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, @PIT)
Carlos Carrasco (TBR, @HOU)
Yu Darvish (@DET, PHI)
Chris Archer (@CLE, NYY)
Probably Start
Marco Estrada (ATL, @BAL) – Estrada is cruising and these matchups don’t deter me
John Lackey (CIN, MIL) – Lackey looked like himself last time out, no reason to think he can’t keep it up here.
Jerad Eickhoff (@TEX, @PIT) – Eickhoff gets two good matchups and can take advantage.
Andrew Triggs (BOS, @SEA) – It’s too bad to see Triggs get two tough offenses, but I think you should still roll with him here.
Eduardo Rodriguez (@STL, @OAK) – Rodriguez is on a roll and both these teams shouldn’t halt his momentum.
Rich Hill (@SFG, MIA) – These will be shortened starts, but we’ve learned that when Hill pitches, you start him.
Questionable
Zack Godley (NYM, @SDP) – Godley increased his velocity and now gets two poor offenses to test it out on. He’s worth the gamble.
Zack Wheeler (@ARI, LAA) – I worry about his start in Arizona, demoting him from Probable to Questionable. His walk rate may come to burn him.
Brandon McCarthy (@SFG, MIA) – There’s a floor here, but I think McCarthy is one of the safer picks in this tier if you’re looking for a decent two-start option. Monitor the Dodgers rotation situation though, things change quickly in LA.
Chase Anderson (@CHC, @SDP) – That Cubs start is far from inviting, though the Padres may open the door for a spot start.
CC Sabathia (@KCR, @TBR) – He’s normally be in the lowest tier, and the Royals + Rays have made Sabathia a possible option for the week ahead.
Sean Manaea (BOS, @SEA) – I think Manaea needs a week or so to really get back into his groove and there could be some troubles as he faces two good sets of bats.
Jesse Chavez (CHW, @NYM) – I’m not much of a fan of Chavez, but the Mets and White Sox could allow Chavez to end the week on the positive side.
Kyle Freeland (@CIN, @MIN) – Freeland heads outside of Coors and faces two middle-of-the-road offenses. Not the most tantalizing, but it could work.
Jimmy Nelson (@CHC, @SDP) – I can see Nelson doing well against the Padres, though the Cubs is a very risky affair.
Joe Musgrove (CLE, @MIA) – Musgrove still isn’t the pitcher I want him to be, yet he did take a small step forward this week and maybe that continues against the Indians and Marlins. Very close to the fourth tier.
Luis Perdomo (ARI, MIL) – Perdomo is a better pitcher than the numbers have indicated and this could work out alright even with the Diamondbacks ahead. Very risky, though.
Bench
Jason Hammel (NYY, @MIN) – Hammel against the Yankees spells disaster while the Twins aren’t a surefire benefit either.
Bronson Arroyo (@CHC, COL) – Don’t want to chase Arroyo normally, especially not against the Cubs and Rockies.
Bartolo Colon (@TOR, WSH) – Colon just doesn’t have what he used to. I don’t want to take the risk here.
Derek Holland (@LAA, @SEA) – Holland is the closest to being in the third tier, but I can see this blowing up in a big way as he heads to Seattle.
Clayton Richard (ARI, MIL) – Richard is a pitcher that will surprise you with a decent start and then disappear whenever he feels like it. Not the kind of arm I want to trust once, let alone twice.
Mike Bolsinger (ATL, @BAL) – Bolsinger isn’t someone I trust to turn this into a beneficial week as he subs in for Francisco Liriano.
Chase-De Jong (CHW, OAK) – Even with the weak teams, I wouldn’t be throwing De Jong out there.
Chad Kuhl (PHI, WSH) – There isn’t enough here to buy into a pair of outings, moreso when one is against the Nationals.
Jaime Garcia (@TOR, WSH) – Garcia isn’t worth your time.
Matt Cain (LAD, @STL) – Cain has had a small resurgence, just not one that seems sustainable.
Matthew Boyd (BAL, TEX) – I’m not ready to believe in Boyd yet.
Mike Pelfrey (@LAA, @SEA) – Pelfrey hasn’t been a good option for a long time.
Phil Hughes (COL, KCR) – Hughes against the Rockies is not a fun start.
Tom Koehler (HOU, @LAD) – There isn’t enough her for me to roll with Koehler.
Ubaldo Jimenez (@DET, TOR) – …It’s Ubaldo.
Wei-Yin Chen (HOU, @LAD) – It’s not certain Chen is back from the DL for these starts and whoever would be a replacement isn’t worth your time either.
Yovani Gallardo (CHW, OAK) – Leave it to Gallardo to have two excellent matchups and still not be a good choice.