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As always, probable pitchers are subject to change.  For a look at all fantasy baseball streamers, click that link.

Before a big test, my high school history teacher would always announce that it would “separate the Dukes from the Chiefs.” Since he liked to be known as Chief, and he called everyone he liked Chief, I’m assuming that this meant that the “Chiefs” were the good guys. Then again, Chief also liked to transport himself back to ‘Nam sometimes, stalking around the classroom looking for “Charlie.” The weirdest thing? I’m not even sure he was in ‘Nam.

Anywho, this legendary teacher from my youth came to mind as I was writing this week’s Two Startapalooza because at Week 4, we’re starting to be able to separate the Dukes from the Chiefs.

As in, it’s obvious that Darvish, King Felix and James Shields are still Chiefs. Yordano Ventura and Julio Teheran are looking like Chiefs. Cliff Lee, who was starting to look a little Duke-ish to me, is still pretty much a Chief. David Price, a surefire Chief a few years ago, is very much a Duke right now.

It’s becoming a lot easier to fill out the Third Tier and Don’t Starts, because we know who is a Duke and who is not. And to get in the Must Start category, you are most certainly a Chief or you have two starts against the Astros next week.

Aight, Chief, let’s get to it.

Must Start

Felix Hernandez (HOU, TEX), Yu Darvish (@OAK, @SEA), Adam Wainwright (@NYM, PIT), James Shields (@CLE,@BAL), Chris Sale (@DET,TB), Julio Teheran (MIA, CIN), Masahiro Tanaka (@BOS, LAA)

After looking over the stats and gamelogs for these dudes and having some alone time with myself, it’s obvious that they are on another level. They’re all Chiefs! Especially the first three, who have matchups that range from favorable to excellent.

First Tier
Hyun-Jin Ryu (PHI, COL), Johnny Cueto (@PIT, @ATL), Jose Fernandez (@ATL,@NYM), Andrew Cashner (@MIL, @WAS), Justin Verlander (CWS,@MIN), Cliff Lee (@LAD,@ARZ), Zack Greinke(PHI,COL).

This is still a pretty sick bunch of pitchers right here. Ryu has been a beast except for one mound crapping. Cueto is looking phenomenal and on the verge of Must Start territory. If he dominates in Pittsburgh and Atlanta, I’m sold. Don’t love Cashner’s matchups, and I’d really like to see Pineda go more than six.

Second Tier

Mike Leake (@PIT, @ATL), Wily Peralta (SD,CHC), Jon Lester (NYY,@TOR), Clay Buchholz (BAL,@TOR), Garrett Richards(@WAS,@NYY), Anibal Sanchez (CWS,@MIN), Tanner Roark (LAA, SD), Jason Hammel (ARZ,@MIL), Edinson Volquez (CIN,@STL), Travis Wood (ARZ,@MIL), John Danks (@DET,TB), Francisco Liriano (CIN,@STL), Dillon Gee (STL, MIA), Scott Feldman (@SEA, OAK), R.A. Dickey (BAL, BOS)

Personally I’ve got more of a stiffy for Leake than I do Wily, and I’m actually not so sure why I have Wood here, because he always pitches real well for seven innings and then the wheels come off before his manager realizes it. Who the hell is Rick Renteria anyway? Whatever happened to Edgar? Oh and by the way, I’m giving Dickey one more chance to stick it to me and then he’s down in Third Tier hell. Danks, but no Danks.

Third Tier

Tom Koehler (@ATL,@NYM), Paul Maholm (PHI, COL), Taylor Jordan (LAA, SD), Tyler Lyons (@NYM,PIT), Jenrry Mejia (STL, MIA), Zack McAllister (KC,@SF), Jeremy Guthrie (@CLE,@BAL),  Ian Kennedy(@MIL, @WAS), Dallas Keuchel (@SEA, OAK), Miguel Gonzalez (@BOS, KC), Jake Odorizzi (MIN, @CWS), Tommy Milone (TEX, @HOU), Dan Straily (TEX, @HOU), Jorge De La Rosa (SF,@LAD), Ryan Vogelsong (@COL, CLE)

Don’t get suckered into using either of the A’s here. Yes, Oakland’s park is favorable toward pitchers, but it’s against the Rangers. And, yes, Houston sucks, but Houston has some hitters (George Springer, sleeping giant Chris Carter, Jason Castro …) and Milone and Straily have not been throwing well. Meanwhile: Koehler has actually been pretty solid for the Marlins, and if his name wasn’t a faucet manufacturer and he didn’t have a look that said, “Yeah, I play for the Marlins, do you have to put my name on this?” I’d rank him higher. I could see him doing OK in New York but Evan Gattis and company are gonna tee off on him in Atlanta.

Don’t start

Danny Salazar (KC,@SF), Mike Pelfrey (@TB,DET), Bronson Arroyo (@CHC, PHI), Brandon McCarthy (@CHC, PHI)

Look, don’t freak out about Salazar being down here with the likes of Pelfrey. I’m not saying he won’t be great someday, maybe even this year. Alls I’m sayin’ is if you own him, give you and your nerves a break this week and sit him out. When he gets right, get him back in there. Meanwhile: Do the Diamondbacks have the worst staff in the history of baseball? Never start a Diamondbacks pitcher, ever. Or at least not this year.