What an eventful week it was for fantasy baseball. Weather, injuries, and brawls all played a role in many of the games. All of those occurrences will effect this week’s starting pitchers, as make-up games, rotation shakeups, and suspensions are on the horizon if not already in motion. That being said, there are still plenty of solid two-start options out there. Keep the usual factors in mind when planning your week in fantasy.

*As always, keep in mind that these are the probable two-start pitchers as of Friday, April 13 and are subject to change. 

No-Brainers

It’s simple. These are the two-start guys that you should slot into your roster and not worry about them. These are the guys that have a pair of favorable matchups, are hot of late, or are just plain studs.

Dallas Keuchel – 4/16 @ SEA, 4/21 @ CWS

Jacob deGrom – 4/16 vs. WSH, 4/21 @ ATL

Aaron Nola – 4/16 @ ATL, 4/21 vs. PIT

Patrick Corbin – 4/17 vs. SF, 4/22 vs. SD

James Paxton – 4/16 vs. HOU, 4/21 @ TEX

Per usual, these are the guys that you can throw into the active roster at the beginning of the week and leave them be. All are proven studs and, despite the way they’ve started the season, deserve the two-start nod with no questions asked.

Rick Porcello – 4/17 @ LAA, 4/22 @ OAK

Porcello has looked like his 2016 Cy Young-winning self in the early going. His masterful performance against the Yankees on Thursday cemented him as a must-start two-start pitcher this week. While the Angels are leading the league in hitting, Porcello has excelled at keeping the ball in the park. If he can continue to do that against the powerful Angels lineup, expect huge returns in his two starts.

Masahiro Tanaka – 4/16 vs. MIA, 4/22 vs. TOR

It’s been a typical start for Tanaka. He’s looked really good until he starts leaving the ball up and giving up the long ball. Fortunately, he’s facing one of the worst home-run-hitting teams in the Marlins. He’s also facing Toronto, who he held to just one run on three hits in his first start of the season.

Proceed With Caution

I wouldn’t be so quick about running these guys out there for two starts in the week. That’s not to say I wouldn’t give them a look, though. If you’re a risk-taker or are in a position where you need all the help you can get, give these guys a look.

Lance McCullers – 4/17 @ SEA, 4/22 @ CWS

I don’t blame you if you’re nervous running McCullers out there. He allowed a career-high eight runs on seven hits and issued six walks in just 3.2 innings of work in his last outing. Fortunately, he’ll have a chance to bounce back against two teams in the lower half of the league in scoring. It helps to have an offense like Houston’s to back you up as well.

Danny Duffy – 4/16 @ TOR, 4/21 @ DET

Ian Kennedy – 4/17 @ TOR, 4/22 @ DET

It’s a tale of two games for both Duffy and Kennedy. On one hand, they’re facing the homer-happy Blue Jays (19 homers in 13 games) at Rogers Centre. Both have always had problems with the long ball, with Kennedy and Duffy owning a 1.24 HR/9 and 1.00 HR/9, respectively. However, if they can get through Toronto, they’ll get to feast on the Tigers who have been among the worst in the league on offense.

Kevin Gausman – 4/17 @ DET, 4/22 vs. CLE

Gausman has been improving each start so far in the young season. He’s coming off of a six-inning quality start against Toronto his last time out. He’s scheduled to face two below-average offensive teams in Detroit and Cleveland. Obviously, the Indians are far from below-average, so it’s only a matter of time before they breakout on offense.

David Price – 4/16 vs. BAL, 4/21 @ OAK

Price left his last start early after he lost feeling in his left hand on a cold night in Boston. Hopefully, the cold is the only thing to blame for Price’s ailment. Monitor his status over the next few days and plan accordingly.

Aaron Sanchez – 4/16 vs. KC, 4/21 @ NYY

Sanchez is coming off two quality starts, including an eight-inning, one-run gem against Baltimore. He’s looking a lot like pre-blister Sanchez and should have an opportunity to keep it going against a Royals team that ranks dead last in most offensive categories.

Junior Guerra – 4/17 vs. CIN, 4/22 vs. MIA

Suter has given his team five innings in each of his three starts this season. While it’s nothing to awe at, he’s been solid in his starts. He has the good fortune of facing two below-average offensive teams in Cincinnati and Miami.

Brent Suter – 4/16 vs. CIN, 4/21 vs. MIA

Mike Foltynewicz  – 4/16 vs. PHI, 4/21 vs. NYM

Marco Estrada – 4/17 vs. KC, 4/22 @ NYY

Hyun-Jin Ryu – 4/16 @ SD, 4/22 vs. WAS

German Marquez – 4/16 @ PIT, 4/22 vs. CHC

Michael Fulmer – 4/18 vs. BAL, 4/22 vs. KC

Nick Pivetta – 4/17 @ ATL, 4/22 vs. PIT

Chris Stratton – 4/17 @ ARI, 4/22 @ LAA

Adam Wainwright – 4/16 @ CHC, 4/22 vs. CIN

Nothing To See Here

Stay away from these guys. I know the thought of two starts in a week is tempting, but it’s more likely these guys put you in the negative than help you.

Jon Lester – 4/16 vs. STL, 4/22 @ COL

Lester has not exactly had the start to 2018 he was hoping for. He did throw a quality six innings of shut-out ball against the Brewers but left a lot to be desired in his other two starts. He’s given up seven earned runs in 8.1 innings of work in his other two starts and has walked six. On top of that, he’s not striking many hitters out, either, posting just a 1.57 K/BB in his three starts. He isn’t going to get any help against the Cardinals and the Rockies at Coors Field.

Tyler Skaggs – 4/17 vs. BOS, 4/22 vs. SF

I’ve liked what Skaggs has brought to the table this year. He’s averaging just over a strikeout an inning and has given up just three runs in 16 innings. That being said, I don’t envy anyone that has to go up against Boston’s lineup right now.

Martin Perez – 4/16 @ TB, 4/22 vs. SEA

Jordan Zimmerman – 4/17 vs. BAL, 4/21 vs. KC

Luis Perdomo 4/17 vs. LAD, 4/22 @ ARI

James Shields – 4/16 @ OAK, 4/22 vs. HOU

Brandon McCarthy – 4/17 vs. PHI, 4/22 vs. NYM

Steven Brault – 4/16 vs. COL, 4/21 @ PHI

Kyle Gibson – 4/17 vs. CLE,  4/22 @ TB

Yonny Chirinos – 4/17 vs. TEX, 4/22 vs. MIN

Trevor Williams – 4/17 vs. COL, 4/22 @ PHI

A.J. Cole – 4/16 @ NYM, 4/22 @ LAD

Caleb Smith – 4/16 @ NYY, 4/22 @ MIL

Junior Guerra – 4/17 vs. CIN, 4/22 vs. MIA

Zack Wheeler – 4/17 vs. WSH, 4/22 @ ATL

Andrew Cashner – 4/16 @ BOS, 4/21 vs. CLE