Welcome to this week’s edition of the 2023 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. 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 rostership-rate under 50% in Yahoo or ESPN 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.
- A collection of upper-echelon arms take the mound for two starts next week. Two solid SP2s, George Kirby and Pablo López, join them in Tier 1. López may have a 4.27 ERA, but he’s been a PLV standout and has been elite at getting whiffs. Look for the Twins’ top offseason acquisition to be a difference maker through the summer.
Most Likely
- There’s a diverse collection of starters in Tier 2 this week. Eury Pérez and Hunter Brown are a pair of electric rookies. Pérez deserves to remain in the majors for as many innings as he can throw the rest of the season, but there are rumors he’ll be sent down for a playoff stretch run. Brown is having additional rest days worked into his schedule to slow his buildup throughout the season. Regardless of if they get their second start, they belong in your lineup. Outside of the rookies, José Berríos continues his resurgence while Merrill Kelly and Michael Wacha have been a stable source of ratios in a turbulent season for starting pitchers.
- After back-to-back quality starts, Garrett Whitlock is an easy choice for Two-Start Streamer of the Week. He’s rostered in under 35% of Yahoo leagues currently, but this number will rise entering Monday. Add him for the next week while you still can.
Questionable
- The Questionable Tier this week is mostly reserved for points leagues as most of these starters have a high degree of volatility to them. Johan Oviedo and Aaron Civale have the best matchups, but the capped upside makes it tough to endorse them.
- Andrew Heaney, MacKenzie Gore, Yusei Kikuchi, and Josiah Gray are particularly risky. I’d hope to avoid them all, but for those in need of volumes in deeper leagues, they could be worth the gamble.
Avoid
- Anthony DeSclafani has been a solid streamer in recent seasons, but he hasn’t shown much this season. Tony Disco isn’t currently viable to add, especially against the first-place Diamondbacks and a Padres lineup that has posted a 123 wRC+ in June, good for second-best across the majors.
Two-Start Streamer of the Week Record: 3-4.
Edward Cabrera got IL’d yesterday, and yesterday’s rainout made Paxton a 2-start pitcher this week, and pushed Whitlock back to Wednesday, robbing him of a start.