Daniel Marcus takes us through Week 22’s two-start pitchers. Be sure to review our Two-Start Pitcher Rankings chart.
It is getting down to the bitter end of the fantasy baseball season, meaning every decision you make for your team is a big one. Here is a rundown of the two start pitchers this week, and how you should value each one.
Must Start
- Clayton Kershaw (9/7 @LAA, 9/13 @ARI)
- Raisel Iglesias (9/8 PIT, 9/13 STL)
- Dallas Keuchel (9/7 @OAK, 9/13 @LAA)
- Matt Harvey (@WSH, 9/13 @ATL)
- Max Scherzer (9/7 NYM, 9/13 @MIA)
- Cole Hamels (9/8 @SEA, 9/13 OAK)
Most of these players speak for themselves, but there some interesting notes as well. Iglesias has quickly vaulted himself into must start status due to his high volume of strikeouts, meaning his value is insulated in case he gets hit a bit in either of his starts. Harvey may not get two starts this week, as he has already had one start skipped so keep an eye on his status this week. Hamels has looked a lot more comfortable with his new team of late and is now an elite option again.
High-End Option
- Yordano Ventura (9/7 MIN, 9/13 @BAL)
- Taylor Jungmann (9/8 @MIA, 9/13 @PIT)
- Michael Pineda (9/7 BAL, 9/12 TOR)
- Ian Kennedy (9/7 COL, 9/12 @SF)
- Drew Smyly (9/7 @DET, 9/13 BOS)
- Mike Leake (9/7 @ARI, 9/13 SD)
- Francisco Liriano (9/8 @CIN, 9/13 MIL)
- Aaron Nola (9/8 ATL, 9/13 CHC)
- Masahiro Tanaka (9/8 BAL, 9/13 TOR)
The Royals seem to have caught Ventura’s attention by sending him down to AAA for a brief demotion, as he has looked much better of late. Be careful how you value Jungmann next season, but his performance this year has been quite good and he is a good option against two offenses that don’t score a ton of runs. Pineda has been infuriating this season, but his potential to be an ace for your fantasy team at the most important stretch of the season is difficult to ignore. Kennedy has quietly put together a very solid second half of the season and can be trusted in your lineup. The problem for Smyly this season hasn’t been his performance, as when he has been on the mound he has been a fantasy asset. Leake is ever steady, though a matchup against Arizona is tough. Liriano has slowed down a bit from his must start status, but still provides plenty of fantasy value. Nola finds his way on this list because he has performed admirably at home and has potential for a high impact outing against Atlanta. Tanaka has been decent rather than great but still is an asset in win potential and WHIP at the very least.
Low-End Options
- Rubby De La Rosa (9/7 SF, 9/13 LAD)
- Rick Porcello (9/7 TOR, 9/13 @TB)
- Jason Hammel (9/8 @STL, 9/13 @PHI)
- Anthony DeSclafani (9/7 PIT, 9/12 STL)
- Cody Anderson (9/7 @CWS, 9/12 DET)
- Matt Shoemaker (9/7 LAD, 9/13 HOU)
- Justin Nicolino (9/7 MIL, 9/13 WSH)
- Tommy Milone (9/7 @KC, 9/13 @CWS)
- R.A. Dickey (9/8 @BOS, 9/13 @NYY)
- Marco Estrada (9/7 @BOS, 9/12 @NYY)
- Yovani Gallardo(9/7 @SEA, 9/12 OAK)
- Taijuan Walker (9/7 TEX, 9/12 COL)
De La Rosa’s roller coaster season has continued, and though he has pitched well of late it is still difficult to start him with confidence. Porcello has received some buzz of late for improved performance, though it would have been difficult to be worse than he was earlier in the season. We saw Hammel struggle as the season wore on last year and the same thing has occurred this season. DeSclafani has a decent ERA but his performance has been inconsistent, as would be expected from a rookie. Anderson started hot, hit his floor, and is now hitting his median, which isn’t awful. Shoemaker is all or nothing so play him at your own risk. Nicolino has been good in limited innings, but even if that continues his low strikeout rate lowers his value. Milone has been serviceable but beware the matchup against Kansas City. Dickey is an innings eater but has poor outings too frequently to trust highly. Estrada has been good but his problem surrendering home runs hasn’t been fixed, he has just managed to keep them to mostly solo shots. Gallardo has had a decent ERA this year but his lack of strikeouts limit his upside. Walker has been effective of late but his strikeouts have come down at the same time and you never quite know what you will get when he takes the mound.
Stay Away
- Edwin Jackson (9/7 @PHI, 9/12 NYM)
- Matt Wisler (9/8 @PHI, 9/13 NYM)
- Chris Tillman (9/7 @NYY, 9/13 KC)
- Dan Haren (9/7 @STL, 9/12 @PHI)
- Trevor Bauer (9/8 @CWS, 9/13 DET)
- Jon Gray (9/7 @SD, 9/12 @SEA)
- Chris Rusin (9/8 @SD, 9/13 @SEA)
- Carlos Rodon (9/7 CLE, 9/13 MIN)
- Matt Boyd (9/8 TB, 9/13 @CLE)
- Zach Davies (9/7 @MIA, 9/12 @PIT)
- Jon Niese (9/7 @WSH, 9/12 @ATL)
- Aaron Harang (9/7 ATL, 9/12 CHC)
- Jeff Locke (9/7 @CIN, 9/12 MIL)
- Colin Rea (9/8 COL, 9/13 @SF)
- Edgar Olmos (9/8 TEX, 9/13 COL)
- Yovani Gallardo(9/7 @SEA, 9/12 OAK)
Daniel Marcus is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, check out his archive or follow him @danmarcus3.