The upcoming week is not an ideal week for fantasy baseball two-start pitchers. It’s a week that brings risky matchups for some of the better pitchers available to use twice. I found more “Next In Line” and “Streamer” options than “No-Brainers”. There is also a surprise that tops my list of favorite pitchers.
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If you’re new to 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.
Two-Start Pitchers May 4-10
* At the time the article was published, the Astros and Blue Jays hadn’t announced their Monday starter.
My Favorite Two-Start Pitchers of the Week
Davis Martin, Chicago White Sox (@ Angels, vs Mariners)
Davis Martin’s success has been a massive surprise this season. He has a 4-1 record and a 1.95 ERA after six starts. He’s not a big strikeout guy, but his 22.9 percent strikeout rate is a career high over his four MLB seasons. He’s thrown six or more strikeouts in four of his outings, and draws the best two matchups out of everyone on the list.
He faces the Angels and Mariners, who are both in the top five of MLB in strikeouts. Davis just faced the Angels in his last outing, though. I don’t normally like pitchers facing the same team so close together, but the Angels lead the league in strikeouts. They did get seven hits off Davis, but also struck out seven times in 5.2 innings. I’m choosing to back the right-handed pitch.
Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers (vs Red Sox, @ Royals)
The back-to-back Cy Young Award over the last two seasons is matchup proof. This season, Tarik Skubal is on the verge of making it a three-peat for the award. He has a 2.70 ERA over 43.1 innings with a 45:6 strikeouts-to-walk ratio. He has struck out seven or more batters in four of his seven outings this season and has gone six or more innings in six starts.
The lefty gets two teams that rank in the middle of MLB teams in strikeouts, so Skubal should continue to rack up on his strikeout total. He faced the Red Sox on April 18, where he struck out 10 batters over six innings. The Red Sox are off to a terrible start, ranking 28th in OPS, leading to the mass firing of coaches. Skubal may not strike out 10, but it is possible.
Christopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies (@ Marlins, vs Rockies)
Christopher Sanchez has been dominant this season for the Phillies. He’s allowed 13 earned runs in his seven starts, but six of those came against the Cubs on April 23. He had a 1.59 ERA before that game. Sanchez is posting a respectable 40:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio with seven or more strikeouts in five of his starts.
He draws two extremely favorable matchups with the Marlins ranking in the middle of MLB in strikeouts, and the Rockies are third. Sanchez should continue his dominant pitching.
No-Brainers
- Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Angels (vs White Sox, @ Blue Jays)
- Cam Schlitter, New York Yankees (vs Orioles, @ Brewers)
- Nick Martinez, Tampa Bay Rays (vs Blue Jays, @ Red Sox)
- Edward Cabrera, Chicago Cubs (vs Reds, @ Rangers)
- Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins (vs Orioles, vs Nationals)
- Taj Bradley, Minnesota Twins (@ Nationals, @ Guardians)
- Gavin Williams, Cleveland Guardians (@ Royals, vs Twins)
Next In Line
- Janson Junk, Miami Marlins (vs Phillies, vs Nationals)
- Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians (@ Royals, vs Twins)
- Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals (vs Guardians, vs Tigers)
- JR Ritchie, Atlanta Braves (@ Mariners, @ Dodgers )
- Nick Lodolo, Cincinnati Reds (@ Cubs, vs Astros)
- Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners (vs Braves, @ White Sox)
- Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies (vs Athletics, vs Rockies)
- Chris Bassitt, Baltimore Orioles (@ Marlins, vs Athletics)
- Drew Rasmussen, Tampa Bay Rays (vs Blue Jays, @ Red Sox)
- Jameson Taillon, Chicago Cubs (vs Reds, @ Rangers)
- Jacob DeGrom, Texas Rangers (@ Yankees, vs Cubs)
- Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates (@ Diamondbacks, @ Giants)
- Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks (vs Pirates, vs Mets)
Streamers
- Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers (@ Cardinals, vs Yankees)
- Shane Baz, Baltimore Orioles (@ Yankees, vs Athletics)
- Walker Buehler, San Diego Padres (@ Giants, vs Cardinals)
- Luis Severino, Athletics (@ Phillies, @ Orioles)
- Brayan Bello, Boston Red Sox (@ Tigers, vs Rays)
- Andrew Abbott, Cincinnati Reds (@ Cubs, vs Astros)
- Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals (vs Guardians, vs Tigers)
Avoid
- Tomoyuki Sugano, Colorado Rockies (vs Mets, @ Phillies)
- Brandon Williamson, Cincinnati Reds (@ Cubs, vs Astros)
- Kevin Leahy, St. Louis Cardinals (vs Brewers, @ Padres)
- Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals (vs Twins, @ Marlins)
- Matt Waldron, San Diego Padres (@ Giants, vs Cardinals)
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