel free to start any of the others from this group if you’re fortunate enough to have them rostered already.
SECOND TIER
Mike Minor (@COL, @DET); Ross Detwiler (STL, CIN); Justin Masterson (@CWS, @KC); Travis Wood (@CIN, @MIA); Bud Norris (SEA, @BOS); Jason Vargas (TEX, @SEA); Jason Marquis (MLW, SF); Jon Garland (ATL, @ARZ)
- Ross Detwiler (48% owned in Y! leagues) has been good thus far, and you can feel free to ride his hot streak out, but I dropped him down into this second tier, as he faces two strong lineups next week. Bud Norris (20%) is always a good option while he’s pitching in Houston, but quite the opposite when he’s away from home. He gets a nice home matchup versus Seattle to start the week, followed by trip to Boston to face the whiff-heavy Red Sox. I’m using Norris in a H2H points league this week, and I’m hoping he gets his shizz together on the road. Jon Garland (2%) has started hot, and is an intriguing option if you’re into riding hot streaks (I am).
THIRD TIER
J.A. Happ (@BAL, @NYY); Alfredo Aceves (OAK, HOU); Mike Leake (CHC, @WAS); Mike Pelfrey (MIA, TEX); Jeff Locke (@PHI, @STL); Miguel Gonzalez (TOR, @OAK); Dan Haren (STL, CIN); Felix Doubront (OAK, HOU); Dylan Axelrod (CLE, TB); Kevin Correia (MIA, TEX)
- Use caution with this group if you’re trying to avoid blowing up your ratios. If you’re looking for counting stats, though, this isn’t quite the bottom of the barrel. I wanted to put Haren with the DON’T START group, but I’m not quite ready to entirely quit him just yet. Still, don’t use him unless you’re desperate.
DON’T START
Brad Peacock (SEA, @BOS); Joe Blanton (TEX, @SEA); Jake Arrieta (TOR, @OAK); Jeff Francis (ATL, @ARZ); Phil Hughes (@TB, TOR); Aaron Laffey (LAD, PHI);
- These guys stink worse than bullpen farts. Okay, maybe not that bad, but close. Don’t start ’em.
