2017 MLB Two-Start Pitchers: Week 6

Hector Santiago has been part of the fantastic start the Twins have had in 2017, boasting a 2.78 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 35.2 innings. He does have a couple of tough road matchups, but his team has backed him well this season and while he is not a good strikeout producer, it is not yet time to doubt his abilities this season.

Charlie Morton sports a 10.32 K.9 rate in 2017, far outstripping what he has done over the course of his career. Perhaps this is an aberration but for now, he is an effective strikeout pitcher with average control. He is backed by a potent offense, and while a righty in Yankee Stadium is somewhat scary, his first start is at home which helps his ranking in the middle tier this week.

Jeff Samardzija can be a shutdown starter, or he can blow up. To be fair, his two worst starts this season have come against the Diamondbacks and the Rockies in their home parks, and this week he faces the Mets on the road, and then gets Cincy at home, both good venues for a pitcher. His ratios are trending in the right direction, and you have to love a pitcher with a 10.53 K/9 rate.

Alex Wood has shown excellent control this season, aside from the five walk effort against the Cubs in early April, and has allowed just three free passes over his past four appearances. He is striking out better than a batter per inning (9,85 K/9) and sports useful ratio stats: 3.28 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. The only real concern is his second start at Coors Field, so he may be a one and done this week.

Matt Andriese has a nice 3.09 ERA over six starts, and has also been credited with 30 strikeouts over 35.0 innings. He gets the struggling Royals in his first appearance in Week 6. Heading to Boston for the second start is worrisome, and that makes him a potential one start option this week.

Julio Urias has been having control issues, having issued eight walks over his two starts, while racking up just five Ks. Still, he manages to pitch out of trouble, and has a superb 0.84 ERA. His WHIP is elevated due to the walks and currently sits at 1.50. He is talented, to be sure, but will undo his growing pains this season. A home start against the Pirates is where you want to employ his talents, and then sit him when he heads to face the Rockies in his second trip to the hill.

Jameson Taillon is another talent rookie SP, who has potential but is inconsistent as are most young pitchers. He has a 95 MPH fastball, but has been relying on his groundball inducing talents this season (2.65 GB/FB ratio over 35.1 innings). Start him against the Dodgers on the road in his first start, but be cautious about putting him in your lineup on the road at Chase Field against the Diamondbacks, despite his good HR ratio (1.0 HR/9). Update: Jameson Taillon has since been transferred to the DL.

Speaking of rookies, Blake Snell needs to seriously work on his ability to locate the strike zone, having issued 21 21lks over just 31.1 innings this season. The walks have inflated his WHIP to an ugly 1.53, but the 3.54 ERA hints of better things to come, but also expect rookie ups and downs. Getting KC at home is a good first outing, but he should be avoided when he heads to Boston for a second start.

Luis Perdomo is coming off two consecutive quality starts (QS), where he struck out 10 with just two walks. His control and groundball inducing skills are positives (2.42 BB/9, 4.60 GB/FB ratios over four starts and 22.1 innings). Both should serve him well against the Rangers at home and then on the road against the surprising but not offensively scary White Sox. Just realize that he is just past rookie status, and subject to the fluctuations that young pitchers are subject to in the majors.

Kendall Graveman gets the Angels at home for his first start, but the second trip to toe the rubber is more dangerous when he travels to Arlington to face the Rangers. He was roughed up in his last start, allowing six earned runs on five hits and four walks over 3.1 innings against Minnesota. As with most of these lower middle tier pitchers, he has the potential to shine but caution is advised to go full in with him until he shows some consistency.

Adam Conley gets two home starts, where truthfully he has not fared well this season (three starts, 8.2 innings, 13.50 ERA, 1.85 WHIP). His ERA was hurt by a nine run disaster against the Pirates, but did pitch better in his last outing, although he did get the win thanks to his offense. He is a risky option, as are the two below him in this tier, although his past skills are indicative of a rebound in a positive direction. If you are not feeling lucky, then just avoid him in Week 6.

If Kyle Freeland was not pitching at home for his two starts this week, he would rank higher in this tier. The Cubs are a good road offense, so that start is one to avoid. Facing the Dodgers looks more promising in his second start, so if you need a late week start, Freeland is an interesting option. He does have a useful 2.65 ERA over 34.0 innings, but a 3.82 FIP suggests regression could be in the cards.

Jerad Eickhoff has seen his ERA rise by nearly a run and a half over his last two starts, albeit both road games, from 2.55 to 4.00. Seattle is a top 10 road offense and his home park is not exactly a pitcher’s haven. Washington, his second opponent, is also a top five offense in their home park. While Eickhoff is a decent back of the rotation SP, but his matchups this week are not exactly favorable. 

Matt Moore tops this tier, and is here due to his inconsistency. While he has put up a couple of QS in his six starts, the other four have been disasters for his owners, as witnessed by his 6.75 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. The best method to preserve your pitching stats in Week 6 is to avoid starting any of these pitchers, as they are all high risk options. If you like a particular matchup, then go ahead but beware of the potential consequences.

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