Many fantasy baseball leagues combine next week (July 8-14) with the following week (July 15-21). This is due to the All-Star Game festivities which limit regular-season play to just three days. If your league does this, that means pretty much all of your pitchers will have two starts. In that case, you’re still welcome to scroll through the list. I’ve made lots of player notes. My target audience, though, will be leagues that treat next week as any other. I’m thinking weekly roto leagues, mostly. In that case, it’s just business as usual. If you’re deciding who to sit, who to start, or who to stream, my ranked list of all 34 two-start pitchers might be a help. Check it out below.
Don’t You Dare Bench These Two-Start Pitchers
Zack Wheeler SP Phillies
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Cubs – 6IP 2ER 5H 2BB 7K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Dodgers + Sunday, July 14th vs. A’s
Chris Sale SP Braves
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Giants – 6IP W 1ER 3H 2BB 9K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th @ DBacks + Saturday, July 13th @ Padres
Logan Gilbert SP Mariners
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Orioles – 5.1IP L 4ER 6H 3BB 6K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Padres + Sunday, July 14th @ Angels
Zac Gallen SP DBacks
Last start: Thursday, July 4th @ Dodgers – 4IP 3ER 4H 3BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Braves + Sunday, July 14th vs. Blue Jays
Shota Imanaga SP Cubs
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Phillies – 6IP 3ER 6H 1BB 8K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Orioles + Sunday, July 14th @ Cardinals
Ronel Blanco SP/RP Astros
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Blue Jays – 5.2IP 2ER 4H 2BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Marlins + Sunday, July 14th vs. Rangers
Gavin Stone SP Dodgers
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. DBacks – 3IP 4ER 7H 3BB 3K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Phillies + Sunday, July 14th @ Tigers
Notes: Gavin Stone’s results weren’t great on Wednesday. Sometimes pitchers who don’t generate a lot of strikeouts (just 19.5%) run into some bad luck. Considering the 25-year-old yielded just four hard hits in this one (which actually works out to a 30.8% hard-hit rate, better than his great season average of 33.1%), I’m inclined to believe it’s was just that. I’m starting him with confidence next week.
You Should Probably Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Jack Flaherty SP Tigers
Last start: Skipped with back tightness
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th vs. Guardians + Saturday, July 13th vs. Dodgers
Notes: As of now, it looks like Jack Flaherty will make his next scheduled start on Monday. His Wednesday start was skipped with back tightness. Might want to check the latest update before committing to him next week.
Charlie Morton SP Braves
Last start: Thursday, July 4th vs. Giants – 5.1IP L 3ER (4R) 5H 2BB 5K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ DBacks + Sunday, July 14th @ Padres
Gavin Williams SP Guardians
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. White Sox – 4IP L 5ER 7H 2BB 2K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th @ Tigers + Saturday, July 13th @ Rays
Jake Irvin SP Nationals
Last start: Thursday, July 4th vs. Mets – 8IP W 0ER 1H 1BB 8K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Mets + Sunday, July 14th @ Brewers
Notes: After silencing a Mets team that has led baseball over the last month in wOBA, and compiling Quality Starts all season (12 out of 17 starts), can Jake Irvin be a true late breakout? With an xERA (3.71) almost a run higher than the actual ERA (2.80), I’m not totally there yet. But you could do worse betting on it in a categories league next week. In points, why not ride the hot hand?
Andrew Abbott SP Reds
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Yankees – 6.1IP W 1ER 3H 4BB 2K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th vs. Rockies + Saturday, July 13th vs. Marlins
Notes: Still trying to reconcile how Andrew Abbott is able to succeed with a 6.94 K/9 rate. This after a career minor league rate of 13.2. He had just six swinging strikes (on 96 pitches) in what was generally a successful start on Wednesday. It sure makes me doubt how long this can last. Especially with his home games coming where they do (Great American Ballpark is the 3rd-worst environment for pitchers according to Park Factors). But with two juicy matchups next week, I guess why not roll the dice for another week?
Dean Kremer SP Orioles
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Mariners – 5IP W 0ER 2H 2BB 8K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Cubs + Sunday, July 14th vs. Yankees
Notes: Dean Kremer is back from a triceps injury. He looked really good on Wednesday with 16 swinging strikes (on 83 pitches) and eight strikeouts. The 28-year-old wasn’t too bad before the injury either, yielding more than three runs just twice (in nine starts). With the Orioles’ offense working to his advantage, this stream makes sense during a two-start week in both points and categories. If the whiffs continue, this could potentially be a longer-term hold.
In the Right Situation, These Two-Start Pitchers Make Sense
Carlos Rodon SP Yankees
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Reds – 5.1IP L 3ER 3H 2BB 8K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Rays + Sunday, July 14th @ Orioles
Notes: Wouldn’t drop Carlos Rodon just yet. He’s still collecting whiffs (averaging 16 swinging strikes over the last two starts despite 11 earned runs over 10.1 innings). And strikeouts (16 over his last two starts). And he accumulates innings (over his last four starts, despite 23 earned runs, he’s still thrown five or more three times). In points leagues, as a two-start pitcher, I’d stick with him unless you have much better options. Categories? Let’s wait and see if the home runs (seven allowed in the last three starts) normalize.
Ryan Pepiot SP/RP Rays
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Royals – 4IP L 2ER 4H 3BB 0K
2 starts last week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Yankees + Sunday, July 14th vs. Guardians
Notes: The control improvements that we saw from Ryan Pepiot last season feel like a lifetime ago. His 12 walks over the last four starts have led to 10 earned runs during that time and a 4.40 ERA overall. Wednesday aside, he still gets the strikeout totals more often than not (9.87 K/9), but for now, the decision to start him has a lot to do with the opponent. That being said, the Yankees are ranked 3rd in wOBA and the Guardians are 12th. Outside of points leagues, I’m leaning toward sitting him.
Ben Lively SP/RP Guardians
Last start: Thursday, July 4th vs. White Sox – 6IP W 3ER 6H 1BB 6K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Tigers + Sunday, July 14th @ Rays
Jordan Hicks SP/RP Giants
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Braves – 5IP L 3ER 8H 2BB 6K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Blue Jays + Sunday, July 13th vs. Twins
Notes: None of the underlying metrics appear to be lining up well for Jordan Hicks. His K rate is now at 21.2%, ranking in the 42nd percentile. And his xERA (4.56) is over a full run higher than his actual ERA (3.47). What’s more, he’s failed to go at least six innings since April and hasn’t gone past five since May. During a two-start week, and RP eligibility, it still makes sense to start him in points leagues. But categories are questionable. Depends on how bad your options are.
Frankie Montas SP/RP Reds
Last start: Thursday, July 4th @ Yankees – 5IP W 2ER 4H 3BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Rockies + Sunday, July 14th vs. Marlins
Notes: If Nick Lodolo returns from the IL next week, it would likely push Frankie Montas’s second start to the following week. So don’t depend on it.
Christian Scott SP Mets
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Nationals – 5.2IP 4ER 6H 2BB 2K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th @ Pirates + Saturday, July 13th vs. Rockies
Notes: With enough talent (career 3.19 ERA/1.06 WHIP/11.3 K/9 in four minor league seasons) and pedigree (ranked as the 47th overall prospect by Fangraphs), Christian Scott wouldn’t be a crazy addition to your roster next week. That’s despite a lackluster return to the majors on Wednesday. He’ll line up for the Pirates (ranked 28th in wOBA) and the Rockies (.631 OPS on the road). Ideal for a points league, but if you’re short on pitching in categories, this is still worth considering.
Mitchell Parker SP Nationals
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Mets – 6IP 5ER 5H 0BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th vs. Cardinals + Saturday, July 13th @ Brewers
Miles Mikolas SP Cardinals
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Pirates – 6IP 2ER 5H 0BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th @ Nationals + Sunday, July 14th vs. Cubs
Notes: Giving up nine earned runs two starts ago aside, Miles Mikolas has gone at least six innings in his last seven other starts. Still think you can stream worse in a points league. But only if all the other names above him are not available.
Jose Quintana SP Mets
Last start: Thursday, July 4th @ Nationals – 7IP 0ER 4H 3BB 1K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Pirates + Sunday, July 14th vs. Rockies
Notes: Given the matchups next week (Pirates ranked 28th in wOBA/Rockies .631 OPS on the road), the temptation to use Jose Quintana in a points league is just enough. The 35-year-old has been functional recently, with just three earned runs in his last 23.1 innings.
Brayan Bello SP Red Sox
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Marlins 6.2IP W 1ER 1BB 7K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. A’s + Sunday, July 14th vs. Royals
Colin Rea SP Brewers
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Rockies – 7IP W 0ER 6H 0BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Pirates + Sunday, July 14th vs. Nationals
You Better Be Desperate To Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Yusei Kikuchi SP Blue Jays
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Astros – 5.2IP 2ER 5H 2BB 5K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Giants + Sunday, July 14th @ DBacks
Notes: I know Yusei Kikuchi got better results on Wednesday, but there was still plenty of loud contact (10 hard hits out of 17 balls in play). That suggests he got lucky and isn’t quite past his recent rough patch (7.12 ERA in his previous seven games). I’ll pass for now.
John Gray SP Rangers
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Padres – 4IP 3ER 7H 2BB 2K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th @ Angels + Sunday, July 14th @ Astros
Kenta Maeda SP Tigers
Last start: Wednesday, July 4th @ Twins – 3.2IP L 9ER 9H 3BB 3K
2 starts next week: Thursday, July 9th vs. Guardians + Sunday, July 14th vs. Dodgers
Joey Estes SP A’s
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Angels – 9IP W 0ER 5H 1BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Red Sox + Sunday, July 14th @ Phillies
Notes: Good for you if Joey Estes was in your (deep-league) lineup this week! Still would need to see an increase in whiffs (just 21.3%), strikeouts (only four during a 93-pitch shutout with 15 swinging strikes), or ground balls (bottom 1st percentile) to roster him even in a points league. Doubly so this week with two very difficult matchups.
Davis Daniel RP Angels
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ A’s – 5.1IP L 4ER (5R) 7H 1BB 3K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th vs. Rangers + Saturday, July 13th vs. Mariners
Martin Perez SP/RP Pirates
Last start: Thursday, July 4th vs. Cardinals
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Brewers + Sunday, July 14th @ White Sox
Trevor Rogers SP Marlins
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd @ Braves – 3IP L 2ER 5H 3BB 6K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th @ Astros + Sunday, July 14th @ Reds
Dakota Hudson SP/RP Rockies
Last start: Wednesday, July 3rd vs. Brewers – 4.2IP L 3ER 7H 3BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th @ Reds + Saturday, July 13th @ Mets
Chris Flexen SP/RP White Sox
Last start: Tuesday, July 2nd @ Guardians – 6IP 3ER 6H 1BB 3K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 8th vs. Twins + Sunday, July 14th vs. Pirates
Roansy Contreras SP/RP Angels
Last start: Thursday, July 4th @ A’s – 2.2IP L 2ER (3R) 3H 3BB 1K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 9th vs. Rangers + Sunday, July 14th vs. Mariners