Well, it’s hard to believe it, but the end of the regular fantasy baseball season is just about here. Most leagues only have two weeks left until the playoffs start. With that said, odds are this is an important week for your team. So whether you’re looking to add some innings, or deciding who to sit/start for Week 23, this article has you covered. Below, I’ve listed all 36 two-start pitchers in a ranked order. I even wrote up player notes in cases where I thought it would be helpful. So feel free to have a scroll, hope you’re atop your standings, and as always please remember to stream responsibly.
Don’t You Dare Bench These Two-Start Pitchers
Cole Ragans SP/RP Royals
Season: 152.1IP 10W 17QS 183K 3.31 ERA 1.15 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Guardians + Saturday, August 31st @ Astros
Aaron Nola SP Phillies
Season: 159.1IP 11W 16QS 147K 3.45 ERA 1.18 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th vs. Astros + Saturday, August 31st vs. Braves
Max Fried SP Braves
Season: 128.2IP 7W 11QS 119K 3.57 ERA 1.22 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Twins + Saturday, August 31st @ Phillies
Bailey Ober SP Twins
Season: 140IP 12W 15QS 145K 3.54 ERA 0.99 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th vs. Braves + Sunday, September 1st vs. Blue Jays
Michael King SP/RP Padres
Season: 141.1IP 11W 12QS 167K 3.18 ERA 1.17 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th vs. Twins + Saturday, August 31st vs. Mets
Ronel Blanco SP/RP Astros
Season: 137.2IP 9W 12QS 136K 3.14 ERA 1.06 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Phillies + Sunday, September 1st vs. Royals
Notes: Ronel Blanco has struggled a bit over the last six starts (5.34 ERA/1.40 WHIP). Could that be a sign of a pitcher reaching uncharted innings territory (previous high was last year at 125.1 innings between majors and minors)? Maybe. I guess we should keep an eye on that. But for now, I’m still starting the 30-year-old in leagues where I have him on the roster.
Bryce Miller SP Mariners
Season: 143.2IP 9W 13 QS 133K 3.32 ERA 1.02 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th vs. Rays + Sunday, September 1st @ Angels
Ryan Pepiot SP/RP Rays
Season: 98.2IP 7W 7QS 104K 3.65 ERA 1.06 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Mariners + Sunday, September 1st vs. Padres
Spencer Schwellenbach SP Braves
Season: 82.1IP 5W 8QS 85K 4.04 ERA 1.07 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th @ Twins + Sunday, September 1st @ Phillies
Notes: An elite walk rate (ranked in the 95th percentile) and a very good K rate (27.5%) have led to Spencer Schwellenbach’s breakout so far. His xERA (3.19) is also much better than what we’ve seen play out on the field (4.04 ERA). I know the opponents are far from ideal next week (Twins ranked 6th in wOBA, Phillies ranked 7th), but he’s a must-start until further notice.
Cristopher Sanchez SP Phillies
Season: 146.1IP 9W 14QS 116K 3.51 ERA 1.27 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Astros + Sunday, September 1st vs. Braves
You Should Probably Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Jose Berrios SP Blue Jays
Season: 156.2IP 12W 16QS 123K 3.79 ERA 1.17 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Red Sox + Saturday, August 31st @ Twins
Brandon Pfaadt SP DBacks
Season: 150IP 8W 12QS 139K 4.08 ERA 1.15 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Mets + Sunday, September 1st vs. Dodgers
Nestor Cortes SP Yankees
Season: 148.1IP 7W 11QS 137K 4.00 ERA 1.15 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Nationals + Sunday, September 1st vs. Cardinals
Nick Pivetta SP/RP Red Sox
Season: 105.1IP 5W 7QS 125K 4.70 ERA 1.16 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th vs. Blue Jays + Saturday, August 31st @ Tigers
Notes: Nick Pivetta’s high ERA (4.70) is right around his career mark (4.84 over eight seasons). But he still offers lots of strikeouts (10.7 K/9 this season), a competitive WHIP (1.14 over the last two seasons), and RP eligibility. That still makes him a no-brainer points-league option. And pretty much categories too unless you’re sure you can do better. With two favorable matchups next week (Blue Jays 15th in wOBA, Tigers 26th), odds are you can’t.
Sean Manaea SP/RP Mets
Season: 117.2IP 9W 10QS 128K 3.48 ERA 1.17 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th @ DBacks + Sunday, September 1st @ White Sox
Notes: Sean Manaea’s career ERA of 4.03 (over nine seasons) tells the story of a functional pitcher who, when going well, can help fantasy managers. He’s sure doing that this year. And against the absolute worst offense next week (White Sox rank 30th in wOBA), it’s more likely than not he’ll continue to do so. Should you be worried about the DBacks start (2nd in wOBA)? Yes. Enough to sit the 32-year-old two-start pitcher in points leagues? I’d say no. Probably not in a categories league either, but do check all your options.
In the Right Situation, These Two-Start Pitchers Make Sense
Nick Martinez SP/RP Reds
Season: 101.1IP 6W 2QS 82K 3.64 ERA 1.10 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. A’s + Sunday, September 1st vs. Brewers
Notes: Rough start on Wednesday aside (six earned runs and three home runs yielded in Toronto), the underlying numbers for Nick Martinez are intriguing. The 34-year-old has been elite or near elite in average exit velocity (90th percentile), chase rate (97th), walk rate (98th), barrel rate (86th), and hard-hit rate (94th). With the Reds seemingly willing to let the righty cover a full workload (80 or more pitches in the last three starts), you can do worse in a points league, especially where you’re looking to fill that RP spot.
Jameson Taillon SP Cubs
Season: 126.2IP 8W 9QS 101K 3.77 ERA 1.20 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Pirates + Sunday, September 1st @ Nationals
Notes: With lots of recent home runs allowed against not-so-great teams (two yielded against the Reds, White Sox, and Tigers within the last month), it’s hard to recommend Jameson Taillon as a streamable two-start pitcher, even with favorable matchups (Pirates 28th in wOBA, Nationals 22nd). Nevertheless, it still seems like a calculated risk in a points league. Categories? I’d make sure the players above are already gone.
Garrett Crochet SP/RP White Sox
Season: 128.2IP 6W 11QS 180K 3.64 ERA 1.07 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Rangers + Sunday, September 1st vs. Mets
Notes: Though he hasn’t thrown more than 77 pitches in a start since the beginning of July, and no more than four innings since June, Garrett Crochet can still be useful in a categories league where you’re looking to get a few strikeouts without sacrificing ratios. As a two-start pitcher, the 25-year-old might even be able to contribute enough innings to help as an RP in points leagues, albeit with no chance at a win or Quality Start.
Tobias Myers SP Brewers
Season: 103.1IP 6W 6QS 90K 2.87 ERA 1.14 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Giants + Sunday, September 1st @ Reds
Notes: While Tobias Myers’s ERA would appear unsustainable (xERA 4.10), the regression doesn’t have to happen all at once. Especially in a two-start week that includes middling teams such as the Giants (ranked 14th in wOBA) and Reds (ranked 16th). He’s not high on the list, but you could do worse in both points and categories.
Kyle Harrison SP Giants
Season: 117IP 7W 9QS 108K 4.00 ERA 1.30 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th @ Brewers + Sunday, September 1st vs. Marlins
Notes: Though I recommended Kyle Harrison last week, it was based on matchups. This week, he should get the two starts for real, but one of those starts is in Milwaukee (Brewers ranked 10th in wOBA). Still seems worth a shot in points leagues, but this week I would stay away in categories unless you really need that extra arm.
Michael Lorenzen SP/RP Royals
Season: 124.1IP 7W 9QS 91K 3.47 ERA 1.25 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th @ Guardians + Sunday, September 1st @ Astros
Notes: The 1.99 ERA/1.15 WHIP since coming to the Royals is nice, but Michael Lorenzen hasn’t been going deep into games outside of Wednesday (seven shutout innings against Angels). He also doesn’t get many strikeouts (13th percentile) and he walks too many (16th). Is he a plausible two-start pitching streamer next week as an RP in a points league? Sure. Am I eager to make that move? Definitely not.
Mitch Spence SP/RP A’s
Season: 115.2IP 7W 3QS 97K 4.67 ERA 1.33 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th @ Reds + Sunday, September 1st @ Rangers
Notes: Ten strikeouts on Wednesday? That’s a season high for rookie Mitch Spence, who still just has a 7.6 K/9 rate for the season. If you’re hard up for an extra two-start pitcher to fill your RP spot, or a starter in a deep league, I guess there are crazier ways to speculate. The 26-year-old did have an even 9.0 K/9 rate across 426 minor league innings.
You Better Be Desperate To Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Martin Perez SP/RP Padres
Season: 106IP 3W 7QS 86K 4.67 ERA 1.50 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Twins + Sunday, September 1st vs. Mets
Walker Buehler SP Dodgers
Season: 44.1IP 1W 2QS 35K 6.09 ERA 1.67 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Orioles + Sunday, September 1st @ DBacks
Not much to like about Walker Buehler’s return from Tommy John surgery this season. With his expected numbers just about as bad as the season line (xERA 5.26 for example), I’m certainly not starting him against the Orioles (5th in wOBA) and DBacks (2nd).
Kyle Gibson SP Cardinals
Season: 136.1IP 7W 10QS 126K 4.22 ERA 1.36 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th vs. Padres + Saturday, August 31st @ Yankees
Miles Mikolas SP Cardinals
Season: 144IP 8W 14 QS 99K 5.19 ERA 1.26 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Padres + Sunday, September 1st @ Yankees
Cooper Criswell SP/RP Red Sox
Season: 79.2IP 5W 61K 4.41 ERA 1.34 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Blue Jays + Sunday, September 1st @ Tigers
Notes: Until we see consistent innings, just not worth the stream. Despite a decent hard-hit rate (73rd percentile), lots of ground balls (82nd percentile), and a respectable xERA (3.91).
Cal Quantrill SP Rockies
Season: 132.1IP 8W 12QS 101K 4.56 ERA 1.39 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Marlins + Sunday, September 1st vs. Orioles
Mitchell Parker SP Nationals
Season: 122.2IP 7W 9QS 104K 4.26 ERA 1.25 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th vs. Yankees + Sunday, September 1st vs. Cubs
Edward Cabrera SP Marlins
Season: 65.1IP 2W 3QS 73K 5.65 ERA 1.47 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Rockies + Saturday, August 31st @ Giants
Johnny Cueto SP Angels
Last start: Wednesday, August 21st @ Royals – 6.1IP L 3ER 8H 2BB 1K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 26th @ Tigers + Sunday, September 1st vs. Mariners
Notes: Good to see 38-year-old Johnny Cueto back in the bigs. But even with his quality start Wednesday, the three swinging strikes and just one strikeout doesn’t inspire much confidence going forward. Even with two ideal opponents next week (Tigers 26th in wOBA, Mariners 27th), it’s a pass for me.
Yariel Rodriguez SP Blue Jays
Season: 59.1IP 1W 2QS 63K 4.40 ERA 1.33 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ Red Sox + Sunday, September 1st @ Twins
Kenta Maeda SP/RP Tigers
Season: 95.1IP 2W 2QS 76K 6.42 ERA 1.44 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th @ White Sox + Saturday, August 31st vs. Red Sox
Brant Hurter SP Tigers
Career minor leagues (3 seasons): 296IP 10.3K/9 4.04 ERA 1.24 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th vs. Angels + Sunday, September 1st vs. Red Sox
Roddery Munoz SP Marlins
Season: 81.1IP 2W 2QS 70K 5.98 ERA 1.51 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, August 27th @ Rockies + Sunday, September 1st @ Giants
Davis Martin SP/RP White Sox
Career in minors (6 seasons): 367.2IP 10.3K/9 4.80 ERA 1.35 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, August 26th vs. Tigers + Saturday, August 31st vs. Mets