Fantasy Baseball 2-Start Pitcher Rankings: With options limited, focusing on one-start streamers seems ideal
In many fantasy baseball leagues, I would skip the entire two-start list and focus on the top hurlers in one-start streamers section. On the hitting side, managers in shallow leagues can start off their week by looking for Cardinals, while those in deeper formats can search for Astros.
Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference)
Mitch Keller, Pirates, 51% (vs. DET, vs. ARI)
Keller is having his best MLB season (3.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP), but thanks to the Pirates low-scoring offense, he has a 3-10 record to show for it. The right-hander would normally be advisable to use despite the low win potential, but he faces two offenses that rank among the top 6 in runs scored. Still, we can consider him the best of a bad bunch.
Jacob Lopez, Athletics, 24% (@ TEX, @ HOU)
After enjoying a dazzling stretch for most of June, Lopez has come crashing back to reality by logging a 6.39 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across his past three starts. In defense of Lopez, all three of those games came against teams with winning records, and he produced a solid 14:4 K:BB ratio during the rough stretch. The lefty has a polarizing schedule this week, as the Astros rank second in OPS vs. southpaws, while the Rangers sit way down at 29th.
Tomoyuki Sugano, Orioles, 13% (@ CLE, vs. COL)
Sugano out-pitched his expected stats for a little over two months before regressing badly with a 7.94 ERA and 1.94 WHIP across his past six starts. Simply put, the 35-year-old rookie doesn't dominate the strike zone well enough (5.4 K/9 rate) to have sustained success. Still, Sugano could be a decent one-week dice roll in 12-team leagues, as he has an incredible schedule, which includes the Guardians (26th in runs scored) and Rockies (28th).
Max Scherzer, Blue Jays, 44% (vs. NYY, @ DET)
Although Scherzer has posted mediocre ratios in four starts since coming off the injured list (4.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP), he has been hampered by a .327 BABIP while logging a solid 23:7 K:BB ratio in 20 innings. He would normally receive strong consideration, but has tough matchups this week. The Yankees (3rd) and Tigers (6th) are among the top teams in runs scored.
Joey Cantillo, Guardians, 8% (vs. BAL, @ KC)
In three starts since joining the rotation, Cantillo has had some successes (18 strikeouts in 12.2 IP) and failures (4.97 ERA, 1.58 WHIP). Until he makes improvements to his walk rate, the 25-year-old will likely be a roller coaster that fantasy managers do not want to ride. The southpaw has a favorable schedule this week. The Royals struggle to score and Orioles have been awful against lefties, but it still may not be enough to get him into 12-team lineups.
Jake Irvin, Nationals, 17% (vs. CIN, @ MIN)
We know who Irvin is by now — a below-average starter who eats innings but gives up too many homers to be useful in fantasy. He has average matchups this week, but his ceiling is as a dart throw in 15-team leagues.
Hayden Birdsong, Giants, 16% (@ ATL, vs. NYM)
After showing improved control skills in his initial work as a starter, Birdsong has walked 21 batters across 27.2 innings in his past six starts. The righty has plenty of strikeout potential but cannot be trusted in any categories league until he lowers his walk rate. At best, Birdsong is a points-league option this week, thanks to his RP eligibility.
Randy Vásquez, Padres, 5% (@ MIN, vs. @ STL)
Those who look beyond Vásquez's 3.80 ERA will choose to leave him on waivers. The right-hander does plenty of WHIP damage (1.39) and all of his ERA estimators are north of 5.00. Any pitcher with a 50:46 K:BB ratio is headed for hard times.
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One-Start Streamers
In order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in brackets.
Trevor Rogers vs. COL (Saturday, 50%)
Ryne Nelson @ PIT (Friday, 41%)
Michael Wacha vs. CLE (Friday, 39%)
Sean Manaea vs. LAA (Wednesday, 51%)
Emmet Sheehan @ BOS (Friday, 23%)
Taj Bradley vs. CWS (Wednesday, 48%)
Slade Cecconi vs. BAL (Wednesday, 19%)
Zebby Matthews vs. WSH (Saturday, 20%)
Dean Kremer @ CLE (Friday, 28%)
Patrick Corbin vs. ATH (Wednesday, 12%)
Brandon Walter @ ARI (Wednesday, 18%)
Janson Junk @ MIL (Saturday, 28%)
Colin Rea vs. KC (Wednesday, 23%)
Favorable Monday-Thursday hitting matchups
Cardinals @ Rockies, vs. Padres
St. Louis should score early and often when it heads to Coors Field to face a Colorado pitching staff with a 6.12 home ERA. The Rockies are slated to start lefties on Monday and Wednesday, which makes right-handed hitters Iván Herrera (55%) and Masyn Winn (49%) the best players to add in shallow leagues. In deeper formats, Victor Scott II (14%) is a good option for steals. Alec Burleson (51%) is a good streamer for the entire week, as he will benefit from facing righties in five of the team's seven games.
Astros @ D-backs, vs. Athletics
Houston will face four below average starters over the next four days, and a pair of bullpens that both rank among the bottom-5 in ERA. There aren't too many options from this offense in deep leagues, but Victor Caratini (14%) qualifies as someone who has played well of late and is widely available. Mauricio Dubon (4%) has been an everyday player in July, and Cam Smith (49%) is still sitting on waivers in some shallow leagues.
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