Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers: Weathers the Storm

We are getting down to the final stretch for fantasy baseball head-to-head leagues, where managers are trying to secure a spot in the playoffs. Roto and points league managers are looking to grab as many stats and points as they can. In my two-pitcher report, the two favorites this week aren’t the sexiest names, but are set up in optimal matchups to get the job done.

Logan Henderson topped my two-start pitcher report last week, but after acquiring Dustin May before the trade deadline and Kyle Harrison returning from the IL, the Brewers elected to go with a six-man rotation. This strategy helps ease the workload on the young, elite starting rotation, keeping them healthy for the postseason. So, Henderson returns to my report. The Toronto Blue Jays are listed as undecided because they haven’t decided how to replace Trey Yesavage, who went on the 15-day IL with a meniscus injury.

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In my fantasy ball two-start pitcher report, I break 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.

MLB Two-Start Pitchers for August 10-16

My Favorite Two-Start Pitchers of the Week

Ryan Weathers, New York Yankees (vs Mariners, @ Blue Jays)

Ryan Weathers has been on a roller coaster all season long. He’ll have a few outstanding starts allowing two or fewer runs, but then he’ll throw in a game or two where he gives up four or more runs. For example, in seven of his last nine outings, he allowed two or fewer earned runs; in the other two starts, he allowed four and five. So there isn’t the consistency that fantasy baseball managers can safely rely on, but the lefty is doing a great job of getting ground balls, ranking in the 77th percentile (47.6%). Which plays right into Weathers’ two opponents who rank in the top 10 of groundball rates.

The reason I like Weathers is that he gets the two worst teams in batting average and OPS against left-handed pitchers. The Mariners and Blue Jays have .216 and .213 batting averages and .646 and .632 OPSes, respectively, against southpaws. The matchups are also enticing because their offenses are limping to the finish line. Since the All-Star break, both teams have averaged fewer than 3.5 runs per game. So fire Weathers up with confidence.

Sean Burke, Chicago White Sox (vs Reds, @ Tigers)

Sean Burke has been a steady arm for the White Sox. In 10 of his last 12 starts, he has allowed two or fewer runs and has struck out seven or more batters in eight of the starts, including three with either 10 or 11. The righty throws his four-seam fastball 37.5% of the time and is holding batters to a .188 expected batting average and has a 27% whiff rate.

The Tigers aren’t a perfect matchup, ranking ninth in OPS (.744) against righties, but they strike out the seventh most (717). Even though Detroit is a division rival, their hitters have only seen Burke in one or two games. It’s a small sample size, but Dillon Dingler (2-for-3), Javier Baez (1-for-3), and Kevin McGonigle (1-for-1) are the only batters with a batting average above .300 against the White Sox pitcher. In one start this season against the Tigers, Burke threw 5.1 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run, while striking out six.

The Reds, on the other hand, are an ideal target, ranking 25th in OPS (.695) facing right-handed pitchers and leading the league in strikeouts (837). They have 59 more strikeouts than the Los Angeles Dodgers, who rank second. JJ Bleday is the only Reds hitter to have faced Burke, so that has me even more excited to start Burke next week. He should have two solid strikeout showings.

Two-Start Pitcher No-Brainers

Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox (@ Blue Jays, @ Pirates)

Ranger Suarez, Boston Red Sox (@ Blue Jays, @ Pirates)

Christian Scott, New York Mets (@ Braves, vs Nationals)

Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves (vs Mets, vs Diamondbacks)

Logan Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers (@ Padres, @ Dodgers)

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates (@ Marlins, vs Red Sox)

Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (vs Rangers, vs Royals)

Next In Line Two-Start Pitchers

Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles (@ Twins, @ Rays)

Casey Mize, San Diego Padres (vs Brewers, @ Guardians)

Freddy Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays (@ Athletics, vs Orioles)

Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians (@ Tigers, vs Padres)

Eury Perez, Miami Marlins (vs Pirates, @ Reds)

Javier Assad, Chicago Cubs (@ Nationals, vs Cardinals)

Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners (@ Yankees, @ Astros)

Two-Start Pitcher Streamers

Hunter Dobbins, St. Louis Cardinals (vs Phillies, @ Cubs)

Mitch Bratt, Arizona Diamondbacks (vs Rockies, @ Braves)

Cal Quantrill, Texas Rangers (@ Angels, @ Athletics)

Jacob Lopez, Athletics (vs Rays, vs Rangers)

Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals (@ Dodgers, @ Angels)

Gabriel Hughes, Colorado Rockies (@ Diamondbacks, @ Giants)

Justin Wrobleski, Los Angeles Dodgers (vs Royals, vs Brewers)

Rhett Lowder, Cincinnati Reds (@ White Sox, vs Marlins)

Blade Tidwell, San Francisco Giants (vs Astros, vs Rockies)

Avoid These Two-Start Pitchers

Dean Kremer, Minnesota Twins (vs Orioles, vs Phillies)

Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies (@ Cardinals, @ Twins)

Christian Javier, Houston Astros (@ Giants, vs Mariners)

Jake Irvin, Washington Nationals (vs Cubs, @ Mets)

Drew Anderson, Detroit Tigers (vs Guardians, vs White Sox)

Undecided, Toronto Blue Jays (vs Red Sox, vs Yankees)