Week 25 has a shortage of two-start pitchers. This is due to very few seven-games schedules, a couple of five-gamers, and a bunch of six-man rotations (Astros, Angels, Yankees, and Cardinals). But have no fear, all 30 two-start options are ranked and listed below. And as it happens, during an important week that for many is the 2nd round of the playoffs, many of them are streaming options. I made notes in those cases, and even in some others. Making notes is fun. So is winning playoff weeks! Hope this helps you do that.
Don’t You Dare Bench These Two-Start Pitchers
George Kirby SP Mariners
Season: 167IP 11W 17QS 162K 3.61 ERA 1.11 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th vs. Padres + Sunday, September 15th vs. Rangers
Paul Skenes SP Pirates
Season: 114IP 9W 13QS 142K 2.13 ERA 0.98 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Marlins + Sunday, September 15th vs. Royals
Tanner Bibee SP Guardians
Season: 149IP 11W 9QS 162K 3.56 ERA 1.12 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th @ White Sox + Saturday, September 14th vs. Rays
Cristopher Sanchez SP Phillies
Season: 159IP 10W 15QS 131K 3.45 ERA 1.26 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Rays + Sunday, September 15th vs. Mets
Nathan Eovaldi SP Rangers
Season: 147IP 11W 14QS 144K 3.55 ERA 1.06WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th @ DBacks + Sunday, September 15th @ Mariners
Carlos Rodon SP Yankees
Season: 152.1IP 14W 14QS 172K 4.19 ERA 1.22 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Royals + Sunday, September 15th vs. Red Sox
You Should Probably Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Jeffrey Springs SP Rays
Season: 33IP 2W 1QS 37K 3.27 ERA 1.36 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th @ Phillies + Saturday, September 14th @ Guardians
Notes: We thought Jeffrey Springs would get two starts last week, but now he’s back on this list. I’ll just reiterate what I said then: he might not get you a ton of Quality Starts and wins (recovering from Tommy John surgery), but the potential for great strikeout numbers and ratios makes him a solid addition to your roster for the playoffs. Especially so in roto/categories leagues.
Tanner Houck SP Red Sox
Season: 169.2IP 8W 19QS 150K 3.24 ERA 1.17 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th vs. Orioles + Sunday, September 15th @ Yankees
Notes: Though Tanner Houck has reined in the walks of late (just seven over his last 23 innings) and bumped up his strikeouts (23 over 23 innings), there’s still concern that the Red Sox (now 5.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot) will sharply curtail his innings down the stretch. The 28-year-old is now almost 50 innings past his previous career high. Added to that, the opponents will be difficult in a two-start week (Orioles 4th in wOBA, Yankees 1st). Guess it’s still an easy points-league call for now. But in categories at least make sure you don’t have better options.
Brady Singer SP Royals
Season: 158.1IP 9W 12QS 150K 3.35 ERA 1.24 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th @ Yankees + Sunday, September 15th @ Pirates
David Festa SP Twins
Season: 47.1IP 2W 1QS 58K 4.75 ERA 1.20 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Angels + Sunday, September 15th vs. Reds
Notes: After another decent start Tuesday (two earned runs in five innings with seven strikeouts and 16 swinging strikes on 90 pitches), David Festa now has a 3.13 ERA/1.07 WHIP/12.1 K/9 over his last eight appearances. That covers 37 innings. The 24-year-old prospect (ranked 93rd overall by Fangraphs) is an intriguing streamer in all formats as a two-start pitcher.
Mackenzie Gore SP Nationals
Season: 143.2IP 8W 8QS 155K 4.32 ERA 1.50 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th vs. Braves + Sunday, September 15th vs. Marlins
Notes: After three good starts in a row (2.00 ERA/0.89 WHIP/19 strikeouts over 18 innings), Mackenzie Gore seems like a plausible streamer in a favorable two-start week. The Braves are 13th in wOBA while the Marlins are 29th. Plus, the improvements Gore has made over this stretch does coincide with an uptick in his fastball after a drop since the All-Star Break. It’s a volatile pick, so if you want to play it safe (though, let’s be honest, no streams are safe), this probably isn’t the one for you.
In the Right Situation, These Two-Start Pitchers Make Sense
David Peterson SP/RP Mets
Season: 98.1IP 9W 10QS 81K 2.75 ERA 1.31 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th @ Blue Jays + Sunday, September 15th @ Phillies
Notes: Despite the dazzling ERA, a great string of starts (a 1.81 ERA/1.12 WHIP over last 44 innings), and a career-best strikeout total on Tuesday (11), there are red flags for David Peterson. The low K rate (19.5%) and below average batted-ball metrics (average exit velocity 35th percentile, hard-hit rate 23rd) have led to an xERA (4.85) nowhere near what we’ve actually seen. Extreme ground-ball pitchers (52.8% in Peterson’s case) can succeed over the long term, but they usually have much better K rates and walk rates. Granted, the lefty is coming off a 20-whiff start. And also granted, there’s not much time left for regression. But it could strike quick. Be warned.
Kutter Crawford SP/RP Red Sox
Season: 161IP 8W 13QS 149K 4.08 ERA 1.07 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Orioles + Saturday, September 14th @ Yankees
Notes: After being plagued by home runs in July/August (a whopping 13 home runs over four starts), Kutter Crawford has been a bit more stable of late (just two home runs in his last five starts). Overall, the numbers are decent enough (xERA 3.79). He still makes for a good RP option in a points league. In categories, it still feels like a roll of the dice. Especially in a two-start week against challenging opponents (Orioles 4th in wOBA, Yankees 1st).
Chris Bassitt SP Blue Jays
Season: 157IP 9W 11QS 156K 4.30 ERA 1.43 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Mets + Sunday, September 15th vs. Cardinals
Ben Lively SP Guardians
Season: 135IP 11W 9QS 108K 4.07 ERA 1.25 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th @ White Sox + Sunday, September 15th vs. Rays
Notes: The recent struggles for Ben Lively (10 earned runs in his last 8.1 innings) had been expected for a while. That was based on very poor batted-ball metrics (9th percentile average exit velocity) and an even lower whiff rate (5th percentile). Still, the 32-year-old does have an ideal schedule next week. The White Sox are last in wOBA and the Rays are 25th. As a two-start pitcher, this still makes sense in a points league.
Charlie Morton SP Braves
Season: 142.1IP 8W 10QS 148K 4.24 ERA 1.32 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Reds + Sunday, September 15th vs. Dodgers
Notes: The high ratios and even higher xERA (4.60) make it hard to trust Charlie Morton, now 40, to be anything other than a mediocre pitcher with a decent K rate (36 strikeouts in his last 27.2 innings). Makes more sense in a points league. But if you’re particularly thin at SP in a categories league, I guess you can do worse.
Nick Martinez SP/RP Reds
Season: 115.1IP 7W 2QS 93K 3.67 ERA 1.15 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th @ Braves + Saturday, September 14th @ Twins
Notes: Nick Martinez’s underlying numbers are still very intriguing. In particular, his contact metrics are elite (average exit velocity 92nd percentile and hard-hit rate 96th). His low strikeout totals (19.5% K rate) and high fly-ball rate might not fit his home stadium too well (Great American Ballpark grades out as the most home-run-friendly venue and third-most offensive overall). But the good news is, the 34-year-old will get two road starts this week. His numbers are much better there (2.74 ERA/0.85 WHIP vs. 4.36/1.38 at home this season). Seems like an ideal way to fill the RP spot in a points league. Categories? Perhaps not based on the opponents (Braves 13th in wOBA, Twins 9th).
JP Sears SP A’s
Season: 157.2IP 11W 11QS 122K 4.34 ERA 1.20 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th @ Astros + Sunday, September 15th @ White Sox
Notes: JP Sears makes this category simply because near-mediocre pitchers tend to look better than mediocre against the White Sox. I’m willing to gamble it will more than offset a start against the Astros (11th in wOBA). But only if all these other above names are unavailable to you.
You Better Be Desperate To Start These Two-Start Pitchers
Taj Bradley SP Rays
Season: 116.2IP 6W 8QS 131K 4.40 ERA 1.21 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th @ Phillies + Sunday, September 15th @ Guardians
Notes: Taj Bradley showed us his upside and downside in the same game on Thursday. Ten strikeouts sure is nice, but four earned runs on two home runs is painful to the ratios. Given the 8.92 ERA/1.67 WHIP over his last seven starts, I don’t think you can trust him in these pivotal weeks. But if things click again soon, we might have to reevaluate.
Aaron Civale SP Brewers
Season: 140.1IP 5W 7QS 134K 4.62 ERA 1.34 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th @ Giants + Sunday, September 15th @ DBacks
Notes: The production is just too inconsistent to trust Aaron Civale. Especially in the fantasy baseball playoffs. If you’re desperate for volume in a points league, maybe. The DBacks are ranked 2nd in wOBA, though, so make sure above options have been exhausted.
Rhett Lowder SP Reds
2024 Minors: 108.2IP 113K 3.64 ERA 1.15 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th @ Cardinals + Sunday, September 15th @ Twins
Walker Buehler SP Dodgers
Season: 54IP 1W 2QS 45K 5.67 ERA 1.61 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Cubs + Sunday, September 15th @ Braves
Notes: Despite a decent start Tuesday (two earned runs in five innings with six strikeouts), it’s looking like Walker Buehler won’t have enough time to enter the circle of trust again this season. The start wasn’t all that great anyway, just eight swinging strikes on 83 pitches. Plus, if Landon Knack (started Friday) sticks in the rotation, the 30-year-old will only get one start. Pass.
Cade Povich SP Orioles
Season: 59.1IP 2W 3QS 47K 5.76 ERA 1.60 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th @ Red Sox + Sunday, September 15th @ Tigers
Notes: Cade Povich will need a few more starts like Tuesday (10 strikeouts in 7.1 innings), and against an opponent other than the White Sox, before we can trust him even in a deep league.
Keider Montero SP Tigers
Season: 74IP 4W 3QS 60K 5.47 ERA 1.39 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th vs. Rockies + Sunday, September 15th vs. Orioles
Valente Bellozo SP Marlins
Season: 47.2IP 2W 2QS 33K 3.78 ERA 1.28 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th @ Pirates + Saturday, September 14th @ Nationals
Kyle Hendricks SP/RP Cubs
Season: 107.2IP 3W 3QS 74K 6.60 ERA 1.51 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th @ Dodgers + Sunday, September 15th @ Rockies
Hayden Birdsong SP Giants
Season: 52IP 3W 1QS 64K 5.19 ERA 1.50 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th vs. Brewers + Sunday, September 15th vs. Padres
Adam Oller SP/RP Marlins
MLB career (3 Seasons): 110.1IP 75K 6.53 ERA 1.62 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th @ Pirates + Sunday, September 15th @ Nationals
Bradley Blalock SP Rockies
Career Minors (4 Seasons): 246.2IP 240K 3.2BB/9 3.98 ERA 1.33 WHIP
2 starts next week: Tuesday, September 10th @ Tigers + Sunday, September 15th vs. Cubs
Nick Nastrini SP White Sox
Season: 32.1IP 0W 1QS 24K 7.79 ERA 1.95 WHIP
2 starts next week: Monday, September 9th vs. Guardians + Sunday, September 15th vs. A’s