Ranking Every Two-Start Pitcher For Week 22 (9/3 – 9/9)

(Photo by Juan Salas/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 afternoon, estimating probable starters through the week. These are subject to change.

Definitely Start

Mike Clevinger (KCR, @TOR)

Jacob Degrom (@LAD, PHI)

Cole Hamels (@MIL, @WSH)

Miles Mikolas (@WSH, @DET)

• Few legit plays this week, but never bench Jacob deGrom. Ever.
• Miles Mikolasand Mike Clevinger  are both strong plays against average opponents. Don’t overthink this.
• Cole Hamels is killing it as a Cub and you should have no hesitation to pull him to the bench this week.

Probably Start

Joey Lucchesi (@ARI, @CIN)

Madison Bumgarner (@COL, @MIL)

Zack Godley (SDP, ATL)

Alex Wood (NYM, @COL)

Vince Velasquez (@MIA, @NYM)

CC Sabathia (@OAK, @SEA)

Mike Foltynewicz (BOS, @ARI)

Trevor Cahill (NYY, TEX)

• I know Trevor Cahill has gone through some trouble lately, but a pair of games at home (amazing splits!) against a laboring Yankee offense and the Rangers should return solid production.
• If it weren’t for a start in Coors, I’d place Madison Bumgarner in the top tier. Meanwhile, I’m not so scared about it for Alex Wood that he makes it into the second tier.
• Tough starts for Mike Foltynewicz this week, but it’s still in your best interest to let him fly.
• I’m not a big fan of Vince Velasquez these days, but he should still be able to take advantage of the Marlins and Mets.
• Zack Godley and Joey Lucchesi don’t have the best starts, but still have a high enough ceiling to elevate them above the pitchers below them.
• The Athletics and Mariners are no joke, but CC Sabathia is still a decent play as he’s shown all year with his cutter to maintain good ratios with Win opportunities.

Questionable

Jakob Junis (@CLE, @MIN)

Dallas Keuchel (MIN, @BOS)

Sean Newcomb (BOS, @ARI)

Tyler Anderson (SFG, LAD)

Reynaldo Lopez (DET, LAA)

Matt Harvey (@PIT, SDP)

Trevor Williams (CIN, MIA)

Andrew Heaney (@TEX, @CHW)

Michael Fulmer (@CHW, STL)

• Many questionable options here, though they make for desperate plays in search of two starts from one guy this week. We don’t know what we’re going to get from Reynaldo Lopez on a given night, but the Tigers and Angels will certainly help. Sean Newcomb and Dallas Keuchel aren’t pitching at their best + have the Red Sox to endure.
• I don’t buy the success of Trevor Williams, but he’s rolling right now and gets two weak opponents that could work well.
• Tyler Anderson has been all kinds of shaky and the Dodgers start could nullify a good opportunity against the Giants. Those seeking strikeout upside should consider Anderson.
• Jakob Junis is on a start-by-start basis, with the Indians looking like a bad option, though the Twins could work well.
• And then there’s Michael Fulmer who looked terrible in his second start off the DL, but it’s not out of the question one of these starts return solid results. Definitely a big risk.

Bench

Adam Plutko (KCR, @TOR)

Kohl Stewart (@HOU, KCR)

Jose Urena (PHI, @PIT)

Zach Davies (CHC, SFG)

Yefry Ramirez (@SEA, @TBR)

Ariel Jurado (LAA, @OAK)

Mike Montgomery (@MIL, @WSH)

Cody Reed (@PIT, SDP)

Ryan Borucki (TBR, CLE)

Gio Gonzalez (STL, CHC)

• I debated with Jose Urena as a very desperate two-start option, but the ceiling is too low to chase it twice in one week.
• Plenty of these pitchers should simply never be touched, including Kohl Stewart, Ariel Jurado, Cody Reed, and Ryan Borucki.
• Zach Davies is returning from the DL – a huge DLH – and he wasn’t even pitching well prior. Stay away.
• The days of Gio Gonzalez being a sturdy arm are far away as he’s been detrimental to many teams. It’s not worth it.
• Adam Plutko has been…okay. I can fathom him pulling off two decent starts against the Royals and Jays, but it’s a worse chance than I’d like.