2017 MLB Two-Start Pitchers: Week 19

Chacin has pushed his ERA below four, courtesy of a seven shutout innings against the Twins in his last start. He has tossed four QS in his past five trips to the mound, relying on his groundball inducing skills, as he is relatively week strikeout artist (7.41 K/9 over his 126.1 innings in 22 starts. He has been pitching much more effectively on the road as of late, which belies his recent streak at both home and on the road, so despite the two away games, he still tops the middle tier.

Vargas is the AL leader in victories heading into August, but the problem with him is that he is not pitching deep into games. He only pitched 55 innings over the past two seasons, so the team is going easy on his inning count, which limits his ability to provide quality starts (QS), but apparently not victories. He has a couple of good matchups in Week 19, making him a useful pitcher for fantasy purposes, despite the lack of strikeouts (6.62 K/9).

Suter sports a 3.04 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, despite getting lit up for five earned runs in his last start at home against the Cardinals. Since joining the rotation, that game is the sole slip up on the part of the 27-year old southpaw, and he has a pair of winnable starts this coming week in the form of Minnesota on the road followed by Cincinnati at home for his second start in Week 19.

Martinez had a rough July, allowing five earned runs in three of his five starts, compiling a 1-3 record during the month. His ERA rose due to his struggles, now sitting at a still useful 3.59. He provides plenty of swings and misses, with a 9.68 K/9 over his 140.1 innings to date, but his control is an issue (3.46 BB/9 in his 22 starts). He is a better option when he takes on the Braves in his second start this week.

Happ gets a couple of home starts in Week 19, although his performance has been better away from Toronto this season. He still provides good K numbers (8.47 K/9 over 15 starts) and exhibits good control as well (2.54 BB/9 over 85.0 innings pitched in 2017). He has again pushed his ERA below 4 (3.92), although a 4.46 FIP suggests he may see it rise again. He is also giving up too many homers, with a 1.58 HR/9 ratio this year.

Garza is pitching well, having missed a start with a short trip to the DL due to a leg issue, and now features a nice 3.68 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over his 88.0 innings pitched in 2017. The 6.14 K/9 rate is not that attractive, but he has decent control (2.76 BB/9) and is keeping the ball in the park with a 0.9 HR/9 rate in his 16 starts. Facing Minnesota on the road and then Cincinnati at home are a pair of decent matchups in Week 19.

Ramirez has finally found a home, back in Anaheim, after bouncing around baseball for the past couple of seasons. He has four QS in his last five outings, relying on his ability to induce grounders, as his strikeout ability is weak (6.87 K/9 over 129.2 innings) and he needs better control as witness by his 2.92 B/9 rate. He has settled in as a decent back end of the rotation option, although this week his second start against the Mariners on the road holds more promise for a fantasy success.

Kuhl is not an exciting option, just one that generally provides steady production. He has a poor strikeout rate (7.41 K/9) and his control is suspect (3.79 BB/9) but he has also proven a resourceful arm, generating grounders at a 1.51 GB/FB rate over his 22 starts. As with others in this tier, his second start at Toronto looks like the better option to employ his services, given his home/road splits over the 109.1 innings he has thrown this year.

Williams has become a dependable fifth starter for the Pirates, although he will never be mistaken for a strikeout artist with a 6.48 K/9 over his 98.2 innings pitched in 2017. He has average control, walking less than three batters per nine innings (2.65 BB/9), and keeps the ball inside the park with a 0.8 HR/9 ratio to date. He helps himself by generating a ton of grounders (1.85 GB/FB rate). Unlike his teammate Kuhl, he profiles better in his first start at home against the Tigers than his week ending start at Toronto.

Mejia has been having difficulties pitching deep into games lately, having lasted past the fifth only once in his last four trips to toe the rubber. Given his home/road splits, his second start is where you will want to consider using him against the Tigers. He is just an average strikeout producer with a 7.64 K/9 over his 83.2 innings pitched in 2017. His control is poor (4.20 BB/9) and he gives up too many dingers (1.3 HR/9). A troubling stat is his 4.91 FIP, which indicates that his 4.30 ERA is due to take a hit. He is at best a streaming option on the road.

Bridwell is not someone to count on too heavily, despite his recent streak of five QS in his last seven starts. He has a terrible 5.80 K/9 over his 59.0 innings this season, and his 1.5 HR/9 rate shows why you do not want to rely on him at this stage in his young MLB career. As he has been a road warrior this season while struggling at home, only consider using him in his second start at Seattle.

Zimmermann is a frustrating SP to own, having twirled three QS in his last four appearances. He has good control (2.56 BB/9), but is hurt by the lack of dominance (6.26 K/9) and inability to avoid the long ball (1.7 HR/9 over his 21 starts this season). He has been better (but not good) at home this season, but his lone non-QS in his last four starts was against the Twins who he faces at home in his second start. He is simply too risky to trust, and should only be used in desperate situations.