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
Max Scherzer (@ATL, @NYM)
Yu Darvish (@OAK, KCR)
John Lackey (MIL, @CIN)
Danny Salazar (@MIN, @CWS)
Michael Fulmer (@TBR, @MIN)
Probably Start
Joe Musgrove (LAA, @TBR) – Two great matchups for an upside pitcher with good command.
Marcus Stroman (BOS, @LAA) – That Boston start is scary, but KCR is a no-doubter.
Questionable
Robbie Ray (@LAD, LAD) – If you need the strikeouts, I can understand this play. I generally think Ray is too much of a risk start-by-start and the Dodgers can do some damage.
Zack Wheeler (PHI, WSH) – I don’t love trusting Wheeler this early, but it’s fathomable he does well in both starts.
Mike Foltynewicz (WSH, @PHI) – Not liking his start against the Nats, but the Phils could present solid streaming value.
Edurado Rodriguez (@TOR, @BAL) – I think Rodriguez needs a little more time to polish his repertoire, though he could escape with two acceptable starts here.
Lance Lynn (PIT, @MIL) – He was rocky last time out, look for him to be a little more consistent this week. Don’t love it, don’t hate it.
Ivan Nova (@STL, NYY) – The Cards aren’t my favorite stream, a matchup against his former team is a solid play.
Jordan Montgomery (CWS, @PIT) – He didn’t blow me away against the Rays though he has one of the best two starts ahead.
Mike Leake (PIT, @MIL) – Leake is game of hot/cold and if you need an upside two starts, this could work well. It could also kill your week. Don’t make this play unless you’re willing to take the risk.
Shelby Miller (@SDP, LAD) – That velocity uptick we saw before is no more, but he could be serviceable in that start against the Padres. Still, buyer beware.
Jaime Garcia (SDP, @PHI) – If you’re really desperate for two starts, I’d go with Garcia against two of the worst offenses around. This one is on the border of Questionable/Bench.
Bench
Amir Garrett (BAL, CHC) – I worry about his command and these are two tough matchups.
Blake Snell (@BOS, HOU) – Snell could turn it on later this year, though right now he’s too volatile to trust against the Red Sox, which makes him a bad play for Week 3.
Ubaldo Jimenez (@CIN, BOS) – Putting faith in Ubaldo is a terrible idea.
Steven Wright (TBR, @BAL) – I imagine you learned after his last start: Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer.
Derek Holland (@NYY, CLE) – Holland has avoided the Dutch Invasion thus far, I don’t trust that to continue here.
Josh Tomlin (@MIN, @CWS) – Even against weak opponents I don’t want to endorse Tomlin.
Mike Fiers (LAA, @TBR) – It’s fathomable Fiers exists the week unscathed, more likely that he’s mediocre and wastes a roster spot.
Jason Hammel (SFG, @TEX) – It’s possible Hammel turns his season around, though I wouldn’t bank on it happening this week, especially heading to Texas.
Jesse Chavez (@HOU, TOR) – Chavez is a far-cry from the intriguing starter of 2014.
Ricky Nolasco (@HOU, TOR) – Nolasco hasn’t been a smart play for a long time.
Brandon McCarthy (ARI, @ARI) – McCarthy has made me raise an eyebrow, though a pair of starts against the Diamondbacks – especially one in Coors-Lite – spells a storm ahead.
Tom Koehler (@SEA, @SDP) – You simply don’t know what you’re getting from Koehler on a given night. Pair that with a strong Mariners offense and you have an easy bench.
Kyle Gibson (CLE, DET) – There is no league where I’m doing this, let alone even rostering Gibson in the first place.
Phil Hughes (CLE, DET) – When Hughes can’t even maintain an above-average K/BB, you know things are bad.
Andrew Triggs (TEX, SEA) – Sure he was effective against the Royals, I just don’t want to be trusting Triggs against strong offenses.
Jesse Hahn (TEX, SEA) – Ditto for Hahn, who is a bit more of an upside play but has more risk than Triggs.
Chase Anderson (@CHC, STL) – Yeah, I know how hot he’s been out of the gate. It’s too bad he gets a pair of tough opponents making this an easy call.
Jimmy Nelson (@CHC, STL) – Same goes for Nelson. The matchups are just not in his favor.
Zach Eflin (@NYM, ATL) – Looks like Eflin will take Buchholz’s spot in the rotation and despite the Mets/Braves being two great offenses to stream against, I don’t trust Eflin at this point.
Jered Weaver (@ATL, MIA) – It’s too bad these great matchups are getting wasted on Weaver.
Zach Lee (@ATL, MIA) – And Lee as well. Womp womp.
Ariel Miranda (MIA, @OAK) – While I’m okay with streaming against Oakland, I think there is too much risk for standard leagues here.
Yovani Gallardo (MIA, @OAK) – If I’m not starting Miranda, there’s no way I’m starting YoGa.
Matt Andriese (DET, HOU) – I kinda like Andriese this year in deeper leagues, but a start against Boston is enough to bench him for the week.
A.J. Griffin (@OAK, KCR) – Even though he gets two of the best streams around, I don’t want anything to do with Griffin.
Does Andriese get any bump if he faces DET and HOU instead of BOS? Wondering if I should start him or Triggs in an RP slot over Vizcaino or Barnette or play it safe and bench both for week 3? Thanks for the help!
Would you be dropping gsellman or triggs for musgrove this week? Also considering dropping Rendon or vmart for him, with Franco, villar, goldy, and Gonzales as options at 3B and 1B.