Welcome, Patrons, sidle on up to the bar and let’s take a look together at the coming week’s double-dippers.
I’m sure I’m going to generate plenty of angry comments from fantasy managers with certain players below on their rosters, but hey, I’m just the messenger. These pitchers are who they are, and no amount of preseason bias, draft season zeal, or in-season hopes and dreams can change that.
Does that mean I think I’m right all the time? Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. But then again… I’m writing this column, and you’re reading it, and not the other way around…
On to the hurlers.
The Top Shelf
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Gausman, TOR | CHW(TU) | MIN(SU) |
| Walker Buehler, LAD | PIT(MO) | NYM(SA) |
| Framber Valdez, HOU | @OAK(MO) | @KC(SU) |
| Jordan Montgomery, NYY | LAA(TU) | DET(SU) |
Notes
- Just four names, and just Kevin Gausman with the extra confidence at this level.
- Special shout-out to Framber Valdez, who has the best road-and-road setup one could ask for, in a pair of pitchers’ parks against two struggling offenses. Kauffmann and the Coliseum are the 2nd- and 5th-most repressive parks for Home Runs this year, FYI.
The Well
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Zac Gallen, ARI | ATL(MO) | @PIT(SU) |
| Julio Urias, LAD | PIT(TU) | NYM(SU) |
| Eric Lauer, MIL | @CHC(TU) | SD(SU) |
| Drew Rasmussen, TB | @TEX(MO) | CHW(SA) |
| Logan Webb, SF | @PHI(MO) | @MIA(SA) |
| George Kirby, SEA | @BAL(TU) | @TEX(SU) |
| Pablo Lopez, MIA | @COL(MO) | SF(SA) |
| Michael Kopech, CHW | @TOR(TU) | @TB(SU) |
| Aaron Ashby, MIL | @CHC(MO) | SD(SA) |
| Adam Wainwright, STL | SD(TU) | @CHC(SU) |
| Paul Blackburn, OAK | HOU(MO) | BOS(SU) |
| Rich Hill, BOS | BAL(MO) | @OAK(SU) |
| Zach Plesac, CLE | KC(MO) | @BAL(SU) |
| Martin Perez, TEX | TB(TU) | SEA(SU) |
| Glenn Otto, TEX | TB(MO) | SEA(SA) |
| Kyle Gibson, PHI | SF(MO) | LAA(SU) |
Notes
- It isn’t always true, but I actually like a lot of these plays this week, especially Zac Gallen and Julio Urias.
- Paul Blackburn on this list? After an absolutely stunning April? There are signs of worry: sure, he’s 5-0 with 4 NDs, but opponents were batting just .219 against him in April, with a big jump to .297 in May. In April, his K-rate was 24.7%, dropping to just 16.1% in May. So watch out.
The Bar Mat
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| David Peterson, NYM | WSH(MO) | @LAD(SA) |
| Nick Martinez, SD | @STL(MO) | @MIL(SU) |
| Charlie Morton, ATL | @ARI(MO) | @COL(SA) |
| Luis Castillo, CIN | @BOS(TU) | WSH(SU) |
| Kyle Wright, ATL | @ARI(TU) | @COL(SU) |
| Dylan Bundy, MIN | @DET(MO) | @TOR(SA) |
| Ryan Yarbrough, TB | @TEX(TU) | CHW(SU) |
| Drew Smyly, CHC | MIL(MO) | STL(SA) |
| Jakob Junis, SF | @PHI(TU) | @MIA(SU) |
| Tyler Wells, BAL | @BOS(MO) | CLE(SA) |
| Kyle Hendricks, CHC | MIL(TU) | STL(SU) |
| Erick Fedde, WSH | @NYM(MO) | @CIN(SU) |
| Wade Miley, CHC | MIL(MO) | STL(SA) |
| Thomas Szapucki, NYM | WSH(TU) | @LAD(SU) |
| Rony Garcia, DET | MIN(TU) | @NYY(SU) |
| Zach Thompson, PIT | @LAD(MO) | ARI(SU) |
| Angel Rondon, STL | SD(MO) | @CHC(SA) |
| Devin Smeltzer, MIN | @DET(TU) | @TOR(SU) |
| Beau Brieske, DET | MIN(MO) | @NYY(SA) |
| Jon Heasley, KC | @CLE(MO) | HOU(SU) |
| Cody Poteet, MIA | @COL(TU) | SF(SU) |
| Cody Sedlock, BAL | SEA(TU) | CLE(SU) |
| Ryan Feltner, COL | MIA(MO) | ATL(SU) |
Notes
- In another life, it would be unconscionable for me to include names like Charlie Morton and Luis Castillo (heck, even Kyle Wright and Ryan Yarbrough) on The Bar Mat, but here we are.
- Avoid, avoid, avoid.
