Fantasy Baseball: Two-Start Pitchers Week 13

Don’t expect Shelby Miller to slow down this week

Daniel Marcus takes us through Week 13’s two-start pitchers. Be sure to review our Two-Start Pitcher Rankings chart

Elite Options

Cole Hamels (6/30 MIL, 7/5 @ATL)
Gerrit Cole (6/30 @DET, 7/5 CLE)
Shelby Miller (6/30 WSH, 7/5 PHI)
Carlos Carrasco (6/30 @TB, 7/5 @PIT)

The must-start list is quite short this week. While everyone is waiting for Shelby Miller to fall off, he continues to perform strongly. Carrasco hasn’t had the greatest numbers but has a great chance to rack up strikeouts and wins this week.

Strong Options

Jaime Garcia (6/30 CWS, 7/5 SD)
Mike Leake (6/29 MIN, 7/5 MIL)
Nate Karns (6/29 CLE, 7/4 @NYY)
Danny Salazar (6/29 @TB, 7/4 @PIT)
Jordan Zimmerman (6/30 @ATL, 7/5 SF)
Ian Kennedy (6/30 SEA, 7/5 @STL)
Lance McCullers (6/30 KC, 7/5 @BOS)
Jorge De La Rosa (6/30 @OAK, 7/5 @ARI)
Phil Hughes (6/30 @CIN, 7/5 @KC)
Erasmo Ramirez (6/30 CLE, 7/5 @NYY)
Marco Estrada (6/30 BOS, 7/5 @DET)

Garcia has stepped in admirably to replace Adam Wainwright and has solid matchups this week. Leake has been on a roll of late, and chances are good his matchups will help that continue. Karns has been an underrated fantasy asset this season, and he faces two teams with good offensive potential, but he has shown he can handle both lineups well this season. Salazar has had rough outings of late, but struggling offenses could help him translate his strong peripherals into strong outings. Zimmerman has failed to regain his form last season and at this point is a slightly above average option. Kennedy has been great in June but the Cardinals present a tough matchup. McCullers has been stellar through this year and his owners should be happy to plug him into their lineup. Although De La Rosa has struggled mightily in a few of his starts, in between he has had several quality starts and he’s not facing with the toughest matchups this week. Hughes has finally performed the way many owners expected this season, and he has a 3.44 ERA for the month of June. The matchups scare me but don’t forget about him. Ramirez has been spectacular in June but hasn’t received much attention for it and could be available in your leagues. Estrada came into the news due to his no-hit bid but had been pitching well most of the season.

Low-End Options

Clay Buchholz (6/29 @TOR, 7/4 HOU)
C.J. Wilson (6/30 NYY, 7/5 @TEX)
Mat Latos (6/30 SF, 7/5 @CHC)
Mike Pelfrey (6/29 @CIN, 7/4 @KC)
Miguel Gonzalez (6/30 TEX, 7/5 @CWS)
Kendall Graveman (6/29 COL, 7/4 SEA)
Mike Montgomery (6/30 @SD, 7/5 @OAK)
Rubby De La Rosa (6/30 LAD, 7/5 COL)
Eduardo Rodriguez (6/30 @TOR, 7/5 HOU)
R.A. Dickey (6/29 BOS, 7/4 @DET)
Joe Blanton (6/29 @HOU, 7/4 MIN)
Mike Bolsinger (6/30 @ARI, 7/5 NYM)

Buchholz has been a stronger pitcher on the road, but Toronto has made a lot of good pitchers look bad this season. Wilson has had decent results but is unspectacular and also faces offenses that can rack up runs. Though the butt of many jokes at the beginning of the season, Latos has pitched fairly well since his return from injury. Pelfrey has shown some of the regression we’ve all been expecting and this week could expose him. I would not be confident putting him in my lineup. Gonzalez has had decent ratios but has struggled a bit since June. His lack of strikeouts won’t make up for any of his struggles in the ERA or WHIP category, making him a risky proposition. Rubby De La Rosa is quite the wildcard, as he doesn’t pitch to any true splits. His peripherals suggest he could perform better, so if you are looking for pitching help, there could be worse options. Rodriguez has mostly looked good in his few starts though he has had some blowups. Given the matchups this week, I would try to find a way to bench him. Dickey has performed well in the month of June, but just like Miguel Gonzalez, there is no strikeout value to fall back on if his ratios are bad this week. Blanton has pitched exceptionally well in his opportunity to start for the Royals but regression is coming, and when it does you don’t want him in your lineup. Bolsinger has come back to earth since his hot start but has favorable matchups you might be able to take advantage of this week.