Two-Start Pitchers for Week 15: (June 30-July 6)

Welcome to the Week 15 edition of two-start pitchers. Keeping track of the week’s two-steppers is an essential strategy in fantasy baseball, as they can give our fantasy squads a boost in strikeouts and wins. However, we also need to be selective about which two-start pitchers we roll with, as they can bloat our ratios if we choose poorly.

This weekly write-up helps you identify the best two-start pitchers of the week. Some two-start options are easy decisions, while others require more thought. To help you decide, I rank the two-start pitchers into tiers and provide brief notes on each option.

It’s important to remember that teams frequently adjust their starting rotations. As this write-up gets submitted on Saturdays, you’ll want to check the league’s latest schedule of probable pitchers to make sure you’re up to date with the correct starters. With that, let’s look at the two-start pitchers for Week 15.

Don’t Overthink These Two-Start Pitchers

These are your set-it-and-forget-it arms for the week. Most are elite starting pitchers with strong matchups.

Garrett Crochet (SP — BOS)

First Start: vs. CIN
Second Start: @ WAS
Garrett Crochet has been amazing this season. He leads the league in strikeouts (135) and showcases a 2.06 ERA and 1.02 WHIP across 17 starts. Easy must-start with a juicy two-step in Week 15.

Zack Wheeler (SP — PHI)

First Start: vs. SDP
Second Start: vs. CIN
Zack Wheeler has been pitching out of his mind this season and has looked especially sharp of late. He’s allowed one earned run or less in seven of his last eight starts while piling up 60 Ks across those 48 frames. Wheeler’s 26.4% K-BB on the year is a career-high mark and second-best among pitchers, behind only Tarik Skubal’s 28.7% mark.

Logan Webb (SP — SFG)

First Start: @ ARI
Second Start: @ ATH
I love pitchers who bring strikeouts and ground balls to the fantasy table, and Logan Webb does just that. He’s striking out batters at a career-best 27.7% rate this season while inducing ground balls nearly 54% of the time. The Diamondbacks and Athletics are top-10 in OPS against righties, but Webb is still an auto-start.

Max Fried (SP — NYY)

First Start: @ TOR
Second Start: @ NYM
Max Fried strikes out a batter per inning, generates ground balls at a 53% clip, and keeps our ratios smooth. Oh yeah, he also brings the Ws. Easy must-start.

Joe Ryan (SP — MIN)

First Start: @ MIA
Second Start: vs. TBR
Joe Ryan is fresh off one of his best starts of the season. He tossed six scoreless frames against the Mariners with eight punchies. Ryan had a down start at the beginning of June but has since been solid. He has a 3.49 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in his last five appearances to go with a 32:11 K:BB across 28.1 innings. A 9.8% walk rate in this stretch isn’t great, but we’re still plugging Ryan into our lineups with confidence this week.

George Kirby (SP — SEA)

First Start: vs. KCR
Second Start: vs. PIT
George Kirby is coming off his best start of the season. He gave up one earned run across six innings with three strikeouts against the Twins. It was the fewest earned runs Kirby allowed all season, and it was the first time in three starts that he didn’t allow a home run. The lack of long balls is an encouraging sign, as Kirby has had trouble keeping balls in the yard this year (1.72 HR/9). Hopefully, Kirby can build off this start as he gets a dreamy two-step this week. Despite an increase in walks and dingers this season, Kirby is a fine two-start pitcher in Week 15.

Roll With These Two-Start Pitchers

These are solid two-starters for the week. While they come with more risk than the arms above, you’re likely rolling with these two-steppers in Week 15.

Drew Rasmussen (SP — TBR)

First Start: vs. ATH
Second Start: @ MIN
Drew Rasmussen just fired off another scoreless start, ho-hum. He’s racked up five shutout starts in his last eight appearances with a sparkling 1.62 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 44.1 innings. Rassmusen also picked up six wins in that stretch. A 3.58 SIERA suggests he’s been a little lucky, but we’re still happily plugging Rasmussen into lineups. He offers some strikeout upside (7.51 K/9) to go with win opportunity and smooth ratios. The Athletics and Twins don’t roll over against righties, but Rasmussen is a lineup staple at this point.

Matthew Boyd (SP — CHC)

First Start: vs. CLE
Second Start: vs. STL
Matthew Boyd has been fantastic in his last six appearances. He’s limited teams to two earned runs or fewer in all of those starts with a minuscule 1.49 ERA (4.10 SIERA) and 0.77 WHIP. Some regression is due, and Boyd’s 6.44 K/9 in that stretch leaves something to be desired. But we’ll gladly roll with Boyd against two teams who are bottom-10 in OPS against southpaws. Boyd is a solid two-start pitcher in shallow leagues.

Jacob Lopez (SP — ATH)

First Start: @ TBR
Second Start: vs. SFG
The scoreless starts are starting to add up for Jacob Lopez. He’s logged three shutout games in his last four outings, and his 29 Ks in those 23 frames is good for a 31.5% strikeout rate. Lopez won’t continue performing at this level. But he’s been more than solid in his seven starts, posting a 3.96 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 21.4% K-BB. Lopez is a nice two-start pitcher in shallow leagues this week.

Ryne Nelson (SP — ARI)

First Start: vs. SFG
Second Start: vs. KCR
Ryne Nelson is coming off back-to-back one-hit games, and he recorded a season-high seven punchouts in his last outing against the White Sox. Outside of a down game earlier in the month, Nelson has looked sharp. He has six starts in his last seven appearances, posting a 2.62 ERA (4.45 SIERA) and 0.93 WHIP across 34.1 frames. Some regression is due, but it might not hit too hard against the Giants and Royals, who are bottom-10 in OPS against righties.

Edward Cabrera (SP — MIA)

First Start: vs. MIN
Second Start: vs. MIL
Edward Cabrera has turned the corner of late. He’s given up two earned runs or less in all of his last six starts while sporting a 29% strikeout rate. He’s also flashing nice ratios in this stretch with a 1.30 ERA (3.75 SIERA) and 1.23 WHIP across 30 innings. Double-digit walk rates have always been a part of Cabrera’s game, and he doesn’t bring upside to the win column. But Ks and solid ratios are worth starting in 12-team leagues.

Chase Burns (SP — CIN)

First Start: @ BOS
Second Start: @ PHI
Chase Burns was impressive in his debut against the Yankees. He struck out the first five hitters he faced and totaled eight punchouts on the day. Burns also didn’t issue a walk while allowing three earned runs in five frames. Burns will continue to be tested this week in road starts against the Red Sox and Phillies. But the one thing we can count on with Burns is strikeouts. He carried a 36.8% strikeout rate in 13 starts across the minors this season. His ratios may be another story, but Burns is worth taking a shot on in shallow leagues this week.

Grant Holmes (SP — ATL)

First Start: vs. LAA
Second Start: vs. BAL
Strikeouts and walks have been the name of the game for Grant Holmes in June. He’s sporting a 13.68 K/9 across his last five starts. But the Ks are coming with a heaping side of walks (5.26 BB/9), which have contributed to a 1.48 WHIP for the month. Holmes’ two-step isn’t scary, and he makes for a solid two-start pitcher in shallow leagues this week. Just be mindful of the high WHIP.

Michael Wacha (SP — KCR)

First Start: @ SEA
Second Start: @ ARI
Michael Wacha is one of the more consistent pitchers out there. He’s a mid-3.00 ERA talent who strikes out batters at a 20-22% clip and doesn’t issue many free passes. He’s also easy on our ratios. The wins aren’t always there, but Wacha is looking to pick up his fifth quality start in six outings. He’s a solid two-start pitcher in shallow leagues in Week 15.

Jack Flaherty (SP — DET)

First Start: @ WAS
Second Start: @ CLE
Jack Flaherty’s latest start was a mixed bag. The good: He didn’t toss a third consecutive 7+ earned run game. The not-so-good: He continued to struggle with walks, allowing four free passes on the day. Flaherty has been terrible in June, especially on the walk front. He’s racked up 15 over his past four starts, contributing to a 1.74 WHIP in that span with an inflated 8.63 ERA (4.75 SIERA). On the bright side, the Ks are still there with a 27% strikeout rate. Up next, Flaherty gets a tasty two-step. The Nationals and Guardians are bottom-eight in OPS versus righties since May. Despite his lackluster performances, Flaherty is worth gambling on this week with his strikeout and win opportunity. Just make sure you can stomach a possible ratio blowup.

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 starters who could bloat your ratios if things go south. Tread carefully.

Emerson Hancock (SP — SEA)

First Start: vs. KCR
Second Start: vs. PIT
Outside of a nine-earned-run start a couple of weeks ago, Emerson Hancock has been solid-ish recently. He’s allowed two earned runs or less in five of his last six starts while posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Hancock allowed only 21 hits in this 32-inning stretch, fueling his low WHIP mark. Assuming he can continue to curb the hits, Hancock is a decent two-start option. He faces two soft offenses at home and offers some strikeout and win upside. If there’s ever a time to roll Hancock out for a two-step, it’s this week.

Kevin Gausman (SP — TOR)

First Start: vs. NYY
Second Start: vs. LAA
Kevin Gausman rebounded nicely from his previous seven-earned-run start. He tossed eight innings of shutout baseball against the Guardians to go with six strikeouts. Gausman’s ratios for the year are solid, but he’s slipped a little in June, especially in the walk department. He issued 13 free passes across five starts this month, up from one lone walk issued across all of May. The result is an elevated 5.46 ERA (4.24 SIERA) and 1.36 WHIP across 28 frames. Gausman still strikes out a batter per inning, but his upcoming start against the Yankees isn’t ideal. He’s likely worth starting in deeper leagues if you need the Ks, but there’s some ratio risk given his recent play.

Gavin Williams (SP — CLE)

First Start: @ CHC
Second Start: vs. DET
Gavin Williams is making the most out of his .203 BABIP in June. In five starts this month, Williams holds a 2.57 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with a 20:13 K:BB across 28 innings. However, Williams’ estimators suggest his ERA should be a good two runs higher. Regression is coming, and unfortunately, it could hit hard in Week 15. The Cubs are fourth-best in OPS against righties, and both clubs are top-4 in runs scored this year. Williams is a dicey play in 15-team leagues with ratio risk lurking under the surface.

Clay Holmes (SP — NYM)

First Start: vs. MIL
Second Start: vs. NYY
Clay Holmes has been just okay-ish of late. While he’s allowed one earned run in four of his last six starts, his Ks have dried up in this stretch (5.94 K/9). He’s also had issues with walks, posting a 1.50 WHIP. The Brewers are a soft offense against righties, but there’s not much to chase with Holmes. And a start against the Yankees at the end of the week isn’t inspiring. The risk likely outweighs the reward here.

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!

Colton Gordon (SP — HOU)

First Start: @ COL
Second Start: @ LAD
Colton Gordon has been sharp in his eight starts and has looked even better since the calendar flipped to June. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last four starts while registering an impressive 18:2 K:BB across 21 innings. However, Gordon gets a tricky two-step in Week 15. He battles the pesky Rockies at Coors Field and then caps the week with an unenviable start against the Dodgers. Given Gordon’s 1.77 HR/9, that could prove costly. It’s best to sit Gordon out this week.

Michael Lorenzen (SP — KCR)

First Start: @ SEA
Second Start: @ ARI
There isn’t a lot of juice to squeeze with Michael Lorenzen. A 4.91 ERA and 1.38 WHIP on the year is meh, and so is his 11.8% K-BB. Plus, a matchup against the Diamondbacks isn’t something we want to attack for fantasy. This isn’t a good streaming week for Lorenzen.

Erick Fedde (SP — STL)

First Start: @ PIT
Second Start: @ CHC
The Cubs hung seven earned runs on Erick Fedde in his latest outing, as he coughed up a season-high three dingers across 3.2 frames. A re-match is on the Week 15 slate, which isn’t encouraging. Neither are Fedde’s stats in June. He holds a 4.62 ERA (5.28 SIERA), 1.50 WHIP and 5.3% K-BB across his five starts for the month (25.1 innings). Fedde is best left on benches in 15-teamers this week, despite a friendly start against the Pirates.

Patrick Corbin (SP — TEX)

First Start: vs. BAL
Second Start: @ SDR
Patrick Corbin coughed up five earned runs across five frames in his latest start against the Orioles. A rematch is on tap in Week 15, and given his performance of late, we shouldn’t be excited. In his last three starts, Corbin has a 7.20 ERA (4.07 SIERA) and 1.73 WHIP across 15 frames. There’s not much to chase, and Corbin often gets the hook in the fifth inning. He’s not a recommended two-start pitcher in Week 15.

Tyler Anderson (SP — LAA)

First Start: @ ATL
Second Start: @ TOR
Tyler Anderson’s June hasn’t been great. He’s allowed at least four earned runs in three of five starts for the month with a 6.93 ERA (4.17 SIERA) and 1.74 WHIP across 24.2 innings. On the plus side, Anderson struck out a batter per inning in this stretch. But everything else is blegh. With little to chase outside of Ks, the reward isn’t worth the risk.

Hayden Birdsong (SP — SFG)

First Start: @ ARI
Second Start: @ ATH
Hayden Birdsong is coming off an ugly seven-earned run game against the Marlins with a 1:4 K:BB across four innings. Oof. Birdsong has looked awful of late. He posted a 7.71 ERA (5.31 SIERA) and 1.66 WHIP across his last four starts with a 17.8% strikeout rate and 13.3% walk rate. He’s also only made it to the fifth inning once in that stretch. Those are not numbers you want when considering two-start options.

Zac Gallen (SP — ARI)

First Start: vs. SFG
Second Start: vs. KCR
Hard contact and long balls have been a problem for Zac Gallen this month. He’s racked up nine home runs in five June starts while registering a whopping 18.2% barrel rate and 48.5% hard-hit rate. Unsurprisingly, Gallen has given up at least four earned runs in four of those five outings. There’s some strikeout and win upside to chase, but your ratios will be taxed. Gallen is best left on benches this week.

Andrew Heaney (SP — PIT)

First Start: vs. STL
Second Start: @ SEA
Andrew Heaney coughed up seven earned runs in each of his last two starts and walked more batters than he struck out with a 5:6 K:BB across eight innings. He also allowed a season-high three long balls in his latest outing. With few Ks to chase and little win upside, it’s best to steer clear of Heaney until he spins a solid game or two.

Trevor Williams (SP — WAS)

First Start: vs. DET
Second Start: vs. BOS
Trevor Williams doesn’t pitch deep into games, lacks win opportunity and strikeout upside, and brings bloated ratios to the table. Not what you want from your two-start pitcher.

Max Scherzer (SP — TOR)

First Start: vs. NYY
Second Start: vs. LAA
It’s tough to trust Max Scherzer in a two-step. He’s pitched a total of eight frames this season across two starts. And he’s been far from lights-out with a 5.63 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 5.4% swinging-strike rate in his limited sample. That’s not to say Scherzer won’t regain form, but do we want to bet on that coming against the Yankees? I want to see more before slotting Scherzer into starting lineups.

Marcus Stroman (SP — NYY)

First Start: @ TOR
Second Start: @ NYM
What we saw from Marcus Stroman before he was shelved with a knee injury wasn’t good. In three starts, he posted an 11.57 ERA (5.85 SIERA), 2.04 WHIP and 0.0% K-BB across 9.1 innings. Stroman shouldn’t be that bad moving forward. But a 6.97 ERA and 1.74 WHIP across three Double-A rehab assignments don’t exactly give us the warm and fuzzies. Avoid.

Chase Dollander (SP — COL)

First Start: vs. HOU
Second Start: vs. CWS
Chase Dollander brings inflated ratios, near-zero win opportunity, and a 4.18 K/9 in June to his two starts at Coors Field. No, thank you.

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