Two-Start Pitchers: 5/6 – 5/12

Welcome to another edition of the 2024 two-start pitcher rankings!

My rankings have four tiers: Set and Forget, Probably Start, Questionable, and Avoid. Set and Forget starters are simply that; get them in your lineup and don’t think twice. The Most Likely Start tier includes players with the mix of skill and matchups that make them almost certainly two-start plays, but not without some elevated risk compared to the top tier. Questionable starters are those best suited for daily lineup leagues where you can bench them against the tougher of their two opponents or are more situation-dependent in weekly leagues. Finally, we have the Avoid tier, which includes two start SPs who should remain on your bench or the wire.

Each week, I’ll be selecting my Two-Start Streamer of the Week. The criteria for a streamer will be a rostered rate under 50% in Yahoo leagues. The Streamer of the Week will be highlighted in the tables in green. Reach out to me in the PL+ Discord or on Twitter @AnthonyTucker81  and let me know if you’d grade the weekly streamer as a win or loss.

As a friendly reminder, the projected starters are just that, projections and subject to change.

 

Set and Forget

 

• Seth Lugo is not a fantasy ace but finds himself amongst them in this week’s rankings. He’s turned in quality starts in six of his seven outings this year. You shouldn’t expect continued high strikeout totals like his last two starts, but just about everything else about Lugo shouts consistency. He should be a reliable option against all but the toughest of lineups.

 

• Bailey Ober hasn’t fully lived up to the preseason billing as a fantasy breakout, but he’s been more than serviceable. The towering right-hander has a 5.47 PLV, an elite number for the metric. The M’s and Jays don’t currently look like offenses to fear.

 

Most Likely 

 

• Justin Steele is the highest ranked of a quartet of arms making their return off the IL early next week. While the rest of Questionable or Avoids, Steele belongs in most lineups. Those in daily leagues might choose to be cautious after a month on the shelf, but he was able to continue throwing while his hamstring was recovering.

 

Questionable

 

• Walker Buehler makes his long-awaited return to the majors from Tommy John surgery with a soft landing at home against the Marlins. It’s hard to gauge what the expectations for Buehler early on should be, as his six rehab starts were not overwhelming. The Dodgers will surely manage Buehler cautiously out of the gate, adding another variable as you consider your options in weekly leagues.

 

• Luis Gil is this week’s Two Start Streamer of the Week coming off a dominant outing against the Orioles. Gil is looking more and more like an option whose outcomes are less about who he’s facing and more about whether he has his command. In a week of less-than-stellar options available in under 50% of leagues. For those who are looking for more of a floor play, there are plenty of options: Tyler Anderson, Logan Allen, and Emerson Hancock all have the opportunity to turn in solid ratios.

 

• Kyle Harrison, Sean Manaea, and Andrew Heaney are all potential one-start streamers.

 

Avoid

 

• Braxton Garrett ended his rehab stint on a high note, but the competition he’ll be facing next week is much more formidable than minor leaguers. Garrett will be thrown into the fire against two of the league’s best lineups, with little run support behind him. He’s an easy avoid next week but should continue to have a place on rosters for when his schedule eases up.

 

• Frankie Montas also returns from the IL. While his matchups aren’t as daunting as Garrett’s, he was not looking like a reliable fantasy option before his two weeks out of the rotation.

 

Two-Start Streamer of the Week Record: 2-2. We’ll withhold judgment on Trevor Rogers until he makes his start at Oakland. He disappointed against the Nats, but he can salvage the week with a bounceback.