Reviewing Every Two-Start Pitcher For Week 26 (9/25 – 10/1)

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: Since this is the final week of the season, it’s likely that many of these pitchers’ schedules change last minute and don’t get their second starts of the week. Monitor each situation through the week!

Definitely Start

Chris Sale? (TOR, HOU)

Zack Godley (SFG, @KCR)

Carlos Martinez (CHC, MIL)

Jake Arrieta (@STL, CIN)

Luis Severino? (TBR, TOR)

Gio Gonzalez (@PHI, PIT)

• Gio Gonzalez’s spot initially belonged to Max Scherzer, but the Nationals shuffled it around and the result is Mad Max having a clear path to Game 1 of the NLDS and Gio getting two easy starts in the week ahead. No reason to stop starting him now.
• Chris Sale and Luis Severino may miss their final starts as they are saved for Game 1 of the playoffs (or the Wild Card game).

Probably Start

Dallas Keuchel? (@TEX, @BOS)

Alex Wood (SDP, @COL)

Yu Darvish? (SDP, @COL)

Luke Weaver (CHC, MIL)

Brad Peacock (@TEX, @BOS)

Mike Clevinger (MIN, CHW)

Jon Lester (@STL, CIN)

• I debated a good amount with some of these arms as they are more questionable than they appear. Dallas Keuchel had a good start Thursday evening, though heading to Arlington and Fenway will do him little favors. Meanwhile, Alex Wood and Yu Darvish are slated for Coors next weekend and that could be a bench in your league.
• On the topic of Yu Darvish, it’s possible the Dodgers prevent him from starting his final start as they craft their playoff schedule. The same applies to Dallas Keuchel as well.
• With Lance McCullers up in the air for Sunday’s start, it could mean Collin McHugh gets two starts instead of Dallas Keuchel. McHugh would be in the Questionable tier if this were the case.
• With the way Luke Weaver and Mike Clevinger are pitching, there’s little reason to stop rolling with them now.

Questionable

Anibal Sanchez (@KCR, @MIN)

Blake Snell (@NYY, BAL)

Drew Pomeranz (TOR, HOU)

Felix Hernandez (@OAK, @LAA)

Carson Fulmer (LAA, @CLE)

Johnny Cueto (@ARI, SDP)

Mike Foltynewicz (@NYM, @MIA)

Zach Davies (CIN, @STL)

Seth Lugo (ATL, @PHI)

Daniel Mengden (SEA, @TEX)

Parker Bridwell (@CHW, SEA)

Cole Hamels (HOU, OAK)

CC Sabathia (KCR, TOR)

• Plenty of choices to go with here. Anibal Sanchez has been fanning plenty in his last two starts, Daniel Mengden has pitched back-to-back scoreless efforts, and even CC Sabathia gets a look considering his matchups against the Royals and Jays
• On the other side, some better arms have tough dates ahead, including Johnny Cueto heading to Arizona, Drew Pomeranz against the Astros, Blake Snell facing the Yankees, and Cole Hamels against the Astros. Proceed with caution in those poor starts but let them fly against the easier lineups.
• You don’t know what you’re going to get from Zach Davies as he gets the Reds and Cards. It’s a risky move and my gut says he’ll perform poorly enough in one start that it would negate the overall benefit of the week.
• Carson Fulmer’s two-start week is now up in the air after leaving Thursday night’s game with a blister on his right index finger. Not to mention, a start against the Indians isn’t the best matchup, making this a tough play.
• I wouldn’t call myself a fan of trusting Parker Bridwell or Mike Foltynewicz down the stretch, but they are a step up from the poor options in the fourth tier if you’re digging for two starts from one source next week.

Bench

Andrew Cashner (HOU, OAK)

Bartolo Colon (@CLE, DET)

Daniel Gossett (SEA, @TEX)

Ian Kennedy (@NYY, ARI)

James Shields (LAA, @CLE)

Jose Urena (@COL, ATL)

Brett Anderson (@BOS, @NYY)

Odrisamer Despaigne (@COL, ATL)

R.A. Dickey (@NYM, @MIA)

Ricky Nolasco (@CHW, SEA)

Rookie Davis (@MIL, @CHC)

Tyler Chatwood (MIA, LAD)

• I imagine some are looking at considering Andrew Cashner and Jose Urena, but their peripherals suggest massive regression while they are each served one terrible matchup. Not worth the risk in my view.
• A few names have one solid matchup that you may want to take a desperate chance on (R.A. Dickey vs. NYY, Ricky Nolasco vs. CHW, Ian Kennedy hosting ARI), but I’d advise against it, let alone for two starts across the week.