Who are the top two-start pitchers for the next week of fantasy baseball? It’s a week where we see more streamers and avoid options than actual must-start and next-in-line pitchers. That means I’m not seeing many pitchers with two ideal matchups, or the player isn’t performing at the level of a no-brainer or next-in-line starter.
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In my two-start pitchers series, I break them down into four tiers. The first tier is the “No-Brainers,” with ideal pitchers and matchups that require no thought to start. Then the “Next In Line” tier, which will include other optimal matchups but carries a sense of risk.
The third tier is the “Streamer” tier, which is what the name suggests: pitchers who can produce decent stats, but the matchups aren’t ideal, so start at your own risk. The last tier is the “Avoid” tier, which includes pitchers with terrible matchups or who have been pitching badly and can be left on the bench or on the waiver wire. I also share my insights into my favorite two-start pitchers for the upcoming week.
*Since writing this article, the Blue Jays have activated Trey Yesavage and flipped Patrick Corbin and Dylan Cease’s rotation spots. So Cease and Yesavage will both pitch twice, facing the Red Sox at home and the Twins in Minnesota. Both are ideal matchups, though Yesavage will likely be eased back in.
Two-Start Pitchers April 27-May 3
My Favorite Two-Start Pitchers of the Week
Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds (vs Rockies, @ Pirates)
Chase Burns has been a strikeout machine from his years at the University of Tennessee (2022-2023) and Wake Forest (2024) through now. Including last season in the minors and his MLB debut, he never finished a season with fewer than 11 strikeouts per nine innings. This season, the righty has gotten off to a slow start by those standards, but his 9.64 strikeouts per nine innings is a solid number.
He’s had seven or more strikeouts in three of his five outings and gets two teams next week that are in the top 10 in strikeouts. Burns has already faced the Pirates once this season, where he struck out seven over five innings. He threw only 78 pitches in the game because it was his first start of the season.
Burns has since gone six innings or thrown over 90 pitches. He has given up eight runs in his five starts, but five of those runs came against the Angels on April 10. I normally don’t like pitchers facing a team again in a short span, but though the Pirates are off to a good start, I’m not worried about Burns. He should continue to rack up strikeouts in both outings.
Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers (@ Braves, vs Rangers)
Casey Mize has been off to a fast start this season. He has 10.05 strikeouts per nine innings, which is the first time in his six MLB seasons that he has exceeded 10. His current 2.51 ERA is also a career best. Mize has allowed eight runs over his five starts, but five of those runs came in his April 6 game against the Twins.
The Braves aren’t the best matchup, as they rank 26th in strikeouts, second in OPS against right-handed pitchers, and first in OPS at home. However, Mize has performed well against teams that rank in the bottom third in strikeouts. I’m going to ride Mize’s hot start next week, since the Rangers are a better matchup for the Tigers’ pitcher, ranking 4th in strikeouts.
Braxton Ashcraft, Pittsburgh Pirates (vs Cardinals, vs Reds)
Braxton Ashcraft has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his five starts this season and has 9.71 strikeouts per nine innings. In his first outing, he faced the Reds, allowing two runs and four walks over six innings while striking out three. That was the lowest strikeout total over his five starts.
Ashcraft also falls under my dislike of pitchers replaying a team in a short span, but the Reds’ offense is struggling despite being at the top of a competitive NL Central. Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart are the only starters with a wRC+ above 100 and above a .750 OPS. They’re carrying the offense, so Ashcraft should continue his hot start.
The Cardinals are a little more formidable opponents, ranking 17th in strikeouts but 20th in OPS, with Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker as the only starters with an OPS above .800. Only five of the current Cardinals’ starters have faced Ashcraft, going 1-for-11 with four strikeouts. So I like this matchup for the Pirates pitcher.
No-Brainer Two-Start Pitchers
Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins (vs Mariners, vs Blue Jays)
Max Fried, New York Yankees (@ Rangers, vs Orioles)
Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies (@ Blue Jays, vs Astros)
Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners (@ Twins, vs Royals)
Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals (@ Athletics, @ Mariners)
Reynaldo Lopez, Atlanta Braves (vs Tigers, @ Rockies)
Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians (vs Rays, @ Athletics)
Next In Line Pitchers
Jesus Luzardo, Philadelphia Phillies (vs Giants, @ Marlins)
Matthew Boyd, Chicago Cubs (@ Padres, vs Diamondbacks)
Clay Holmes, New York Mets (vs Nationals, @ Angels)
Randy Vasquez, San Diego Padres (vs Cubs, vs White Sox)
Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates (vs Cardinals, vs Reds)
Chad Patrick, Milwaukee Brewers (vs Diamondbacks, vs Reds)
Streamer Pitchers
Shane Baz, Baltimore Orioles (vs Astros, @ Yankees)
Dustin May, St. Louis Cardinals (@ Pirates, vs Dodgers)
Tyle Mahle, San Francisco Giants (@ Phillies, @ Rays)
Jacob Lopez, Athletics (vs Royals, vs Guardians)
Connor Prielipp, Minnesota Twins (vs Mariners, vs Blue Jays)
Anthony Kay, Chicago White Sox (vs Angels, @ Padres)
Jack Kochanowicz, Los Angeles Angels (@ White Sox, vs Mets)
Tomoyuki Sugano, Colorado Rockies (@ Reds, vs Braves)
Steven Matz, Tampa Bay Rays (@ Guardians, vs Giants)
Avoid Pitchers
Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks (@ Brewers, @ Cubs)
Zack Littrell, Washington Nationals (@ Mets, vs Brewers)
Chris Paddack, Milwaukee Brewers (@ Dodgers, vs. the Phillies)
Jack Leiter, Texas Rangers (vs Yankees, @ Tigers)
Kyle Leahy, St. Louis Cardinals (@ Pirates, vs Dodgers)
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