Two-Start Pitchers for Week 27 (Sept. 22 – 28)

You know the drill at this point. With one week remaining in the fantasy baseball season, it’s all about exploiting favorable matchups and maximizing categories. Utilizing two-start pitchers is one way to attack our categories as the season comes to an end. Two-steppers can come in handy by padding our strikeout and win columns — as long as we’re smart about it. But if we choose poorly, two-start pitchers can torpedo our ratios.

This weekly write-up helps determine the best two-start pitchers of the week. Some two-starters are no-brainers, while others require more deliberation. To help you decide, I rank the two-steppers into tiers, along with brief notes on each player.

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Keep in mind that most starting rotations aren’t finalized until late in the weekend. As this write-up gets submitted on Saturday, you’ll want to check the league’s latest schedule of probable pitchers to make sure you’re up to date with the correct starters. With that, let’s look at the two-start pitchers for Week 27.

Don’t Overthink These Two-Start Pitchers

These are your set-it-and-forget-it arms for the week. Most are elite starting pitchers with strong matchups.

Chris Sale (SP — ATL)

First Start: vs. WAS
Second Start: vs. PIT
Chris Sale has picked up where he left off before landing on the IL. Over his last four starts (25.2 IP), he’s flexing a 1.75 ERA and 0.74 WHIP with a ridiculous 37.9% strikeout rate. Sale gets the tastiest two-step of the week and should dominate in the final week of the season.

Freddy Peralta (SP — MIL)

First Start: @ SDP
Second Start: vs. CIN
Freddy Peralta brings the Ks, the Ws, and irons out our ratios. He’s a weekly set-it-and-forget-it stud.

Brady Singer (SP — CIN)

First Start: vs. PIT
Second Start: @ MIL
Brady Singer has been incredible over his last 10 starts. He’s limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in all but two of those outings while flexing a 2.15 ERA (3.53 SIERA) and 0.94 WHIP. Singer also mowed down batters at a healthy 26.8% clip in that stretch and picked up seven wins. Start Singer with confidence in 12-teamers this week.

Cade Horton (SP — CHC)

First Start: vs. NYM
Second Start: vs. STL
Cade Horton has been fantastic in the second half, flashing a sub-1.00 ERA and WHIP over this last 11 starts. He’s also picked up eight wins and 52 strikeouts over 58.1 innings. Luck has played a part, as Horton’s indicators sit just under the 4.00 ERA mark. However, that shouldn’t stop us from starting him this week. Horton offers both strikeout and win upside without messing up our ratios, which is all we ask for.

Nick Pivetta (SP — SDP)

First Start: vs. MIL
Second Start: vs. ARI
Nick Pivetta is coming off a down start against the Mets, but we’re not too worried. We can rely on Pivetta for a strikeout per inning, few free passes, and smooth ratios. His two-step isn’t the easiest, but still start Pivetta as usual.

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 27.

Gavin Williams (SP — CLE)

First Start: vs. DET
Second Start: vs. TEX
Gavin Williams has killed it in the second half. Across 11 games, he’s sporting a 2.10 ERA (3.87 SIERA) and 1.06 WHIP with 66 punchouts across 64.1 frames. Williams has also snagged four quality starts in as many games to go with three wins. His two-step is tougher than not, but the Guardians are on fire, and Williams has been rolling. He’s a go in Week 27.

Merrill Kelly (SP — TEX)

First Start: vs. MIN
Second Start: @ CLE
Merrill Kelly is coming off a down start where the Astros tagged him for six earned runs across three frames. However, I’m inclined to give him a pass. In Kelly’s previous eight starts with his new team, he sported a 3.19 ERA (4.03 SIERA) and 1.08 WHIP with 41 strikeouts across 48 innings. And with a somewhat favorable two-step on the docket, I’d roll out Kelly with confidence in 12-teamers this week.

MacKenzie Gore (SP — WAS)

First Start: @ ATL
Second Start: vs. CWS
MacKenzie Gore has been cruising over his last six starts. In that 31.2-inning stretch, he’s maintained a 2.84 ERA (4.08 SIERA) and 1.14 WHIP to go with 34 punchouts. He’s benefited from some luck, but the Braves and White Sox aren’t exactly the scariest opponents. Gore shouldn’t submarine the ratios and is a solid play if you’re chasing strikeouts. Who knows, he may even throw in a win or two.

Ian Seymour (SP — TBR)

First Start: @ BAL
Second Start: @ TOR
Ian Seymour has looked pretty, pretty good since transitioning to the rotation. In each of his last five appearances (four starts), he’s limited opponents to two earned runs or less and racked up 29 punchies across 26.1 frames. His estimators sit in the mid-3.00 ERA range, which pairs well with a 0.95 WHIP. While a matchup against Toronto isn’t ideal, Seymour just blanked the Blue Jays across seven innings and picked up a win in his last trip to the mound. There’s some ratio risk, but we should roll with Seymour in 12-teamers while he’s rolling.

Jack Flaherty (SP — DET)

First Start: @ CLE
Second Start: @ BOS
In his last six starts, Jack Flaherty holds a 3.94 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 29:10 K:BB across 32 frames — and that includes an ugly 8-earned run outing. His two-step isn’t a cakewalk, but if you’re hunting Ks and Ws, Flaherty is a nice option.

Cole Ragans (SP — KCR)

First Start: @ LAA
Second Start: @ ATH
Cole Ragans is a high-risk, high-reward option this week. We all know the upside Ragans provides, especially in the strikeout department. But he’s fresh off an IL stint for a strained rotator cuff and lasted just 3.2 innings in his first start off the shelf — and delivered mixed results (3.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 4 K). Ragans has two exploitable matchups this week. Still, it’s not clear if he’ll have a tight leash innings-wise, and there’s always the chance his injury flares up. If you need the Ks don’t need to protect your ratios, Ragans is a fine start; just be mindful of the risks.

Brandon Woodruff (SP — MIL)

First Start: @ SDP
Second Start: vs. CIN
Brandon Woodruff deals the Ks and offers increased win opportunity, but he can also blow up your ratios if he gets pulled early. Starting Woodruff will boil down to risk tolerance. If you need strikeouts and have wiggle room in ERA and WHIP, don’t think twice about rolling with Woodruff. But if you need to protect your ratios, you may want to be more conservative. Plus, it’s possible he doesn’t make his final start.

Justin Verlander (SP — SFG)

First Start: vs. STL
Second Start: vs. COL
It’s been smooth sailing for Justin Verlander. Over his last five starts, he’s rocking a minuscule 0.87 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 31 innings with a 28:12 K:BB. A 95% strand rate has undoubtedly helped the cause, and a 4.73 xFIP and 4.62 SIERA suggest we should pump the brakes. But I wouldn’t pump too much, as this is a good week to take a shot on Verlander. Both opposing teams are beatable and bottom-five in OPS against righties over the last 30 days. There’s some ratio risk, but we should trust in Verlander in Week 27.

Cristian Javier (SP — HOU)

First Start: @ ATH
Second Start: @ LAA
In seven starts since his IL stint, Crisian Javier holds a 4.45 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with an 8.35 K/9 across 32.1 innings. Not amazing, but also not terrible. Up next, Javier faces two beatable opponents. I’m not wild that his start against the Athletics is on the road, given his near 51% fly ball rate. But Javier is still a solid option if you’re trailing in strikeouts and wins.

Shane Smith (SP — CWS)

First Start: @ NYY
Second Start: @ WAS
Shane Smith hasn’t been the steadiest starter, but he’s definitely been useful. In his last six starts, he holds a 4.19 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 31 strikeouts across 34.1 innings. He’s also picked up wins in half of those outings. His start against the Yankees isn’t ideal, but Smith is a solid strikeout play and shouldn’t rock the ratios too much. He’s a better fit in 15-teamers, but isn’t a bad option in 12-team leagues, either.

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.

Michael McGreevy (SP — STL)

First Start: @ SFG
Second Start: @ CHC
Michael McGreevy doesn’t bring the Ks. But he chews through innings and is a solid bet for snagging a quality start or win without killing the ratios. Since August, he’s maintained a 3.57 ERA (4.26 SIERA) and 1.19 WHIP over his last nine starts (53 IP). He also hit the sixth-inning mark in all but one of those appearances while picking up five wins. McGreevy’s two-step isn’t the friendliest, and the Giants tagged him for six earned runs a couple of weeks ago. But he’s a solid option in 15-teamers and points leagues this week.

Luis Gil (SP — NYY)

First Start: vs. CWS
Second Start: vs. BAL
Luis Gil had a dud start against the Twins in his last trip to the mound, but has otherwise looked good. He’s limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in seven of his previous eight starts, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. There’s risk looming (5.58 xFIP and 5.73 SIERA), and Gil brings just an okay-ish amount of strikes to the table (7.40 K/9). But a date against the White Sox and Orioles could be worth rolling the dice on, especially if you need the Ws. Just understand that the ratios could go sideways.

Bryce Miller (SP — SEA)

First Start: vs. COL
Second Start: vs. LAD
Bryce Miller hasn’t looked great all season and has struggled with the long ball since his return from the IL. He’s allowed 10 of his 15 home runs over those six starts, posting an ugly 2.81 HR/9. He’s also maintained an elevated 5.34 ERA (4.06 SIERA) and 1.22 WHIP with 29 strikeouts across that 32-inning span. The Mariners have been on fire, and Miller should be able to pick up a win against the Rockies this week. But if you’re watching your ratios, I’d look for other options, especially with the Dodgers also on the docket.

Lucas Giolito (SP — BOS)

First Start: @ TOR
Second Start: vs. DET
Lucas Giolito’s 2.91 ERA and 1.33 WHIP since the start of August are nothing to sneeze at. However, a 4.96 xFIP and 5.12 SIERA lurk below the surface. Plus, Giolito has had shaky control recently, racking up 14 free passes over his last four starts (21 IP). If Giolito had an easier two-step, I’d be more inclined to roll him out. But a date with the Blue Jays and Tigers gives me pause. There are some strikeouts to chase with Giolito, but the walks are troubling, and the risk likely outweighs the reward this week. Be careful.

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!

David Peterson (SP — NYM)

First Start: @ CHC
Second Start: @ MIA
David Peterson has crumbled in the second half and has looked especially bad over his last four starts (17.1 IP). He’s allowed 4+ earned runs in three of those starts, with a ballooned 10.90 ERA (4.73 SIERA) and 2.08 WHIP. Peterson also holds an underwhelming 16.1% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate in that stretch. There’s a ton of risk on the ratio front, and with few strikeouts, Peterson should close out the season as a benchwarmer.

Ryan Weathers (SP — MIA)

First Start: @ PHI
Second Start: vs. NYM
Ryan Weathers has had one great start and one not-so-great start since his return from the IL. But do we really want to rely on him in the final week of the season against the Phillies and Mets? I don’t.

Caden Dana (SP — LAA)

First Start: vs. KCR
Second Start: vs. HOU
Caden Dana is coming off two consecutive five-run outings. With only three big-league starts under his belt, it’s best to leave Caden Dana on the bench.

Mason Barnett (SP — ATH)

First Start: vs. HOU
Second Start: vs. KCR
Mason Barnett brings ballooned ratios and a 7.3% K-BB rate to the table after four major league starts. Combine that with two home starts against tough opponents, and we’re looking at an arm to avoid this week.

McCade Brown (SP — COL)

First Start: @ SEA
Second Start: @ SFG
Don’t even think about starting McCade Brown.