Here on Fridays 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. The first tier features starters that are no doubters for the week ahead followed by a tier of pitchers that look like good plays but may create a hesitation or two. Players inside Questionable Starts are for deeper leagues or have one-of-two outings that should be avoid. Pitchers labeled Bench should be avoided despite their dual week ahead.
Definitely Start
Marcus Stroman (@BAL, OAK)
Carlos Rodon (LAA, TEX)
Michael Pineda (OAK, TBR)
Carlos Carrasco (SEA, @DET)
Jose Fernandez (WSH, @SFG)
Noah Syndergaard (@PHI, @ATL)
Stephen Strasburg (@MIA, MIN)
Francisco Liriano (@SDP, @ARI)
Probably Start
Jerad Eickhoff (NYM, @MIL) – Eickhoff is in the zone lately, and both of these teams are looking terrible offensively.
Drew Smyly (@BOS, @NYY) – Yes, these matchups aren’t great for Smyly, but he’s good enough to be productive despite the circumstance.
Ervin Santana (MIL, @WSH) – Santana is a decent streamer this year and both of these outings look to amplify his strikeout ability.
Jason Hammel (@STL, @CIN) – Hammel isn’t the sharpest of pitchers, but he should have a solid outing against the Reds, and the Cards aren’t a top tier offense they once were. A pair of Wins could head Hammel’s way.
John Lackey (@STL, @CIN) – Same goes for Lackey.
J.A. Happ (@BOS, OAK) – Oakland is a very fun team to pitch against, and while the Red Sox offense can be intimidating, Happ has the capability to silence the Boston bats to make this a good two-start week.
Questionable
Chase Anderson (@MIN, PHI) – Anderson has K upside and is facing two very exploitable teams.
Hector Santiago (@CWS, SEA) – It’s not easy heading to Chicago for the White Sox, but mixed with a meeting against the Mariners may be a worthwhile stream.
Mat Latos (LAA, TEX) – It’s hard endorsing Latos, but the Halos have very little to offer outside of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Texas isn’t favorable but it could be worse.
Shane Greene (@KCR, CLE) – Greene looked like his 2014 self in his outing against the Pirates, and he may be a productive asset this week. The Royals could give him a rough time, though.
Yordano Ventura (DET, BAL) – Almost in the Bench tier as Ventura could run into a lot of trouble with both teams. Still, his upside is big enough to be used as a lottery ticket for those in need.
Phil Hughes (MIL, @WSH) – Hughes could easily perform adequately against both these opponents, but I still don’t like him.
Wade Miley (@CLE, @LAA) – I don’t like Miley much at all, but it’s tough to resist throwing him against these poor offenses.
Adam Conley (WSH, @SFG) – Conley killed it against the Mets, and it could carry over against the Nats and Giants. Or it could blow up in our faces.
Alex Wood (@ATL, @COL) – His homecoming could be a fun afternoon, though his trip to Coors doesn’t sound pleasant.
Raisel Iglesias (COL, CHC) – I like Iglesias a lot this season, but this week could be very tough against these teams.
Tanner Roark (@MIA, MIN) –Two good matchups and chances at Wins are what make Roark a last resort. Very close to being in the Bench tier.
Mike Leake (CHC, @SDP) – I’m not a fan of Leake against the Cubs, but he should have a fun time against the Padres.
Bench
Ubaldo Jimenez (TOR, @KCR) – It was a tough time out for Ubaldo last time and it doesn’t look to get much better with these two starts.
Jake Peavy (ARI, MIA) – I can see people wanting to put Peavy in the higher tier given that he could escape with a Win in both games, but I’m a little scared of both lineups and Peavy isn’t looking like his younger self.
Matt Cain (ARI, MIA) – Ditto for Cain.
Scott Feldman (@TEX, BOS) – He’s not very good, don’t let his good outing against the Royals sway you.
Matt Shoemaker (@CWS, SEA) – It’s not the worst matchups, but Shoemaker is so enigmatic that he’s destined to screw one of these up if not both.
Colin Rea (PIT, STL) – The chances of a Win are slim and Rea doesn’t do enough to salvage the rest.
Kendall Graveman (@NYY, @TOR) – These are two great offenses against a not-so-great pitcher.
A.J. Griffin (HOU, @CWS) – Griffin isn’t ready for these teams yet.
Clay Buchholz (TOR, @HOU) – Bucky is struggling and he could easily get walloped by both of these teams.
Joe Kelly (TOR, @HOU) – Kelly is even worse than Bucky, so this is an easy call.
Matt Wisler (LAD, NYM) – This could actually be serviceable, but you shouldn’t be rostering Wisler at all.
Wily Peralta (@MIN, PHI) – It doesn’t matter that these are solid matchups, Peralta just isn’t a pitcher you want to be starting.
Rubby De La Rosa (@SFG, PIT) – We’re still waiting for Rubby to find his groove and these teams won’t help.
Robbie Ray (@SFG, PIT) – Ray certainly has some upside, but he’s walked nine batters in just over 12 innings thus far and I need to see him settle down before rolling with against two good teams.
Alfredo Simon (COL, CHC) – We should have a tier called “if you do one thing this week, it’s make sure Simon is not on your team.” This could be the worst week I’ve ever seen from a pitcher.