Two Startapalooza: Week 25

First off, congratulations fellow nerd, if you’re reading this it means one of two things. 1. You’re just as painfully boring as I am and you read everything Razzball posts. Or 2., You’ve made it to the second or third round of your head-to-head league playoffs. Pretty impressive if you ask me! Now go tell everyone about it and be sure to let them know how you couldn’t have done it with out the good folks at Razzball! Best fantasy sports coverage in the industry, and all that happy horse shizz as my Vavo would say. What’s a Vavo you ask? It’s a Portuguese grandfather. See, you learn something new everyday. Well, I don’t because I know everything there is to know. It’s okay marvel at my excellence.

As for this week in double dipping, we have a couple of rude party guests in the Red Sux, Diamondbacks, Cubs, White Sox, Astros, and Padres, who have decided to move to 6-man rotations. Who would have guessed that the rudest guests at this two start party would come from Massachusetts, California, Texas, Arizona, and Chicago? Regardless of those skipping the cake and ice cream that is this week’s TwoStartapalooza we still have a whole bunch of good options to discuss. I’ve decided to add another element to these posts going forward. I’m now going to add in each pitchers home or road ERA, as well as the opponents wOBA against that pitcher’s handiness, and their home/road wOBA. I feel this provides you the reader with better statistical data, as well as better transparency into the reasoning behind each ranking. This week I’m just going with each opponents home/road wOBA because I’m on vacation, and if I spend any more time writing, my wife will kill me. So starting next week I’ll have all these numbers for you. The greater point is this data paired with Rudy’s new handy dandy two start matrix makes these posts that much more helpful. Knowledge is power boys, and raw Imma give it to ya with no trivia raw like cocaine straight from Bolivia. Ohhh U-God you had one good line in 25 years….

Must Start

Max Scherzer – @MIN (.327) @KC (.295)
Corey Kluber @HOU (317)  @MIN (.327)

You got to love having either of these aces going for you in a playoff week. At this point Kluber has to be considered a top 10-15 starter. The K’s are there and he could go 8 every time out. Every thing I said about Kluber applies to Scherzer, except he’s been a top 5 starter for a year plus. Start these sexy studs with confidence.

Tier 1

James Shields – CWS (.313) DET (.322)
Jacob deGrom – MIA (.299 ) @ATL (.307  )
Hisashi Iwakuma – @LAA (.313 ) @HOU (.317)
Stephen Strasburg – @ATL (.307)@MIA (.322)

I almost considered Shields for the must start tier. He’s been a man possessed for quite awhile now. Sure, his starts are tough but at least he’s at home and has proven that he’s a big game pitcher. Shields is the kind of guy you want on your team down the stretch when the games mean something. The same way I considered Shields for the must I considered Strasburg for tier 2. He’s sucked it up pretty hard on the road this year and has been spanked by the Marlins before. Not a ton of confidence in Stras this week but it wouldn’t be shocking if he puts in work.

Tier 2

Jeff Samardzija – TEX (.307) PHI (.297)
Matt Shoemaker – SEA ( .306) TEX (.307  )
Tanner Roark – @ATL (.287)@MIA (.299)
Jake Odorizzi – NYY ( .312) CWS ( .313)
John Lackey – MIL (.311) CIN (.287 )
Michael Pineda – @TB (.307 ) TOR (.318)
Ryan Vogelsong – @ARZ ( .317) @SD (.286)
Tyler Matzek – LAD ( .327)  ARZ ( .282)
Chris Tillman – TOR (.318) BOS (.295)

This tier is very very solid, and maybe I discounted Samardzija and Shoemaker a bit too much. At home Shoemaker is an ace. He’s pretty spotty on the road but thankfully for his owners he gets two home starts next week. Matzek has been on fire and Vogelsong gets two tasty opponents. Each might be a tier too high but I’m taking a chance.

Tier 3

Ervin Santana – WAS (.307) NYM (.308)
Alfredo Simon – @CHC (.301) @STL ( .324)
A.J. Burnett – @SD (.286) @OAK (.331)
Drew Hutchison – @BAL (.326) @NYY (.312)
Wade Miley – SF ( .317) @COL (.385)
Mark Buehrle – @BAL (.326) @NYY (.331)

This is the tier of uncertainty. Any of these guys could be money or they could be petrified dog feces. Total dice roll here.

Tier 4

Dan Haren – @COL (.385) @CHC (.301)
Jarred Cosart – @NYM (.286) WAS (.307)
Roberto Hernandez – @COL (.385) @CHC (.301)
Odrisamer Despaigne – Phi (.297) SF (.317)
Chris Capuano – @TB (.307) TOR (.318)
Brad Peacock – CLE (.313) SEA (.306)
Wily Peralta – @SEA (.294) @PIT (.294)
Vance Worley – BOS ( .295) MIL (.311)
T.J. House – @HOU (.317 ) @MIN (.327)

Maybe, Maaaayybeee you stream these guys for a start but I’d stay away for the most part. These are the guys you use on a Sunday to make up counting stats.

DO NOT START

Roenis Elias – @LAA (.313) HOU (.317)
Cory Rasmus – SEA (.306) Tex (.307)
Nate Eovaldi – @NYM ( .286) WAS (.307)
Kyle Gibson – DET (.322) CLE (.313)

Jerome Williams – @SD ( .286) OAK (.331)

Nick Tepesch – @OAK ( .331 ) @LAA (.313)

Christian Bergman LAD (.327) ARZ (.282)