Are you familiar with The Legend of Oso Blanco? It’s the very true story behind Evan Gattis, and it’s a must listen if you haven’t yet heard it. Even if you have, it’s still worth another run through. Atlanta sports radio 680 The Fan was on point with this bit, which should have some appeal among us here at Razzball. Thanks to Deadspin for bringing it to our attention. Anyway, two-starters… Week 9 features nearly a full-slate of action, so there are a shizzload of them to choose from. To help guide your two-start perusing, I’ve slapped together our usual tiered worksheet.
As always, probable pitchers are subject to change. For a look at all fantasy baseball streamers, click that link.
MUST START
Yu Darvish (@ARI, KC); Stephen Strasburg (BAL, @ATL); Adam Wainwright (@KC, SF); Cliff Lee (@BOS, MIL); Matt Harvey (NYY, @MIA); Madison Bumgarner (@OAK, @STL); Justin Verlander (PIT, @BAL); Hiroki Kuroda (@NYM, BOS); Clay Buchholz (PHI, @NYY); James Shields (STL, @TEX); Chris Sale (CHC, @OAK); Mat Latos (CLE, @PIT); Zack Greinke (LAA, @COL)
- Lots of no-brainers this week. Start ’em all.
FIRST TIER
Jeff Samardzija (@CWS, ARI); Jered Weaver (@LAD, HOU); Gio Gonzalez (BAL, @ATL); Francisco Liriano (@DET, CIN); Alex Cobb (MIA, @CLE); C.J. Wilson (@LAD, HOU); Zach McAllister (@CIN, TB); Trevor Cahill (TEX, @CHC); Jorge De La Rosa (@HOU, LAD)
- My widely available two-start streamer of the week is Jorge De La Rosa (25% owned in Y! leagues), who’s riding a four-game win streak during which he’s allowed only 6 runs. De La get’s two nice match-ups next week and I’m definitely using him in weekly formats. I’m also using Zach McAllister (32%), who’s proving himself to be a steady fantasy option. Fancisco Liriano (56%) is disappearing from waivers quickly, so act fast. He’s strung together three fantastic starts to begin his season. In shallow leagues, you might be able to snag the reliable Trevor Cahill (72%), but the rest of this tier is likely owned. Everyone here is a solid week 9 option.
SECOND TIER
Jarrod Parker (SF, CWS); Jose Quintana (CHC, @OAK); Jose Fernandez (@TB, NYM); Ryan Dempster (PHI, @NYY); Ubaldo Jimenez (@CIN, TB); Kevin Gausman (@WAS, DET); Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAA, @COL); Jon Niese (NYY, @MIA); Mike Leake (CLE, @PIT); Paul Maholm (@TOR, WAS); Ian Kennedy (TEX, @CHC)
- Tier two has more streamable options, and good ones too. Kevin Gausman (31%) is a sexy two-start streamer, and his stuff looked great in his first start, but he’ll need to keep command of his fastball deeper into ballgames if he’s to be effective in the bigs. Mike Leake (11%) hasn’t allowed a run for two straight starts, perhaps pitching with a purpose while Tony Cingrani threatens to seize the fifth spot in the Cincinnati rotation. Quintana (14%), Jimenez (24%), Parker (39%), Fernandez (49%), and Niese (53%) are available, and useful options. The rest of this group is likely owned.
THIRD TIER
Dan Straily (SF, CWS); Kevin Correia (@MIL, SEA); Ervin Santana (STL, @TEX); Jeremy Hellickson (MIA, @CLE); Brandon Morrow (ATL, @SD); Jason Hammel (@WAS, DET); Mark Buehrle (ATL, @SD); Aaron Harang (SD, @MIN); Jordan Lyles (COL, @LAA); Tyler Lyons (@KC, SF); Tyler Cloyd (@BOS, MIL); Bud Norris (COL, @LAA); Edwin Jackson (@CWS, ARI); Kevin Slowey (@TB, NYM); Jhoulys Chacin (@HOU, LAD); Tim Hudson (@TOR, WAS)
- This group carries quite plenty of risk, but there’s reason to be optimistic about a few of these guys. Bud Norris could be a sneaky play in deep leagues — he gets one at home and one away next week. Norris has been great in home starts this year, and his away start next weekend comes against the Angels, who he’s already shut down twice. Dan Straily showed his best command since early April in his last outing. Perhaps he’s turned a corner, but I’m still not trusting him. Outside of very deep formats and AL/NL-Only, I’d avoid this group.
DON’T START
Brandon Maurer (SD, @MIN); Phil Hughes (@NYM, BOS); Scott Diamond (@MIL, SEA); Rick Porcello (PIT, @BAL); Wily Peralta (MIN, @PHI); Edinson Volquez (@SEA, TOR); Jeanmar Gomez (@DET, CIN)
