Ranking Every Two-Start Pitcher For Week 20 (8/20 – 8/26)

(Photo by Frank Jansky/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 Saturday afternoon, estimating probable starters through the week. These are subject to change.

Definitely Start

Corey Kluber (@BOS, @KCR)

Gerrit Cole (@SEA, @LAA)

Blake Snell (KCR, BOS)

• Very few aces this week, but these starters should all be started without question, even if Snell and Kluber get the Red Sox.

Probably Start

Alex Wood (STL, SDP)

Rick Porcello (CLE, @TBR)

Jose Berrios (CHW, OAK)

Zack Wheeler (SFG, WSH)

Jhoulys Chacin (CIN, PIT)

Derek Holland (@NYM, TEX)

Mike Fiers (TEX, @MIN)

Kevin Gausman (@PIT, @MIA)

Chris Archer (ATL, @MIL)

Nathan Eovaldi (CLE, @TBR)

Carlos Rodon (MIN, @DET)

CC Sabathia (@MIA, @BAL)

Kyle Hendricks (@DET, CIN)

• Lots a great options this week ranging from guys in the Top 50 (Alex Wood, Rick Porcello, Jose Berrios, Chris Archer Zack Wheeler) to sturdy ratio arms (CC Sabathia, Kyle Hendricks, Nathan Eovaldi).
• Derek Holland, Carlos Rodon, and Kevin Gausman all benefit heavily from easy schedules, making them strong Tier 2 plays.
• Then there’s Jholuys Chacin and Mike Fiers who are overperforming a bit this season but should not be held back with good matchups in Week 20.

Questionable

Lucas Giolito (@MIN, @DET)

Mike Leake (HOU, @ARI)

Dylan Bundy (@TOR, NYY)

Marco Estrada (BAL, PHI)

Shane Bieber (@BOS, @KCR)

Tyler Anderson (SDP, STL)

Vince Velasquez (@WSH, @TOR)

Julio Teheran (@PIT, @MIA)

• I considered elevating both Vince Velasquez and Shane Bieber into Tier 2, but with Bieber’s fastball concerns + a date with the Sawx, he was pulled down. Velasquez, on the other hand, has struggled mightily with his secondary options and may hit some bumps next week.
• There’s hope that Tyler Anderson can find the success he had in June/July again and the Padres and Cardinals are the perfect teams to pull a Foley and get back on the right track.
• Julio Teheran, Lucas Giolito, and Marco Estrada are your desperate options. Giolito has shown increased velocity and an improved curveball recently, Estrada had himself a 16 whiff rate just two starts ago and gets a date with the Orioles, and Teheran is a bit of Cherry Bomb that could be sweet again the Marlins and Pirates.
• Mike Leake continues to surprise and may be digestible enough to survive in a QS league.
• Better days are behind Dylan and while he could take well advantage of the Jays, a date with the Yanks makes him a very risky play

Bench

Yovani Gallardo (@OAK, @SFG)

Austin Gomber (@LAD, @COL)

Homer Bailey (@MIL, @CHC)

Jorge Lopez (@TBR, CLE)

Felix Pena (@ARI, HOU)

Ervin Santana (@CHW, OAK)

Robbie Erlin (@COL, @LAD)

Jordan Zimmermann (CHC, CHW)

Trevor Richards (NYY, ATL)

Brett Anderson (TEX, @MIN)

Yefry Ramirez (@TOR, NYY)

• Not many considerable options in the fourth tier this week with plenty of pitchers that don’t deserve roster spots with tough lineups ahead.
• I’d consider the likes of Homer Bailey, Austin Gomber, Felix Pena, and Trevor Richards in the third tier if they solid matchups. Bad news for them: they don’t.