Two Start Cookie Shop: March 31-April 6

Baseball is back, and the Cookie Shop is once again open for business!

Why a cookie shop? Because there needs to be some sort of hook for this column, and I bake a lot of cookies. So, while there is the obvious and straightforward description given for each tier, each is also assigned a type of cookie. The levels are based on my own judgement and ranking of various cookie types. Short explanations of why are provided for each one in case your own personal tastes are different than my own. Like with the pitchers themselves, you may rate certain ones higher or lower than I do. You might think I’m crazy thinking one guy is preferable to another, and that’s ok! I am here to guide and inform as best as I can, but the choice ultimately rests with you. I’m right about the cookies, though.

Now, when it comes to the information itself, that’s where it can be frustrating to all of us. I went over it multiple times last season, but if you’re new or need a refresher, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First is that this column gets submitted either very late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. It is put together with the best information available at the time, but inevitably by early Sunday afternoon there will be an injury reported out of nowhere, or promotion/demotion news, or rotations gets shuffled in an unforeseen way. I don’t like it, but so it is.

What’s even more annoying is that for as good and useful as Streamonator is (you should sign up for it if you haven’t), it’s not perfect. It can’t flawlessly identify possible rainouts, for one thing. But even more, teams simply love inserting unannounced 6th starters into the rotation or giving guys you were counting on for two starts an extra day of rest. What that means is that while Monday starters can generally be assumed to be lined up to pitch twice, it isn’t guaranteed. Last year it was the Dodgers and Braves who were the worst offenders on that count. Time will tell how many other teams join them in being difficult this season.

Ok, that’s enough in the way of introduction. Let’s get to it!

Chocolate Chip Cookies (Must Start)

They’re safe. They’re reliable. They’re comforting. They are the 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.

• This first batch is admittedly not quite an ideal one, as there’s some pretty nasty matchups looking to spoil your fun. Regardless, you’re starting all three of these guys and not giving it a second thought.

Sugar Cookies (Should Start)

They’re fine. They’re not really anyone’s favorite, and they often need help from other additions to really be worth it, but they get the job done well enough. You could certainly do worse than having these guys in your lineup, but don’t expect it to be remarkable.

• I’m rating Peterson more highly than the Streamonator says I should. And with the Jays matchup, I get its skepticism. But have you seen the Marlins?
• I’m trusting the machine with having Rocker this high. Personally, I don’t know if I’d be brave enough to commit to him twice in a week. It could hit big, but it could also burn your WHIP to a crisp.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Could Start)

These aren’t for everyone. And even if you are inclined to like them, you don’t know for sure what to expect when you get one. Will it be chewy and flavorful? Will you chip your tooth because it’s as hard as a rock? Who knows! These are the pitchers that may be a pleasant surprise, or they could ruin your week. Tread lightly.

• I really want to have Holmes higher than this, but the Dodgers are not who I want to see on the schedule. Ever.

Fortune Cookies (Do Not Start)

Yeah, they’re technically cookies. If you’re truly desperate for something sweet they might work in a pinch, but they aren’t anything you actively go searching for. Hold on, what does that little slip of paper say? “Bad times are heading your way.” Oh. Okay, then.

• It may be Alexander, it may be someone else. I don’t have a good sense of how the Brewers are setting up their rotation here in the early going, and they have yet to officially name probable starters beyond Sunday. Thanks, guys!
• Williams was shockingly useful last year. He needs to prove it again before I even consider recommending that you use him. Those matchups will certainly put him to the test right out of the gate. It’s also possible Williams gets shifted to Tuesday and that Mackenzie Gore does the double-dip. The matchups would still be nasty, but you would start him anyway.
• Patrick is another Brewer, where it isn’t clear at the time of writing if he’s in line for two starts or not. I actually doubt he does, unless it’s him on Monday instead of Alexander, but he’s who we have projected at the moment. If it isn’t him, it will be Freddy Peralta. I hope you don’t need me to tell you that you should start Freddy Peralta in a two start week.
• Keep a sharp eye on this one. The Pirates want Mlodzinski to be their fifth starter. However, they played 12 innings on Saturday and Andrew Heaney isn’t the surest bet to provide a bunch of innings. Should the converted reliever be pressed into service on Sunday we could be looking at Paul Skenes being added to the list. I wouldn’t give it great odds of happening, but what a treat that would be!