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 and Freddy Peralta entered the season with expectations as SP1s and potential Cy Young candidates. Instead, both have ERAs over 4.00 in mid-August. López, in particular, has been particularly volatile this year. Despite the frustrations, both carry strikeout rates over 27%, making them must-start options the rest of the way.
Most Likely
- With the weekend return of Merrill Kelly to the Arizona rotation, it’s unclear if the DBacks will go to a six-man rotation. If they stick to five starters, Brandon Pfaadt is positioned well against the road Rockies and a weakened Rays lineup.
- Paul Blackburn looks to be one of the biggest fantasy risers from the trade deadline, moving from the last-place A’s to a Mets team in the thick of the Wild Card race. He’s turned in two quality starts since landing in Queens and is well-positioned to keep the momentum going. After the last few seasons of pitching for an Oakland organization in full tank mode, Blackburn should be extra motivated in his first start of the week. Paired with a weekend visit from a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs in the NL, Blackburn is an easy choice for Two Start Streamer of the Week.
Questionable
- Joe Musgrove makes his return to the Padres rotation after an extended stay on the IL. It remains to be seen what we should expect from Musgrove, although the results pre-IL weren’t the Musgrove we’ve come to expect. The decision to start Java Joe after just one rehab start is entirely dependent on your risk tolerance. The Pirates and Rockies are each in the bottom five of wRC+, making the decision to take the risk extra tempting.
- Charlie Morton is no longer a trustworthy fantasy option, carrying bloated ratios as a result of some disastrous outings like his most recent performance of 8 earned runs over 2.2 innings. Morton has seemed to turn in pitching lines this season that are really good or really bad, with little in between. It’s up to you whether you’re willing to spin the wheel with Morton, but he’s best served as a points league option.
No player links? What’s up with that!?!?
Gavin Stone?