Welcome to the dog days of summer! Starting pitchers are dropping like flies and teams are starting to limit innings. If you are reading this article you are a die-hard fantasy baseball player and for that, you should be rewarded for your dedication. Right now can you make up a lot of ground in your leagues with two-start pitchers, especially in counting statistics like wins, quality starts, and strikeouts. To ensure accuracy, make sure you consistently check the Fangraphs Starting Pitchers Grid before you make any moves or transactions. Pitching rotations change daily. Let’s take a look at the two-start pitchers for Week 21 (8/22-8/28)!
Must-Start: These pitchers should be started regardless of match-up. They are a must-start in all leagues until further notice.
Should-Start: These pitchers should start in most leagues. This is based on the pedigree of the pitcher and/or favorable matchups.
Risky Business: Only start these pitchers if you are in a deep roto or points league, desperate for counting stats, or feeling lucky.
Must Sit: Do not start these pitchers.
Week 21 Two-Start Pitchers
Must Start
| Pitcher | xERA | Start 1 | wRC+ | Start 2 | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Scherzer NYM | 2.80 | @ NYY | 114 | COL | 84 |
| Robbie Ray SEA | 3.53 | WAS | 92 | CLE | 81 |
| Adam Wainwright STL | 4.22 | @ CHC | 99 | ATL | 107 |
| Dylan Cease CHW | 2.69 | @ KC | 91 | ARI | 92 |
To no one’s surprise, the hall-of-fame-bound Max Scherzer has put his best foot forward since rebounding from his latest injury. In 109 innings this season, Scherzer has 134 strikeouts and only 20 walks while maintaining a 2.80 xERA. Hitters have only a .197 xBA against which is in the 90th percentile in baseball. Next week, Mad Max travels to the Bronx to face the Yankees and then he goes back to Queens to take on the Colorado Rockies.
Should Start
| Pitcher | xERA | Start 1 | wRC+ | Start 2 | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Kopech CHW | 3.77 | @ KC | 91 | ARI | 92 |
| Ranger Suarez PHI | 3.53 | CIN | 93 | PIT | 83 |
| Sonny Gray MIN | 3.46 | TEX | 94 | SF | 99 |
| Edward Cabrera MIA | 2.96 | @ OAK | 80 | LAD | 124 |
| Eric Lauer MIL | 4.16 | @ LAD | 113 | CHC | 98 |
| Noah Syndergaard PHI | 4.33 | CIN | 85 | PIT | 84 |
| Jeffrey Springs TB | 3.43 | LAA | 83 | @ BOS | 112 |
After missing two months to injury, Edward Cabrera is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now. Cabrera hasn’t let up a single run over his last 14.2 innings. He has 21 strikeouts over that time span with a 0.89 WHIP. His control and efficiency leave a bit to be desired but he should be able to make progress in that department. Next week, he has a cupcake matchup in Oakland against the Athletics, and then we will see what he is made of when he battles the Los Angeles Dodgers at home.
Risky Business
| Pitcher | xERA | Start 1 | wRC+ | Start 2 | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Lodolo CIN | 4.10 | @ PHI | 116 | @ WAS | 92 |
| Jake Odorizzi ATL | 4.25 | @ PIT | 84 | @ STL | 109 |
| Ross Stripling TOR | 3.56 | @ BOS | 96 | LAA | 94 |
| Aaron Civale CLE | 4.27 | @ SD | 102 | SEA | 105 |
| Nathan Eovaldi BOS | 4.36 | TOR | 113 | TB | 101 |
| Corey Kluber TB | 3.90 | LAA | 94 | BOS | 96 |
| Drew Smyly CHC | 4.16 | STL | 128 | MIL | 87 |
| Jordan Montgomery STL | 3.99 | @ CHC | 98 | ATL | 118 |
| Taijuan Walker NYM | 4.19 | @ NYY | 114 | COL | 84 |
The 24-year-old, Nick Lodolo, will take on the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals next week. Both games will be on the road which is great for Lodolo. On the year, he has 72 strikeouts across 54.2 innings so he makes for very useful play in point leagues. In roto and shallow leagues, his 1.57 WHIP and 10.4 walk percentage make him a risky business play.
Must Sit
| Pitcher | xERA | Start 1 | wRC+ | Start 2 | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Voth BAL | 4.04 | CHW | 96 | @ HOU | 114 |
| Cole Ragans TEX | 5.40 | @ MIN | 104 | DET | 95 |
| Tucker Davidson LAA | 4.80 | @ TB | 103 | @ TOR | 110 |
| Zach Logue OAK | 6.19 | MIA | 71 | NYY | 126 |
| T.J. Zeuch CIN | 8.51 | @ PHI | 98 | @ WAS | 92 |
| Adam Oller OAK | 5.81 | MIA | 97 | NYY | 114 |
| Domingo German NYY | 4.86 | NYM | 117 | @ OAK | 80 |
| German Marquez COL | 4.73 | TEX | 94 | @ NYM | 117 |
| Daniel Lynch KC | 4.45 | CHW | 118 | SD | 96 |
| Aaron Sanchez MIN | 4.83 | @ HOU | 114 | SF | 99 |
Germán Márquez has seven quality starts in his last ten outings. With that said, he is very hard to trust next week because of his home start at Coors Field and his matchup against the New York Mets. On the year, Marquez has a 4.73 xERA with 108 strikeouts across 133.2 innings. Batters are consistently crushing the ball off Marquez as his 47.5 hard hit percentage ranks in the second percentile. For this week, it’s best to let him ride the pine.