Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers: AL Cy Young Award Battle

Next week, we don’t get very many two-start pitchers, and I have the fewest “No-Brainers” listed in my report that I’ve posted all season. Starters who would normally be in that category face tough matchups in both games. Two of my favorite pitchers next week are battling for the AL Cy Young Award. So, I’m expecting continued success for them, even if the matchups aren’t completely ideal.

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In my fantasy baseball two-start pitcher report, I break eligible pitchers into four categories. The first tier is the “No-Brainers,” with ideal pitchers and matchups that require no thought. Next is the “Next In Line” tier, which includes other optimal matchups but carries some risk.

The third tier is the “Streamer” tier, as 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 highlight my favorite matchups for the week.

MLB Two-Start Pitchers for September 7-13

My Favorite Two-Start Pitchers of the Week

Cam Schlitter, New York Yankees (vs Rockies, vs Mets)

Schlitter is leading the AL Cy Young Award race over Dylan Cease. It’s a close race so that both pitchers will be at the top of their game. Schlitter has gone five straight games allowing one or fewer earned runs and has struck out seven batters in four of those games. Four of those games came against quality opponents trying to improve postseason seed or gain a Wild Card spot: Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays (twice), and Boston Red Sox. So Schlitter hasn’t had a walk in the park, though; ironically, walks have been an issue, with three or more free passes in four of his last six games.

The Yankees’ pitcher gets two teams focusing on next season, but they aren’t ideal matchups for a right-handed pitcher. Since the trade deadline, both teams rank in the middle of the pack in strikeout percentage. They also rank in the top five in OPS and have batting averages on balls in play over .300. However, Schlitter has held three of his last five opponents under a .190 average. So, which side succeeds? I’m putting my money on the leading Cy Young candidate. Plus, the Yankees are trying to catch the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East title and number one seed.

Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays (@ Athletics, vs Orioles)

Cease has been a grand slam signing for the Blue Jays this season. He leads the AL in strikeouts and trails only Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski for the MLB lead. Cease has allowed one or fewer runs in eight of his last 11 games. He’s also struck out seven or more batters in nine of those games. He’s been supported by a surging Blue Jays offense.

Pitching in Sutter Heath Park isn’t ideal, as it’s extremely hitter-friendly, and the Athletics rank 11th in OPS (.727), but 20th in strikeout rate (20.6%) against righties since the trade deadline. The Orioles will also be a test, however, only in the sense that they’re fighting for the last Wild Card spot as well. Offensively, they rank 21st in OPS and ninth in strikeout rate (23.6%).

This matchup, being the third game of the series, could be a key matchup. It’s also important because the Blue Jays need to win three of the six games remaining against the Orioles to avoid a tiebreaker.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (vs Reds, @ Marlins)

Yamamoto has allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last eight games, while striking out seven or more hitters in six games, as well. The Dodgers are desperate for wins as they chase the Brewers for the No. 1 seed and are tied with the Braves for the No. 2 seed. It’d be a shame to spend that much money on a team if they can’t clinch a bye. Yamamoto will be going full force against teams that will be competitive opponents.

Both the Reds and Marlins rank in the middle of OPS against righties since the trade deadline. The Reds are an ideal target for strikeouts, ranking third (25.9%) in strikeout rate, but the Marlins are a little tougher, ranking 13th (22.5%). Yamamoto has an advantage against both teams, with only facing them in one or two games.

The Reds average a .154 batting average, while the Marlins have only had Jakob Marsee, Agustin Ramirez, and Otto Lopez get a hit. Trust Yamamoto in these matchups, as the Dodgers’ main concern will be scoring runs. They’ve lost six of their last nine games, and two of those wins only saw the Dodgers scoring three runs or fewer.

Two-Start Pitcher No-Brainers

Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks (@ Royals, vs Rangers)

Troy Melton, Detroit Tigers (vs Twins, vs Rockies)

Tarik Skubal, Los Angeles Dodgers (vs Reds, @ Marlins)

Next In Line Two-Start Pitchers

Jesus Luzardo, Philadelphia Phillies (vs Braves, @ Braves)

Eury Perez, Miami Marlins (vs Mets, vs Dodgers)

Patrick Sandoval, Boston Red Sox (vs Angels, vs Royals)

Joey Cantillo, Cleveland Guardians (@ Orioles, @ Twins)

Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals (vs Diamondbacks, @ Red Sox)

Randy Vasquez, San Diego Padres (vs Nationals, @ Giants)

Landen Roupp, San Francisco Giants (vs Cardinals, vs Padres)

Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds (@ Dodgers, @ Brewers)

Brandon Young, Baltimore Orioles (vs Guardians, @ Blue Jays)

Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies (vs Astros, @ Braves)

Davis Martin, Chicago White Sox (vs Pirates, @ Cardinals)

Corey Bradford, Texas Rangers (@ Mariners, @ Diamondbacks)

Bryce Miller, Seattle Mariners (vs Rangers, @ Athletics)

Two-Start Pitcher Streamers

Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves (@ Phillies, vs Phillies)

Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles (vs Guardians, @ Blue Jays)

David Peterson, Chicago Cubs (@ Brewers, vs Pirates)

Hayden Wesneski, Houston Astros (@ Phillies, @ Rays)

Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates (@ White Sox, @ Cubs)

Avoid These Two-Start Pitchers

Robert Stock, New York Mets (@ Marlins, @ Yankees)

Grayson Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels (@ Red Sox, @ Tigers)

Will Dion, Washington Nationals (@ Padres, vs Angels)

Jacob Lopez, Athletics (vs Blue Jays, vs Mariners)

Gabriel Hughes, Colorado Rockies (@ Yankees, @ Tigers)