Welcome to the Week 10 edition of two-start pitchers. Tracking the week’s two-steppers is a strategy fantasy managers should embrace throughout the season. Two-start pitchers can boost your categories, especially in the strikeout and win departments. However, you must also be careful about the two-steppers you roll with, as they can blow up your ratios if you choose poorly.
This weekly write-up helps you choose the best two-start pitchers of the week. Some two-step options are no-brainers, while others require more thought. To help you decide, the two-start pitchers are ranked into tiers with brief notes on each option.
Keep in mind that teams often shift their starting rotations. As this write-up is submitted on Saturday, you’ll need to check out the league’s latest schedule of probable pitchers to ensure you have the latest information. Now, let’s look at the two-start pitchers for Week 10.
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.
Jacob deGrom (SP — TEX)
First Start: vs. TOR
Second Start: vs. STL
Jacob deGrom is rounding into form. Over his last three starts, he’s sporting a 34.7% strikeout rate and 4% walk rate to go with a 1.80 ERA (2.16 xFIP) and 0.80 WHIP. Keep rolling deGrom out there while he’s healthy.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (SP — LAD)
First Start: @ CLE
Second Start: vs. NYY
Yoshinobu Yamamoto got back on track last week after a couple of down starts. He tossed seven scoreless frames against the Diamondbacks with nine punchouts and a couple of walks. Yamamoto’s 30.5% strikeout rate, combined with an improved ground ball rate this year (60.3%), has stymied offenses this season. There’s no reason to think that won’t continue, even against a powerful Yankee lineup.
Hunter Brown (SP — HOU)
First Start: vs. ATH
Second Start: vs. TBR
Even aces have down starts, and Hunter Brown’s latest against the Rays (5 IP, 5 ER, 3 HR, 2 BB, 4 K) shouldn’t raise any concern. Brown has been a beast this year. Prior to his last outing, he logged nine punchouts in five consecutive starts and holds a stellar 2.04 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 23.7% K-BB rate across 61.2 frames this season. Expect more of the same in Week 10.
Joe Ryan (SP — MIN)
First Start: @ TBR
Second Start: @ SEA
Joe Ryan has been fantastic and is a must-start every week. However, I don’t love the combo of Ryan’s 14.5% barrel rate and 57.7% fly ball rate. Hopefully, that doesn’t bite him at Steinbrenner Field this week.
Clay Holmes (SP — NYM)
First Start: vs. CWS
Second Start: vs. COL
A two-stepper against the White Sox and Rockies is pure fantasy gold. I don’t care that Clay Holmes has surrendered five dingers in his last three starts. Start Holmes in all league sizes this week. I command you!
Kevin Gausman (SP — TOR)
First Start: @ TEX
Second Start: vs. ATH
Despite a down performance against the Rays a couple of weeks ago, Kevin Gausman has still looked sharp overall in his last four starts. Gausman’s control in that stretch is most impressive, as he issued only one walk across 24 frames to go with 27 punchouts. He also registered a tidy 3.38 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in that stretch, with estimators indicating Gausman underperformed his surface stats. Gausman should deliver double-digit Ks and maybe a win or two, making him a nice two-start option in 12+ teams.
Roll With These Two-Start Pitchers
These are solid two-starters for the week. While they come with more risk than the arms above, you’re likely rolling with these two-steppers in Week 10.
Spencer Strider (SP — ATL)
First Start: @ PHI
Second Start: vs. BOS
Spencer Strider didn’t look sharp in his return against the Nationals last week. He allowed four earned runs across 4.1 innings with a paltry three strikeouts. It’s possible that Strider was still shaking off the injury rust. Plus, it was only his second start of the year, and it’s fair to say that Strider hasn’t found his rhythm yet. While a start against the Phillies could prove challenging, we shouldn’t overthink this. Put Strider in your lineups this week.
Ryan Weathers (SP — MIA)
First Start: @ SDP
Second Start: vs. SFG
Ryan Weathers has been fantastic in his two starts since returning from the IL. He had the tall task of facing the Cubs in both outings and more than held his own. Weathers combined for two earned runs with nine punchouts and one walk across 10 innings. He also picked up a win and sits with a 1.80 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. The sample size is small, but Weathers’ fastball has been more effective and comes in hot at 97.2 mph — two ticks higher than last season. Weathers’ ERA should regress some, and there isn’t a ton of win opportunity, but double-digit strikeouts and solid ratios are in the cards this week. Fire up Weathers in 12+ team leagues.
Jameson Taillon (SP — CHC)
First Start: vs. COL
Second Start: vs. CIN
Jameson Taillon has been a more than serviceable arm this season with a 4.13 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 10 starts. Additionally, his 71.7% first-pitch strike percentage is third-best in the league. While he’s struggled with the long ball (2.2 HR/9), that shouldn’t be too much of a problem this week, especially with the Rockies on tap. Taillon holds a 6.99 K/9 across 56.2 innings this year, but he could flirt with double-digit strikeouts this week as the Rockies and Reds are bottom-five in strikeout rate. Combine that with some win upside, and Taillon is a strong two-starter this week.
Hayden Birdsong (SP — SFG)
First Start: @ DET
Second Start: @ MIA
Hayden Birdsong looked good in his first start in the rotation, tossing five scoreless frames with no walks and four strikeouts. Sure, the start was against the woeful Royals. But Birdsong should be good for a strikeout per inning moving forward, and we shouldn’t be too scared of his matchups this week. The Tigers could prove pesky, but Birdsong should benefit from their pitchers’ park. Birdsong brings strikeout upside and win opportunity in Week 10, making him a solid two-start pitcher in 12+ team leagues.
Tomoyuki Sugano (SP — BAL)
First Start: vs. STL
Second Start: vs. CWS
Tomoyuki Sugano eats up innings and is a nice WHIP stabilizer. While his strikeouts have increased from the start of the season, they’re unreliable from week to week. Up next is a friendly two-step for Sugano. The Cardinals are a little pesky, but Sugano should be good for some quality starts and a win without harming your ratios. He’s a solid play in 15-teamers.
Gavin Williams (SP — CLE)
First Start: vs. LAD
Second Start: vs. LAA
Gavin Williams has looked sharp over his last three outings. He has a combined three earned runs across 16 frames with a 20:7 K:BB. He also picked up two wins and carried a 1.69 ERA and 1.06. WHIP in that span. Strikeouts have been there all season for Williams (10.69 K/9), with walks being a bugaboo (4.88 BB/9). However, he’s recently limited the free passes and upped his cutter usage, which has unlocked another level for Williams. His new offering will be tested against the Dodgers. But if Williams can maintain some of his recent gains, he brings enough strikeout upside — and possibly a win — to make him worth starting in 15-teamers this week.
Nick Martinez (SP — CIN)
First Start: @ KCR
Second Start: @ CHC
Nick Martinez has turned a corner in his last five starts. He allowed more than one earned run only once in that span, with a 20:4 K:BB across 31 frames. The strikeouts aren’t there, but Martinez’s four walks in that span are a drastic improvement from the nine he issued across his first five starts. Similarly, his 2.28 FIP is down from 4.33 in his first five games. Martinez should be able to pick up his sixth consecutive quality start against the Royals this week. The Cubs are a tougher matchup, but at least Martinez gets to face them on the road. He’s a solid two-start pitcher in Week 10.
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 starters who could bloat your ratios if things go south. Tread carefully.
Randy Vasquez (SP — SDP)
First Start: vs. MIA
Second Start: vs. PIT
The regression monster is coming for Randy Vasquez, but I’m not sure we’ll see it against the soft offenses of the Marlins and Pirates. Yes, Vasquez’s 0.5% K-BB on the year is gross, but he’s fared well in his last three starts — all against friendly offenses. Vasquez curbed the walks and posted a 14:2 K:BB across those 16.2 innings with a 2.70 ERA (3.68 SIERA) and 0.96 WHIP. There’s ratio risk and few punchouts to chase with Vasquez. But if you’re chasing wins, this is the week you want to gamble on him.
Taj Bradley (SP — TBR)
First Start: vs. MIN
Second Start: @ HOU
Outside of a hiccup start against the Marlins a few weeks ago, Taj Bradley hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in four of his last five starts. He’s also picked up the strikeouts of late, collecting 18 in his last three starts (16 innings). Bradley offers some strikeout and win potential in Week 10 and shouldn’t blow up your ratios. He’s a decent start in 15-teamers this week.
Ryan Yarbrough (SP — NYY)
First Start: @ LAA
Second Start: @ LAD
Ryan Yarbrough has held his own since moving to the rotation with a 2.57 ERA (3.97 SIERA) and 1.00 WHIP across three starts. His latest outing was his best, as he tossed an eight-punchout game with one earned run and zero walks against the Rangers. While we shouldn’t expect dominant performances like that on the regular, Yarbrough has been great at limiting hard contact with a 5.1% barrel and 20.5% hard-hit rate as a starter. Yarbrough should fare well against the Angels this week. It’s the Dodgers that will be trickier. However, Yarbrough isn’t the worst two-start option in deeper leagues, especially as the Yankees can help him snag a win. But starting Yarbrough comes down to your level of risk tolerance.
Zack Littell (SP — TBR)
First Start: vs. MIN
Second Start: @ HOU
Zack Littell doesn’t issue free passes (1.52 BB/9). But he also doesn’t strike out batters at a high rate (5.76 K/9) and is prone to giving up the long ball (2.12 HR/9). That typically doesn’t pan out well for fantasy squads. The Twins have been on a tear, and Littell is fresh off an okay-ish start against the Astros (5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 6 K). The risk may outweigh the reward unless you’re desperate for a win in deeper leagues.
JP Sears (SP — ATH)
First Start: @ HOU
Second Start: @ TOR
JP Sears is a tough call this week. While he’s been solid this season, he’s coming off two of his worst outings of the year. He coughed up four homers and six earned runs against the Angels and surrendered four earned runs to the Giants. The poor starts were surprising, as Sears hadn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his previous five starts. He also only gave up a total of two home runs and four walks in that 28-frame stretch. The Astros and Blue Jays are 11th and 10th, respectively, in wRC+ against lefties. Sears could be fine this week. Or he could blow up your ratios. Your confidence in him should determine whether Sears warrants a lineup spot this week. Good luck!
Michael Lorenzen (SP — KCR)
First Start: vs. CIN
Second Start: vs. DET
Outside of a four-homer game against Baltimore, Michael Lorenzen has been fairly solid over his last four starts. He’s cut down his walks and logged at least five Ks per game in that 23.3-frame span with a 4.18 ERA (3.53 SIERA) and 1.14 WHIP. The matchups aren’t great this week, but Lorenzen offers some strikeout upside, and he shouldn’t ding your ratios too much. He’s worth considering in 15-team leagues, but I wouldn’t target him.
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!
Erick Fedde (SP — STL)
First Start: @ BAL
Second Start: @ TEX
After back-to-back shutout starts, Erick Fedde turned back into a pumpkin last week. He coughed up four earned runs across five innings with two strikeouts against the Tigers. With a 14.4% strikeout rate and 10.6% walk rate this season, expect more of the same. Fedde is a benchwarmer.
Jack Kochanowicz (SP — LAA)
First Start: vs. NYY
Second Start: @ CLE
Jack Kochanowicz has given up at least four walks in each of his last three starts. Blegh. Overall, he brings too few strikeouts (5.87 K/9) and too many walks (4.53 BB/9) to the fantasy table. That’s not gonna fly, especially against the Yankees this week.
Andrew Heaney (SP — PIT)
First Start: @ ARI
Second Start: @ SDP
Andrew Heaney started the season strong, but his last five starts have been another story. He’s issued more walks than strikeouts in that 24.1-inning stretch with a 4.44 ERA (6.17 SIERA) and a 1.60 WHIP. Not numbers you want to take into battle against the Diamondbacks and Padres. Heaney is a ratio risk with little win opportunity in Week 10.
Mitchell Parker (SP — WAS)
First Start: @ SEA
Second Start: @ ARI
Mitchell Parker’s strong season has taken a turn for the worse. He’s allowed at least four earned runs in four of his last five starts, with a 14.5% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate in that span. He’s not start-worthy right now.
Bowden Francis (SP — TOR)
First Start: @ TEX
Second Start: vs. ATH
Bowden Francis’ strong 2024 hasn’t carried over to 2025. He’s striking out fewer batters and issuing more free passes. Additionally, Francis is giving up a bunch of loud contact with an 11.9% barrel and 49.1% hard-hit rate. The result has been bloated ratios (5.54 ERA and 1.41 WHIP) and a league-worst 15 home runs. Steer clear.
Adrian Houser (SP — CWS)
First Start: @ NYM
Second Start: @ BAL
Fresh off a one-year deal with the White Sox, Adrian Houser blanked the Mariners across six innings with a 2:3 K:BB. And while his 0.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP shine on the surface, we’re not buying it (6.24 SIERA). Plus, we last saw Houser in 2024 as a reliever for the Mets, where he finished the year with a 5.84 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 4.2% K-BB across 69.1 innings. Don’t roll out Houser this week, folks.
Carson Palmquist (SP — COL)
First Start: @ CHC
Second Start: @ NYM
Carson Palmquist’s time in the big leagues hasn’t gone smoothly. He coughed up at least five earned runs in both his starts and sits with a -6.7% K-BB across 8.1 innings. You’re not starting him against the Cubs and Mets.
