There are a number of teams that, as of early Sunday morning, haven’t announced early-week starters. The list below reflects the assumption that they won’t do anything weird or unexpected, and guys will take their turns in order. This week is a list that is light at the very top, but fairly decent for options after that. Let’s get to it!
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Sale, Atl | @MIL | COL |
| Mackenzie Gore, Wsh | @NYM | MIA |
| Kris Bubic, KC | NYY | ATH |
- I am assuming the Royals aren’t moving to a six-man rotation and that Michael Lorenzen gets booted to the bullpen. Even if it’s just a single start against the Yankees, Bubic has been too good this year to sit anyway.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Boyd, ChC | @PHI | PIT |
| Lance McCullers Jr., Hou | CHW | MIN |
| Nick Pivetta, SD | LAD | @ARI |
| Merrill Kelly, Ari | SEA | SD |
| Dustin May, LAD | @SD | SF |
| Tyler Mahle, Tex | @MIN | CHW |
| Jose Berrios, Tor | @STL | @PHI |
- Dustin May is once again this week’s Dodger pitcher projected to start twice but who you can’t have any sort of confidence that he actually will.
- At the time of submission, Mahle is not confirmed to be starting on Tuesday, but it seems pretty likely.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mitch Keller, Pit | MIA | @CHC |
| Yusei Kikuchi, LAA | ATH | @BAL |
| Griffin Canning, NYM | WSH | TB |
| Zebby Matthews, Min | TEX | @HOU |
| Cade Povich, Bal | DET | LAA |
| Luis L. Ortiz, Cle | CIN | @SEA |
| Clarke Schmidt, NYY | @KC | @BOS |
| Jeffrey Springs, Ath | @LAA | @KC |
| Shane Baz, TB | @BOS | @NYM |
| Eury Perez, Mia | @PIT | @WSH |
| Aaron Civale, Mil | ATL | STL |
| Shane Smith, ChW | @HOU | @TEX |
- Kikuchi isn’t pitching as well as he did last season, when he was excellent. The ERA still looks pretty nice (3.23) but his xERA is fairly hideous (4.89). That’s probably (definitely) connected to his WHIP sitting at 1.59. How much do you trust the ERA to stay that low when he’s walking the world, isn’t getting whiffs, and isn’t suppressing hard contact? How much do you trust the Angels to fix a wayward pitcher? Yeah.
- Everyone is very excited to see Eury Perez back on the field, including me. His upside is undeniable and huge. However, I suggest treading carefully this week. For one thing, it’s his first game back in his return from Tommy John, and we’ve seen guys much more established struggle mightily upon their returns. For another, he’s on the Marlins. Questions about performance, workload, and team support mean I’m much more down on him for this week than a lot of people are. That being said, Eury’s back!
- Civale isn’t confirmed to start the week, but it’s an educated guess based on the fact that he was originally set to go Sunday and that I didn’t see any news about him being bumped on account of injury.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brayan Bello, Bos | TB | NYY |
| Colin Rea, Mil | @PHI | PIT |
| Sawyer Gipson-Long, Det | @BAL | CIN |
| Quinn Priester, Mil | ATL | STL |
| Andre Pallante, StL | TOR | @MIL |
| Mike Burrows, Pit | MIA | @CHC |
| Wade Miley, Cin | @CLE | @DET |
| Kyle Harrison, SF | @COL | @LAD |
Wheeler??
Talk over the weekend made it sound like he’d be going Tuesday or Wednesday. That apparently isn’t the case. Use him as usual.
tyvm
Would you start Springs (2 road starts) over a 1-start Bryan Woo (@ARI) or Sonny Gray (@MIL)? My other starters are must starts in Bubic, Yamamoto, and Boyd.
I don’t think I would, especially if it’s roto. Weekly I could see the argument for it, but I’d still rather not.
I kind of prefer Springs in road starts because of Bing Bong stadium, and the LAA and KC offenses rank 27th and 28th in OPS at home (at .652 and .651). I want Ws and am taking the risk with Springs over rostering a 3rd RP (which would be Pagan), but yeah, Woo and Gray are probably a bridge too far to start over.
Zebby went on the IL after I could do nothing about it. Don’t start Simeon Woods Richardson.
One time when my procrastination paid off, for a change. I was planning to add Zebby early Sunday morning but luckily got distracted…