Two-Start Pitchers/Streaming Starters: Bieber Fever

This is more like it. Plenty of two-start options to consider for the coming scoring period, including a baker’s dozen of top-tier arms to plug in and let go. Plenty of hurlers in the middle tier to discuss and contemplate employing for one or both of their starts. Alas, a plethora of SPs reside in the bottom tier as well, best to be avoided unless desperate for a start or two, and it seems a tad early for that level of trepidation.

Please realize that these articles feature most recent rotation information available when the article is written, but that circumstances do change due to weather conditions, injuries and general craziness with managers. If a pitcher listed here as having two starts ends up with one (or perhaps none) in the upcoming week, apologies but this article is meant to provide analysis, it is up to the manager to set the lineups or rotations.

Without further ado, here are this week’s two start pitchers:

This list of 13 Starting Pitchers has those that should be good to go for both their starts, no matter the venue or opponent. SHOULD be good to rely upon, as the radar blips do occur (witness Kershaw in his first start at Coors Field…ugh). It will be related frequently in these articles this season: if a pitcher is in the top tier, wind ‘em up and let ‘em go.

Lopez leads off the middle tier, and has a favorable matchup to end the week with the Giants coming to Florida and a favorable home venue. He is sporting a 10:4 K/BB ratio over his two starts this season, and has only allowed two earned runs (in his second start) for a superb 1.54 ERA and stellar 0.77 WHIP. Expect some negative regression in the ratio stats, obviously.

Javier came away with the win after tossing five shutout innings in his most recent trip to the mound. The victory over the A’s had to feel sweet after being manhandled by Oakland last season and to a certain extent in his first start of this season. An 11:2 K/BB ratio looks enticing, as does his 2.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Probably not where those ratios remain, be forewarned.

Means was a late-round darling in drafts, due to his status as the Oriole ace and stellar 6.00 K/BB ratio in 2020. His matchups this scoring period are tasty, even with an opening game of the week at home. His tendencies are favorable no matter where he plies his trade, and he seems a pitcher that will outperform league average in BABIP, so do not automatically expect negative regression based on his stellar .242 rate through two starts.

Peralta has two home starts in Week 3, always a perk for a two-start pitcher, but especially for him in light of his recent home/road split numbers. He joined the rotation based on a strong spring, and has carried those results into the season, as he is yet to be charged with a run in 2021, let alone earned, although he is only up to 7.0 IP to date. His walk rate is alarming at 9.0 BB/9 but the K rate adequately compensates, sitting at 18.0 K/9 on the year. If he has escaped rostering in your league so far, snatch him up immediately (72% owned in ESPN, 71% on Yahoo).

Eovaldi takes on a pair of AL Central foes this week, with the Twins playing host on Tuesday for his first start, then heading back to Beantown for his second trip the hill against the visiting White Sox. Not the most favorable matchups on the slate, but the 31-year-old righthander has been extremely sharp to start the 2021 campaign, allowing just a pair of earned runs on 7 hits over his 12.1 IP. He also possesses a favorable 11:4 K/BB ratio.

The Royals have called upon Junis, the five-year veteran righty for three appearances this season, and he has acquitted himself admirably. His last outing was a start against the host Indians (how soon do we stop typing that team name?), not allowing a run and striking out half a dozen hitters. The Angels have been playing well, but he does get them at home, in a pitcher’s park, where he is much more successful at keeping the ball in the yard. Then, to wind up the scoring period, the Blue Jays come to KC for some more palatable action, although the Toronto club has played better away from their relocated FL home park in the early going.

Yarbrough was roughed up, particularly during a six-run fifth in Boston in his most recent time toeing the rubber for the Rays. Texas at home looks favorable for the 29-year-old southpaw, but then he heads to Yankee Stadium with a matchup against Gerrit Cole to close out the scoring period. Given his recent struggles whilst up north, discretion suggests perhaps best to sit him for his second start and plug him into your rotation only against the Rangers early on in Week 3.

Boyd has pitched well to open this season, although he does hit the road for his next two scheduled outings on behalf of the rebuilding Tigers. He did not hand out a free pass over his recent seven inning performance where he was a hard luck loser to the Twins. With the state of the Detroit offense, there may be several more losses that accumulate on his stat sheet, despite his development as a quality starter (he did collect a QS against the visiting Twins).

Mize is seeking to turn around what could charitably be called a disastrous rookie season, and while he was limited to just 82 pitches in his first start, expect the Detroit management team to ramp up his pitch count as the season progresses. He features a nice mid-90s fastball, but the concern is whether he can learn to better control and place it where he would like. Two road starts is not ideal for a youngster, but you play the hand you are dealt. If your league highlights victories, this may not be an ideal arm to rely upon this week, or even early this season.

Dunning avoided a tandem start situation by using his repertoire of pitches efficiently and limiting the opposing Blue Jay hitters to just three hits and one walk, albeit one of the hits being a dinger accounting for the earned run he allowed. The six Ks he gathered are not unexpected given his track record in the minors and with the White Sox last season. Facing Baltimore at home to wind up the week is the better option for employing his talents.

Keuchel has not come out of the gates displaying anything akin to his successful 2020 results, although he was in position to collect a victory against the Mariners until the bullpen took over for him in that road contest. He throws a sub-90 MPH fastball, which makes for a need to be in control and command, something not totally evident to date. Cleveland at home looks more promising than a trip to Fenway to close out his Week 3 starts.

Miley had an abbreviated first season as part of the Red rotation, but came out of the box firing in his second year in Cincy, winning his first outing, albeit against the Pirates. He did rack up a K per inning over his 6.0 IP, and in addition to the victory, tacked on a QS for those whose leagues have shifted to that category in evaluating SPs. The lefty gets to head to San Fran to take on the Giants, then has the visiting in-state rival Indians at his home park to close out the week. Despite the travel burden, the first start looks most promising for the 34-year-old veteran.

Gant was only able to last four innings in his first start of the season, so no decision despite not allowing an earned run during that performance. He did hand out three walks, evidencing his lack of pitching efficiency which will need to improve if he wants to stick around long enough in contests to figure into the victory column going forward. He does rack up the Ks, despite his mediocre control. Facing off against Strasburg and Nola is not the most favorable set of circumstances for a pitcher seeking his first victory of 2021, though, it must be conceded.

Certainly, some of these pitchers could…COULD…provide a decent stat line for your team. Then again, the risk is higher that one or both their starts and their performance therein will tank your weekly matchup, or inflate your ratio stats dramatically, especially early on into the season. Those at the top of the tier do have some potential utility, depending on park and opponent, such as Duffy at home against the Angels or Ynoa in his first start of Week 3 at Truist Park facing the Marlins. The balance, though, are only for those desperate for a start to comply with league requirements.

Potential Streaming Options for Week

There is no promise that each game day will provide a streaming option. First of all, the pitcher must be available in at least 50% of leagues to be a viable candidate to snag off the wire. Then, the pitchers discussed above are not included as they have a different sort of value, even though some might be available as free agents in your league. Plus, some days the matchups and/or venues just do not figure as positive enough factors to favor plugging the arm into your rotation, even for one start. That all being said, here are this week’s best streaming candidates:

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Jake Junis KC vs LAA Griffin Canning

The Royals have called upon the five-year veteran righty for three appearances this season, and he has acquitted himself admirably. His last outing was a start against the host Indians (how soon do we stop typing that team name?), not allowing a run and striking out half a dozen hitters. The Angels have been playing well, but he does get them at home, in a pitcher’s park, where he is much more successful at keeping the ball in the yard.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Johnny Cueto SF vs CIN Tyler Mahle

Cueto has been exceptionally effective to open this season, twirling 14.1 innings over two starts, coming an out away from a complete game victory against the visiting Rockies most recently. He has an impressive set of ratio stats: 2.51 ERA and 0.98 WHIP accompanied by a not too shabby 14:4 K/BB ratio also. His 2.05 FIP is supported by the surrounding metrics, as well. If you bought it on the 35-year-old veteran righty last season, this would be a fine time to reup and perhaps get a return on that misplaced optimism.

Jon Gray COL @ LAD Trevor Bauer

Gray has tossed consecutive one earned run efforts at Coors Field, no less, to start this year. He offers good to great K potential, and the opponent here is middle of the pack so far this season in swinging and missing. Of course, he is taking on the reigning World Champs, so there is that, but he also has not been one to be intimidated by taking his show on the road.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Jordan Lyles TEX @ TB Chris Archer

Early thoughts were that Lyles would be subjected to the tandem starter routine, but he was effectively efficient in his first start, allowing him to collect a victory on 5.2 IP of five hit two earned run ball (an out away from the coveted QS). He struck out eight Royals and faces a similar opponent in terms swings and misses. If he continues to throw strikes throughout the count, the tandem option may disappear. May disappear. Do not get cocky, kid, to quote a famous starship pilot (in film).

Friday, April 16, 2021

Jeff Hoffman CIN vs CLE Logan Allen

Hoffman was pretty much a dumpster fire for the Rockies as a reliever in 2020, but he shone as a starter in his first appearance with the Reds. He is just getting accustomed to the starter role, and his pitch count will be monitored, especially to keep him from blowing up during the third time through the opposing lineup. Expect average to slightly above average K production from the righthanded 28-year-old.

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Trevor Williams CHC vs ATL Max Fried

Another 28-year-old righty who had a great debut with his new team, Williams collected six Ks over 6.0 IP in his first victory of the season while limiting opposition batters to just a pair of walks and hits, both. This matchup is not the best, but he is pitching at home.

José De León CIN vs CLE Shane Bieber

De Leon also does not come into this contest with a highly favorable matchup, facing the 2020 unanimous AL Cy Young winner. To his credit, he snapped off nine Ks over his 5.0 IP in his first start for the Cincy ballclub. So long as Sonny Gray is sidelined with his back issues, De Leon will be taking the ball every fifth or sixth day, depending how the schedule shakes out.

Daniel Ponce de Leon StL @ PHI Chase Anderson

Might as well go with another SP that ends his name with de Leon, eh? The Cardinal SP is on the road in a hitters’ park, so that is an impediment. He was not tremendously efficient in his first trip to the mound for the Cards, and only collected three Ks against the visiting Miami team, but on the positive side, he was the winning pitcher in the contest. Of the three streaming options for Saturday, this is likely the least favored, although his K rate should improve going forward, just as the walks should mount as well.

Feel free also to send any starting pitching or other fantasy baseball questions to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a private response to your specific issue. The more detail you can provide about your team and league, including settings (H2H vs roto, points or categories, weekly or daily moves, roster size, league size, etc.) the better the response will be suited to your individual situation. As ever, good luck and Godspeed in all your fantasy endeavors.