You always want to look at the week’s two-start pitchers, as they can help you gain an advantage in strikeouts and wins. However, you also want to be careful about which two-steppers you start, as your ratios can quickly blow up if you choose poorly.
This write-up aims to help you choose the best two-start pitchers of the week. Some options are easy calls, while others require more thought. To help with these decisions, I’ll rank the upcoming two-start pitchers into tiers and provide brief thoughts on each option.
Be mindful that teams often shuffle starting rotations. As this article gets submitted on Saturday, double-check the league’s latest version of probable pitchers to ensure you’re up to date. With that in order, let’s look at the two-start pitchers for Week 4.
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.
Paul Skenes (SP — PIT)
First Start: vs. WAS
Second Start: vs. CLE
Paul Skenes is off to a fantastic start to the season. Despite a rough outing against the Cardinals, he still owns a 20:3 K:BB ratio across 18.1 innings with a sparkling .253 xwOBAcon. Fire up Skenes with confidence this week.
Tarik Skubal (SP — DET)
First Start: @ MIL
Second Start: vs. KC
After a slow start to the season, Tarik Skubal got back on track against the Yankees last week (6IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). He should keep cruising in his Week 4 two-step.
Max Fried (SP — NYY)
First Start: vs. KCR
Second Start: @ TBR
Max Fried shined in last week’s outing against Detroit, punching out 11 batters across seven scoreless frames. He holds a terrific 1.56 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP and 23.1% K-BB% across 17.1 innings pitched this year. With a friendly upcoming slate, Fried is one of the strongest two-start pitchers of the week.
Jesus Luzardo (SP — PHI)
First Start: vs. SFG
Second Start: vs. MIA
Jesus Luzardo has looked like a must-start pitcher to start the season. He’s among the league’s leaders in strikeouts (25) and holds a 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 18 innings pitched. The Giants have been pesky, but Luzardo is a fine two-start option this week.
Framber Valdez (SP — HOU)
First Start: @ STL
Second Start: vs. SDP
You’re always rolling with Framber Valdez. His start against the Padres is a little more appealing with Jackson Merrill sidelined.
Jack Flaherty (SP — DET)
First Start: @ MIL
Second Start: vs. KC
Jack Flaherty spun 5.1 scoreless innings with nine punchouts against the Yankees in his last start. He’ll be just fine against the Brewers and Royals.
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 4.
Sonny Gray (SP — STL)
First Start: vs. HOU
Second Start: @ NYM
Outside of getting tagged by the homer-prone Angels, Sonny Gray’s strong 2024 season has carried over to 2025. He has a healthy 27.4% K-BB through 16 innings with a 4.50 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. The ERA is ugly on the surface but it comes with a 2.59 SIERA. This week’s matchups aren’t ideal, but Gray’s strikeouts are worth chasing in 12- and 15-teamers.
Nick Lodolo (SP — CIN)
First Start: vs. SEA
Second Start: @ BAL
Nick Lodolo earned quality starts in all three outings this season. While the strikeouts haven’t been there (11.3% K%), Lodolo has allowed only two earned runs and one walk across 18.2 frames. Not too shabby. Lodolo is a strong start against the beatable Mariners and Orioles in Week 4.
Luis Castillo (SP — SEA)
First Start: @ CIN
Second Start: @ TOR
Typically a slow starter, Luis Castillo has surprisingly had a solid start to the year. Across 17 innings, Castillo is sporting a 2.12 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with a 15/6 K/BB ratio. He also hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his starts. Castillo is pitching a little over his skis (3.83 SIERA), but he brings enough to the table to start him in 15- and 12-team leagues this week.
Max Meyer (SP — MIA)
First Start: vs. ARI
Second Start: @ PHI
The matchups aren’t the best, but Max Meyer’s 2.00 ERA (3.11 SIERA), 1.11 WHIP, and 18.9% K-BB across 18 innings is pretty appealing. Meyer is coming off 6.1 scoreless innings against the Mets, and I think you have to roll with him this week.
Tylor Megill (SP — NYM)
First Start: @ MIN
Second Start: vs. STL
Tylor Megill has allowed only one earned run to go with 17 punchouts across 14.1 frames this season. However, walks remain an issue as he’s piled up seven to start the season. Despite the free passes, Megill brings strikeout and win upside this week as a solid two-start option.
Dylan Cease (SP — SDP)
First Start: vs CHC
Second Start: @ HOU
The surface stats for Dylan Cease this season are pretty gross (7.98 ERA/1.57 WHIP across 14.2 IP). However, his 3.39 SIERA is more palatable and comes with a respectable 18.2% K-BB rate. Given the rocky start and the date with the Cubs, Cease lands in this tier instead of the one above.
Grant Holmes (SP — ATL)
First Start: @ TOR
Second Start: vs. MIN
Grant Holmes had stiff matchups to start the season (@LAD, PHI) and struggled to get past four innings in either outing. However, a rebound should be coming with friendlier matchups on tap in Week 4. Just be mindful that Spencer Strider is expected back this week, which could push Holmes off the two-step schedule.
How Lucky Do You Feel About These Two-Start Pitchers?
This is the tier of tough decisions, with most of these 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.
Jeffrey Springs (SP — ATH)
First Start: @ CWS
Second Start: @ MIL
Jeffrey Springs has been underwhelming this season (4.20 ERA/1.47 WHIP across 15 IP). But he’s logged two quality starts, and faces a White Sox and Brewers team that has struggled against southpaws this season (.619 OPS and .625 OPS, respectively). The Athletics’ bats have been popping this season — and have been louder on the road. Springs should be able to pick up a win or two this week.
Jameson Taillon (SP — CHC)
First Start: @ SD
Second Start: vs. ARI
Jameson Taillon logged two quality starts in his last two outings with a 3.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 18.4% K-BB. His matchups this week aren’t the easiest, but Taillon has the league’s best offense behind his back and is a solid start in 15-teamers.
Yusei Kikuchi (SP — LAA)
First Start: @ TEX
Second Start: vs. SFG
Yusei Kikuchi’s breakout 2024 season hasn’t carried over to 2025. While he’s posted three quality starts in as many games, they’ve been mediocre outings at best (5.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 16:8 K:BB in 18 IP). The red-hot Angels may help power Kikuchi to a win, but he’s not the surest two-start option this week.
Clay Holmes (RP — NYM)
First Start: @ MIN
Second Start: vs. STL
Clay Holmes’ transition to the starting rotation has been a mixed bag, as he holds a 4.30 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 14.2 innings. His ERA estimators indicate he’s pitched better than that, but Holmes needs to reign in the free passes (13% BB). There’s win potential with the Twins and Cardinals on the docket this week, making Holmes a solid start in 15-teamers.
Justin Verlander (SP — SFG)
First Start: @ PHI
Second Start: @ LAA
Justin Verlander hasn’t found his rhythm yet and gets two tough starts against the stout Phillies and pesky Angels. The Giants are humming along, and Verlander has a track record steady enough that you should start him in 15-team leagues. But there’s ratio risk here.
Logan Allen (SP — CLE)
First Start: vs. @ BAL
Second Start: @ PIT
The Orioles and Pirates aren’t the stoutest offenses and have had trouble against southpaws this season. However, Logan Allen has a -4.4% K-BB across 10 innings this season. Proceed with caution.
Tanner Houck (SP — BOS)
First Start: @ TB
Second Start: vs. CWS
Tanner Houck is coming off his best start of the season against Toronto, logging one earned run, two walks and two strikeouts across 6.2 innings. However, Houck hasn’t looked great this year (4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 4.5% K-BB), and with little strikeout upside, there’s little to chase here.
Landen Roupp (SP — SFG)
First Start: @ PHI
Second Start: @ LAA
Landen Roupp is off to a solid start to the season (3.60 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 18.6% K-BB). But the Phillies are tough, and you shouldn’t sleep on the Angels. Roupp is a decent-to-shaky start in 15-teamers.
Taijuan Walker (SP — PHI)
First Start: vs. SFG
Second Start: vs. MIA
Taijuan Walker looks pretty good to start the season, spinning 10.2 innings of scoreless baseball. He also upped his velocity and has a 1.13 WHIP early on the year. While Walker’s starts came against the hapless Rockies and Braves, he’s still worth trotting out in 15-teamers. He could also prove useful in 12-team leagues this week.
Ryan Pepiot (SP — TBR)
First Start: vs. BOS
Second Start: vs. NYY
Ryan Pepiot is off to a decent start this year (3.38 ERA/1.50 WHIP) and has upped his groundball rate to 46.9% (career 35.2%). But I’m not sure that’s gonna cut it against the Red Sox and Yankees at Steinbrenner Field. He’s off the table in 12-teamers.
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!
Seth Lugo (SP — KCR)
First Start: @ NYY
Second Start: @ DET
Seth Lugo draws brutal matchups this week. There’s little to chase on the strikeout and win front, making Lugo best suited for benches. He’s maybe a start in 15-teamers, but there’s ratio risk.
Michael Wacha (SP — KCR)
First Start: @ NYY
Second Start: @ DET
What I said about Seth Lugo, but with a higher ratio risk.
Merrill Kelly (SP — ARI)
First Start: @ MIA
Second Start: @ CHC
Merrill Kelly has more walks than strikeouts this season (7/9 K/BB ratio) with a -2.9% K-BB rate across 15 frames. His start against Miami could be successful, but a matchup against the Cubs could get ugly fast.
Zack Littell (SP — TBR)
First Start: vs. BOS
Second Start: vs. NYY
Zack Littell coughed up a combined 12 earned runs, five home runs, and three walks in his last two starts against the Angels and Rangers. He’s an easy avoid in Week 4.
Charlie Morton (SP — BAL)
First Start: vs. CLE
Second Start: vs. CIN
The matchups aren’t the scariest, but I don’t have a whole lot of trust in Charlie Morton. He allowed at least four earned runs in all three starts while posting an 8.78 ERA (3.93 SIERA) and 1.88 WHIP across 13.1 frames. Morton is a desperation play at best.
Antonio Senzatela (SP — COL)
First Start: @ LAD
Second Start: vs. WAS
After a solid two starts, the Brewers roughed up Antonio Senzatela with eight earned runs across 4.1 innings. The Dodgers are up next, followed by the Nationals at Coors Field. Pass.
Sean Burke (SP — CWS)
First Start: vs. ATH
Second Start: @ BOS
The shine has worn off Sean Burke’s solid debut. He’s since coughed up nine earned runs, three home runs, and four walks in his last two starts. Not what you want when facing the Athletics or the Red Sox at Fenway.
Jake Irvin (SP — WAS)
First start: @ PIT
Second start: @ COL
Jake Irvin is a bench streamer with some appeal against the Pirates. But the start at Coors Field is meh.
Brad Lord (SP — WAS)
First start: @ PIT
Second start: @ COL
Brad Lord held his own in a three-inning spot start against the Dodgers last week (2H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K). But as a bullpen arm, the concern is Lord won’t pitch deep enough into games to earn a win. You’re better off looking elsewhere.
Tyler Alexander (SP — MIL)
First Start: vs. DET
Second Start: vs. ATH
The matchups aren’t great here. Plus, bullpen stopgaps like Tyler Anderson aren’t typically what you want when considering a two-start pitcher.
Clarke Schmidt (SP — NYY)
First Start: vs. KCR
Second Start: @ TBR
Despite friendly matchups, Clarke Schmidt will be fresh off a shoulder-related IL stint and likely limited. He’s not a trustworthy option this week.
