Two-Start Pitchers for the Week of May 1

With an incredible rash of injuries and an increasingly inconsistent cast of starting pitchers, maximizing the value we get out of two-start pitchers and streamers may be the single biggest thing you can do to gain an edge over your competition this season.

Each week from here on out, we’ll sort through the projected pool of two-start pitchers and evaluate the various league sizes each pitcher should be started in. Do be aware though that pitching schedules are more fluid than ever. We’ve compared projected starters from various sites and tried to build as accurate a list as possible, but as always please keep an eye on the latest news for changes.

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Two-Start Pitchers for the Week of May 1

There aren’t a ton of ace two-start pitchers going this week. That means a lot of decisions on streaming options. I’ve grouped all the two-start pitchers by the league size that I would feel comfortable starting them in. Your decision will ultimately hinge on how comfortable you are with risk and your team’s standings within the context of the entire league.

I’ve included an overall rank for each pitcher. That rank is only within the pool of two-start pitchers this week, not the pitching population at large.

Start in All League Sizes

Zav Gallen is making a very real argument as a top-5 pitcher in all of baseball. He’s on a 28-inning scoreless streak and I’m starting him every time out.

Sandy Alcantara has not quite been himself and he had his most recent start pushed back due to biceps tendinitis. He pitched well in that start and seems to be a full go. He’s earned enough slack to ignore a few early-season bumps.

I was torn on including Hayden Wesneski, Drew Smyly, and Mason Miller in this section. Wesneski and Smyly have pitched well over their last few starts and the matchups with Washington and Miami are about as good as it gets. There’s certainly risk in starting Mason Miller but in roto leagues that strikeout upside is just too juicy for me to leave on my bench. The Royals have the worst team batting average in baseball and have scored the second-fewest runs, while also striking out the seventh-most times. Meanwhile, the Marines are in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored and have struck out the second-most times in all of baseball.

Start in 15-Team Mixed Leagues

There’s a ton of volatility in this grouping. Michael Kopech, Blake Snell, and MacKenzie Gore represent three high-octane arms that continue to tantalize us with potential and then drive us crazy with inconsistency. I lean toward starting them in all leagues but if you’re doing well in WHIP and ERA, the risk may not be worth it. Then again if you’re doing well in those categories, these pitchers are not likely to be on your rosters.

One pitcher I do think doesn’t get enough respect is Tyler Wells. He doesn’t have the strikeout upside of the three pitchers mentioned previously but he offers a high degree of safety and the Orioles are suddenly a winning team. Wells takes a 2.79 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP into matchups vs. Kansas City and Atlanta. That Atlanta start is a tough one but Wells has earned my trust and I think he minimizes the damage.

Start in AL- and NL-Only Leagues

I list these pitchers as starts in monoleagues but I’ve got to be honest. I play in a lot of NL- and AL-Only leagues and most of the time I’d rather use middle relievers with good ERAs and WHIPs instead of these potential blow-ups waiting to happen. Please consider your team context when starting these pitchers. Chasing wins is sometimes not worth the pain to the rest of your pitching stats.

Are You Crazy?

The heading says it all. There’s just no reason to subject yourself to this kind of abuse. The matchups aren’t good and these pitchers don’t offer enough strikeout upside to offset the huge risk. Use these two-start pitchers at your own peril and don’t blame me when they blow up your ratios and set you back three weeks of solid pitching.