Lots of five-game schedules have led to a very thin week for two-start pitchers. There’s only 29 of them for Week 19. As usual, I’ve listed them all for you below in a ranked order. There’s plenty of notes, too, in situations where writing a player note seemed like a good idea. So feel free to scroll along, good luck down the stretch, and as always, please remember to stream responsibly.
Don’t You Dare Bench These Two-Start Pitchers
Zack Wheeler SP Phillies
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd @ Twins – 7IP 0ER 3H 2BB 7K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Yankees + Sunday, August 4th @ Mariners
Chris Sale SP Braves
Last start: Thursday, July 25th @ Mets – 7.1IP 2ER 2H 1BB 9K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 30th @ Brewers + Sunday, August 4th vs. Marlins
Corbin Burnes SP Orioles
Last start: Thursday, July 25th @ Marlins – 7.1IP 3ER 6H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 30th vs. Blue Jays + Sunday, August 4th @ Guardians
Logan Gilbert SP Mariners
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd vs. Angels – 6.2IP L 1ER (5R) 4H 1BB 8K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ Red Sox + Sunday, August 4th vs. Phillies
Paul Skenes SP Pirates
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd vs. Cardinals – 8.1IP L 2ER 4H 0BB 8K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ Astros + Sunday, August 4th @ DBacks
Tanner Bibee SP Guardians
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th vs. Tigers – 5IP 1ER 2H 1BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ Tigers + Sunday, August 4th vs. Orioles
Notes: If you were concerned after Tanner Bibee’s early exit on Wednesday, it’s looking like you can relax now. The 25-year-old was just dealing with a lower-body cramp, an issue he contends with from time to time. He should make his two scheduled starts next week. This means he should be in your lineup no matter who the opponents are.
Justin Steele SP Cubs
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th vs. Brewers – 5.1IP 2ER 6H 3BB 4K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 30th @ Reds + Sunday, August 4th vs. Cardinals
Jack Flaherty SP Tigers
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th @ Guardians – 6IP 0ER (1R) 3H 2BB 6K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Guardians + Sunday, August 4th vs. Royals
Luis Gil SP Yankees
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd vs. Mets – 5IP 1ER 4H 1BB 6K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ Phillies + Sunday, August 4th vs. Blue Jays
Nathan Eovaldi SP Rangers
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th vs. White Sox – 7IP W 2ER 4H 0BB 10K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ Cardinals + Sunday, August 4th vs. Red Sox
You Should Probably Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Jameson Taillon SP Cubs
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd vs. Brewers – 7.1IP L 1ER 4H 3BB 3K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ Reds + Saturday, August 3rd vs. Cardinals
Even if you don’t fully buy in to Jameson Taillon’s sub-3 ERA (2.97), it looks like he’ll finally be a two-start pitcher with favorable matchups. The Reds rank 16th in wOBA while the Cardinals rank 19th. OK, some regression wouldn’t be surprising (3.68 xERA), but hopefully, it doesn’t show up next week.
Michael Wacha SP Royals
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th vs. DBacks – 4.2IP 3ER 6H 1BB 1K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 30th @ White Sox + Sunday, August 4th @ Tigers
Notes: Michael Wacha is in the midst of a largely successful season (3.65 ERA/1.22 WHIP/7 Wins). Though expected numbers suggest there’s some luck involved (4.03 xERA, for example), he’s lined up for two ideal opponents next week. The Tigers rank 24th in wOBA, while the White Sox are 30th. Full stream ahead in leagues where he’s available and you need an extra arm.
In the Right Situation, These Two-Start Pitchers Make Sense
Jordan Montgomery SP DBacks
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd @ Royals – 5IP W 1ER 3H 1BB 2K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Nationals + Sunday, August 4th @ Pirates
OK, it’s been a pretty horrible season for Jordan Montgomery thus far (6.11 ERA/1.61 WHIP/6.0 K/9). But his return from the IL Tuesday yielded decent results (eight whiffs on 67 pitches were particularly encouraging). His pitch count will hopefully increase from here. And he’s lined up for two favorable matchups next week (Nationals ranked 26th in wOBA, Pirates 27th). Can the rest of his 2024 season resemble more of what we’ve seen the last three seasons (3.48 ERA/3.62 FIP/3.79 xFIP/1.18 WHIP from 2021 to 2023)? Stranger things have happened.
Andre Pallante SP/RP Cardinals
Last start: Monday, July 22nd @ Pirates – 6IP 1ER 3H 2BB 3K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Rangers + Saturday, August 3rd @ Cubs
Notes: Though Andre Pallante hasn’t been providing fantasy managers with many strikeouts (6.9 K/9), he has been limiting hard contact and keeping balls in play on the ground (60.9% is ranked 97th percentile). What is more encouraging, though: the Cardinals have allowed the righty to build up his pitch count. That’s resulted in three consecutive starts of six innings or more. Combined with his RP eligibility, this makes him a decent points-league streaming candidate in a two-start week.
Lance Lynn SP Cardinals
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd @ Pirates – 5IP 0ER 4H 3BB 2K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 30th vs. Rangers + Sunday, August 4th @ Cubs
Notes: At this point in his career, Lance Lynn is pretty much a matchup-based pitching streamer. With that in mind, he’s lined up for two favorable opponents next week. The Rangers rank 20th in wOBA. The Cubs are 22nd. Maybe just limit this to points leagues, though, based on the inconsistency (seven of his 20 starts have resulted in four earned runs or more).
Cooper Criswell SP/RP Red Sox
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd @ Rockies – 7IP W 0ER 5H 1BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Mariners + Sunday, August 4th @ Rangers
Notes: Are the Red Sox finally ready to allow Cooper Criswell to pitch deeper into games? Sure seems like it after the 28-year-old’s last two starts, the first two in which he’s logged at least six innings in the majors. With RP eligibility, and some good underlying numbers (average exit velocity ranked 70th percentile, hard-hit rate 76th, xERA 3.54), it makes for an interesting points-league stream against one of baseball’s worst offenses (Mariners ranked 28th in wOBA). The Rangers aren’t too much better either (ranked 20th).
You Better Be Desperate To Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Yariel Rodriguez SP Blue Jays
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th vs. Rays – 5.2IP 2ER 2H 1BB 6K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ Orioles + Sunday, August 4th @ Yankees
Notes: Is Yariel Rodriguez starting to get more comfortable in the majors? Since the calendar flipped to July, he’s put together some nice outings (2.01 ERA/0.76 WHIP/10.1 K/9 in last four starts). I’d be more excited about the two-start stream if it weren’t for the opponents. The Orioles (3rd in wOBA) and Yankees (2nd) seem like too much heavy lifting for the rookie. But maybe in a deep league, it would be worth a shot?
Sean Manaea SP/RP Mets
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th @ Yankees – 4.2IP 2ER 3H 4BB 4K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Twins + Sunday, August 4th @ Angels
Colin Rea SP Brewers
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd @ Cubs – 5IP 0ER 4H 2BB 8K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Braves + Sunday, August 4th @ Nationals
Notes: Despite Colin Rea’s encouraging effort on Tuesday, during which he had 14 whiffs on 93 pitches, I’m still scared off by poor across-the-board underlying metrics (headlined by a 10th-percentile average exit velocity). The 34-year-old would need some sustained improvements for me to trust him down the stretch, or even as a two-start pitcher in a weekly league.
Alec Marsh SP/RP Royals
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd vs. DBacks – 5IP L 5ER 5H 2BB 6K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ White Sox + Saturday, August 3rd @ Tigers
Notes: Given the high volatility for Alec Marsh recently (five earned runs or more in five of his last 11 starts), and some weak expected stats (4.97 xERA among others), there’s little temptation to use him as a pitching streamer. Even against two very light-hitting opponents (Tigers ranked 24th in wOBA, White Sox 30th).
Simeon Woods Richardson SP/RP Twins
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd vs. Phillies – 6IP 0ER 3H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ Mets + Sunday, August 4th vs. White Sox
Griffin Canning SP Angels
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th @ Mariners – 5IP 1ER 4H 3BB 6K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 30th vs. Rockies + Sunday, August 4th vs. Mets
Chayce McDermott SP Orioles
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th @ Marlins – 4IP 3ER 5H 2BB 3K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Blue Jays + Saturday, August 3rd @ Guardians
Notes: Though Chayce McDermott has some serious strikeout upside (12.9 K/9 rate over 335 career minor league innings), he also has some major control issues (5.3 BB/9 in minors). Furthermore, there’s no guarantee he stays in the rotation beyond Monday.
Jake Bloss SP Astros
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd @ A’s – 4IP L 5ER 6H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Pirates + Sunday, August 4th vs. Rays
Frankie Montas SP/RP Reds
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th @ Braves – 4.1IP 4ER 10H 3BB 6K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Cubs + Sunday, August 4th vs. Giants
Mitchell Parker SP Nationals
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th vs. Padres – 3IP L 6ER 7H 3BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th @ DBacks + Sunday, August 4th vs. Brewers
Edward Cabrera SP Marlins
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th vs. Orioles – 5.1IP 3ER 3H 4BB 6K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 30th @ Rays + Sunday, August 4th @ Braves
Notes: The walks are just so darn frustrating (nine in his last 10 innings and a career 5.42 BB/9 rate). Hard pass until Edward Cabrera figures it out.
Ty Blach SP/RP Rockies
Last start: Tuesday, July 23rd vs. Red Sox – 2.1IP L 6ER 7H 1BB 1K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, July 30th @ Angels + Sunday, August 4th @ Padres
Chris Flexen SP/RP Cubs
Last start: Wednesday, July 24th @ Rangers – 4.2IP L 3ER 7H 2BB 3K
2 starts next week: Monday, July 29th vs. Royals + Sunday, August 4th @ Twins