Fantasy Baseball 2024 Two-Start Pitchers & Streaming Starters For Week 18

Now that Major League team rotations are settling into normalcy once again with the All-Star Break behind us, the fantasy world of two-start pitchers and streaming options is also sorting itself out. Thus, lots of dual start options in the top tier this week, and a smaller set of middle tier arms to consider adding to your roster. A fair (or unfair, if you have to consider using one of these pitchers in Week 18) sampling of starting pitchers to avoid employing in your fantasy efforts this scoring period.

There are streaming options for every date in Week 18 as well. Albeit, some of those days have but one suggested starting pitcher to plug into your starting rotation, but that is a rarity for this article. Take advantage as needed.

These 14 starting pitchers are those aces that should be dropped into your lineups and left to work their magic for both starts. No need to concern yourself over where they are climbing the hill or against whom they are throwing the ball. Wind them up, let them go, and reap the benefits.

Waldron has tossed nine quality starts in his last 11 times toeing the rubber for the Friars, and has a pair of home starts coming up on the schedule in Week 18. Granted, his road/home splits favor his efforts away from his home park this season, and his first time on the bump is against the division-leading Dodger offense, but the knuckleballer offers above-average strikeout production and better than average control. Getting to face the Rockies away from Coors Field at the end of the week is positive. 

Rea has put up a couple of poor performances in recent history, but overall has been an effective hurler since late May. He figures to resume a starting role with the Brew Crew going forward, and his ratio stats (3.60 ERA, 1.21 WHIP through 110.0 innings this season) are attractive for fantasy purposes. The strikeout rate over his last five appearances is also attractive, sitting at 9.6 K/9 over those 28 inning. Getting the Braves at home is a plus in his first trip atop the bump in Week 18, and the Nationals are not exactly road formidable opponents.

Pallante, the 25-year-old righty, has performed admirably since joining the Cardinal rotation. Facing the Rangers at home is not a terrible matchup, and as noted above, the Washington team should not be cause any undue concern, especially for a pitcher that has performed better on the road than at home this season. None of his peripheral metrics indicate that he is pitching over his head, although he is not a prime source of Ks (6.9 K/9 over 57.1 IP).

Criswell climbs the bump at home against a team with less than formidable offensive punch in the visiting Mariners to open the scoring period, and has been marginally better as a road arm this season, which bodes well for his trip to Arlington to wind up the week’s action. His team has also seen success when playing away from Fenway Park in 2024. He offers average strikeout potential with effective control. He will look to push his ERA below 4.00, which would likely lead to his ownership increasing, making this a good time to add him to your roster for future benefits.

There are not as many pitchers to avoid using this week, but still some tempting names in the bottom group that may seem misplaced in this tier. Looking over the matchups, though, you would be well served to simply shun these arms as part of your pitching staff for this upcoming week. Your ratio stats will thank you.

Potential Streaming Options for Week 18

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:

Jose Quintana, New York Mets vs. Minnesota Twins

Over his last 41 innings, the New York veteran southpaw has provided a superior 1.98 ERA and 1.02 WHIP while fanning a batter per inning. This outing sees him atop the hill at home, where he has been much more dominant this season. Keep an eye on the Mets’ rotation, as his next scheduled start would put him on the bump Sunday rather than on this date.

Ryne Nelson, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Patrick Corbin, Washington Nationals

The second-year Diamondback right-hander has been pitching well over his recent time on the mound, racking up an impressive 2.97 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over his last five starts, consisting of 30.1 innings, despite giving up four earned tallies to the host Royals in his last appearance. He has been touched up at home this season, but the opponent here is not a formidable opponent by any means. 

From the other side of the field, the National veteran southpaw is coming off a second consecutive quality start, although his effort was derailed when Dylan Cease tossed a no-hitter to shut down the Arizona bats. He has collected 18 strikeouts over his last 18 innings. His peripheral metrics also indicate that he will continue to improve on his not-so-stellar stats posted this season thus far.

Drew Thorpe, Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals

The rookie has been highly effective this year, as reflected by his superior ratio stats accumulated over his seven starts thus far: 3.03 ERA, 1.01 WHIP. He does not offer great swing and miss potential, with a sub-average 5.6 K/9 and his peripheral metrics hint that some form of negative regression is due to visit him in the future. This is a home start, although he has been equally effective on the road and at Guaranteed Rate Field thus far in 2024. 

Andrew Heaney, Texas Rangers vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Since the beginning of May, the veteran southpaw has held opposing offenses to three or fewer earned runs in his 15 starts. He has enjoyed slightly better success when pitching on the road this season, to the game at Busch Stadium plays to his strength in that area. He also offers better than a strikeout per frame potential.

Luis L. Ortiz, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Houston Astros

The 25-year-old righty has auditioned well for a role in the Pirate rotation, continuing to pitch well in his four starts this season to date (he has a scheduled start in Arizona before this trip to the mound in Houston). He has an attractive 2.57 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over his 73.2 IP tossed in both relief and as a pitcher. The strikeout rate is just average (7.2 K/9) but his control is above-average (2.6 BB/9) and his work on the road has been admirable.

Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies vs. Carson Fulmer, Los Angeles Angels

A couple of sub-.500 teams facing off, yet their pitchers are both worthy of streaming consideration. Freeland has collected a pair of wins in his last two outings, to go with five consecutive quality starts where he has posted a stellar 1.95 ERA and 1.05 WHIP through those 32.1 IP. He is a below-average strikeout producer yet his peripheral metrics indicate that he has more potential to provide his fantasy owners. The Angel right-hander Fulmer does not have as gaudy stats to offer as a streaming recommendation, but he has been superb at home this season and strikes out a batter per frame. Neither of these offenses are intimidating by any means, and the Rockies are away from Coors in this contest.

Trevor Rogers, Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves

Over his last 10 outings, he has pitched into the fifth inning or later in all but two times toeing the rubber, and one of those (his most recent start against the Mets) was just one out short of that mark. He has also accumulated a useful 3.31 ERA over those 54.1 innings. He has been better on the road than at home this season, so pitching at Atlanta is not a reason to avoid using the lefty.

Tyler Phillips, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Seattle Mariners

In limited action as a starter, the rookie right-hander has picked up a pair of consecutive victories, the latest the result of six shutout innings against the visiting Pirate offense where he struck out three. He looks to continue to be called upon to start things off for the Phillies every fifth game due to injuries to the staff in Philadelphia, and if his excellent control continues with even only average strikeout production, he could be a worthy short-term streaming option to plug into your fantasy rotations.

Marco Gonzales, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

The veteran southpaw projects as a reliable if not flashy pitcher to provide some innings. He has a home start in this matchup, and nothing in his peripheral metrics suggest that he cannot continue to be a dependable if not exciting arm to use for the occasional start, depending on venue and opponent. 

Ryan Feltner, Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres

Not a pitcher to look to for victories, he does have three quality starts in his last five appearances. Not surprisingly, he is more effective away from Coors Field. He also offers good strikeout potential, with a 8.0 K/9 rate over his 109.1 innings this season. 

Max Meyer, Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves

The Marlins have recalled the young right-hander from Triple-A Jacksonville to see if he can revisit some of the magic he was dispensing in April when he tossed 17 innings and put up an attractive 2.12 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, while whiffing 17 opposing hitters. This is not exactly a favorable matchup, so expectations might need to be tempered.

Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics

The Angel righty probably wishes he could face the Mariners in this contest, having collected a couple of back-to-back victories over Seattle where he gave up just a single earned tally in each contest. He also struck out 10 in those wins, but handed out seven free passes too. The Oakland offense is daunting of late, so this is no simple matchup, but he has also been a veritable road warrior this season.

Spencer Arrighetti, Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The Houston rookie right-hander has been looking more effective of recent vintage, picking up 16 strikeouts over his last 17 innings of work, and recording a useful 3.71 ERA over those three outings. His control needs work, but his strikeout potential (10 K/9 on the year) makes him a worthy consideration, especially at home in this matchup.

Randy Vasquez, San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies

The second-year right-hander has been dealing on the hill over his last five appearances, racking up a superior 1.71 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 26.1 IP. He only has 16 strikeouts over that stretch but has demonstrated superb control with just six free passes handed out to opposing hitters. He gets to face the Rockies away from Coors Field, another plus.

David Peterson, New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Angels

The veteran southpaw has been stingy with the earned runs over his last few times atop the bump, allowing just nine earned tallies through his most recent 32.0 IP, resulting in a 2.53 ERA over that run of games. The WHIP is less attractive, sitting at 1.47, due to allowing nearly a hit per inning coupled with handing out 18 (!) free passes to opposing batters. The 8.4 K/9 rate during the recent appearances is a decided improvement over his season-long mediocre 6.7 K/9 rate, and facing the Angels, despite their recent success on the field, can be a boost for any pitcher.