Ranking Every Two-Start Pitcher For Week 12 (6/18 – 6/24)

(Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

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.

Note: This article was written Friday morning, estimating probable starters through the week. These are subject to change.

Definitely Start

Jacob Degrom (@COL, LAD)

Miles Mikolas (@PHI, @MIL)

Zack Greinke (@LAA, @PIT)

Trevor Bauer (CHW, DET)

Gerrit Cole (TBR, KCR)

Chris Sale (@MIN, SEA)

Jose Berrios (BOS, TEX)

• Yes, Jacob deGrom should still be an auto-start even with an evening in Coors
• Even with Zack Greinke’s recent HR surge, you shouldn’t be benching him for a two-start week.
• Miles Mikolas is dope and you should feel dope for owning him
• With Jose Berrios executing his curveball so well, I’d be starting him in all leagues, even against the Sawx.

Probably Start

Nick Pivetta (STL, @WSH)

Kenta Maeda (@CHC, @NYM)

Jameson Taillon (MIL, ARI)

Dereck Rodriguez (MIA, SDP)

• Nick Pivetta didn’t look sharp against the Rockies, but trust his talent to rebound in the week ahead against the Cards and production against the Nats.
• It may be a bit surprising to see Dereck Rodriguez here, though he took advantage of the Marlins Thursday evening and with two weak opponents ahead, he becomes a strong discount option for Week 12.
• Kenta Maeda wasn’t on his game in his first start back from the DL, but he has the skill set to recover against the Cubs and you don’t want to miss a chance to take advantage of the Mets.
• I debated slotting Jameson Taillon higher, but he faces the Brewers and Diamondbacks. If he were facing weaker offenses (Goldschmidt has heated up!), he would be in the top tier.

Questionable

Jaime Barria (ARI, TOR)

Luke Weaver (@PHI, @MIL)

Tyler Anderson (NYM, MIA)

Mike Montgomery (LAD, @CIN)

Dylan Covey (@CLE, OAK)

Andrew Suarez (MIA, SDP)

Carlos Rodon (@CLE, OAK)

Domingo German (SEA, @TBR)

German Marquez (NYM, MIA)

Jhoulys Chacin (@PIT, STL)

Sonny Gray (@WSH, @TBR)

• It’s a major risk to start Sonny Gray twice and I have no problem with people wanting to slot him in the fourth tier. It’s a high risk/reward play as it’s not out of the question he steals two wins…or kills your week.
• Jaime Barria is a decent option if you’re chasing pitchers off the wire, though I have a little concern with him slotted against the Diamondbacks.
• With Domingo German lighting up the scoreboard with 10 strikeouts against the Rays Thursday night, he becomes a massive upside play for Week 12. Still, the Mariners could be trouble and the floor is much lower than ideal.
• Carlos Rodon has caught plenty people’s eyes, though I wouldn’t expect repeat success against the Indians. I’m willing to roll the die against the A’s.
• This week has seen a large spotlight on Dylan Covey who had no problem producing hosting Cleveland. That may not stick for another two starts, however, and Covey’s ceiling isn’t what you want it to be.
• Mike Montgomery has been decent as a replacement for Yu Darvish for Chicago, and while the Dodgers are heating up, a date with Cincinnati makes him a considerable option.
• Despite pitching both games in Coors, German Marquez and Tyler Anderson could still succeed as they get terrible lineups in the Marlins and Mets.
• It’s possible that Andrew Suarez churns out a pair of digestible outings as he faces the Marlins and Padres in spacious AT&T Park. Keep in mind, his ceiling is much lower than a good amount of these options.

Bench

Ian Kennedy (TEX, @HOU)

Bartolo Colon (@KCR, @MIN)

Tyler Chatwood (LAD, @CIN)

Brandon Woodruff? (@PIT, STL)

Caleb Smith (@SFG, @COL)

Trevor Williams (MIL, ARI)

Erick Fedde (NYY, PHI)

Sal Romano (DET, CHC)

Jason Vargas (@COL, LAD)

Marco Gonzales (@NYY, @BOS)

Paul Blackburn (@SDP, @CHW)

Eric Lauer (OAK, @SFG)

Jaime Garcia (ATL, @LAA)

David Hess (@WSH, @ATL)

• Across the board, pretty easy decisions this week, with options like Jaime Garcia, Eric Lauer, David Hess, and Sal Romano all far from fantasy relevancy.
• Even with Paul Blackburn’s excellent matchups, I’d be deathly afraid of his floor to make the risky play.
• Caleb Smith and Marco Gonzales suffer from a pair of terrible matchups, forcing them into the bottom tier.
• It’s possible Brandon Woodruff gets a pair of starts as Zach Davies maintains his stay on the DL, and I would hate relying on him to squeak out a pair of beneficial starts, especially against a solid Pirates offense.