Every Friday I look at every projected two-start pitcher for the week ahead and detail my thoughts about rolling with them on your roster. There are four tiers: Definitely, Probably, Questionable, Bench. Definitely Start features starters that are no doubters for the week ahead followed by Probably Start with pitchers that look like good plays but may create a hesitation or two. Players labeled as Questionable are for deeper leagues or have one-of-two outings that should be skipped. Pitchers under Bench should be avoided despite their two starts in the week ahead.
Definitely Start
Stephen Strasburg (ATL, @NYM)
Clayton Kershaw (@CLE, @CIN)
Michael Pineda (@LAA, @OAK)
David Price (PHI, @HOU)
Yu Darvish (@HOU, SEA)
Probably Start
CC Sabathia (@LAA, @OAK) – Sabathia has been hot and survived a test against the Red Sox on Thursday night. Hard to resist throwing him out there twice now against the Angels and A’s.
Jacob Degrom (CHC, WSH) – It’s not great to see deGrom facing two good offenses given his latest struggles, though I think you still have to throw him out there. His ceiling is too high and I don’t expect him to wallow at his floor often.
Jason Vargas (@SFG, @LAA) – The Vargas train is still rolling and these teams do little to discourage slotting him into my lineup.
Jimmy Nelson (@STL, SDP) – Nelson is looking like a new person and gets the Padres. Sign me up!
Rick Porcello (PHI, @HOU) – Even with his tough start to 2017 and the Astros ahead, Porcello is still a better play than most options.
Lance Lynn (MIL, @BAL) – Lynn has been a fortuitous pitcher thus far making me cautious endorsing him for two starts against the Twins and Orioles. If you own him, I’d throw him out there, though.
Tyler Chatwood (@PIT, SFG) – Chatwood had no problems with the Cubs and even hosting the Giants in Coors shouldn’t deter you from two starts of Chatwood.
Questionable
Buck Farmer (ARI, TBR) – There’s upside in Barmer that can come out against the Rays, though that start against the Diamondbacks does give me pause. He’s a high risk/reward pick for the week.
Joe Ross (ATL, @NYM) – I didn’t intend to put Ross in this tier and after last night’s 12 strikeout performance we need to consider him as a possible option. He struggled against the Mets and Padres prior, so don’t be blind to his floor.
John Lackey (@NYM, @PIT) – Better days are in the past for Lackey and it’s tough to have full faith in two solid outings here. Nevertheless, I think you still should go with him given the low strength of his opponents.
Jake Odorizzi (@TOR, @DET) – Odorizzi is off-and-on and it’s possible he struggles against two offenses that can pack a wallop.
JC Ramirez (NYY, KCR) – I’m not a fan of Ramirez against the Yankees, but he could pull off a good outing against the Royals.
Luis Perdomo (CIN, @MIL) – Perdomo is on the fringe of being rosterable and could get through a pair of good outings with his hefty groundball tendencies.
Kyle Freeland (@PIT, SFG) – Freeland isn’t nearly as good as his ERA will tell you, and I can see one of these starts not going his way.
Zack Wheeler (CHC, WSH) – I don’t love starting Wheeler as his walk habits can show up at any point and the Cubs and Nationals make me concerned. The upside is present, though, making him a gamble.
Mike Foltynewicz (@WSH, MIA) – We don’t know what we’re going to get from Folty on any given start, meaning he could return value in at least one of these outings…or disappoint in both.
Trevor Bauer (LAD, @MIN) – Just like with Foltynewicz, Bauer is a not a pitcher you can rely on for consistency, but the upside makes him a better option than others at the bottom of the barrel.
Bench
Derek Holland (BAL, @TOR) – The Dutch Invasion has arrived and I would hate to be touching Holland right now.
Adalberto Mejia (SEA, CLE) – Mejia is not someone I’d like to roll with, let alone against the hot Mariners and solid Indians.
Alec Asher (@CHW, STL) – Asher has his moments, but far from enough consistency to believe in him twice.
Alex Meyer (NYY, KCR) – The terrible walk rate allowed by Meyer makes him too much of a risk against any opponent.
Dillon Gee (@HOU, SEA) – Gee is a terrible choice for any afternoon.
Bronson Arroyo (@SDP, LAD) – Even with the Padres on his schedule, I don’t want anything to do with Arroyo.
Ben Lively (@BOS, ARI) – Lively is not the guy you want to give the ball to twice.
Chad Kuhl (COL, CHC) – Kuhl against the Cubs and Rockies does not spell success. It spells CubsrockiesBad.
Christian Bergman (@MIN, @TEX) – Bergman doesn’t have the upside to make me consider him despite some of the easier matchups in this tier.
Wade Miley (@CHW, STL) – Don’t let Miley’s 3.27 ERA fool you, he’s due for plenty of regression closer to the mid 4.00s.
Jerad Eickhoff (@BOS, ARI) – Eickhoff hasn’t been himself and there’s no reason you have to suffer while he figures it out.
Jharel Cotton (@MIA, NYY) – Cotton may be a better option later this year, but for now sit yourself out.
Jose Urena (OAK, @ATL) – Despite getting two great matchups, Urena isn’t a guy I want to roll with this week.
Kyle Gibson (SEA, CLE) – Gibson just isn’t good enough to roster for any occasion.
Mike Pelfrey (BAL, @TOR) – Ditto for Pelfrey.
Ty Blach (KCR, @COL) – There’s a chance Blach could be productive against the Royals, but I’m sure not enduring a start in Coors for that chance.
Yovani Gallardo (@MIN, @TEX) – Don’t do this YoGa pose. It hurts every part of your body.
What about Joe Musgrove?
Where does Taillon fall on this now that we know he is back Monday?
Does McCarthy actually have a 2-start week? Rotowire has him down for 1, with Kershaw starting Tuesday’s game.
You’re correct, the Dodgers like to switch things often in their rotation and McCarthy was pushed back a day for Kershaw since Friday’s publication.
Oh well, that could set him up nicely for two starts next week against the Mets and the Rockies at home.