Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers: Paul Skenes is Near Unhittable

I’m not liking many of the available options for MLB two-start pitchers for the week of May 11-17. Several teams have their aces taking the mound, but some of them don’t have ideal matchups. Continuing my two-start pitchers series, I break down the available options into four tiers based on matchups and pitchers’ performance.

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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 favorite two-start pitchers for the week. I’ll update the list if changes are made. The Los Angeles Angels have yet to announce their Monday and Sunday starting pitcher, and the Houston Astros have Lance McCullers Jr. slated for two starts this week.

However, he suffered an injury from a fingernail that popped off. Tatsuya Imai is expected to return to the Astros and could take over the two starts, giving McCullers an extra day of rest.

MLB Two-Start Pitchers for May 11-17

My Favorite Two-Start Pitchers of the Week

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates (vs Rockies, vs Phillies)

Paul Skenes hasn’t been the typical Skenes we have grown used to, although his numbers are still outstanding. His strikeout percentage, home runs per nine innings, and FIP are career worsts, but only slightly off from prior totals. However, he’s holding hitters to a .153 batting average, a career best.

Skenes gets a Rockies team that ranks second in strikeouts and strikes out 27% against righties. The Phillies are a little tougher to strike out, but still have a 22% strikeout rate vs righties, and they rank 27th in OPS. However, they’ve played better since Don Mattingly took over as interim coach. I’m still going to trust the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, who has given up one or fewer runs in six of his eight starts.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (vs Giants, @ Angels)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto started the season strong, but has allowed three earned runs in each of his last three outings, including a match with the Giants. His 23.5% strikeout rate is his lowest since 2019, while in Japan, but he gets an ideal matchup against the Angels, as they lead the league in strikeouts. The Giants, on the other hand, have among the lowest strikeout rates this season, but their 0.637 OPS ranks last.

No-Brainers

Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays (vs Rays, @ Tigers)

Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays (@ Blue Jays, vs Marlins)

George Kirby, Seattle Mariners (@ Astros, vs Padres)

Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies (@ Red Sox, @ Pirates)

Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners (@ Astros, vs Padres)

Next In Line

Peter Lambert, Houston Astros (vs Mariners, vs Rangers)

Ryan Weathers, New York Yankees (@ Orioles, @ Mets)

Michael Soroka, Arizona Diamondbacks (@ Rangers, @ Rockies)

Joey Cantillo, Cleveland Guardians (vs Angels, vs Reds)

Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers (vs Diamondbacks, @ Astros)

Freddy Peralta, New York Mets (vs Tigers, vs Yankees)

Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals (@ White Sox, @ Cardinals)

Jeffrey Springs, Athletics (vs Cardinals, vs Giants)

Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants (@ Dodgers, @ Athletics)

Chad Patrick, Milwaukee Brewers (vs Padres, @ Twins)

Streamers

Brandon Young, Baltimore Orioles (vs Yankees, @ Nationals)

Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds (vs Nationals, @ Guardians)

Rhett Lowder, Cincinnati Reds (vs Nationals, @ Guardians)

Colin Rea, Chicago Cubs (@ Braves, @ White Sox)

Eury Perez, Miami Marlins (@ Twins, @ Rays)

Andrew Pallante, St. Louis Cardinals (@ Athletics, vs Royals)

JR Ritchie, Atlanta Braves (vs Cubs, vs Red Sox)

Avoid

Adrian Houser, San Francisco Giants (@ Dodgers, @ Athletics)

Michael Lorenzen, Colorado Rockies (@ Pirates, vs Diamondbacks)

Miles Mikolas, Washington Nationals (@ Reds, vs Orioles)

Jack Flaherty, Detroit Tigers (@ Mets, vs Blue Jays)

Erick Fedde, Chicago White Sox (vs Royals, vs Cubs)

Bailey Ober, Minnesota Twins (vs Marlins, vs Brewers)

Brayan Bello, Boston Red Sox (vs Phillies, @ Braves)

Matt Waldron, San Diego Padres (@ Brewers, @ Mariners)