Two-start hoarders, welcome back. First things first: I’m vacationing in Mexico with what, by now, is a potentially-fatal sunburn. Not to worry, though, because the cervezas at this joint are unlimited, and I’m feelin’ no pain. Zero. I just arrived here yesterday, and I’ll be here through next Friday. That means my esteemed Razzball colleagues will be filling in for me in the comments for my next few posts. In any case, we’ve got a deep list of two-start options, and plenty of good streamers this week. The usual tiered rankings are below.
NOTE: I looked ahead at the two-start landscape a few days earlier than usual this week, so this group of probable pitchers is especially subject to change. Apologies in advanced for anything I may have missed. For a look at all fantasy baseball streamers, click that link.
MUST START
Max Scherzer (@CLE, TEX); Matt Harvey (@SF, @PIT); Felix Hernandez (BOS, LAA); CC Sabathia (KC, MIN); Shelby Miller (HOU, @CHC); Justin Verlander (CHW, TEX); Hisashi Iwakuma (BOS, LAA);
- Start ’em if you got ’em.
FIRST TIER
Homer Bailey (@MIL, @ATL); Jeff Locke (OAK, NYM); Randall Delgado (LAD, MIL); Derek Holland (@BAL, @DET); Tyler Chatwood (@SD, @LAD); Matt Garza (LAA, STL); Bartolo Colon (@PIT, BOS); James Shields (@NYY, @CLE); Julio Teheran (@MIA, CIN); Jhoulys Chacin (@SD, @LAD)
- With a large slate of games this week, there are plenty of high-impact two-starters and a good number of them are streamable. Randall Delgado (2% owned in Y! leagues) has been offering solid mixed league production for a month now. He get’s a tough one versus LA to begin the week, but ends the week with the cupcake Brewers. Both Jhoulys Chacin (29%) and Tyler Chatwood (16%) have been dominant pitchers away from Coors (Chatwood has an outstanding 0.82 ERA on the road this season), and both draw two away starts next week. There’s a bit of uncertainty regarding Matt Garza’s (70%) status in the Cubs rotation, given the likelihood that he gets traded, but there’s been no definitive word. For now, he’s pitching wonderfully, and he’s on track for two starts in week 15. Both Garza and Julio Teheran (76%) might be available in some shallow formats. The rest of this group is certainly owned.
SECOND TIER
Kyle Lohse (CIN, @ARI); Scott Feldman (TEX, TOR); Hector Santiago (@DET, @PHI); Ricky Nolasco (ATL, WAS); Mike Minor (@MIA, CIN); Edinson Volquez (COL, SF); Jon Lester (@SEA, @OAK); Tony Cingrani (@MIL, @ATL); Zack Greinke (@ARI, COL); Roberto Hernandez (MIN, HOU); Taylor Jordan (@PHI, @MIA); Cole Hamels (WAS, CHW); Eric Stults (COL, SF); David Phelps (KC, MIN);
Chris Archer (MIN, HOU); Martin Perez (@BAL, @DET)
- It’s a deep second tier this week, featuring all sorts of fantasy arms. We’ve got fringy arms with juicy match-ups: Chris Archer (7%), David Phelps (11%), Roberto Hernandez (3%), Taylor Jordan (1%), Eric Stults (35%), Edinson Volquez (6%). We’ve got slumping stars: Zack Greinke, Jon Lester, Mike Minor. We’ve got the trending upward dudes: Hector Santiago (9%), Kyle Lohse (53%), Martin Perez (13%), Cole Hamels. And of course, we’ve got the standard tier two types: Scott Feldman (45%), Ricky Nolasco (22%), Tony Cingrani (45%). For streaming purposes, there are quite a few decent options in the group. Pick your pleasure.
THIRD TIER
Tim Lincecum (NYM, @SD); Ross Detwiler (@PHI, @MIA); John Lannan (WAS, CHW); Josh Johnson (@CLE, @BAL); Barry Zito (NYM, @SD); Scott Kazmir (DET, KC); Donovan Hand (CIN, @ARI); Ian Kennedy (LAD, MIL); Allen Webster (@SEA, @OAK); Zach Britton (TEX, TOR); Ubaldo Jimenez (TOR, KC); Kyle Gibson (@TB, @NYY)
- Those of you who are desperate for some two-start action in your life might find some luck here in tier three, but as always, I advise against digging this deep. Tim Lincecum is probably the best upside play from this group, facing a couple nice match-ups. Barry Zito, likewise, brings upside against the same schedule, but neither Lincecum nor Zito has been a steady option this season. Ross Detwiler and John Lannan, too, face a light schedule in the week ahead, but it’s difficult to trust either at this point. There are plenty of better options than what this third tier has to offer, so please do your best to stay out of this group in week 15.
DON’T START
Jeremy Guthrie (@NYY, @CLE); Samuel Deduno (@TB, @NYY)
- Nope.
