We’ve reached the Memorial Day weekend which tends to be the point in the season where we have a good indication of how everything will play out. With that said, there are also dozens of players on the DL and many previously reliable players who are slumping. You’ll have some difficult decisions to make in your weekly lineups as a result so I’m here to help out with that. These are not my rest of the season rankings minus injuries, but rather based on a number of factors. Opponents, ballparks, an anticipated spot in the lineup, splits and even potential postponements are all accounted for. Perhaps most importantly, however, are which players will be benefiting/suffering from time in Coors, and which pitchers are scheduled to start two games. I’ll tell you about both of them today then give you my rankings for Week 9.
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Coors Field Watch
With the Humidor coming into play for Chase Field, there really is no second tier this season. Last year, it was Coors in Tier 1 for offense, Chase in Tier 2, then a handful of hitter-friendly environments like the ballparks for the Yankees, Braves, Rangers, Orioles and Reds. While offensive players spending time in those parks this week will get a slight bump, assuming they have reasonable pitching matchups, the only real significant movement will be players who take at-bats in Coors. This week, both the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers have three games in Coors Field. As you might imagine, moving from their extreme pitcher’s parks to Coors will make a major difference.
Two-Start Risers
After having just 30 two-start pitchers last week, this time around we get 49. Among that group, there are 8 pitchers who are both owned in virtually every league and started almost every time they take the mound. Down at the bottom of the list, there are 14 pitchers who are not startable in either matchup, plus 12 who would make worthwhile streamers in one game. Two who stand out among the streamers are Adam Putko vs the White Sox and Eric Lauer in San Diego against the Marlins. That all leaves us with a whopping 15 players who aren’t owned in every league, but are worth using in both starts this weekend. I’ve got them ranked for you below with their matchups listed.
- Tyson Ross (vs MIA, vs CIN)
- Vince Velasquez (@ LAD, @ SF)
- Garrett Richards (@ DET, vs TEX)
- Rick Porcello (vs TOR, @ HOU)
- Kyle Gibson (@ KC, vs CLE)
- Gio Gonzalez (@ BAL, @ ATL)
- Michael Wacha (@ MIL, vs PIT)
- Luke Weaver (@ MIL, vs PIT)
- Michael Fulmer (vs LAA, vs TOR)
- Dylan Bundy (vs WAS, vs NYY)
- Caleb Smith (@ SD, @ARI)
- Marco Gonzales (vs TEX, vs TB)
- Dan Straily (@ SD, @ ARI)
- Jake Junis (vs MIN, vs OAK)
- Julio Teheran (vs NYM, vs WAS)
You may be surprised to see a few names here including Junis, Straily and Marco. Each of them, as you can see, not only will be pitching against bottom quadrant opponents, but also in pitcher’s parks for both of their outings. Velasquez may feel too risky to you, and I’d certainly understand, but with the way he has been pitching coupled with the matchups and ballparks, you’ve got to get him in your lineup for both outings.
Now let’s shift our attention to my full player rankings for the week.
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