The trade deadline is just over a week away, Monday, August 3, so keep an eye out for news about pitchers on your fantasy baseball team, especially if you have to set your lineups at the beginning of the week. In this week’s two-start pitcher column, my two favorite starters are at the opposite ends of the age spectrum, with 13 years between them. However, they’ve been strikeout machines, and there are no signs of slowing down.
In my two-start pitchers breakdown, I rank the eligible pitchers into four categories. 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, 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.
More great Fantasy Baseball Analysis: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire | Weekly SP Rankings | Pitching Streamers | Two-Start Pitchers | Lineup Analysis | MLB Injury Report | Rookie Report | Advanced Stats | Under the Radar | Overvalued & Undervalued | Bullpen Report
MLB Two-Start Pitchers for July 27-August 2
My Favorite Two-Start Pitchers of the Week
Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies (@ Marlins, @ Orioles)
It’s impressive the season Zack Wheeler is putting together on the mound. He’s 36, and this is his 12th MLB season, but if the season ended today, the Phillies’ righty would set career highs in ERA (2.16) and WHIP (0.88). Though he’s been dominant, the Marlins’ matchup isn’t ideal, as they hit right-handed pitchers well.
Against righties, Miami ranks 24th in strikeout rate (21%) and ninth in OPS (.738). However, they’ve struggled against Wheeler, posting a .457 OPS over 61 combined at-bats. Xavier Edwards (2-for-11), Otto Lopez (5-for-14), and Kyle Stowers (1-for-11) are three of the better Marlins’ bats and the only ones to have double-digit ABs against Wheeler.
The only concerning part of the matchup is that this will be Wheeler’s third time facing the Marlins this season, but he threw six innings in both of the other two outings and combined to allow five hits, an earned run, and struck out 17. Also, the Marlins aren’t playing their best, starting the second half of the season on a 0-7 skid. They’re 0-10 if you count the Guardians series before the All-Star break.
The Orioles matchup is a little easier, as they have the third-highest strikeout rate (23.8%) and 16th-ranked OPS (.725) against righties. Their batters also have minimal experience versus Wheeler. Pete Alonso is the only one with more than nine at-bats against the right-hander, thanks to his time in the NL East with the Mets. However, the Polar Bear is just 10-for-41, so I’m very high on Zack Wheeler next week.
Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds (vs Guardians, vs Pirates)
Chase Burns is having a stellar sophomore MLB season, posting a 2.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 124 strikeouts. His slider has been nearly unhittable in 2026. He throws it 37.7% of the time, has held batters to a .145 batting average, and has a 51.5% whiff rate off of the pitch. Like Wheeler, Burns has a similar matchup where a team hits well against right-handed pitching, but struggles versus the pitcher.
Against righties, the Pirates rank second in OPS (.782) and have the best BABIP (.325), but they strike out the fifth-most (23.6%). Facing Burns, they have a .476 OPS over 59 combined ABs, with Jared Triolo (3-for-8) and Jake Mangum (2-for-2) the only batters with a batting average over .200. The only starter Burns hasn’t faced is Esmerlyn Valdez, who has been at the top of my rookie report the last two weeks.
This will be the fourth time Burns will face the Pirates this season, which I’m not fond of, but I’ll trust the young fireballer. In the first two outings, the righty held Pittsburgh scoreless, but the third game was a dud: Burns allowed five earned runs over six innings, though he struck out 10. The Reds still got the win, 9-7, thanks to a go-ahead three-run home run from Eugenio Suarez in the top of the ninth.
The Guardians are a more ideal matchup for Burns, ranking 22nd in OPS (.700) and 14th in strikeout rate (22%). Also, Patrick Bailey is the only Guardian player to have faced the Reds’ ace, going 0-for-2. So I love to target strikeout pitchers that are facing a team for the first time. Look for Burns to continue his stellar season.
Two-Start Pitcher No-Brainers
George Kirby, Seattle Mariners (@ Rangers, vs Twins)
Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees (@ White Sox, @ Cubs)
Max Fried, New York Yankees (@ White Sox, @ Cubs)
Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves (@ Mets, vs Nationals)
Michael King, San Diego Padres (vs Rockies, vs Giants)
Next In Line Two-Start Pitchers
Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins (vs Phillies, @ Mets)
Jake Bennett, Boston Red Sox (@ Athletics, @ Dodgers)
Christian Scott, New York Mets (vs Braves, vs Marlins)
Zac Thornton, New York Mets (vs Braves, vs Marlins)
Kyle Bradish, Baltimore Orioles (@ Tigers, vs Phillies)
Michael McGreevy, St. Louis Cardinals (vs Cubs, @ Blue Jays)
Landon Roupp, San Francisco Giants (vs Brewers, @ Padres)
Griffin Jax, Tampa Bay Rays (vs Rangers, vs White Sox)
Martin Perez, Atlanta Braves (@ Mets, vs Nationals)
Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals (@ Twins, @ Rockies)
Gage Jump, Athletics (vs Red Sox, vs Tigers)
Walbert Urena, Los Angeles Angels (vs Astros, vs Brewers)
Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates (vs Diamondbacks, @ Reds)
Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals (vs Blue Jays, @ Braves)
Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Kumar Rocker, Texas Rangers (vs Mariners, @ Astros)
Matthew Liberatore, St. Louis Cardinals (vs Cubs, @ Blue Jays)
Colin Rea, Chicago Cubs (@ Cardinals, vs Yankees)
Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers (@ Giants, @ Angels)
Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds (vs Guardians, vs Pirates)
Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates (vs Diamondbacks, @ Reds)
Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks (@ Pirates, @ Guardians)
Brandon Pfaadt, Arizona Diamondbacks (@ Pirates, @ Guardians)
Tyler Phillips, Miami Marlins (vs Phillies, @ Mets)
Keider Montero, Detroit Tigers (vs Orioles, @ Athletics)
Andrew Alvarez, Washington Nationals (vs Blue Jays, @ Braves)
Tatsuya Imai, Houston Astros (@ Angels, vs Rangers)
Slade Cecconi, Cleveland Guardians (@ Reds, vs Diamondbacks)
Avoid These Two-Start Pitchers
Cal Quantrill, Texas Rangers (vs Mariners, @ Astros)
David Peterson, Chicago Cubs (@ Cardinals, vs Yankees)
Tyler Mahle, San Francisco Giants (vs Brewers, @ Padres
Kendry Rojas, Minnesota Twins (vs Royals, @ Mariners)
Eric Lauer, Los Angeles Dodgers (vs Mariners, vs Red Sox)
Jack Perkins, Athletics (vs Red Sox, vs Tigers)
Noah Schultz, Chicago White Sox (vs Yankees, @ Rays)
Anthony Kay, Chicago White Sox (vs Yankees, @ Rays)
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