Welcome back to another week of two-start pitchers sports fans. There were not any No-Hitters in the MLB last week. However, there was one in the Little League World Series from a kid named Eli Jones. Jones also managed to tally the only RBI in his No-Hitter, so that was pretty cool to see. In the MLB Aaron Nola took a perfect game into the 7th until a costly error spiraled the Phillies’ day out of control. I’ve been critical of Nola but he looked unhittable up until his last pitch in that game. Lastly, The Braves, Yankees, and Dodgers are all on fire, much like everyone thought they would be all season long. So, it would seem that the cards are starting to fall in the direction the oddsmakers said they would at season’s start.
Moving onto injury news. There’s not a lot this week but nonetheless, you will know about it. Noah Syndergaard threw two batting practice sessions last week, his timetable is still undetermined. Yu Darvish threw a bullpen session last week and could return to the rotation this week. Sadly, Chris Bassitt will undergo surgery on his face after taking that nasty line drive off his cheek last week. Jose Urquidy will rejoin the Astros rotation on September 1st when rosters expand. Kenta Maeda left his last start with forearm tightness, still awaiting test results. Lastly, Anthony DeSclafani hit the IL with ankle inflammation. That’s the news lets get to the two start pitchers this week.
MUST STARTS
1. Lance Lynn CHW: (8/23 @ TOR)(8/28 vs CHC)
– My money is on Lynn to win the Cy Young. He’s been incredible this year, and while Toronto is a tough matchup he’s good enough to limit them. Then he gets the Cubs…need I say more?
2. Corbin Burnes MIL: (8/24 vs CIN)(8/29 @ MIN)
– Burnes only had 3 strikeouts in his last outing. But, he still allowed zero ER in 6 innings. The Kid is dominating everyone and opponents have a season BAA on him of .199. The Reds are playing good ball but this guy is lights out.
3. Jack Flaherty STL: (8/24 vs DET)(8/29 @ PIT)
– If Flaherty hadn’t just recently came back from injury he would be number one on this list this week. With that said he has looked great since coming back and these matchups are mouth-watering.
4. Jose Berrios TOR: (8/24 vs CHW)(8/29 @ DET)
– Berrios did get tattooed by the Angels two starts ago, but he bounced back in his last start against the Nats. This week he gets two familiar ball clubs from the AL central. He’s had mixed results against both of these clubs this season but I feel comfortable with him in this slot given the fact the Blue Jays are in the playoff hunt and have an explosive offense.
5. Zack Greinke HOU: (8/23 vs KC)(8/29 @ TEX)
– Greinke is up to 3 straight QS. He’s got a powerful offense behind him and is facing two offenses that don’t pack a lot of punch this week, making Greinke a surefire start.
6. Kyle Hendricks CHC: (8/23 vs COL)(8/29 @ CHW)
– Ol’ reliable did get touched up to the tune of 9 runs two starts ago against the Brewers. However, in the following start, he went right back to work against the Reds going 6 innings and allowing one run. The MLB leader in wins is about as reliable as they come right now.
QUESTIONABLES
7. Tyler Mahle CIN: (8/24 @ MIL)(8/29 @ MIA)
– Mahle is a strikeout artist. He’s been pretty good this year considering he plays in such a hitter-friendly ballpark. He travels to another hitter-friendly ballpark at Milwaukee in what I expect should be a tight game against Corbin Burnes. He then Travels to the pitcher-friendly ballpark in Miami to greet their terrible offense. We’re starting him.
8. Dylan Cease CHW: (8/24 @ TOR)(8/29 vs CHC)
– Cease hasn’t allowed more than 3 runs since July 5th. This is pretty incredible considering how bad he was on the road for the entire first half of the season. He’s striking everyone out still. Toronto could jump on him if his control is off but we’re going to roll with the hot hand here. Start him.
9. Alek Manoah TOR: (8/23 vs CHW)(8/28 @ DET)
– Manoah is back from bereavement leave. His last started didn’t go so well but in 12 starts this year teams are only batting .197 against him and he has a 1.08 WHIP to boot. Again, the same goes for Manoah as is does a few of the guys so far. He’s young, facing off against a potent offense and things could go south. However, I always put more stock in the talent, so we’re starting him.
10. Tylor Megill NYM: (8/24 vs SF)(8/29 vs WAS)
– Another young buck on the list. Megill has been really impressive this year. A bright spot in a black hole for the Mets. Both these are at home and I like Megill’s skillset so I’m starting him this week.
11. Daniel Lynch KC: (8/23 @ HOU)(8/29 @ SEA)
– Since his second call-up in late July, Lynch has been pretty damn good. In 5 starts his line 30.2 IP, 24 H, 8 ER, 11 BB, and 24 Ks. Houston might scare you off but in his last start, he went 7 innings of 1 run ball against them. However, that was at home. Minute Maid is a different kind of ballpark. I’m actually torn on this one because I like the talent here. And a young pitcher facing off against one of the most potent offenses twice in a row does not bode well. I like Lynch a lot, but this week I’m only starting him in points leagues. This is based on nothing but a gut feeling so do what you will with it.
12. Ranger Suarez PHI: (8/24 vs TB)(8/29 vs ARI)
– The Phillies have steadily been ramping up their former closers pitch count. Saurez has looked good in whatever role he’s pitched in this year. Armed with a 95 MPH fastball that he locates inside to righties regularly, the lefty is poised to stay in the Phillies rotation for the foreseeable future. I’m starting him this week.
13. Madison Bumgarner ARI: (8/24 @ PIT)(8/29 @ PHI)
– Since coming off the IL on July 16th, he’s been a different pitcher than we saw at the start of the season. He’s got 6 QS out of 7, and hasn’t surrendered more than 3 runs in any of the starts. This includes on the road where the snakes are atrocious. I expect more of the same this week from Bumgarner. Start him.
14. Antonio Senzatela COL: (8/23 @ CHC)(8/29 @ LAD)
– I wrote about Senzetela last week but he didn’t end up making 2 starts. That will come this week and if you read what I said last week about him you’ll know he’s turning a corner right now. The Cubs are first and we love that matchup but then he gets the red hot Dodgers in LA. I have my reservations about that start and if you want to only start him in daily leagues or points leagues only, I completely get it. With that said, I’m going out on a limb and starting him in all leagues.
15. Nathan Eovaldi BOS: (8/23 vs TEX)(8/28 @ CLE)
– His erratic inconsistency holds him back. But it shouldn’t this week with two solid matchups. Start him.
16. Eric Fedde WAS: (8/24 @ MIA)(8/29 @ NYM)
– Fedde isn’t a great pitcher by any stretch of the imagination. But, these are two pretty good matchups here and he’s seen a lot of these teams over his career and hasn’t been pitching bad recently. If you need a waiver wire guy Fedde is a candidate.
17. Cole Irvin OAK: (8/24 vs SEA)(8/29 vs NYY)
– Nothing pains me more than to write about this guy. Regardless of what his season line looks like, I still stick by the opinion that he stinks. He’s got 97 Ks in 141.1 innings to go with a .258 BAA and 1.20 WHIP. The WHIP isn’t bad but that’s because he doesn’t walk anyone, which is a good attribute, but I stand by this. This will be the best year of his career. Teams smoke the ball on this guy. I’m benching him… FOREVER.
POINTS LEAGUES ONLY
18. Jordan Montgomery NYY: (8/23 @ ATL)(8/29 @ OAK)
19. Marco Gonzales SEA: (8/23 @ OAK)(8/29 vs KC)
20. Nick Pivetta BOS: (8/24 vs MIN)(8/29 @ CLE)
21. J.T. Brubaker PIT: (8/24 vs ARI)(8/29 vs STL)
NO THANKS
Jesus Luzardo MIA: (8/24 vs WAS)(8/29 vs CIN), Elijah Morgan CLE: (8/24 vs TEX)(8/29 vs BOS), Bailey Ober MIN: (8/24 @ BOS)(8/29 vs MIL), Wil Crowe PIT: (8/23 vs ARI)(8/28 vs STL), Spenser Watkins BAL: (8/24 vs LAA)(8/29 vs TB), Paul Blackburn OAK: (8/23 vs SEA)(8/29 vs NYY), Kolby Allard TEX: (8/23 @ BOS)(8/29 vs HOU)
