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. 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
David Price (COL, @TOR)
Chris Sale (CLE, @KCR)
Taijuan Walker (OAK, MIN)
Cole Hamels (LAA, PIT)
Johnny Cueto (SDP, @COL)
Wei-Yin Chen (TBR, @ATL)
Clayton Kershaw (CIN, NYM) – The Dodgers are currently in a six man rotation, which would mean Kershaw does not have a two-start week. Monitor the situation to see if Kershaw gets his Sunday start.
Probably Start
Ian Kennedy (@MIN, CHW) – It’s hard not to like Kennedy with the way he’s rolling right now, but he isn’t a definite given his questionable history.
John Lackey (@STL, PHI) – Love Lackey right now, but hate facing the Cardinals.
Gio Gonzalez (NYM, STL) – Gio has been very impressive to start off 2016 and while the Cards are annoying, it’s not enough of a deterrent.
Chris Tillman (@HOU, @CLE) – Tillman is cruising and the Indians/Stros are not.
Jake Odorizzi (@MIA, NYY) – I’ve a bit concerned about Odorizzi as a whole, but the Marlins and Yanks are good matchups that he can take advantage of.
Edinson Volquez (@MIN, CHW) – Volquez gets two good starts and has the floor to be a decent start.
Rich Hill (@SEA, DET) – The Mariners are hitting better than people give them credit and the Tigers are never fun. Still, Hill still has some juice in his magic formula of awesomeness, and you can’t turn down a pair of starts.
Drew Pomeranz (@SFG, @ARI) – Despite facing two above-average teams, Pom is too hot to bench.
Julio Teheran (MIL, MIA) – With the way that Teheran has been pitching, he’s a comfortable choice for both games this week.
Vincent Velasquez (@DET, @CHC) – Pretty disappointing matchups for a two-start week, but VV was filthy last time out and you can’t turn away from his 10.99 K/9 and 2.42 ERA this year.
Nathan Eovaldi (TOR, @TBR) – Eovaldi is teetering between the 2nd and third tiers, but the Jays have been sputtering offensively, given Eovaldi the nod.
Michael Wacha (CHC, @WSH) – It’s not a favorable pair of guys, and there is some risk going with Wacha. Nevertheless, he’s still a good enough pitcher that you should run him out there for the week.
Questionable
Matt Moore (@MIA, NYY) – The Rays’ southpaw has been struggling lately and was pushed back to Monday to make this a two-start week. Good matchups may help him recover, just recognize the low floor.
Mike Clevinger (@CHW, BAL) – I went over Clevinger in this week’s GIF Breakdown, and he could take a step forward next week against the ChiSox. I have my reservations about facing the O’s, though.
Jimmy Nelson (@ATL, CIN) – I’d normally bench Nelson but these matchups are too good to not consider.
Francisco Liriano (ARI, @TEX) – It’s a risk every time out with Liriano given his walk rate. On the flip side, he has the upside to make you forget all about it.
Bartolo Colon (@WSH, LAD) – The Big Apple fared rather poorly against the Nationals, but he’s skilled enough to bounce back and provide value a second time around and against the Dodgers.
Ervin Santana (KCR, @SEA) – I’m not a fan of Santana and these are not the greatest of matchups. There is strikeout upside inside him, however, and it’s a better risk than options in the bottom tier.
Shelby Miller (@PIT, SDP) – That Pittsburgh outing looks rough, though the date with the Padres should ease the blow.
Adam Wainwright (CHC, @WSH) – I can understand benching Waino as well, but he took a step forward last night and could be serviceable.
Brandon Finnegan (@LAD, @MIL) – The bottom of the barrell is Finnegan who has been an inconsistent enigma this year. If you really need the help, I’d reach for the upside Finnegan can provide against weak teams.
Bench
Ricky Nolasco (KCR, @SEA) – Nolasco is reverting back to his old ways, which are the worst kind of ways.
R.A. Dickey (@NYY, BOS) – Don’t trust a knuckleballer. Especially against the Red Sox.
Mike Pelfrey (PHI, @OAK) – It’s sad that these matchups are wasted on a guy like Pelfrey.
Mat Latos (CLE, @KCR) – It’s the morning after and you realized that Latos wasn’t the person you thought he was after his good start to the year.
Doug Fister (BAL, @LAA) – Fister’s night with the Angels could be serviceable, it’s a shame that the Baltimore matchup is too much to handle.
Nick Tropeano (@TEX, HOU) – Trop could be decent in these starts, but it’s too much of a risk for not enough reward.
Tom Koehler (TBR, @ATL) – Koehler has a slightly more upside than Pelfrey, though it comes with too much risk to consider rolling with him.
Chris Rusin (@BOS, SFG) – I don’t trust Rusin at Coors against the Giants, and I certainly don’t trust him in Fenway.