We’re fast approaching the All-Star Break, meaning we’re close to kicking off the unofficial “Second Half” of the MLB season (though every team will pass 81 games played before the ASB arrives). How are your fantasy teams? Maybe time to do a little check-in with yourself?
You doing okay out there?
Let’s take a look at the second-to-last Two-Start Dive Bar before I take a week off for the break. No one gets two starts in the week of the ASB, after all.
So, why don’t you and I dive right in?
Pitchers’ projected starts for the next week are sourced from Rudy Gamble’s Streamonator as of the update at 12:40pm Eastern.
The bold pitchers below are the most extreme version of each section. The best of the Top Shelf, the safest of the Well, the worst of the Bar Mat.
The Top Shelf
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Spencer Strider, ATL | MIN(MO) | MIA(SU) |
| Kevin Gausman, TOR | SF(TU) | BOS(SU) |
| Justin Verlander, NYM | MIL(MO) | SF(SA) |
| Luis Castillo, SEA | WSH(MO) | TB(SU) |
| Yu Darvish, SD | @PIT(TU) | @CIN(SU) |
| Dylan Cease, CHW | @LAA(MO) | @OAK(SA) |
| Framber Valdez, HOU | @STL(TU) | @TEX(SU) |
| Zac Gallen, ARI | TB(TU) | @LAA(SU) |
| Andrew Heaney, TEX | DET(MO) | HOU(SA) |
| Michael Kopech, CHW | @LAA(TU) | @OAK(SU) |
Notes
- After a couple rough starts, Spencer Strider bounced back nicely against the Phils last week, and is poised for a nice double-dip homestand against the Twins and Marlins. Let it rip.
- Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech must be ecstatic to travel to Oakland late this week, where the A’s are a pitiful 9-29 this season, and the foul territory is expansive.
The Well
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Montgomery, STL | HOU(TU) | NYY(SU) |
| Shohei Ohtani, LAA | CHW(WE) | Point of Reference |
| Clayton Kershaw, LAD | @COL(TU) | @KC(SU) |
| Ranger Suarez, PHI | @CHC(TU) | WSH(SU) |
| Joey Lucchesi, NYM | MIL(TU) | SF(SU) |
| Gavin Williams, CLE | @KC(TU) | @CHC(SU) |
| Taj Bradley, TB | @ARI(TU) | @SEA(SU) |
| Paul Blackburn, OAK | NYY(TU) | CHW(SU) |
| Rich Hill, PIT | SD(TU) | MIL(SU) |
| Sonny Gray, MIN | @ATL(MO) | @BAL(SU) |
| Garrett Whitlock, BOS | MIA(TU) | @TOR(SU) |
| Cole Irvin, BAL | CIN(MO) | MIN(SU) |
| Martin Perez, TEX | DET(TU) | HOU(SU) |
Notes
- This week’s Point of Reference leads the AL in Home Runs, Slugging Percentage, almost every advanced offensive stat as a hitter, and K/9, H/9 and is top ten in ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts as a pitcher and if he gets passed over as MVP again I swear to the Dagda…
The Bar Mat
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy Alcantara, MIA | @BOS(TU) | @ATL(SU) |
| Matthew Boyd, DET | @TEX(MO) | @COL(SA) |
| Colin Rea, MIL | @NYM(MO) | @PIT(SA) |
| Jhony Brito, NYY | @OAK(TU) | @STL(SU) |
| Jameson Taillon, CHC | PHI(TU) | CLE(SU) |
| Sean Manaea, SF | @TOR(TU) | @NYM(SU) |
| Brady Singer, KC | CLE(TU) | LAD(SU) |
| Jaime Barria, LAA | CHW(MO) | ARI(SU) |
| Julio Teheran, MIL | @NYM(TU) | @PIT(SU) |
| Trevor Williams, WSH | @SEA(MO) | @PHI (SU) |
| Brandon Williamson, CIN | @BAL(MO) | SD(SU) |
| Will Vest, DET | @TEX(TU) | @COL(SU) |
| Connor Seabold, COL | LAD(TU) | DET(SU) |
Notes
- What would The Bar Mat be without a Rockies pitcher at the very bottom? And with two home starts… yeesh…
