Welcome to the Week 7 edition of two-start pitchers. Keeping track of the week’s two-steppers is essential, as they can give you a boost in strikeouts and wins. However, you must also be careful about the two-start pitchers you roll with, as you can bloat your ratios if you choose poorly.
This weekly write-up will help you choose the best two-start pitchers of the week. Some are easy decisions, while others require more thought. To help you decide, I rank the two-start pitchers into tiers and include brief thoughts on each option.
This write-up gets submitted on Saturday, often before teams have solidified their starting rotations for the week. As such, be sure to check out the league’s latest schedule of probable pitchers to ensure you’re up to date. Now, let’s look at the two-start pitchers for Week 7.
Don’t Overthink These Two-Start Pitchers
These are your set-it-and-forget-it arms for the week. All are elite starting pitchers with strong matchups.
Zack Wheeler (SP — PHI)
First Start: @ TBR
Second Start: @ CLE
In his last three starts, Zack Wheeler combined for 29 punchouts and three walks across 19.2 frames. Fire him up this week.
Chris Sale (SP — ATL)
First Start: vs. CIN
Second Start: @ PIT
Chris Sale is fresh off a get-right game against the Rockies. While he didn’t walk away with a win, it was his first double-digit strikeout game of the year. It was also the first time Sale didn’t walk a batter in three starts. Sale should continue to cruise this week, especially against a Pirates team that struggles against southpaws (74 wRC+).
Cole Ragans (SP — KCR)
First Start: vs. CWS
Second Start: vs. BOS
Cole Ragans missed his last scheduled start after being pulled early with a groin strain on April 24. Assuming he’s healthy, start Ragans in all league sizes this week.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP — TEX)
First Start: @ BOS
Second Start: @ DET
Nathan Eovaldi has been fantastic this season, with a 2.11 ERA and 0.77 WHIP over 42.2 frames. He’s looked especially good in his past three starts, where he combined for three earned runs on 14 hits with a 22:1 K:BB across 18 innings. It’s also worth noting that those strong starts came against no-slouch offenses, including the Athletics, Giants and Dodgers. Eovaldi has picked up three consecutive quality starts and should continue to add more this week. He’s a strong two-stepper in Week 7.
Pablo Lopez (SP — MIN)
First Start: vs. BAL
Second Start: vs. SFG
Pablo Lopez hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any of his five starts this year. Combine that with a sparkling 2.25 ERA (3.22 SIERA) and 1.00 WHIP, and Lopez is an easy two-start pitcher this week.
Carlos Rodon (SP — NYY)
First Start: vs. SDP
Second Start: @ ATH
Carlos Rodon has been fantastic in his last three starts. He combined for two earned runs on eight hits with 24:7 K:BB across 19 innings. He also registered a 0.95 ERA (2.92 SIERA) and 0.79 WHIP in that stretch. This week’s matchups are tough, especially Rodon’s start at Sutter Health Park against an Athletics team that ranks fourth against lefties with a 125 wRC+. However, Rodon brings strikeouts and win upside to the table and should be started this week in 12+ teamers.
Nick Pivetta (SP — SDP)
First Start: @ NYY
Second Start: @ COL
Nick Pivetta has been great this season and has looked especially sharp in his last four starts. He picked up four wins in those outings to go with a combined four earned runs on 14 hits with a 31:5 K:BB across 25.1 innings. The matchup against the Yankees isn’t the best, but you’re still rolling Pivetta out there in 12+ team leagues.
Seth Lugo (SP — KCR)
First Start: vs. CWS
Second Start: vs. BOS
Seth Lugo is an innings-eater who won’t hurt your ratios. He’s coming off consecutive wins against the Rays and Astros and should be able to pick up more this week. Lugo is a solid two-starter this week in 12+ team leagues.
Roll With These Two-Start Pitchers
These are solid two-starters for the week. While they come with more risk than the arms above, they’re worthy two-steppers in Week 7.
Drew Rasmussen (SP — TBR)
First Start: vs. PHI
Second Start: vs. MIL
Drew Rasmussen has had a nice season. He has a 2.64 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across six starts with a 19.5% K-BB. Rasmussen is coming off two down starts where he combined for seven earned runs across 10 frames. However, Rasmussen strikes out a batter per inning and doesn’t issue free passes, which is good for the ratios. Fire Rasmussen up in 12- and 15-team leagues this week.
Bryce Miller (SP — SEA)
First Start: @ ATH
Second Start: vs. TOR
Bryce Miller reportedly pitched through a back issue in his last start, so I’m giving him a pass on his five-walks-across-five-frames outing. However, free passes have still been an issue for Miller this season, as he held a 12.8% walk rate — nearly double his career mark — before last week’s start. Besides the control issues, Miller has pitched fairly well this season. He’s striking out a batter per inning, and his barrel rate has plummeted from 9.7% in 2024 to 3.8% this year. It’s a tough call this week with Miller, but he’s worth the gamble if you need wins and strikeouts.
Brady Singer (SP — CIN)
First Start: @ ATL
Second Start: @ HOU
Brady Singer is coming off back-to-back quality starts against Miami and St. Louis. He combined for three earned runs on six hits with a 12:3 K:BB across 12 frames. Overall, Singer is off to a nice season, registering a 3.24 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 17.8% K-BB over 33.1 innings. Singer should benefit from being out of Great American Ball Park this week against the middling Braves and Astros. He’s a solid start in 12+ team leagues in Week 7.
Zac Gallen (SP — ARI)
First Start: vs. NYM
Second Start: vs. LAD
Zac Gallen has struggled with walks and home runs this season with a 4.93 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 38.1 frames. However, he’s underperformed his surface stats with a 3.93 SIERA and has a respectable 25.9% strikeout rate. Gallen is coming off one of his better starts of the season against the Mets and gets a rematch this week, followed by a start against the Dodgers. Despite the difficult matchups, Gallen should be a go in Week 7, as he brings strikeout upside and win potential to the fantasy table.
Tyler Anderson (SP — LAA)
First Start: vs. TOR
Second Start: vs. BAL
A .169 BABIP and 90.6% LOB% are driving Tyler Anderson’s 2.67 ERA and 1.04 WHIP this season. While regression is looming (5.07 xFIP and 4.83 SIERA), I’m not too concerned about that this week. Toronto is bottom-six in runs scored this season, and Baltimore is dead last in wRC+ against lefties with a 48 wRC+ for the year. Anderson is a fine start in 15-team leagues, as well as some 12-teamers.
Lucas Giolito (SP — BOS)
First Start: vs. TEX
Second Start: @ KCR
Lucas Giolito was solid in his debut last week. While he picked up a no-decision, he earned a quality start with three earned runs, two walks and seven strikeouts across six innings. Giolito brings a career 25.3% strikeout rate and 9% walk rate to the table and is a decent start this week, as the Rangers and Royals are bottom-three in runs scored this season.
Griffin Canning (SP — NYM)
First Start: @ ARI
Second Start: vs. CHC
Griffin Canning has been great at limiting runs and long balls this season. He’s only given up nine earned runs across 31 frames with a 0.58 HR/9. It’s been the walks that have been an issue (4.06 BB/9). However, Canning is still striking out a batter per inning with a 3.56 xFIP. Combine that with a 51.2% groundball rate, and that should play in 15-teamers this week — despite Canning having one of the toughest two-steps on the Week 7 slate.
How Lucky Do You Feel About These Two-Start Pitchers?
This is the tier of tough decisions, with most of these two-start options best suited for 15-team leagues. These are primarily riskier arms with plus matchups who could bloat your ratios if things go south. Tread carefully.
Matthew Boyd (SP — CHC)
First Start: vs. SFG
Second Start: @ NYM
Matthew Boyd’s 2.70 ERA and 1.44 WHIP this season have been nice, but it comes with a 4.38 xFIP. Plus, Boyd’s 1.71 WHIP over his last three starts has been a ratio killer. I like Boyd better in 15-teamers this week, but he could be a decent play in 12-teamers as he brings some strikeout upside and win potential with the Cubs at his back. But be mindful that the Mets’ .826 OPS against southpaws is third-best in the league, so that start could go sideways.
Luis Severino (SP — ATH)
First Start: vs. SEA
Second Start: vs. NYY
Luis Severino got off to a bumpy start this season. But he has been solid in his last four starts, registering a 2.19 ERA (3.45 xFIP) and 1.09 WHIP in that stretch. Also, Severino allowed only one earned run in three of those four starts with 18:6 K:BB across 24.2 innings. Severino gets two tough matchups this week against the Mariners (129 wRC+) and Yankees (137 wRC+) at Sutter Health Park. He’s worth considering in deeper leagues.
Luis L. Ortiz (SP — CLE)
First Start: @ WAS
Second Start: vs. PHI
Luis L. Ortiz has been serviceable this season with a 10.13 K/9 and 4.50 BB/9 across 32 frames. Additionally, he’s pitched better than his 4.78 ERA indicates, with a 3.82 xFIP and 3.91 SIERA. The matchup against the Phillies isn’t the best, but Ortiz offers enough strikeouts to make him a decent start in 15-teamers. Just keep in mind there could be some ratio risk.
Landen Roupp (SP — SFG)
First Start: @ CHC
Second Start: @ MIN
After four solid starts to open the season, Landen Roupp has hit a wall. In his last two outings, he combined for seven earned runs with a 6:6 K:BB across eight frames. The down games don’t inspire much confidence with the Cubs up next. However, Roupp should still be a decent start in 15-team leagues. His 5.10 ERA comes with a 3.34 xERA and 3.52 xFIP, and Roupp has been good at limiting loud contact this year with a 26.7% hard-hit rate. The Cubs’ start could get messy, but Roupp offers strikeout upside and should fare well against the Twins.
Ronel Blanco (SP — HOU)
First Start: @ MIL
Second Start: vs. CIN
Ronel Blanco takes a 5.08 ERA and 1.31 WHIP to battle against the Brewers and Reds this week. With only one quality start in six outings and a 10% K-BB, I’m not crazy about starting Blanco in 12-teamers. But he could work out in 15-team leagues, given the middling matchups.
AJ Smith-Shawver (SP — ATL)
First Start: vs. CIN
Second Start: @ PIT
AJ Smith-Shawver has been a ratio killer across his four starts with a 4.26 ERA (3.88 SIERA) and 1.68 WHIP across 19 innings. However, with a couple of favorable starts on tap and a 10.42 K/9, he’s a decent start in 15-teamers if you need strikeouts. Just be wary of the blowup potential, especially in the WHIP department.
Miles Mikolas (SP — STL)
First Start: vs. PIT
Second Start: @ WAS
Miles Mikolas won’t give you strikeouts (5.28 K/9), but if you’re desperate for wins, this isn’t the worst week to use him in deeper leagues.
Forget About These Two-Start Pitchers
This tier is pretty straightforward. If you roll with these two-start pitchers, you’re playing with fire. Fuhgeddaboudit!
Shane Smith (SP — CWS)
First Start: @ KCR
Second Start: vs. MIA
Sure, Shane Smith is off to a nice start this season. He has a 2.23 ERA (4.50 xFIP) and 1.08 WHIP while only allowing one home run across 32.1 frames. Pretty impressive. But what are we chasing with an appealing two-step? Smith doesn’t offer many strikeouts (7.24 K/9) and doesn’t go deep into games. There’s also little win potential with the White Sox. He’s a benchwarmer for me.
Sandy Alcantara (SP — MIA)
First Start: vs. LAD
Second Start: @ CWS
Control hasn’t been there for Sandy Alcantara this season. Since coming off Tommy John surgery, he’s struggling with a 14.2% walk rate — nearly double his career rate. That, coupled with a lowly 15.8% strikeout rate, has fueled a poor 2025. Alcantara is fresh off a start against the Dodgers, where he coughed up seven earned runs across 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and five walks. With a rematch on tap in Week 7, Alcantara is too risky to put into starting lineups, even with the White Sox at the tail end of the week.
Andrew Abbott (SP — CIN)
First Start: @ ATL
Second Start: @ HOU
Free passes have plagued Andrew Abbott in his last two starts. He combined for nine walks to seven strikeouts over eight innings in that span. Abbott brings the strikeouts (29.1% K%), but is a significant ratio risk with a 15.2% walk rate on the year.
Cade Povich (SP — BAL)
First Start: @ MIN
Second Start: @ LAA
Cade Povich has a couple of plus matchups this week. But how much do we trust Povich? He has a 5.16 ERA and 1.65 WHIP across 29.2 innings. He also hasn’t made it to the fifth inning in four of six starts and has a 9.7% K-BB rate this year. He’s best left riding the pine in Week 7.
Jackson Jobe (SP — DET)
First Start: @ COL
Second Start: vs. TEX
Jackson Jobe’s 3.38 ERA and 1.33 WHIP look decent enough. But a 4.91 xFIP and 5.19 SIERA combined with a 6.75 K/9 and 5.25 BB/9 on the year is pretty rough. I’d pass on Jobe’s two-step this week.
Chase Dollander (SP — COL)
First Start: vs. DET
Second Start: vs. SDP
Bloated ratios plus two starts at Coors Field with an 18.2% barrel rate and 46.8% hard-hit rate? Nope.
Sean Burke (SP — CWS)
First Start: @ KCR
Second Start: vs. MIA
The opposing matchups are nice. But Sean Burke is an inconsistent arm who hasn’t been able to put it all together yet. Plus, he comes with bloated ratios, a 7.5% K-BB rate, and a .424 xwOBA on the year. Pass.
Carmen Mlodzinski (SP — PIT)
First Start: @ STL
Second Start: vs. ATL
Carmen Mlodzinski has been unlucky, but a 6.58 ERA (4.12 SIERA) and 1.81 WHIP isn’t what you want from your two-start pitcher.
Tobias Myers (SP — MIL)
First Start: vs. HOU
Second Start: @ TBR
Tobias Myers has been roughed up in limited outings this season with a -6.5% K-BB across six innings. It’s best to stay clear until Myers can string together a couple of good outings.
