We are quickly approaching the All-Star break which means more and more fantasy players will turn their attention to fantasy football. This is great news for the dedicated and savvy fantasy baseball player. You can improve your team easier due to less competition on the waiver wire and in FAAB. Here are the two-start pitchers for Week 15 (7/11-7/17).
As always, make sure to double-check the probable starting pitchers grid here at Fangraphs before you set your lineup. Pitching rotations are constantly changing. Let’s take a look at the two-start pitchers for Week 15!
Must-Start: These pitchers should be started regardless of match-up. They are a must-start in all leagues until further notice.
Should-Start: These pitchers should start in most leagues. This is based on the pedigree of the pitcher and/or favorable matchups.
Questionable: Only start these pitchers if you are in a deep roto or points league, desperate for counting stats, or feeling lucky.
Sit: Do not start these pitchers.
Week 15 Two-Start Pitchers
Must Start
Pitcher | ERA | Start 1 | Start 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Aaron Nola | 3.15 | @ STL | @ MIA |
Logan Webb | 2.98 | ARI | MIL |
Max Fried | 2.52 | NYM | @ WAS |
Luis Severino | 3.11 | CIN | BOS |
Spencer Strider | 2.60 | NYM | @ WAS |
Max Scherzer | 2.26 | @ ATL | @ CHC |
Shane Bieber | 3.44 | CHW | DET |
Dylan Cease | 2.45 | @ CLE | @ MIN |
Spencer Strider, the 23-year-old out of Clemson, is dominating Major League Baseball. Strider is 4-2 with a 2.60 ERA, 2.64 xERA, and 2.37 SIERA. I am most impressed with his 102 strikeouts in just 65.2 innings. His 39.1 K% is in the top 1% of the league and batters have only a .196 xBA against him. Next week he takes on the New York Mets (114 wRC+) and the Washington Nationals (96 wRC+).
Should Start
Pitcher | ERA | Start 1 | Start 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Miles Mikolas | 2.72 | PHI | CIN |
Lance Lynn | 5.33 | @ CLE | @ MIN |
After a tough May, Miles Mikolas appears to be back on track. On the season, Mikolas has a 2.72 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP in 106 innings. He does a great job limiting walks and hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in his last six starts. He also has 11 quality starts on the year which ties him with Gerrit Cole, Zack Wheeler, Yu Darvish, and Shane Bieber. His biggest downfall in fantasy is his lackluster 19.7 K%. Next week he has two home starts. One against the Philadelphia Phillies (101 wRC+) and the other versus the Cincinnati Reds (82 wRC+).
Questionable
Pitcher | ERA | Start 1 | Start 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Jose Berrios | 5.44 | PHI | KC |
Josiah Gray | 4.14 | SEA | ATL |
Trevor Rogers | 5.57 | PIT | PHI |
Cal Quantrill | 3.86 | CHW | DET |
Jeffrey Springs | 2.53 | BOS | BAL |
Chris Flexen | 4.00 | @ WSN | @ TEX |
David Peterson | 3.48 | @ ATL | @ CHC |
Alex Cobb | 4.74 | ARI | MIL |
Corey Kluber | 3.62 | BOS | BAL |
Sean Manaea | 4.18 | @ COL | ARI |
Chris Sale | 0.00 | @ TB | @ NYY |
Merrill Kelly | 3.42 | @ SF | @ SD |
Alex Cobb is the ultimate “questionable” pitcher. On the surface, Cobb looks like he should be riding the pine in most fantasy leagues. He has a 4.74 ERA and he hasn’t pitched more than six innings in any of his 12 starts this year. However, nearly all of his underlying and expected stats look great. He has a 2.70 xERA, 2.79 xFIP, and 3.04 SIERA. He’s done a great job limiting hard contact and you could even make the argument that he’s been unlucky. He has a 56.9 LOB% (career 71.8 LOB%) and a .348 BABIP. Next week he has two home matchups. He tackles the Arizona Diamondbacks (91 wRC+) and the Milwaukee Brewers (107 wRC+).
Cal Quantrill has two great home matchups this week as he faces the Chicago White Sox (90 wRC+) and the Detroit Tigers (72 wRC+). Over 88.2 innings, Quantrill has a 3.86 ERA but his expected stats suggest regression is coming. He has a 4.79 xERA, 4.75 xFIP, and 4.87 SIERA. Quantrill doesn’t provide many strikeouts as he has only a 14.7 K%. Although the matchups are great, I just can’t trust him in a 10 or 12-team league.
Sit
Pitcher | ERA | Start 1 | Start 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Brad Keller | 4.37 | DET | @ TOR |
Brayan Bello | 9.00 | @ TB | @ NYY |
Jordan Lyles | 4.50 | @ CHC | @ TB |
Michael Pineda | 3.62 | @ KC | @ CLE |
Matthew Liberatore | 4.74 | LAD | CIN |
Beau Brieske | 4.16 | @ KC | @ CLE |
Daniel Castano | 3.60 | PIT | PHI |
Josh Winder | 3.12 | MIL | CHW |
Glenn Otto | 5.26 | OAK | SEA |
Adrian Martinez | 6.00 | @ TEX | @ HOU |
Graham Ashcraft | 4.35 | @ NYY | @ STL |
Mitch Keller | 5.21 | @ MIA | @ COL |
Adrian Sampson | 2.91 | BAL | NYM |
Spencer Howard | 10.97 | OAK | SEA |
Jason Alexander | 4.75 | @ TEX | @ HOU |
Austin Gomber | 6.46 | SD | PIT |
Jose Urena | 2.51 | SD | PIT |
What about Gerrit Cole?