Two-Start Pitchers: Week of June 26, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 18: Minnesota Twins Pitcher Jose Berrios (17) delivers a pitch during game 2 of a MLB doubleheader between the Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies on May 18, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN. The Twins defeated the Rockies 2-0.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

After two very subpar weeks of two-start pitchers, we have a much deeper pool to jump into this week. Though it isn’t very heavy at the top, it is pretty deep with opportunities in just about every tier. That makes for some very exciting plays in leagues where you can stack these dual start pitchers in your lineup. If you are fortunate enough to have each tier covered, all the better! On the other hand, with so many options out there in multiple tiers, your opponents will also have the same opportunities to stack up. Keep that in mind when choosing your matchup plays and determining your lineups.

These projected starts are subject to change due to rain outs, injury, performance issues, or managerial whims. I only offer my the opinion on the matchups; there are no guarantees on the actual starts.

Great Way To Start Our Two-Start Pitchers List…

Max Scherzer – (6/27 vs. CHC-Jake Arrieta; 7/2 @ STL-Carlos Martinez)
Chris Sale – (6/26 vs. MIN-Jose Berrios; 7/1 @ TOR-Francisco Liriano)
Carlos Carrasco – (6/26 vs. TEX-Tyson Ross; 7/1 @DET-Jordan Zimmermann)
Carlos Martinez – (6/27 @ ARI-Zack Godley, 7/2 vs. WAS-Max Scherzer)
Taijuan Walker – (6/26 vs. PHI-Nick Pivetta; 7/1 vs. COL-German Marquez)
Jose Berrios – (6/26 @ BOS-Chris Sale; 7/1 @ KC-Jason Hammel)

You are seeing some young guns here in our first group. With four standard fantasy aces in Scherzer, Sale, Carrasco, and Martinez, it may just be Taijuan Walker and Jose Berrios who are coming into this scoring period the hottest. In Walker’s last three starts, he has gone 17 innings with 17 strikeouts and only four earned runs allowed, while logging a win in all three. Berrios comes in just as hot with four straight wins, logging 26 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.

If These Guys Are The Second Tier, You Should Feel Pretty Confident…

Jake Arrieta – (6/27 @ WAS-Max Scherzer; 7/2 @ CIN-Tim Adleman)
Trevor Bauer – (6/28 vs. TEX-Yu Darvish; 7/2 @ DET-Daniel Norris)
Gio Gonzalez – (6/26 vs. CHC-Eddie Butler; 7/1 @ STL-Michael Wacha)
Mike Fiers – (6/27 vs. OAK-Sean Manaea; 7/2 vs. NYY-Luis Severino)
Sean Manaea- (6/27 @ HOU-Mike Fiers; 7/2 vs. ATL-Sean Newcomb)
Luis Severino – (6/27 @ CHW-Jose Quintana; 7/2 @ HOU-Mike Fiers)
Rich Hill – (6/26 vs. LAA-Ricky Nolasco; 7/1 @ SD-TBA)
Dan Straily – (6/27 vs. NYM-Robert Gsellman; 7/2 @ MIL-Junior Guerra)

Dan Straily continues to surprise and prove his usefulness here in 2017. Over his last two starts, he has only allowed one earned run in 12 innings, while racking up 14 strikeouts and only one walk. If his pedigree were a little better, he might have slipped into the top tier. The Mets and Brewers at times can give fits, but both teams are highly susceptible to the strike out. Rich Hill has been a little like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of late. He followed up a seven earned-run game against the Indians with a one-run, eight-strikeout performance his last time out against the Mets. If he can stay consistent and healthy, he has two very winnable games this week.

Third Tier Has Some Great Value Finds…

Jeff Samardzija – (6/26 vs. COL-Jeff Hoffman; 7/2 @ PIT-Trevor Williams)
Jose Quintana – (6/27 vs. NYY-Luis Severino; 7/2 vs. TEX-Martin Perez)
Drew Pomeranz – (6/27 vs. MIN-Nik Turley; 7/2 @TOR-Joe Biagini)
Justin Verlander – (6/27 @ KC-Matt Strahm; 7/1 vs. CLE-Mike Clevenger)
Alex Cobb – (6/27 @ PIT-Trevor Williams; 7/2 @ BAL-Kevin Gausman)
Nick Pivetta – (6/26 @ ARI-Taijuan Walker; 7/2 vs. NYM-Robert Gsellman)
Jordan Montgomery – (6/26 @ CHW-David Holmberg; 7/1 @ HOU-Brad Peacock)
Sean Newcomb – (6/27 @ SD-Jhoulys Chacin; 7/2 @OAK-Sean Manaea)
Jeff Hoffman – (6/26 @ SF-Jeff Samardzija; 7/2 @ ARI-Zack Godley)
Jhoulys Chacin – (6/27 vs. ATL-Sean Newcomb; 7/2 vs. LAD-Hyun-Jin Ryu)
Zach Godley – (6/27 vs. STL-Carlos Martinez; 7/2 vs. COL-Jeff Hoffman)

This may be my favorite group this week for hidden value. Each pitcher in this tier has the ability to dominate at least one opponent this week and hopefully tack on in the second game. Sean Newcomb has only three starts in the majors, and none of them has been dominant. He has shown the ability to limit damage with only four earned runs allowed in those starts and has 13:7 K:BB in 18.1 innings. Pitching in San Diego against the Padres and then again at home against the A’s is a very tempting schedule for any pitcher. Philadelphia Philly pitchers are not a hot target, but 24 year-old Nick Pivetta has had two very solid back-to-back games. Last time out against the St. Louis Cardinals he recorded 10 strikeouts in six innings in a no-decision, following up a one-run win against the Boston Red Sox with nine strikeouts in seven innings. Even though he is on a last-place team, his starts are something to watch.

Meh, Still Some Value Here If Need To Dive This Deep…

Tyson Ross – (6/26 @ CLE-Carlos Carrasco; 7/1 @ CHW-David Holmberg)
Kevin Gausman – (6/27 @ TOR-Joe Biagini; 7/2 vs. TB-Alex Cobb)
Hyun-Jin Ryu – (6/27 vs. LAA-Jesse Chavez; 7/2 @ SD-Jhoulys Chacin)
Joe Biagini – (6/27 vs. BAL-Kevin Gausman; 7/2 vs. BOS-Drew Pomeranz)
Robert Gsellman – (6/27 @ MIA-Dan Straily; 7/2 vs. PHI-Nick Pivetta)
Tim Adleman – (6/27 vs. MIL-Junior Guerra; 7/2 vs. CHC-Jake Arrieta)
Mike Clevinger – (6/27 vs. TEX-Martin Perez; 7/1 @ DET-Justin Verlander)
Matt Strahm – (6/27 @ DET-Justin Verlander; 7/2 vs. MIN-Adalberto Mejia)
Martin Perez – (6/27 @ CLE-Mike Clevinger; 7/2 @ CHW-Jose Quintana)
Trevor Williams – (6/27 vs. TB-Alex Cobb; 7/2 vs. SF-Jeff Samardzija)
Junior Guerra – (6/27 @ CIN-Tim Adleman; 7/2 vs. MIA-Dan Straily)

This grouping usually gives me little to dream on, but you can really round out a rotation here by taking a solid flyer or picking a good matchup this week. Quite a few people were excited by Tyson Ross and his first start after a long DL stint from surgery to repair his thoracic outlet syndrome in October. Although that first start was good, the follow-up was equally as bad, as he allowed seven runs in only three innings. Much has been said about his fastball losing up to two miles per hour, which is common in these types of shoulder injuries. I would be very cautious before using him in any meaningful capacity.

As Deep As This Week Is You Should Have No Reason To Go Here…

Michael Wacha – (6/26 vs. CIN-TBA; 7/1 vs. WAS-Gio Gonzalez)
Jesse Chavez – (6/27 @ LAD-Hyun-Jin Ryu; 7/2 vs. SEA-Ariel Miranda)
Eddie Butler – (6/26 @ WAS-Gio Gonzalez; 7/1 @ CIN-TBA)
Ricky Nolasco- (6/26 @ LAD-Rich Hill; 7/1 vs. SEA-Sam Gaviglio)
Daniel Norris – (6/28 vs. KC-Ian Kennedy; 7/2 vs. CLE-Trevor Bauer)
David Holmberg – (6/26 vs. NYY-Jordan Montgomery; 7/1 vs. TEX-Tyson Ross)
Adalberto Mejia- (6/28 @ BOS-Rick Porcello; 7/2 @ KC-Matt Strahm)
Nick Turley – (6/27 @ BOS-Drew Pomeranz; 7/1 @ KC-TBA)

Finally, we get to the rest. This group is usually a little larger, but that speaks to the quality of all the players rated above. Michael Wacha has really struggled here in June. He started the year decently with four straight starts of six innings or more, three of which were quality starts. He has made it out of the fourth inning only once in his last six starts, though, and talk around St. Louis is he could be losing his place in the rotation soon. At 25, he certainly has the ability and history to bounce back. He is not worth using even in a two-start week until we see some signs of life.