Fantasy Baseball 2024 Two-Start Pitchers & Streaming Starters For Week 13

Week 13 presents an interest set of dual start pitchers to consider when setting your fantasy baseball lineups. A full slate of aces (or near aces) in the top tier, a full complement of 19 arms to plug into your fantasy rotations and take advantage of their two trips to the hill. Conversely, we also have
nearly as many hurlers dwelling in the bottom tier, although some of these pitchers could be used for a start if the opponent and/or venue is favorable.

The streaming options are well spread over the course of the scoring period and are profiled for you edification in the second half of this week’s article. The two-start options limit the streaming choices on the first and last days of the week, but the other days offer options for those who need a boost to carry their squad through the end of June.

As noted above, there is a full boatload of top-tier arms to employ in your fantasy rotations this week. These pitchers are not guaranteed to provide two great starts, but recent history suggests that most will aid your efforts to dominate your league. Wind them up and let them go if you are fortunate enough to have one or more of these 19 pitchers on your roster(s).

Paxton went 7.0 IP for his second consecutive quality start (QS) on the season, and did so at Coors Field. He also collected an uncharacteristic eight strikeouts from the Colorado hitters, as he has been a below-average
strikeout source this season (5.8 K/9 through 66.2 IP). He has been dominant at home this season, but this week sees him in foreign parks for both his trips to toe the rubber. He does have the White Sox to open the scoring period, and the Giants are not a dominant offense by any means.

Pfaadt has a pair of home games on his schedule for Week 13, which is why he makes the middle tier. He has not been dominant on the mound despite being a decent source of strikeouts in his outings, and showing excellent control: 8.2 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 through his 90.2 innings of work. His second time on the bump this week is against the Athletics, a tasty assignment for a pitcher tossing the ball at home, as the Oakland squad does not travel well, being 17 games below .500 on the road as this is being written. The early week matchup against the Twins is against a .500 team when away from the Twin Cities this season. The Arizona righty’s peripheral metrics suggest he has been unlucky this season, and may be due for some positive adjustments to his overall stat line.

Lorenzen has been collecting quality starts, with six over his past seven trips to the hill. He only has two victories over that stretch, but his results have been fantastic: 1.88 ERA, 1.02 WHIP over those 43.0 IP. He is not much of a source for strikeouts, with a 6.3 K/9 on the season, and his inflated walk rate (3.8 BB/9 over 72.0 IP) is not helping his pitching efforts, either. He has two starts on the road this week, but has been more of a road warrior this season, so that bodes well despite having less than ideal matchups on tap.

Allen over his last seven outings has a 5-1 record, and a sub-4.00 ERA (granted, just under 4.00 at 3.96). His season ERA is ugly still, sitting at 5.23 and the 1.48 WHIP is not ideal, either, which will scare away some potential owners. He gets to pitch on the road for both his Week 13 appearances, where his results have been healthier than when he climbs the hill at Progressive Field.

Plenty of two-start SPs to avoid despite their allure of taking the ball twice in Week 13. Certainly some will have appeal as streaming options, such as Miller facing the White Sox or Mize taking on the Angels at the end of the scoring period. If you must trust one of these pitchers, pick selectively based on a
favorable opponent and venue. Plus, realize that these hurlers are in the bottom tier due to their tendency to damage ratio stats while not providing great counting stats to offset the ERA and WHIP damage they tend to inflict on their owners’ stats.

Potential Streaming Options for Week 13

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. 

Mitch Spence Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels

The rookie right-hander picked up his second QS of the season, and he also collected an unexpected seven strikeouts as he has a below-average 7.1 K/9 rate on the season. He gets to face the Angels, not a bad matchup. His control and ground ball inducing tendencies are also pluses for the youngster.

Simeon Woods Richardson, Minnesota Twins vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

In his first extended time in the majors, the Twin righty has been sturdily dependable as a SP, posting a useful 3.26 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through his 60.2 IP thus far in 2024. His effectiveness on the mound does not seem to vary whether he is toeing the rubber at home or on the road, so this matchup has possibilities as a streaming start. He also offers average K potential for any owner that plugs him into their Week 13 lineup.

Colin Rea, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Texas Rangers

Two quality starts in a row, coinciding with two consecutive victories, make for a useful situation for the Brewer veteran right-hander to take the mound at home against the reigning world champs. Over the last five starts, he has not allowed more than two earned tallies. He is just an average strikeout producer (6.3 K/9 over 76.2 innings) and his control is also merely average. The peripheral metrics indicate a slight tendency towards being lucky, so there is the possibility of negative regression soon.

DJ Herz, Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres

The rookie southpaw has been improving with every start he has made for the Nationals, although to be honest, that is a mere three times being called upon to start so far in 2024. His most recent appearance was a quality outing, where he racked up 13 strikeouts, which should not be expected as the norm. Keep your eye on the youngster, to see if he keeps getting more prized as a SP as the season moves forward.

Trevor Rogers, Miami Marlins vs. Kansas City Royals

The Miami southpaw went up against the rookie profiled above, and was saddled with the loss despite allowing just two earned runs over 7.0 IP. He has limited the opposition to just three earned runs over his last two starts, totaling 12.0 IP. Prior to that recent two game strong effort, he has been inconsistent with his performance this season, and it is his recent improved efforts that make him stream-worthy in this start.

Miles Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds

The veteran right-hander has generated five straight quality starts, with a 2.59 ERA and 0.73 WHIP over those 31.1 innings. He has also put up a useful 25:4 K/BB ratio over that stretch of contests, and now gets the Reds at home, a team that is slightly under .500 away from their home park. It has been a robust period of action for the Cardinal 35-year-old hurler, and look for him to continue that in this home game.

Jameson Taillon, Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco Giants

The veteran righty has been exceptional over his recent two QS efforts, but struggled to an extent leading up to this current hot streak, assuming you count two games as a streak. He has good control with an above-average 2.3 BB/9 rate this season, but is a sub-average K producer (6.3 K.9 over 61.1 IP in 2024). Pitching away from Wrigley Field has been a positive for him over his 11 starts this season.

Mitchell Parker, Washington Nationals vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The rookie southpaw has shone bright in his first MLB season, presenting a useful 3.08 ERA and equally attractive 1.08 WHIP to go along as the other roto ratio stat of note. The Rays are a sub-.500 home team, which helps to offset the youngsters home/road split in favor of pitching in the nation’s capital.
Jonathan Cannon Chicago White Sox vs Colorado Rockies The 23-year-old rookie twirled his best effort as a starter in his most recent outing against the Astros, holding the Houston offense off the scoreboard for 8.2 IP, handing out just one free pass and seven safeties. He gets the Rockies away from Coors, a good matchup despite his team’s awful performance this season. He offers average strikeout value with superb control: 7.8 K/9, 1.7 BB/9 through his
relatively limited 32.1 IP.

Jose Quintana, New York Mets vs. Houston Astros

The veteran southpaw has been upping his strikeout game, racking up 14 over his last 12.1 IP covering his most recent two starts. He gets to take on the Astros who are playing sub-.500 ball this season on the road, and has been much more effective when dealing from home turf.

Cal Quantrill, Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago White Sox

Although his recent outing against the visiting Dodgers did not qualify as QS, the Colorado righty has collected a good stock of quality starts this season, and gets to face the woeful Pale Hose in this outing. Granted, the Colorado squad has been struggling this season, too, but this is the best matchup possible for the 29-year-old to continue his steady performance on the bump.

Hogan Harris, Oakland Athletics vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

The second-year left-hander finally picked up a victory against the visiting Royals, although he has been pitching well over his limited four starts in six appearances, posting a 2.37 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, some attractive ratios to make him a likely waiver wire target. Get him soon if you need pitching help, although realize pitching for the A’s is not likely to provide a ton of opportunities to notch victories.