Extra days off in the schedule have made the two-start pitcher pool very thin this week. Thin and bottom heavy. I’ve listed all 30 options, though, in a ranked order. And I’ve provided notes in cases where I thought notes might be desirable. So if you were deciding who to sit, who to start, or who to stream for next week, this article will hopefully help you sort things out. As always, do remember to stream responsibly.
Don’t You Dare Bench These Two-Start Pitchers
Pablo Lopez SP Twins
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Rockies – 5IP W 2ER 5H 0BB 5K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th vs. Rays + Sunday, June 23rd @ A’s
Sonny Gray SP Cardinals
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Pirates – 7IP W 1ER 4H 1BB 9K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th @ Marlins + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Giants
Nick Pivetta SP/RP Red Sox
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Phillies – 4IP 4ER 6H 4BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th @ Blue Jays + Sunday, June 23rd @ Reds
Ronel Blanco SP/RP Astros
Last start: Tuesday, June 11th @ Giants – 6IP W 1ER 3H 1BB 8K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th @ White Sox + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Orioles
You Should Probably Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Michael King SP/RP Padres
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. A’s – 5IP 2ER 4H 2BB 12K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th @ Phillies + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Brewers
Notes: After a rough start to the season that saw Michael King’s ERA touch 5.00 (on April 28th), the subjects were looking to revolt. Eight starts later, during which The King has compiled a 2.05 ERA with a 10.5 K/9 rate, I think we can say the rebellion is over. He should be in your lineup, despite the difficult two-start week. The Phillies rank 5th in wOBA, while the Brewers rank 4th.
Bryce Miller SP Mariners
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. White Sox – 7IP 0ER 2H 2BB 8K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th @ Guardians + Sunday, June 23rd @ Marlins
Notes: Bryce Miller rebounded on Wednesday after allowing seven runs in his previous start. It was already the 5th time the 25-year-old yielded four or more runs. The variability could be due to his reliance on the fastball. Which most of the time works for him (29.5% whiff rate and a .164 average against). On a week-to-week basis, though, you just have to hope you get the good version. As a two-start pitcher with one being against the Marlins (29th in wOBA), this week should be an easier call.
Yusei Kikuchi SP Blue Jays
Last start: Tuesday, June 11th @ Brewers – 5IP W 0ER 3H 4BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th vs. Red Sox + Sunday, June 23rd @ Guardians
Cristopher Sanchez SP Phillies
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Red Sox – 4IP 4ER 7H 2BB 2K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th vs. Padres + Sunday, June 23rd vs. DBacks
Notes: Cristopher Sanchez is still getting lots of ground balls (60.6% of the time), but the walk rate is not at the elite level from last year (up to 7.7% vs. 4.0% in 2023). Despite his whiffs and strikeouts dropping too, we’ve still seen consistency from the lefty. Wednesday’s short outing was just the second time all season he allowed more than three earned runs. The 3.07 ERA might come up a bit (3.82 xERA), but I’m still starting him even in categories leagues.
In the Right Situation, These Two-Start Pitchers Make Sense
Jordan Hicks SP/RP Giants
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Astros – 4.2IP L 3ER 5H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th @ Cubs + Sunday, June 23rd @ Cardinals
Jake Irvin SP Nationals
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Tigers – 6IP W 1ER 6H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th vs. DBacks + Sunday, June 23rd @ Rockies
Notes: Really enjoying the near-elite walk rate for Jake Irvin. In combination with a decent ground-ball rate (44.3%), it’s kept his ERA at an even 3.00. The xERA is reasonable too (3.79). And that’s resulted in a pretty amazing nine Quality Starts. I might back off at the first signs of regression, but for now, I think this an obvious two-start stream in points leagues.
Triston McKenzie SP Guardians
Last start: Tuesday, June 11th @ Reds – 5.1IP W 2ER 4H 2BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th vs. Mariners + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Blue Jays
Notes: Even with 11 earned runs in his last 15.2 innings, Triston McKenzie’s ERA (4.10) seems likely to regress still further (4.78 xERA). As a two-start pitcher against the Mariners (26th in wOBA) and the Blue Jays (19th), though, points leagues still kind of make sense if you need the bulk.
Javier Assad SP/RP Cubs
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Rays – 4.2IP 2ER 5H 2BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th vs. Giants + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Mets
Aaron Civale SP Rays
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Cubs – 5.2IP 1ER 5H 1BB 6K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th @ Twins + Sunday, June 23rd @ Pirates
Notes: OK, Aaron Civale has a 5.20 ERA. And his xERA is better but no great shakes (4.01). But he has some favorable opponents (Twins are ranked 16th in wOBA/Pirates rank 28th) next week and rarely goes less than five innings (three times in 14 starts). So if you need volume in a points league, there are worse streams.
Jon Gray SP Rangers
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Dodgers – 3IP 1ER 4H 1BB 3K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th vs. Mets + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Royals
Braxton Garrett SP Marlins
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Mets – 4.2IP L 4ER (6R) 7H 0BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th v.s Cardinals + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Mariners
You Better Be Desperate To Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Reese Olson SP Tigers
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Nationals – 5.1IP L 4ER (5R) 10H 2BB 3K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th @ Braves + Sunday, June 23rd vs. White Sox
Notes: Two really bad starts in a row (12 earned runs in 9.1 innings with 22 hits allowed) have caused Reese Olson’s ERA to balloon to 3.68. Though the regression was likely at some point, you hate to see it catch up to the xERA (3.61) so quickly. Still plenty to like about the 24-year-old, namely two offerings that produce over 40% whiff rates. But while struggling, you might want to institute a wait-and-see approach for next week.
James Paxton SP Dodgers
Last start: Tuesday, June 11th vs. Rangers – 6IP W 1ER 2H 2BB 2K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 11th vs. Rangers + Sunday, June 16th vs. Royals
Notes: Despite the decent start on Tuesday, I’ll still reiterate what I wrote about James Paxton last week. The perplexing lack of whiffs and strikeouts (ranked in the 7th percentile and 5th, respectively), combined with an almost two-mile-per-hour drop in his velocity, makes me want to avoid the 35-year-old.
Bailey Falter SP Pirates
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Cardinals – 4IP L 3ER 8H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th vs. Reds + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Rays
Jonathan Cannon SP White Sox
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Mariners – 7IP 1ER 4H 1BB 7K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th vs. Astros + Sunday, June 23rd @ Tigers
Cal Quantrill SP Rockies
Last start: Tuesday, June 11th @ Twins – 6IP W 0ER 3H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th vs. Dodgers + Saturday, June 22nd vs. Nationals
Notes: Though the season line looks decent enough (3.30 ERA/6 wins), keep in mind that nine of Cal Quantrill’s 14 starts have been away from Coors Field. With an xERA signaling regression (4.10 xERA) and two starts at home – one against the team with the 2nd-best wOBA – I’ll pass.
Carlos F Rodriguez SP Brewers
Last start: Tuesday, June 11th vs. Blue Jays – 3.2IP L 2ER 7H 1BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th @ Angels + Saturday, June 22nd @ Padres
Notes: Carlos F Rodriguez is not a highly regarded prospect. His career minor league 10.6 K/9 rate, though, makes the 22-year-old at least worth monitoring. That’s especially true now that Robert Gasser is unlikely to pitch again this season, leaving a rotation spot open.
Cody Poteet SP/RP Yankees
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Royals – 5.1IP W 2ER 4H 3BB 2K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th vs. Orioles + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Braves
Hogan Harris SP/RP A’s
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Padres – 5IP 2ER 4H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th vs. Royals + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Twins
David Peterson SP/RP Mets
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Marlins – 5IP W 4ER 8H 2BB 1K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th @ Rangers + Sunday, June 23rd @ Cubs
Carson Spiers RP Reds
Last appearance: Sunday, June 9th vs. Cubs – 5.2IP 0ER 4H 1BB 7K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th @ Pirates + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Red Sox
Randy Vasquez SP/RP Padres
Last start: Tuesday, June 11th vs. A’s – 5IP 1ER 7H 2BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, June 17th @ Phillies + Saturday, June 22nd vs. Brewers
Tobias Myers SP Brewers
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Blue Jays – 6IP W 1ER 3H 1BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th @ Angels + Sunday, June 23rd @ Padres
Austin Gomber SP Rockies
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th @ Twins – 3IP L 8ER 11H 1BB 2K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th vs. Dodgers + Sunday, June 23rd vs. Nationals
Slade Cecconi SP DBacks
Last start: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Angels – 3IP L 7ER 10H 0BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th @ Nationals + Sunday, June 23rd @ Phillies
Daniel Lynch SP Royals
Last appearance: Wednesday, June 12th vs. Yankees – 6.2IP 6ER 7H 2BB 3K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, June 18th @ A’s + Sunday, June 23rd @ Rangers