Are you making a fantasy baseball playoff push? With just one week left in many leagues, I sure hope so. But whether you’re solidly atop your division, need one more big week to take the last seed, or whether you just want to improve your rotation, this article has you covered. Below, I have ranked and listed all 33 two-start pitchers for Week 24. I’ve noted which pitchers make for a good stream and wrote up player notes in all cases where I thought that would be helpful. So good luck, remember to stream responsibly and feel free to have a scroll.
Don’t You Dare Bench These Two-Start Pitchers
Chris Sale SP Braves
Season: 153.2IP 15W 15QS 197K 2.58 ERA 1.02 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd vs. Rockies + Sunday, September 8th vs. Blue Jays
Corbin Burnes SP Orioles
Season: 164.1IP 12W 19QS 150K 3.23 ERA 1.13 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. White Sox + Sunday, September 8th vs. Rays
Notes: If you’re concerned about Corbin Burnes’s 7.36 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in August (last five starts), I sure don’t blame you. His whiff rate and K rate have been down all year and there was some concern his ERA would eventually regress (3.37 xERA). He wasn’t sharp on Wednesday either (six runs and two homers allowed), but still did have 19 whiffs and was mostly done in by his defense (five unearned runs). Given the track record (career 3.26 ERA/1.07 WHIP over seven seasons), he’s likely to figure it out. And with a soft schedule next week (White Sox last in wOBA, Rays 26th), the 29-year-old should still be in your starting lineup.
Logan Gilbert SP Mariners
Season: 171.2IP 7W 21QS 172K 3.09 ERA 0.90 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ A’s + Saturday, September 7th @ Cardinals
Luis Castillo SP Mariners
Season: 165.1IP 11W 17QS 167K 3.65 ERA 1.17 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd @ A’s + Sunday, September 8th @ Cardinals
Paul Skenes SP Pirates
Season: 109IP 8W 13QS 136K 2.23 ERA 0.95 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd @ Cubs + Sunday, September 8th vs. Nationals
Notes: The Pirates have recently indicated they’ll cut down Paul Skenes’s innings down the stretch. He threw just 82 pitches against the Cubs on Wednesday. As long as they’re solid innings, though, the 22-year-old is still a must-start pitcher in any format.
Justin Steele SP Cubs
Season: 128IP 5W 11QS 131K 3.09 ERA 1.09 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd v.s Pirates + Sunday, September 8th vs. Yankees
Gerrit Cole SP Yankees
Season: 63IP 5W 4QS 69K 3.86 ERA 1.33 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2rd @ Rangers + Sunday, September 8th @ Cubs
Freddy Peralta SP Brewers
Season: 148.1IP 9W 11QS 172K 3.70 ERA 1.19 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. Cardinals + Sunday, September 8th vs. Rockies
Nate Eovaldi SP Rangers
Season: 133IP 9W 12QS 128K 3.79 ERA 1.10 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd vs. Yankees + Sunday, September 8th vs. Angels
You Should Probably Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Jared Jones SP Pirates
Season: 95IP 5W 9QS 102K 3.88 ERA 1.15 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ Cubs + Saturday, September 8th vs. Nationals
Notes: Jared Jones’s first start since July 3rd didn’t go very well. He yielded two home runs and five earned runs to the Cubs on Tuesday. He also didn’t have a ton of whiffs (just eight on 83 pitches). Still think you have to start the rookie in a two-start week given the upside, even if we haven’t seen it in a while.
Joe Musgrove SP Padres
Season: 71IP 4W 6QS 63K 4.44 ERA 1.27 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. Tigers + Sunday, September 8th vs. Giants
Notes: With four good starts since his return from an elbow injury (1.66 ERA/0.78 WHIP), it seems safe to start veteran Joe Musgrove. Doubly so given the two opponents next week (Tigers 23rd in wOBA, Giants 15th).
Michael Wacha SP Royals
Season: 139IP 11W 13QS 120K 3.50 ERA 1.21 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. Guardians + Sunday, September 8th vs. Twins
Notes: Two runs charged to Michael Wacha after he left the game spoiled what would have been another decent start on Wednesday (five earned runs in six-plus innings). The solid veteran (career 3.92 ERA over 12 seasons) should be in your lineup as a two-start pitcher next week with one favorable matchup (Guardians ranked 20th in wOBA) and one not-so-favorable (Twins 6th in wOBA) unless you’re in the unique position of having better options.
Osvaldo Bido SP/RP A’s
Season: 56IP 5W 4QS 56K 3.21 ERA 1.07 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd vs. Mariners + Sunday, September 8th vs. Tigers
Notes: OK, fine, it’s just 56 innings, but the best hard-hit rate in baseball (25.5%) and almost-as-amazing average exit velocity (98th percentile) is at the very least worst a shot. Gotta love those matchups too (Mariners ranked 28th in wOBA, Tigers 23rd).
Brayan Bello SP Red Sox
Season: 137IP 12W 10QS 131K 4.66 ERA 1.37 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ Mets + Sunday, September 8th vs. White Sox
Notes: A good recent stretch (3.52 ERA since July 14th), accentuated by his best start of the season Wednesday (eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts and 15 whiffs), make Brayan Bello a plausible streamer in both categories and points next week as a two-start pitcher. The Mets (ranked 10th in wOBA) start might be nerve wracking, but that White Sox matchup (ranked last in wOBA) should make up for it.
In the Right Situation, These Two-Start Pitchers Make Sense
Jeffrey Springs SP Rays
Last start: Tuesday, August 27th @ Mariners – 5IP 0ER 1H 2BB 9K
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. Twins + Saturday, September 7th @ Orioles
Notes: Though he’s on an innings limit (Tommy John recovery), Jeffrey Springs is missing a lot of bats. After his nine-strikeout performance on Tuesday (along with 16 whiffs on 79 pitches), he now has 25 over his last 18.1 innings. That makes sense given how good he was before surgery (2022: 2.46 ERA/1.07 WHIP/9.6 K/9). Even with tough matchups next week (Twins ranked 6th in wOBA, Orioles ranked 5th), I want him on my roster for the stretch run. His upside could put you over the top in the playoffs.
David Festa SP Twins
Season: 42.1IP 2W 1QS 51K 4.89 ERA 1.20 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd @ Rays + Sunday, September 8th @ Royals
Notes: David Festa’s overall numbers might not wow you, but that’s largely because his first two starts were bad (12 earned runs in 10 innings). Since being recalled after that, the 24-year-old prospect (ranked 93rd overall by Fangraphs) has a 3.06 ERA/1.05 WHIP/12.0 K/9 rate over seven appearances spanning 32 innings. The righty also just picked up his first career Quality Start on Wednesday. He’s widely available and makes for an intriguing streamer in all formats as a two-start pitcher.
Andrew Heaney SP/RP Rangers
Season: 134.1IP 4W 6QS 133K 3.95 ERA 1.24 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. Yankees + Saturday, September 7th vs. Angels
Ryne Nelson SP DBacks
Season: 136.1IP 9W 11 QS 112K 4.22 ERA 1.28 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd @ Giants + Sunday, September 8th @ Astros
Andre Pallante SP/RP Cardinals
Season: 92.1IP 6W 5QS 68K 3.80 ERA 1.32 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ Brewers + Sunday, September 8th vs. Mariners
Notes: The low swing-and-miss numbers (just a 20.4% whiff rate or 10th percentile) make it hard to buy Andre Pallante’s solid overall performance. That being said, his elite ground-ball rate (62.1%) keeps the xERA (3.47) in line. Given the recent deep starts (eight of the last nine are at least five innings), he makes for a plausible streamer as an RP in points leagues.
Eduardo Rodriguez SP DBacks
Last start: Wednesday, August 28th vs. Mets – 5.1IP 5ER 5H 1BB 5K
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. Dodgers + Saturday, September 7th @ Astros
Notes: There’s not much time left for Eduardo Rodriguez to find his form after returning from a shoulder strain that kept him out until August. It looked like maybe that form was coming back against the Mets on Wednesday, but after four perfect innings, he really hit a wall. In the end, eight of the 16 balls in play against him were hit hard. Not so good. I’m inclined to sit him in categories leagues next week against two challenging opponents (Dodgers 3rd in wOBA, Astros 11th). In points, the risk seems more worth it if you need some bulk.
Luis Severino SP Mets
Season: 152.1IP 9W 10QS 131K 3.96 ERA 1.26 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. Red Sox + Sunday, September 8th vs. Reds
Notes: A low K rate (31st percentile) and lack of innings (just two of last seven starts have gone more than five) make it hard to recommend Luis Severino in either format. Given his tough first matchup in a two-start week (Red Sox ranked 4th in wOBA), I’d avoid him in categories for sure. Points leagues? You can still do worse.
Mitch Spence SP/RP A’s
Season: 121IP 7W 3QS 100K 4.54 ERA 1.34 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd vs. Mariners + Sunday, September 8th vs. Tigers
Notes: Though Mitch Spence didn’t follow up his 10-strikeout performance impressively (just three strikeouts and six whiffs at Cincinnati on Tuesday), I still like the matchups next week (Mariners ranked 28th in wOBA, Tigers 23rd). You can stream worse for your RP spot in a deep points league.
You Better Be Desperate To Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Gavin Williams SP Guardians
Season: 52.1IP 2W 2QS 58K 4.99 ERA 1.41 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ Royals + Sunday, September 8th @ Dodgers
Notes: Not giving up on the talent here (career minor league 2.34 ERA/1.00 WHIP/11.9 K/9 and a reasonable 3.95 ERA over his first 134 Major League innings). But the opponents are tough next week (Royals 12th in wOBA, Dodgers 3rd), and time is running out. Still a wait-and-see situation.
Kyle Harrison SP Giants
Season: 121.2IP 7W 9QS 115K 4.22 ERA 1.31 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd vs. DBacks + Sunday, September 8th @ Padres
Notes: The matchups are just too much this week. The DBacks are ranked 2nd in wOBA and the Padres are 8th. Plus, this is like the third week in a row we’ve thought Kyle Harrison would be a two-start pitcher. Will it ever happen? This sure isn’t the week to hope so.
Simeon Woods Richardson SP/RP Twins
Season: 117IP 5W 7QS 102K 3.85 ERA 1.18 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ Rays + Saturday, September 7th @ Royals
Walker Buehler SP Dodgers
Season: 49IP 1W 2QS 39K 5.88 ERA 1.63 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ DBacks + Sunday, September 8th vs. Guardians
Notes: I’m going to reiterate what I said about Walker Buehler last week. Not much to like about his return so far and underlying numbers don’t suggest he’s been much better than his 5.88 ERA (5.19 xERA). Sitting him until further notice. OK to drop if there’s something intriguing on the wire.
Griffin Canning SP Angels
Season: 144IP 4W 5QS 106K 5.19 ERA 1.39 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd vs. Dodgers + Sunday, September 8th @ Rangers
Kyle Freeland SP Rockies
Season: 85IP 4W 8QS 67K 5.51 ERA 1.47 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd @ Braves + Sunday, September 8th @ Brewers
Brant Hurter SP Tigers
Career minor leagues (3 seasons): 296IP 10.3K/9 4.04 ERA 1.24 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ Padres + Sunday, September 8th @ A’s
Notes: Brant Hurter might not make the second start next week. He might be replaced by Casey Mize (who is back from the IL), or the Tigers might decide to go with a six-man rotation. Either way, don’t plan for the extra start.
Max Meyer SP Marlins
Season: 51.1IP 3W 3QS 41K 5.44 ERA 1.38 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd vs. Nationals + Sunday, September 8th vs. Phillies
Tyler Alexander SP/RP Rays
Season: 85.1IP 5W 1QS 73K 5.48 ERA 1.30 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd vs. Twins + Sunday, September 8th @ Orioles
Patrick Corbin SP Nationals
Season: 147.1IP 4W 8QS 113K 5.50 ERA 1.51 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 3rd @ Marlins + Sunday, September 8th @ Pirates
Chris Flexen SP/RP White Sox
Season: 134.1IP 2W 8QS 94K 5.29 ERA 1.51 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 2nd @ Orioles + Sunday, September 8th @ Red Sox