Daniel Marcus takes us through Week 18’s two-start pitchers. Be sure to review our Two-Start Pitcher Rankings chart.
This week features very few top-tier, two-start pitchers, but as always there are some options you can probably get off the waiver wire to provide solid innings over the next seven days.
Must Start
- Danny Salazar (8/17 @BOS, 8/22 @NYY)
- Scott Kazmir (8/17 TB, 8/22 LAD)
- Gerrit Cole (8/17 ARI, 8/22 SF)
- Francisco Liriano (8/18 ARI, 8/23 SF)
- Michael Wacha (8/17 SF, 8/23 @SD)
Most of these pitchers have been fantastic all season. Kazmir has alleviated any concerns about moving away from the O.co Coliseum by pitching quite well since the trade that sent him to Houston. Salazar has delivered of late on his tantalizing potential, but does face some tougher lineups this week.
High-End Options
- Jason Hammel (8/18 DET, 8/23 ATL)
- Edinson Volquez (8/18 @CIN, 8.23 @BOS)
- Andrew Heaney (8/17 CWS, 8/22 TOR)
- Garrett Richards (8/18 CWS, 8/23 TOR)
- Jake Odorizzi (8/18 @HOU, 8/23 @OAK)
- Cole Hamels (8/18 SEA, 8/23 @DET)
- Jordan Zimmerman (8/18 @COL, 8/23 MIL)
Hammel is about as steady as they come, and he is an asset to any fantasy team. Volquez has been quite consistent. While he may not be the flashiest he is reliable, similar to Hammel.
Heaney has looked quite good, but beware of a matchup against Toronto, as the Blue Jays mash left-handed pitchers. Richards has been much better at home this season, but has struggled in August to this point.
Odorizzi is still working his way back from injury but is offering good strikeouts and has shown the potential to be dominant. Hamels’ move to Texas hasn’t gone according to plan but it would be difficult to sit him. He still offers plenty of strikeouts. Zimmerman has looked good of late, but beware of the start at Coors Field.
Low-End Options
- Chase Anderson (8/18 @PIT, 8/23 @CIN)
- Chris Tillman (8/17 OAK, 8/22 MIN)
- Kevin Gausman (8/18 OAK, 8/23 MIN)
- Raisel Iglesias (8/18 KC, 8/23 ARI)
- Trevor Bauer (8/18 @BOS, 8/23 @NYY)
- C.C. Sabathia (8/17 MIN, 8/22 CLE)
- Nathan Eovaldi (8/18 MIN, 8/23 CLE)
- Taijuan Walker (8/17 @TEX, 8/23 CWS)
- Chris Heston (8/17 @STL, 8/22 @PIT)
- Erasmo Ramirez (8/17 @HOU, 8/22 @OAK)
Anderson has returned from injury and looked decent, especially because he has seen an uptick in his strikeout rate. Tillman really seemed to be turning things around in July but gave it all back in his one start of August. Like many young pitchers, Gausman is much better at home. This week he gets two starts at home against two offenses that can be contained.
Iglesias has had a rough rookie year but has shown signs of turning it around this month.Given his strikeout potential there are worse players to take a flyer on. Bauer has performed very well on the road this season but has been poor of late and is difficult to trust.
Sabathia has managed to turn it around in August to this point but it is still difficult to trust him. Eovaldi’s WHIP is tough to swallow but his ERA has been respectable of late and he is a good source of wins. Walker has been consistently inconsistent but has been able to get strikeouts and has the chance to provide quality innings.
Heston’s luck may be running out, and he faces two good teams this week. Ramirez has slowly regressed from his standout performances but is still a useful pitcher, though he has struggled on the road.
Stay Away
- David Phelps (8/18 @MIL, 8/23 PHI)
- Adam Conley (8/17 @MIL, 8/22 PHI)
- Matt Garza (8/17 MIA, 8/23 @WSH)
- Mike Pelfrey (8/17 @NYY, 8/22 @BAL)
- Jeremy Hellickson (8/17 @PIT, 8/22 @CIN)
- Williams Perez (8/17 @SD, 8/22 @CHC)
- Steven Wright (8/17 CLE, 8/22 KC)
- Eduardo Rodriguez (8/18 CLE, 8/23 KC)
- Jorge De La Rosa (8/18 WSH, 8/23 NYM)
- Carlos Rodon (8/17 @LAA, 8/22 @SEA)
- John Danks (8/18 @LAA, 8/23 @SEA)
- Daniel Norris (8/18 @CHC, 8/23 TEX)
- Scott Feldman (8/18 TB, 8//23 LAD)
- Ervin Santana (8/18 @NYY, 8/23 @BAL)
- Aaron Brooks (8/17 @BAL, 8/23 TB)
- Aaron Nola (8/18 TOR, 8/23 @MIA)
- Colin Rea (8/17 ATL, 8/23 STL)
- Ryan Vogelsong (8/18 @STL, 8/23 @PIT)
Daniel Marcus is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, check out his archive or follow him @danmarcus3.