This week’s teams to keep your eye on are the Astros and Dodgers. Framber Valdez is off the IL, and to make room for him it was J.P. France who got optioned down to AAA. That means Spencer Arrighetti retains his place on the roster and in the rotation. What is unclear at this time is how they will line guys up beginning on Tuesday. Hunter Brown is the semi-educated guess, but you don’t want to use him.
When it comes to the Dodgers, it appears as though they’re moving to a six-man rotation. That move is always annoying for our purposes, but it makes sense when you have an abundance of quality arms at your disposal. However, that is not really the case for the Dodgers right now. If they decide to go with a five-man rotation this week, it would seemingly be James Paxton scheduled to do double duty. But seeing as he’s been given extra rest multiple times already, I doubt he actually would. Also, he’s been walking the world and has an ERA two runs lower than what the stats say he deserves, so you don’t want to start him anyway.
What follows are our projections at time of writing as to who will be making two-starts this week, but weather, injuries, and secretive team management mean they are just that: projections. To stay as up-to-date as possible, consult Rudy Gamble’s invaluable Streamonator.
Chocolate Chip Cookies (Must Start)
They are kings of the cookie world for a reason. A warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie just makes you feel happy. Sort of like getting to set your rosters knowing you get two starts this week from these guys.
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Ryan, Min | @CHW | BOS |
| Logan Webb, SFG | @BOS | @PHI |
| Grayson Rodriguez, Bal | NYY | @CIN |
- Streamonator rates Webb several spots lower than I do this week. Needless to say, I disagree with the computer. You drafted him as an ace. He has performed like an ace. Start him like he’s an ace.
Sugar Cookies (Should Start)
They’re fine. You could certainly do worse than having these guys in your lineup, but don’t expect it to be remarkable.
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Pepiot, TB | @MIL | NYM |
| Max Fried, Atl | @SEA | @LAD |
| Nick Lodolo, Cin | @SD | @BAL |
| Nestor Cortes, NYY | @BAL | DET |
| Christopher Sanchez, Phi | @LAA | SF |
| Garrett Crochet, CWS | MIN | @STL |
| Trevor Rogers, MIA | WSH | @OAK |
| Luis Severino, NYM | CHC | @TB |
- For as high as I have Fried here, trusting the machine, I don’t feel great about it. His last start was fantastic, but he has been shaky this season. And that Dodgers matchup is no fun for anyone. You don’t want to bench him, but I understand if you have any nerves.
- I’m not entirely sure what to make of Crochet. When you look at his Savant page, it mostly looks the way you want it to look. But at the same time the last three starts have been rough. And those three starts make up half of his career starts. It feels like a case where you want to trust the stuff against those matchups, but it may be the last time he gets the benefit of the doubt.
- Why is Rogers and his 1.52 WHIP ranked so high this week? I mean, do you see those matchups?!
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Could Start)
These aren’t for everyone. These are the pitchers that may be a pleasant surprise, or they could ruin your week. Tread lightly.
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Bryce Miller, Sea | ATL | @HOU |
| MacKenzie Gore, Was | @TEX | TOR |
| Sean Manaea, NYM | CHC | @TB |
| Bailey Falter, Pit | @OAK | COL |
| Jameson Taillon, CHC | @NYM | MIL |
| Javier Assad, CHC | @NYM | MIL |
| Jon Gray, Tex | WSH | @KC |
| Steven Matz, Stl | @DET | CHW |
| Yariel Rodriguez, Tor | KC | @WSH |
- I feel bad putting Miller this far down, but it’s actually significantly higher than Streamonator has him. You don’t want to see your pitchers scheduled to face the Braves, folks.
- I have no idea how Bailey Falter is doing what he’s doing, but the only way his matchups could be better than getting Oakland and the Rockies outside of Coors is if he somehow had a third start against the White Sox.
- I’m not sure anyone knows how Assad keeps doing it, but at this point, he has a 2.76 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 117 career innings as a starter. He even has an 8.7 K/9 so far this season despite a fastball that sits below 92 MPH and a Whiff percentage in the 14th percentile. You assume it won’t last forever, but I’m willing to bet the collapse doesn’t happen this week.
- Matz is a pure, straight matchups play, and not one for the faint of heart.
- Rodriguez has yet to record an out in the 5th inning of a start. Maybe this week is the week he does?
Fortune Cookies (Do Not Start)
Yeah, they’re technically cookies. Hold on, what does that little slip of paper say? “Bad times are heading your way.” Oh. Okay, then.
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Irvin, WSH | @MIA | TOR |
| Joe Boyle, Oak | PIT | MIA |
| Griffin Canning, LAA | PHI | @CLE |
| Dean Kremer, Bal | NYY | @CIN |
| Matt Waldron, SD | CIN | @ARI |
| Spencer Arrighetti, Hou | CLE | SEA |
| Kenta Maeda, Det | STL | @NYY |
| Clarke Schmidt, NYY | @BAL | DET |
| Tommy Henry, Ari | LAD | SD |
| Ryan Feltner, Col | @MIA | @PIT |
| Bryse Wilson, Mil | TB | @CHC |
| Carlos Carrasco, Cle | @HOU | LAA |
| Cooper Criswell, Bos | SF | @MIN |
| Sixto Sanchez, Mia | COL | @OAK |
| Angel Zerpa, KC | @TOR | TEX |
- Irvin barely missed out on being an Oatmeal Cookie. He’s had a couple very useful starts, but also a couple duds. Despite how appealing the Marlins matchup is in particular, I just couldn’t bring myself to take the bite.
