Whether you’re trying to set your weekly lineup, or looking to sure up your pitching on the waiver wire, or just hoping to fill your RP spot in a points league, this article has you covered. Below is a comprehensive list of the two-start pitchers for Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season. I’ve divided all 37 options into four categories and indicated streaming targets in cases where roster percentage is low enough. Feel free to have a scroll, hope your early returns are favorable, and as always, please remember to stream responsibly.
Don’t You Dare Bench These Two-Start Pitchers
Zach Wheeler SP Phillies
Start 1:Tuesday, April 9th @ Cardinals
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Pirates
Death, taxes, yada yada…
Luis Castillo SP Mariners
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Blue Jays
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Cubs
Though the results have been mostly unkind to fantasy managers, and Luis Castillo’s fastball has been down just a tick, the ground ball rate is back up in a small sample size. No reason to panic yet.
Zac Gallen SP DBacks
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Rockies
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Cardinals
Nothing to really say here. Zac Gallen is a very good pitcher, is currently pitching well, and should continue being good.
Framber Valdez SP Astros
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Rangers
Start 2: Saturday, April 13th vs. Rangers
Framber Valdez looked really good in his last start, yielding just one earned run and almost completing eight innings. He’s still keeping the ball on the ground (71.9% of balls in play so far) which is super important. The Rangers can mash (almost six runs per game in the early going), but Valdez is a borderline ace and can handle it.
Blake Snell SP Giants
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Nationals
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Rays
Blake Snell will make his debut for San Francisco on Monday. With a nice first matchup in a safe stadium (7th-best for pitchers according to Park Factors), let’s see what the reigning Cy Young winner can do.
Zach Eflin SP Rays
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Angels
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Giants
After rebounding on Tuesday against the mighty Rangers (one earned run in 6.1 innings), starting Zach Eflin sure feels like a no-brainer with two favorable matchups.
Cole Ragans SP/RP Royals
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th vs. Astros
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Mets
I don’t care about his matchups, quite honestly. Hopefully, Cole Ragans is a must-start pitcher all season.
Jesus Luzardo SP Marlins
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Yankees
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Braves
You’ve probably invested some decent draft capital on Jesus Luzardo, so any two-start week will be must start. But with these opponents: I’d be just a little nervous.
Shane Bieber SP Guardians
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. White Sox
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Yankees
If you were skeptical that his first start against the lowly A’s wasn’t for real, you had to enjoy Shane Bieber’s effort on Wednesday. Fine, Seattle’s lineup isn’t amazing, but the righty hasn’t allowed a run yet in 12 innings and leads the league in strikeouts (20). That first matchup next week is pretty sweet, too.
Christian Javier SP Astros
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th @ Royals
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Rangers
Though he lost the plate a little on Wednesday (five walks), Christian Javier hasn’t yielded a run yet in his first two starts (11 innings). With a favorable first matchup, I’ll risk the second.
Jose Berrios SP Blue Jays
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Mariners
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Rockies
Two favorable opponents plus two solid starts thus far (three earned runs in his first 12 innings) equals one solid option in your lineup this week.
Nate Eovaldi SP Rangers
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th vs. A’s
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Astros
Nathan Eovaldi’s two starts have been pretty impressive. Can’t pass up the juicy start, even if you’re nervous about the Astros who have started hot out of the gate (3rd in wOBA).
You Should Probably Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Yu Darvish SP Padres
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Cubs +
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Dodgers
Sure, that Dodgers start looks scary, but Yu Darvish stood his ground against them in Korea (just one unearned run in 3.2 innings) and has been solid since (four earned runs in 12 innings).
Mitch Keller SP Pirates
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Tigers
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Phillies
Too early to get nervous. Unless you have much better options in a categories league, might as well roll with a favorable first opponent.
Charlie Morton SP Braves
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th vs. Mets
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Marlins
After it looked like his first start could get ugly, Charlie Morton settled down and retired his last 11 batters faced on Monday. The 40-year-old will draw two light-hitting opponents next week and could very well continue to defy age.
Nestor Cortes SP Yankees
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Marlins
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Guardians
Though Nestor Cortes’s first two starts haven’t gone so well overall, most of the damage has occurred early for him. Can we take the chance he’ll settle in earlier against two light lineups? Seems like a plan.
In the Right Situation, These Two-Start Pitchers Make Sense
Brayan Bello SP Red Sox
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th vs. Orioles
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Angels
It’s tough to start a pitcher who struggled against the A’s last time out. But it was essentially two bad pitches that turned into home runs. And his fastball is up a tick which is always nice to see. In a points league, why not? In a categories league, you could do worse.
Frankie Montas RP Reds
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th vs. Brewers
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ White Sox
The Reds have some decisions to make this week when Nick Lodolo returns from the IL. There’s no risk of Frankie Montas losing his job, but who loses it – and when – could affect his two-start status. If you’re depending on the second start, look elsewhere. If not, the righty’s decent outings (just two earned runs in 11.2 innings overall), would make him a worthwhile start or stream.
Louie Varland SP/RP Twins
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Dodgers
Start 2: Saturday, April 13th @ Tigers
RP eligibility and a nice venue in his second start next week make Louie Varland an OK points-league play. I wouldn’t trust many pitchers with my ratios against the Dodgers, certainly not Varland after inconsistency in his first start.
James Paxton SP Dodgers
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Twins
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Padres
James Paxton walked five batters in his first start. But he also struck out five and picked up a win. That could happen a lot while pitching for the Dodgers. Against some middle-of-the-road lineups, seems like a nice week to take advantage of that. He should be available to stream if you’re looking.
Reynaldo Lopez RP Braves
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th vs. Mets
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Marlins
After some nice years in the bullpen (3.02 ERA/1.11 WHIP/10.0 K/9 over the last two seasons), the Braves gave Reynaldo Lopez a shot in the rotation. So far, after one good start (one run over six innings with five strikeouts), it’s going well. This seems like an obvious stream in a points league, given the RP eligibility. Maybe even in categories if it’s deep and you’re a bit thin.
Reese Olson SP Tigers
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Pirates
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Twins
Reese Olson was good last season (3.99 ERA/1.12 WHIP/8.94 K/9). He won a rotation spot out of spring training. And he pitched well in his one start so far. He’s probably available in your league, too. Take the stream if you need one. Start him if you already have him.
You Better Be Desperate To Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Miles Mikolas SP Cardinals
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Phillies
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ DBacks
With the consistency of his innings, you could probably justify Miles Mikolas as a desperate points-league play. But hopefully, you have a better option.
Andrew Heaney SP/RP Rangers
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Astros
Start 2: Saturday, April 13th @ Astros
Though Andrew Heaney’s first start was encouraging, the Astros offense is off to a hot start (ranked 3rd in wOBA). I don’t like his chances to survive against them twice in one week.
Chris Paddack RP Twins
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th vs. Dodgers
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Tigers
This could be a points-league play due to RP eligibility, but based on Chris Paddack’s first opponent next week, the Dodgers, it would have to be a points or AL-only league. The righty could turn his career around after missing pretty much two seasons, but this isn’t the week to experiment with him. Good for your Watch List, though.
Javier Assad SP/RP Cubs
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Padres
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Mariners
With a matchup against the Mariners next week (last in wOBA so far), Javier Assad could be another points-league prayer. But with Justin Steele’s spot in the rotation still uncertain, shuffling could potentially push the righty’s next start to Tuesday. That would prevent him from making the second (and much more juicy) start next week. I do not recommend.
Graham Ashcraft SP Reds
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Brewers
Start 2: Saturday, April 13th @ White Sox
There will be a lot of moving parts with Nick Lodolo returning to the rotation. The Reds have been targeting April 10th for his first start. Graham Ashcraft is one of the options to get bumped, but if not he’ll likely make a second start on Saturday or Sunday. If you’re depending on the two starts, look somewhere else. Even if you’re not, maybe still look somewhere else.
Alex Wood SP/RP A’s
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th @ Rangers
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Nationals
The first start is enough to scare me off.
Tyler Anderson SP Angels
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. Rays
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Red Sox
It was nice to see Tyler Anderson have a good start his first time out this season. But based on last year’s numbers (5.43 ERA/1.49 WHIP/7.6 K/9), and next week’s opponents, there’s little reason to get excited.
Adrian Houser SP Mets
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th @ Braves
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Royals
Though he resembled a functional pitcher in his first start, Adrian Houser was opposing the Tigers (averaging just 3.83 runs per game so far). Certainly don’t think you can bank on the same results against the Braves. Kansas City’s offense hasn’t looked bad in the early going either. File this under desperation.
Spencer Turnbull SP Phillies
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Cardinals
Start 2: Saturday, April 13th vs. Pirates
Despite a decent first start and OK matchups, I’ll still pass.
Kyle Freeland SP Rockies
Start 1: Monday, April 8th vs. DBacks
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Blue Jays
Kyle Freeland has been shockingly bad his first two times out and he hasn’t even pitched in Coors Field yet.
Jakob Junis SP/RP Brewers
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Reds
Start 2: Saturday, April 13th @ Orioles
It’s looking like Jakob Junis has a shoulder issue, so he might not even make the starts. Which, given the Venue (Cincinnati) and then opponent (Orioles), is probably for the best.
Cole Irvin SP/RP Orioles
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th @ Red Sox
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th vs. Brewers
At this point, just pick a good middle reliever.
Joe Ross SP Brewers
Start 1: Tuesday, April 9th @ Reds
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ Orioles
What year is this? The Brewers rotation leaves a lot to be desired. And these matchups certainly don’t help.
Trevor Williams SP Nationals
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Giants
Start 2: Sunday, April 14th @ A’s
Despite the juicy matchups, it would take a lot more decent starts for me to roster Trevor Williams.
Julio Teheran SP Mets
Start 1: Monday, April 8th @ Braves
Start 2: Saturday, April 14th vs. Royals
Despite holding his own during the spring (3.38 ERA/1.20 WHIP over 13.1 innings), Julio Teheran was cut by the Orioles. He’s found a new home with the Mets and will immediately get to work. In real life, I’m kind of interested to see where this goes. In fantasy baseball, not so much.