Here on Fridays 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. The first tier features starters that are no doubters for the week ahead followed by a tier of pitchers that look like good plays but may create a hesitation or two. Players inside Questionable Starts are for deeper leagues or have one-of-two outings that should be avoid. Pitchers labeled Bench should be avoided despite their dual week ahead.
Definitely Start
Masahiro Tanaka (KCR, CHW)
Corey Kluber (@HOU, MIN)
Drew Smyly (@SEA, OAK)
Sonny Gray (@BOS, @TBR)
Felix Hernandez (TBR, LAA)
Jose Fernandez (MIL, @WSH)
Jon Lester (SDP, PIT)
Stephen Strasburg (DET, MIA)
Jacob DeGrom (@LAD, @COL)
Kevin Gausman (@MIN, DET)
Probably Start
Steven Matz (@LAD, @COL) – If it weren’t for a date in Coors, Matz would be a no-brainer for next week. I’d still roll him out there – good pitchers can produce during a start in Coors as crazy as it might sound – though there is slight worry.
Jose Berrios (BAL, @CLE) – Despite giving owners questionable production in his first two outings, Berrios looks to be blossoming in front of our eyes. He could very well take another step forward in both of these outings.
Aaron Sanchez (@SFG, @TEX) – Sanchez has been a solid option through the season, though he gets a gritty Giants team and a Rangers team that can do some damage.
Carlos Rodon (@TEX, @NYY) – Rodon has seen better times, but the Rangers aren’t enough to hold back a start against the Yankees.
Adam Conley (MIL, @WSH) – He has been cruising and gets two good matchups ahead making him a good choice.
Questionable
Clay Buchholz (OAK, HOU) – Normally I’d be benching Buchholz, but he improved last time out and has one of the better matchups around against Oakland. Houston isn’t horrific either, which makes Clay a somewhat serviceable option.
Scott Kazmir (NYM, STL) – Kaz took a step forward last time out and gets a pair of teams that he could take advantage of. There’s some risk involved, but it could be worse.
Alex Wood (NYM, STL) – Wood looks to have found a groove lately and faces two teams that are far removed from the top tier.
Michael Fulmer (@WSH, @BAL) – It’s not guaranteed that Fulmer gets both of these spots in the rotation given that Shane Greene could return from the DL. If he does, though, there is upside for Fulmer to make a big splash.
Mike Fiers (CLE, @BOS) – It’s a feast-or-famine often for Fiers, which makes it always a tough call sticking him into your roster.
Hector Santiago (STL, @SEA) – The allure of Santiago has faded, though he gets two average matchups that could be beneficial.
Mike Leake (@LAA, @LAD) – Despite having a horrendous start to the year, there is still some upside left in the tank for Leake, and a night with the Angels could be what we’re looking for.
Colin Rea (CHC, @MIL) – I really don’t believe in Rea, but you have to at least consider this from Rea after going 6.2 no-hit against the Mets Thursday night, and that Brewers matchup could be solid.
Bench
Tyler Wilson (@MIN, DET) – A matchup of Wilson against the Tigers is enough to bench him for the week.
Chase Anderson (@MIA, SDP) – While the matchups dictate at least a Questionable, Chase has been incredibly disappointing thus far, and it’s tough to put any sort of faith in him at this point.
Henry Owens (OAK, HOU) – I considered Owens for the higher tier, but I simply don’t believe he can be a good floor guy yet while the upside isn’t there.
Chris Devenski (CLE, @BOS) – There is still some early mystique surrounding Devenski after two decent outings to start his job as an Astros starter. I worry about his numbers under the hood (low soft contact, high FIP, high BB/9), and I think the magic wears off soon.
Trevor Bauer (@HOU, MIN) It will be a while before Bauer can be trusted again.
Anibal Sanchez (@WSH, @BAL) – Same goes for Anibal. He’s struggling mightily this season and I don’t see these matchups acting as a stepping stone.
CC Sabathia (KCR, CHW) – While he hasn’t completely tanked like in seasons past, Sabathia still isn’t a fantasy commodity in any way.
Chris Young (@NYY, ATL) – 2016 hasn’t been kind to Young and despite two good matchups I don’t trust him to capitalize.
Kris Medlen (@NYY, ATL) – Ditto for Medlen. He looks very far removed from the guy he used to be.
Colby Lewis (CHW, TOR) – Lewis v Toronto is all you need to know.
Mike Foltynewicz (PHI, @KCR) – Folty has some of the best stuff in this tier, but the execution is lacking immensely. It could be an okay start against the Phils, though I wouldn’t bank on it.
Adam Morgan (@ATL, CIN) – Morgan squeaked into a job on the Phillies’ staff and is not someone I want to trust despite his poor opponents.
Dan Straily (PIT, @PHI) – Straily simply isn’t good enough to endorse.
Zach Davies (@MIA, SDP) – I considered putting Davis in the higher tier based on matchups, but then I remember his 5.04 xFIP and 4.66 BB/9. Ouch.
Jon Niese (@CIN, @CHC) – Niese used to be a decent stream option when he was a Met. Those days are gone.
Rubby De La Rosa (@COL, SFG) – I would have considered Rubby for the higher tier if he faced weak teams. Coors + San Fran does not spell weakness.
Robbie Ray (@COL, SFG) – Ray could be serviceable against poor teams, but that’s just not what the baseball gods gave him this week.
Tyler Chatwood (ARI, NYM) – Both of these games are at home, which spells disaster.
Cesar Vargas (CHC, @MIL) – It’s like Davies and Vargas are super buds, as Vargas holds a 4.58 xFIP and 4.96 BB/9.
Jake Peavy (TOR, @ARI) – The days are grim for Peavy and could get a lot worse against both of these teams.
Matt Cain (TOR, @ARI) – It’s like Cain is going down with Peavy to make each other feel better about their struggles. Poor guys.