The list of two-start starters for Week 16 is pretty ugly. Not only did it take some time to materialize as teams figured out their rotations following the All-Star break, but once the dust settled and we had a good idea of who would be starting when many of the names we were left with were not all that appealing. Sure, the high-end options like Kershaw (for now), Strasburg, and Greinke were there, but the meat and bones of the list were lacking.
Just ignore Clayton Kershaw. At this point in the season, I am convinced that Dave Roberts reads this post every week and then trolls us all by changing his rotation on Sunday night. He is at the top of the list as of this writing, but that could easily change in the next few seconds. The Dodgers have a dozen or so possible starting pitchers, and Roberts shuffles or adjusts his rotation pretty frequently.
One name to take a look at this week is the soft-tossing Brent Suter. While he does not exactly light up the radar gun, he has been very effective in his recent stint as a starter for the Brewers. In his last two starts, he shut out the Orioles over six innings while striking out eight and then allowed just two earned runs over 6 ? innings against the Yankees while striking out five before the break.
Throughout his career in the minors, Suter has been consistently solid-yet-unremarkable. In other words, he has never really been great but hasn’t been bad, either. He has a 3.44 ERA across six seasons in the minor leagues while throwing to a 3.12 ERA during his time in the show. His 2.96/2.78/8.23/2.63 (see chart below) is also solid.
Streamonator does not like him as much as I do. The ‘nator has Suter up around its 20th best option or so (with a negative value), while I have him at the top of the Standards category below, which puts him around 15th or so. He is, however, only owned in 1% of all RCLs, so he should be available to everyone reading this except the one person who is in the league with that one guy or gal who already picked him up.
If you are in need of an arm in the short term, especially in a two-start week, you can do worse. You can do better, too, but I like Suter as a guy who can offer some solid short term numbers. Other guys Streamonator likes for the upcoming week who are owned in less than 50% of RCLs: Matt Moore, Zack Wheeler, and Rafael Montero.
- Eduardo Rodriguez – E-Rod returns this week for the Red Sox and is scheduled to start twice in Week 16. It can be tough to rely on starting pitchers who are returning from injury in weekly leagues because there is always the chance he either gets scratched or just lasts an inning or two before heading right back to the DL. E-Rod should be OK, though. He made three rehab starts in the minors, and his last one was a gem in AAA. He was also pitching pretty, prettyyyyy, prettyyyyy well before he got hurt again.
Pitchers are listed in order by rank. Colors represent 8 toughest or 8 easiest opponents according to team wOBA for last 14 days.
THE BEST
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Kershaw LAD | @CHW, ATL | 2.18/3.01 | 10.81/1.50 |
| Stephen Strasburg WSH | @CIN, @ARI | 3.43/3.13 | 10.22/2.64 |
| Zack Greinke ARI | @CIN, WSH | 2.86/3.16 | 10.13/1.78 |
| Lance McCullers Jr. HOU | SEA, @BAL | 3.05/2.73 | 10.45/2.66 |
| Gio Gonzalez WSH | @LAA, @ARI | 2.66/4.07 | 8.58/3.77 |
THE REPLICAS
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Verlander DET | @KC, @MIN | 4.66/4.34 | 8.43/4.42 |
| Jon Lester CHC | @ATL, STL | 4.25/3.97 | 9.17/3.08 |
| Jason Vargas KC | DET, DET | 2.62/3.79 | 6.60/2.12 |
| Matt Moore SF | CLE, SD | 6.04/4.81 | 7.51/3.75 |
| Zack Wheeler NYM | STL, OAK | 4.86/4.74 | 8.29/3.79 |
| Michael Wacha STL | @NYM, @CHC | 4.10/3.51 | 9.04/3.26 |
| Eduardo Rodriguez BOS | TOR, @LAA | 3.54/4.07 | 9.59/3.10 |
| Adam Wainwright STL | @NYM, @CHC | 5.20/3.80 | 8.26/3.06 |
| Ivan Nova PIT | MIL, @COL | 3.21/4.13 | 5.00/1.12 |
| Marcus Stroman TOR | @BOS, @CLE | 3.28/3.88 | 7.45/2.32 |
THE STANDARDS
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brent Suter MIL | @PIT, @PHI | 2.96/2.78 | 8.23/2.63 |
| Rafael Montero NYM | STL, OAK | 5.77/3.53 | 9.92/5.54 |
| Jake Odorizzi TB | @OAK, TEX | 4.63/5.68 | 7.75/3.23 |
| Jason Hammel KC | DET, CHW | 5.02/4.54 | 7.27/3.05 |
| Ty Blach SF | CLE, SD | 4.60/4.06 | 4.21/2.05 |
| Josh Tomlin CLE | @SF, TOR | 5.90/4.47 | 6.77/1.06 |
| Sean Newcomb ATL | CHC, @LAD | 4.26/3.49 | 8.53/3.98 |
| CC Sabathia NYY | @MIN, @SEA | 3.81/4.19 | 7.27/3.12 |
| Jordan Zimmermann DET | @KC, @KC | 5.87/5.82 | 6.35/2.84 |
| J.A. Happ TOR | @BOS, @CLE | 3.54/4.43 | 8.85/2.07 |
THE KNOCKOFFS
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dinelson Lamet SD | @COL, @SF | 5.93/4.88 | 12.07/3.29 |
| Chris Smith OAK | TB, @NYM | 4.50/4.48 | 6.00/1.50 |
| Julio Teheran ATL | CHC, @LAD | 4.79/5.49 | 6.53/3.48 |
| Chad Kuhl PIT | MIL, @COL | 4.96/4.24 | 7.28/3.69 |
| Adam Morgan PHI | @MIA, MIL | 6.23/6.10 | 9.97/2.91 |
| German Marquez COL | SD, PIT | 4.36/3.97 | 7.90/3.07 |
| Dylan Bundy BAL | TEX, HOU | 4.33/4.87 | 7.00/2.92 |
THEÂ 
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Koehler MIA | PHI, @CIN | 8.00/6.70 | 8.00/4.80 |
| Scott Feldman CIN | WSH, MIA | 3.94/4.26 | 7.54/2.89 |
| Sal Romano CIN | ARI, MIA | 4.50/6.65 | 9.00/5.63 |
| Adalberto Mejia MIN | NYY, DET | 4.43/5.30 | 7.48/4.43 |
| Tyson Ross TEX | @BAL, @TB | 5.33/5.16 | 6.39/4.62 |
| Ariel Miranda SEA | @HOU, NYY | 4.15/5.23 | 6.92/3.20 |
| Sam Gaviglio SEA | @HOU, NYY | 4.31/5.90 | 5.91/3.04 |
| Andrew Cashner TEX | @BAL, @TB | 3.54/4.52 | 4.43/3.98 |
| Chris Tillman BAL | TEX, HOU | 7.90/6.25 | 6.61/4.78 |
| Luis Perdomo SD | @COL, @SF | 4.54/4.19 | 7.45/3.24 |
| Miguel Gonzalez CHW | LAD, @KC | 5.15/5.18 | 5.15/2.97 |
All pitchers are projected for two starts as of Friday night.Â
If you would prefer to see the above tables as a color-coded graphic, we’ve got that too!
(Click to enlarge.)
As always, disagree with anything here? Have any questions or comments? Want to tell Mike how great he is or how much you agree with him? Want relationship or investment advice?
DROP THOSE COMMENTS!
If you want to talk fantasy baseball or football or have players you want Mike to feature, hit him up on Twitter at @mikeMaher or post a comment below!
Two start Vargas at spacious Kaufman, where he’s done very well v two LHP killers in Det and ChW or Wacha on the road, where he hasnt pitched well at all @ Mets and the over rated Cubs? Or neither because i have other one start options i.e Castillo, Nola and Godley?
@Chucky:
I go Vargas
Maybe not your best guess there, huh? Like I alluded to, Tigers and CHW “moiduh” LHP
@Chucky:
: (
Need some advice.
I stand in 7th in a keeper league and was given an offer by the last place team:
Give: ($ is amount player would be kept next year)
Trea turner ($7)
Robbie ray ($4)
Get:
murphy ($14)
Blackmon ($20)
Is this a no brainer?
My team:
C: Avila
1B: Goldschmit
2b: Dozier
3b: castellanos
SS: peraza
Of: j.d. Martinez
Of: ozuna
Of: kemp
Of: d Santana
Util: alonso
Util: Morrison
Be: marte
Be: scheblee
DL. Trea turner
Ps:
Arrieta
T. Walker
Maeda
Carrasco
Paxton
Pomeranz
Duffy
Manea
Matz
DL. Keuchel
Thanks in advance boss!!
@Milkman: I’d keep Turner. That return isn’t quite enough and prices aren’t as good as what you’ve got. If you really wanted to deal Turner I think you could do better both talent- and price-wise, and you shouldn’t have to also give up Ray in this scenario anyway.
@Stumanji!:
Yeah. That is a good return but you would be selling low on Turner.
Madson and Doolittle both headed to Nats. Who’s the favorite to close?
@Stumanji!:
Madson I would assume.
@mikeMaher: Can you elaborate? I’ve held on to Doolittle for a few weeks for this moment. Gotta choose between starting Miranda or Mejia or Doolittle.
@Psychboy:
The Nats haven’t said anything but my initial assumption was that Madson would close. I also read that Madson was their primary target and that Doolittle was a bonus for them, so that would indicate they like Madson for closing duties.
Also, if it matters for you, neither of them are pitching for the Nats on Monday. They won’t be with the team until Tuesday.
@mikeMaher: @mikeMaher: Thanks for the reply! I’ll keep on the bench this week to see how it shakes out. Lineups are set weekly on Monday.
Trying to find info on Verlander for the Tuesday start, I’m seeing him listed as going Wednesday, just wondering if there is some news that I missed that something has changed?
@Russell:
It was assumed that Verlander would start Tuesday but now looks like he is scheduled for Wednesday and Tuesday’s starter is TBA.
Who’s the drop to activate Eduardo Rodriguez?
T.Frazier
M.Conforto
A.Pujols
T.Walker
@dubjay:
Depends on your team but I would actually lean Pujols
@mikeMaher:
Yeah its tough to consider dropping a hall of famer. Ive been holding Pujols and Frazier all season and they’ve given me nothing. Conforto has been struggling but at least he has upside. I have Smoak/Thames to play at 1B.
@dubjay:
Yeah, I hear you. The reason I hold Frazier for now is I think he will be hitting in Fenway in a couple days.
@mikeMaher:
Yeah. Tempting to plug him in that stacked lineup in Fenway.
Thanks MM
Plz rate:
Duffy
Clevinger
Aa Sanchez
Preesh!
@Scrapski:
I would rank them the way you have them, but I would check Ralph’s Top 100 Pitchers post tomorrow to see where he ranks them, too.
Thanks for that info!
Does the trade of Doolittle and Madson reduce the value of Oakland SP’s? Specifically Manea?
@Chucky:
Good question. Possibly? But not really in any way that is predictable or quantifiable, if that makes sense.
Would you drop either Nola , J A Happ or Danny Duffy for Danny Salazar?
@Andrew Mellars:
I like the upside of Salazar but at this point, no, probably not. Salazar is a high ceiling/low floor guy right now, and I think the three you have now are safer.
Hi Mike, in a POINTS league I need to bench 2 of these guys:
Taillon (vs. MIL)
Samardzija (vs. SD)
Nova (vs. MIL, @COL)
Jon Gray (vs. SD)
Maeda (@CHW)
Thanks!
@asdfasdf:
Maeda and Samardzija
Shouldn’t Ray be getting 2 starts this week? He goes Tuesday which would line him up for a Sunday start. Where would he slide in?
@Re-Pete:
Yeah, swapped with Greinke. He is in that top tier for me.