Two-Start Pitchers: 6/10 – 6/16

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

 

• Pablo López hasn’t delivered the ratios you need out of your SP1, likely having those who roster him thinking twice about what to do with the pitcher they were relying on as their ace. He might not be the top-five arm that many expected to emerge, however, most of the underlying metrics suggest you should continue to keep the faith. Expect him to get back on track in what looks to be the best pair of matchups of anyone lining up for two starts.

 

Most Likely 

 

 

• Zach Eflin, Jesús Luzardo, and Jordan Montgomery all have struggled mightily this year, but each are likely worth starting this upcoming week. Eflin has posted the best BB/9 in the majors and there’s some hope he can get back some of the gains from his breakout 2023 after a mid-May stint on the IL. While Luzardo and Montgomery have provided little signs for optimism this season, they both have plus matchups. Montgomery looks like a streamer at best this year, but the Angels and White Sox are two teams to stream against.

 

• The Two Start Streamer of the Week feels a bit like cheating this week as Erick Fedde just made the cut, rostered in exactly 50% of Yahoo leagues. Fedde has a manageable schedule, particularly with a Mariners’ lineup that has looked lost for most of the year. The former KBO MVP has provided consistent innings, a decent strikeout rate, and solid ratios; Fedde has all the makings of a safe streaming option.

 

Questionable

 

• Seth Lugo looks bound for the All-Star Game amongst a surprising field of surprising standouts in the American League. His pristine numbers came slightly back down to earth in his most recent start and it’s possible the pendulum will continue to swing in the other direction as he lines up against the current AL and NL favorites to make the Fall Classic.

 

• Chris Paddack is a matchups play that is promising enough to possibly be worth your attention. Given Paddack’s inconsistency, it’s likely only advisable in deep leagues. Buyer beware, however, as streaming pitchers solely on their matchups has been known to backfire.

 

Avoid

 

• Due to the size of his contract and a dearth of other options to fill out the rotation, Patrick Corbin continues to take the ball every fifth day for the Nats. A 5.68 ERA since the start of the 2020 season is enough of a sample size to assume Corbin won’t be able to take advantage of a soft landing at Detroit and home against Miami. A lefty whose slider was once one of the game’s best pitches, Corbin hasn’t been the same since a dominant first season in Washington. While the $140M contract will go down as one of the biggest misses across free agency in recent memory, Nats fans will at least have the fond memories of the 2019 World Series where Corbin was an instrumental contributor.

 

Two-Start Streamer of the Week Record: 5-3.