The best two-start pitchers can help your fantasy baseball team gain an advantage by boosting counting stats like strikeouts and wins. However, your ratios can quickly blow up if you don’t choose your two-steppers wisely.
This write-up aims to help you choose the best two-start pitchers each week. Some options will be no-brainers, while others will require more thought. To help with these decisions, I’ll rank the upcoming week’s two-start pitchers into tiers and briefly explain my thoughts on each starting option.
Keep in mind that rotations get shuffled for various reasons. So be sure to double-check the league’s latest version of probable pitchers, as this article gets submitted on Saturday. With that in mind, let’s look at the two-start pitchers for Week 3!
Don’t Overthink These Two-Start Pitchers
These are your set-it-and-forget-it arms for the week. All are elite starting pitchers with strong matchups.
Michael King (SP — SDP)
First Start: @ ATH
Second Start: vs. COL
Michael King is fresh off a dominant outing against the Guardians (5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1BB, 11 K). A Week 3 schedule against the Athletics and Rockies is drool-worthy.
Garrett Crochet (SP — BOS)
First Start: vs. TOR
Second Start: @ CWS
One of the easiest decisions this week is putting Garrett Crochet in your fantasy lineups. Enjoy.
Logan Gilbert (SP — SEA)
First Start: vs. HOU
Second Start: vs. TEX
Logan Gilbert gets a nice Texas two-step this week. The Astros and Rangers have gotten off to a slow start with a 63 wRC+ and 71 wRC+, respectively.
Hunter Greene (SP — CIN)
First Start: @ SFG
Second Start: vs. PIT
Hunter Greene has killed it in his first two starts (12.0 IP, 3ER, 2 BB, 16K). Another outing against the Giants and a date with the Pirates shouldn’t slow him down.
Chris Sale (SP — ATL)
First Start: vs. PHI
Second Start: @ TBR
Chris Sale is sporting a 25.6% K-BB% after starts against the potent Padres and Dodgers. Now he needs Atlanta’s bats to wake up.
Zack Wheeler (SP — PHI)
First Start: @ ATL
Second Start: @ STL
Zack Wheeler is among the league’s leaders in strikeouts this season, and that shouldn’t change this week.
Kodai Senga (SP — NYM)
First Start: vs. MIA
Second Start: @ ATH
Kodai Senga sure looked good in his debut against Miami. He registered a 35.5% K-BB% and rocked his ghost forkball to the tune of a 57.1% whiff rate. Senga gets another go at the Marlins in Week 3, followed by the Athletics at the tail end of the week. Beautiful!
Carlos Rodon (SP — NYY)
First Start: @ DET
Second Start: vs. SF
Carlos Rodon’s 2025 has been a mixed bag. In typical Rodon fashion, his strikeout upside this season (26.7% K%) has come with a heavy dose of walks (13.3% BB%). The Tigers and Giants are strong matchups this week, especially with the Yankee bats helping Rodon’s cause. Just know that bloated ratios could be lurking.
Cole Ragans (SP — KCR)
First Start: vs. MIN
Second Start: @ CLE
Cole Ragans got off to a bumpy start in 2025. But he rebounded in his last outing with one earned run across five innings and a 17.5% swinging-strike rate. Yeah, Ragans should be fine this week.
Pablo Lopez (SP — MIN)
First Start: @ KCR
Second Start: vs. DET
Detroit is the peskier of the two offenses Pablo Lopez will face this week. But that shouldn’t dissuade you from starting PabLo in his first two-stepper of the season.
Roll With These Two-Start Pitchers
These are solid two-starters for the week. While they come with more risk than the arms above, they’re worthy two-steppers in Week 3.
Nate Eovaldi (SP — TEX)
First Start: @ CHC
Second Start: @ SEA
Nate Eovaldi logged the first complete game shutout of the season. Whoop whoop! He’s also allowed only two earned runs across 15 innings this year and piled up 17 strikeouts. The upcoming start against the Cubs is more difficult than not. But Eovaldi is rolling right now, and we should roll with him.
Shane Baz (SP — TBR)
First Start: vs. LAA
Second Start: vs. ATL
Shane Baz is coming off a dominant debut against the Pirates. He racked up 10 strikeouts across six scoreless innings and has looked great since his return from TJS last season. In his final five starts of 2024, Baz struck out 28 batters across 30.1 IP to go with a 2.37 ERA and 0.69 WHIP. He also posted a 20%+ K-BB% in his final three starts. Baz should have a nice week.
Zac Gallen (SP — ARI)
First Start: vs. BAL
Second Start: vs. MIL
It’s been a tale of two starts for Zac Gallen. But he notably quieted the Yankees in his latest outing, going 6.2 scoreless innings with zero walks and 13 punchouts. The Orioles aren’t that scary, and the Brewers have a below-average 77 wRC+ on the year. Consider Gallen good to go for this week’s two-step.
Logan Webb (SP — SFG)
First Start: vs. CIN
Second Start: @ NYY
Logan Webb is off to a very Webb-like start to the season. He’s registering 8.25 K/9 while sporting a 54.8% ground ball rate. That should play well at home against the Reds and limit the damage through the air at Yankee Stadium.
Dustin May (SP — LAD)
First Start: @ WAS
Second Start: vs. CHC
Dustin May missed all of 2024 but looked solid in his 2025 debut against the Braves (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K). His start against the Cubs to close out the week is iffy, but May should be worth the risk with the Dodgers’ offense behind him.
Justin Steele (SP — CHC)
First Start: vs. TEX
Second Start: @ LAD
On the one hand, Steele hasn’t looked great and has had issues with the long ball (2.87 HR/9). On the other hand, his 6.89 ERA is countered with a 3.69 SIERA. Steele is a talented arm that offers win-upside and isn’t a drag in the strikeout department. I’m inclined to trust the process and roll him out in Week 3. But I wouldn’t blame you if you sat him.
Sandy Alcantara (SP — MIA)
First Start: @ NYM
Second Start: vs. WAS
Sandy Alcantara was solid against the Mets in his last outing (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) and walked away with a win. There’s no reason he can’t do it again, and the Nationals aren’t scaring anyone.
Freddy Peralta (SP — MIL)
First Start: @ COL
Second Start: @ ARI
I had trouble deciding where to rank Freddy Peralta this week, wavering between this tier and the one below. I settled on this tier because the Rockies can’t buy a run and are 30th in strikeout rate (31.5%). Peralta holds a 34.8% strikeout rate this season and should have no problem mowing them down — not to mention picking up a win. While the Diamondbacks are a different story, Peralta has kept his walks in check, and there’s enough strikeout upside to chase. Start Peralta knowing the walks could blow up.
How Lucky Do You Feel About These Two-Start Pitchers?
This is the tier of tough decisions, with most of the two-start options best suited for 15-team leagues. These are primarily riskier arms with plus matchups who could bloat your ratios if things go south. Tread carefully.
Hayden Wesneski (SP — HOU)
First Start: @ SEA
Second Start: vs. LAA
Hayden Wesneski brings some win potential to the fantasy table this week. A five-inning debut against the Giants with three earned runs, three walks, and six strikeouts doesn’t inspire much confidence, but Wesneski is still a decent start in 15-teamers in Week 3.
Casey Mize (SP — DET)
First Start: vs. NYY
Second Start: @ MIN
Casey Mize had a nice debut against the Mariners (5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K). But the Yankees aren’t the Mariners. And while the Twins are beatable, starting Mize this week may come down to your confidence in his revamped splitter.
Tanner Houck (SP — BOS)
First Start: vs. TOR
Second Start: @ CWS
On paper, the Blue Jays and White Sox are appealing. But Houck’s 11.6% walk rate has me pumping the brakes in 12-teamers.
Zach Eflin (SP — BAL)
First Start: @ ARI
Second Start: vs TOR
Zach Eflin logged two quality starts in as many games and should be able to add at least one more QS this week. His start against the Diamondbacks will be tricky, but Eflin limits the free passes and could pay off in Week 3.
Jose Berrios (SP — TOR)
First Start: @ BOS
Second Start: @ BAL
I don’t love the matchups this week, and the Orioles crushed Jose Berrios on Opening Day. You’re maybe starting him in 15-team leagues. Maybe.
Kyle Freeland (SP — COL)
First Start: vs MIL
Second Start: @ SDP
Kyle Freeland has looked solid this season, giving up three earned runs with a 10:0 K:BB ratio across 12.2 IP. However, there’s little win potential with any Rockies starter, and I’m really not loving the matchup against the Padres.
Michael Lorenzen (SP — KCR)
First Start: vs. MIN
Second Start: @ CLE
If you’re desperate, Michael Lorenzen is a fine-ish play in 15-teamers.
Simeon Woods Richardson (SP — MIN)
First Start: @ KCR
Second Start: vs. DET
Simeon Woods Richardson lasted four frames against the White Sox in his first outing of 2025. And the performance was meh, to boot! The Tigers are a tougher-than-looks opponent (.348 wOBA), making Woods Richardson a desperate two-start play in deeper leagues.
Logan Allen (SP — CLE)
First Start: vs. CWS
Second Start: vs. KCR
The matchups look good, but Logan Allen looks bad. He served up five walks to one strikeout in his debut outing against the Padres. If you’re feeling lucky, have at it. But this could explode in your face.
Forget About These Two-Start Pitchers
This tier is pretty straightforward. If you roll with these two-start pitchers, you’re playing with fire. Fuhgeddaboudit!
Kyle Hendricks (SP — LAA)
First Start: @ TBR
Second Start: @ HOU
Kyle Hendricks’ strong spring carried over to his start against the Cardinals (6.0 IP, 7H, 2ER, 0 BB, 4 K). But there’s not much to chase with Hendricks, and the juice likely isn’t worth the squeeze.
Easton Lucas (SP — TOR)
First Start: @ BOS
Second Start: @ BAL
Easton Lucas blanked the Nationals in his first major league start. But he shouldn’t be anywhere near your fantasy baseball lineups this week.
Shane Smith (SP — CWS)
First Start: @ CLE
Second Start: vs. BOS
Shane Smith is a shaky two-start option this week on a win-challenged team.
Trevor Williams (SP — WAS)
First Start: vs. LAD
Second Start: @ MIA
Trevor Williams facing the Dodgers is enough reason not to consider him a streaming option this week. I don’t care that he finishes the week against the Marlins.
Luis Severino (SP — ATH)
First Start: vs. SDP
Second Start: vs. NYM
Luis Severino had trouble in his last outing against the Cubs (6.0 IP, 5 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 6 K), and I don’t love the matchups here — especially at Sutter Health Park.
Michael Liberatore (SP — STL)
First start: @ PIT
Second start: vs. PHI
Michael Liberatore earned a quality start in his season debut against the Angels. But there’s not much to chase here with a career 10.2% K-BB%.
Carmen Mlodzinski (SP — PIT)
First Start: vs. STL
Second Start: @ CIN
The Cardinals have been sneaky-productive (149 wRC+), and an outing at the cozy confines of Great American Ball Park isn’t what you want.
Connor Gillispie (SP — MIA)
First Start: vs. NYM
Second Start: vs. WAS
Connor Gillispie surprised in his two starts of the season. But he gave up a lot of loud contact (13.8% barrel rate), and his 14% K-BB% doesn’t do it for me.
Patrick Corbin (SP — TEX)
First Start: @ CHC
Second Start: @ SEA
This one is pretty simple: No one should start Patrick Corbin this week.
