Two StartaPalooza, Week 26: Good Night and Good Luck

So here we are, the last week of the season. If you’re playing now, you’re in the money game of your head-to-head league, or you’re in a dog fight to pull ahead in the roto standings. I’ve said this for the last three weeks but, congratulations! You did something right. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say there are a few things you definitely didn’t do, you didn’t draft Justin Verlander, you didn’t draft Buster Posey or Joe Mauer anywhere near the first 5 rounds, you didn’t invest in one of the top 3 closers, and you probably didn’t draft Dominic Brown (Sorry Tehol). They say fantasy championships are made after the draft. Whoever they are? Seriously do you know? I’m just going to guess that if there is a they that writes these cliches, then they know Nick Capozzi. Mostly because he knows everybody in the fantasy industry. I’m also going to assume it’s a secret club that I’m not privy to. You know, like Skull and Bones.  Wow that escalated quickly! Where was I? Oh yeah winning fantasy championships. Well my belief is that the secret to winning in the final week is pitching, and how you use your streams. If you’re in a H2H league with a limited move number than be careful. One must choose wisely. With this in mind I have created a new format for these posts. As I mentioned last week I had the vision of putting my rankings in spreadsheet form and providing a couple of key metrics I felt gave you the readers full transparency into my thought process. Well my vision is reality behold the new and improved two startapalooza. You’ll see that in addition to the Pitcher’s name and opponent, I’ve also provided the pitcher’s handedness, the pitcher’s Home/Road ERA, the opponent’s Home/Road wOBA, and the opponent’s Right/Left wOBA split. These are the numbers I look at most closely when creating my rankings for the week. So why not share them with you? Enjoy, I put some time into this and I believe you’ll find it extra helpful. I hope it also sparks more debate in the comments and gives you guys all the more reason to challenge my tiers. I’ve also made sure that I based my Two-Start roster off of Rudy’s new two start pitcher SON/tool. This way all the information mirrors each other and gives some continuity to the post. Thanks again for reading and I’m looking forward to bringing this format back next season. Go Get’Em!

In honor of Lawrence from Office Space our Tiers will be dedicated to doing two chicks at the same time.

Two Models (Must Start) 

What a tier! There are 5 must start guys this week. I’d be shocked if all 5 of them make both starts, but let’s focus on best case scenario here. I love me some Madison Bumgarner this week. He gets a road matchup against the Dodgers, and as you can see Mad-Bum is a road warrior. He actually struggles at home which sort of makes no sense but okay. We can throw those domestic problems out the window, the Padres are coming to town! The Friars are like the Santa Claus of MLB lineups, just traveling around, giving out gifts, and making good children happy. As for Cole Hamels he gets a road start against Miami, and much like Bumgarner he too is a road warrior. Chris Sale has two tough division matchups in the Tigers and Royals, but he’s Chris “bleeping” Sale. You always put Chris “bleeping” Sale in the top tier….Always! The same goes for Felix Hernandez, not the greatest macthups, in fact not even close. But! He’s matchup proof. Rounding out this tier is Johnny Cueto, who’s had a wonderful season, and dominates at home.

Two Pop Singers (Tier 1)

Let’s be clear David Price is good, he just hasn’t been that good lately. For whatever reason he just doesn’t seem like he’s settled into his new surroundings. Then again it’s Detroit, not easy surroundings to get used to. Sure Tampa is sleazy, but at least it’s on the water and has a damn good climate. Also lots of blondes. He gets two home starts this week against the White Sox and Twins. Both teams are sort of middle of the road against lefties, so it could be a good week for Price to turn it around. Mike Fiers gets two good matchups and I’d expect his hot streak to continue. I love both Tyson Ross and Francisco Liriano this week, look at Liriano’s road ERA. Filthy City, USA, population Dat Doode<! As for Ross he’s El Hombre in his casa, and the the start at San Fran isn’t too scary. Tanner Roark is good at home, Jeff Samardzija is good, and Derek Holland has been great since returning.

Two Porn Stars (Tier 2)

For the record Adam Wainwright has good matchups and he’s been very good in September. He’s just not that good at home and I have this feeling that the Cubs are going to tee-off on him. Also he’s not doing you any favors in the K department with his paltry 5.91 K/9 this month. He’s a ratio and wins guy. Let’s say his name was Kyle Lohse would you have an issue with the ranking? Carlos Carrasco has been a monster the last few months and maybe he should have been ranked higher. I think that speaks more to this week’s slate of double dippers than anything else. Danny Duffy is back and more than likely making two starts. He worries me a bit, but the numbers are too good to drop him down any further. I think the bottom of this tier Alex Wood, Michael Pineda, and James Paxton, could all be difference makers. I like Paxton much more than Rudy’s two start SON, I’m sure much of that low ranking is the Angels matchup, and I agree, because if it was anyone else he would have been ranked higher.

Two Co-Eds (Tier 3)

Lot’s of good streamers in this tier. I like Jake Peavy‘s home start against San Diego for obvious reasons. I also really like J.A. Happ‘s home start against the Mariners. Mostly because he’s very solid at home and the Mariners can’t hit lefties. Actually they really can’t hit in general, but when it comes to lefties whoa! do they suck. Gio Gonzalez gets two good starts but he gives me the creeps like Andy Dick or Kevin Spacey. I love Henderson Alvarez against the Phillies but want nothing to do with his start against the Nationals. Yordano Ventura gets two tough matchups but he’s been very good the last couple of months and is probably ranked too low. The thing is both the White Sox and Indians hit righties well at home. R.A. Dickey per usual is a crapshoot.

Two 5’s = 1 Dime! (Tier 4)

Try as you might two fives don’t make a ten. Hey no shame in your game, you’re looking for numbers. For the record I’d use my nephew Kyle Lobstein, he’s making Bubbe proud. Gerrit Cole is this low because he stinks on the road.

Two BBW’s (Do Not Start)

That’s All