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 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
- Those in search of elite two-start pitching options will be sorely disappointed next week. Max Fried will have a fully built up pitch count and looking to bounce back from a disappointing outing in Pittsburgh. In San Diego, Yu Darvish will look to build upon perhaps his best stretch of the 2023 season. He’s turned in five quality starts in his last six appearances and has been better on the year overall than his 4.19 ERA would suggest.
Most Likely
- Nick Pivetta has been a revelation since re-entering Boston’s plans as a starter (even if it occasionally comes as a reliever post-opener). The Nats can prove peskier than one might think given their low strikeout rate and he’ll see a pair of hitter-friendly ballparks, but Pivetta is a clear start next week.
- It’s possible Grayson Rodriguez doesn’t get the benefit of a second start against the A’s. The Orioles have a six-game week and could utilize Cole Irvin as a sixth starter to lighten the workload of a young rotation.
- Miles Mikolas hasn’t been the consistently reliable ratio stabilizer that he was in 2022, but he’s been a serviceable streaming option as of late. He’s coming off two straight outings of 7 IP and 2 ER (both of which he was saddled with a tough-luck loss) and looks to be in rhythm. With two favorable matchups, including an ideal visit from Athletics, Mikolas is the Two-Start Streamer of the Week with just a 47% roster rate on Yahoo. There are few other options available in 12-teamers, so if you’re in need of innings you’ll want to add the former Yomiuri Giant sooner rather than later.
Questionable
- In a pool of highly questionable arms even against average lineups, only Logan Allen is advisable in weekly leagues next week. Pitching in Great American Ballpark will be a challenge, but likely worth the risk with a trip to the bump against the Tigers on tap for the weekend.
- Merrill Kelly left his last start with leg cramps and it’s unclear if he’ll make his next scheduled start. Regardless, he’s a clear bench at Colorado. Despite seemingly underwhelming stuff, he’s pitched to pristine ratios for the last two seasons and could be a potential option against a Padres team that can’t seem to get out of its own way.
- Emerson Hancock through David Peterson all make for one-start streamers, but likely only in deeper leagues. While Peterson should be able to throw ~75 pitches in his next outing, he’s still likely best left on waivers outside of some 15-team leagues where you’re desperate for innings.
Avoid
- Braxton Garrett and Wade Miley are both quality streamers, but their gauntlet of an upcoming schedule makes your decision for you: keep them on your bench or the wire. If you need to rely on one of the two lefties, lean towards Garrett. His superior K-BB% and groundball tendencies may allow him to sneak by with a decent performance in at least one of his starts.
Two-Start Streamer of the Week Record: 5-6. With Kutter Crawford’s dud against Kansas City, we’ll take the loss on the week before he even makes takes the ball this weekend.
Featured Image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photo by Cliff Welch & Leslie Plaza Johnson /con Sportswire