Fantasy Baseball 2024 Two-Start Pitchers & Streaming Starters For Week 8

It has been some time since the two-start roster in a particular week contained such a wealth of top tier arms to employ for your fantasy baseball production in one scoring period. At the top of this article, you’ll find names such as Corbin Burnes, Framber Valdez, Pablo Lopez, and Dylan Cease. Because the upper group delivers so many possible ace options the bottom tier is particularly devoid of hurlers that you should seriously consider avoiding inserting in your fantasy lineups. There are still a fair number of middle tier arms, in case you are not fortunate enough to have a few of the top pitchers to rely upon with their dual start availability. Plus, if you need to plug an arm or two into your lineups for single trips to the hill, the streaming options are well-populated as well below. And as always, you should be on the lookout for the Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire article every weekend from our very own Howard Bender. Let’s take a look at how the schedule for the upcoming scoring period looks so we can optimize our pitchers and get another win.

This week presents us with better than 20 two-start pitchers from which to choose, presuming you are lucky enough to have snagged more than one of them for your fantasy roster(s). Certainly not all the trips to climb the bump made by these pitchers will be absolute gold, but given their recent success on the mound individually, it is well worth the risk to insert them into your Week 8 lineups.

Lively has been pitching well, posting attractive ERA of 3.06 with an acceptable WHIP of 1.27. He is whiffing batters at a rate of nearly one per frame pitched, although his control could use a bit of an improvement (3.3 BB/9 through 32.1 IP). He has two favorable matchups in store this week, with a home game to start the action in Week 8, and he has been exceptionally effective in Cleveland thus far in 2024.

Mize collected his fourth quality start (QS) in a home loss to the Marlins where he held the opponents to just two earned runs, falling victim to a continued inability of the Detroit offense to find traction. His sub-average K rate is being offset by his superb control (2.1 BB/9) and ability to generate groundballs (52.1% GB rate). His first outing in Kansas City profiles as his least favorable matchup, with the end of the scoring period home tilt against Toronto looking the more promising.

Fedde has yet to be defeated, carrying a 4-0 record with an extremely attractive 2.60 ERA and 1.06 WHIP into his Week 8 dual start action. He is striking out nearly a batter per inning, and demonstrating excellent control (8.6 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 over 52.0 IP). Beware, though, as his peripheral metrics indicate he may be due for some negative regression, and keep in mind he pitches for the uninspiring White Sox. 

Abbott, the second-year southpaw, spun his third QS of the season in a no-decision where he held the host Diamondbacks to a single earned tally, on a homer of which he has allowed nine during his nine trips to toe the rubber in 2024. The two matchups are not ideal by any stretch, but he does get to face the Padres and then the Dodgers at home. 

Quantrill has collected six QS over his last seven outings, and his first matchup is favorable in that he gets to face the struggling A’s on the road where he has fared slightly better this season. His second appearance, at home against the Phillies, may be enough to make him a one-start option this week.

Weathers is working on a three game consecutive QS streak, all on the road. That hints that his second start in Week 8 profiles as the time to employ his services against the host Diamondback in the desert. With just average strikeout results and average control to go along with that, facing the NL Central leading Brewers at home to open the scoring period seems dicey. 

Ross has been able to pitch deep enough into his starts to be eligible for victories, but only has a pair on the season, against four losses. He has been more of a road warrior over his eight starts, and has two away games on the schedule. The first contest in Miami is the best matchup. He offers average K potential, which could play better against the second opponent of the week, the free swinging Bosox. Also, his FIP of 3.84 (against his ERA which sits at 4.61) indicates that he has been a bit unlucky to date. 

Stroman’s ability to miss bats seems to be fading as the season progresses, along with his ability to find the plate regularly, as both his K rate and BB rates are trending in the wrong directions. He still sports a useful 3.33 ERA, but the WHIP is an unattractive 1.42 (that increasing walk rate of 4.6 BB/9 being the culprit, most likely). He does get to face both of this week’s opponents where they perform their worst and he does pitch for the AL East leading Yankees.

Not the usual embarrassment of pitchers that should be left on the bench or the wire, or populating other managers’ lineups. Nevertheless, the risk of damage to your ratios at the expense of minimal counting stat production suggests that none of these hurlers receive dual start usage. Simply let them stay away from your starting lineups.

Potential Streaming Options for Week 8

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:

Robert Gasser, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Miami Marlins

The rookie southpaw has notched victories in both his starts for the Brewers, and get to try for his third win in Miami against a team that struggles to win no matter where they play. He has had trouble missing bats in the majors but his minor league career suggests that will turn around soon, and he helps himself with excellent control.

Alec Marsh, Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers

The second-year righty has been a big part of the Royals’ 2024 success, racking up 21 strikeouts over his last 20.1 IP, while contributing a stellar 0.89 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over that period as well. Here he gets to take on the division-rival Tigers at home, where he has been exceptional in his three times atop the bump.

Cooper Criswell, Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The 27-year-old right-hander has filled the rotation spot vacated when Garrett Whitlock went on the IL, and if you want to take advantage of his presence in the Red Sox rotation, act now. Despite the recent short 3.2 IP outing against the Rays at home, he has been an exceptional road pitcher, and he get to seek his revenge against the same Ray team in Tampa Bay in this contest.

Griffin Canning, Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros

The veteran righty came an out short of compiling three consecutive quality starts, but was still able to gather an estimable set of ratios over those three trips to toe the rubber: 1.53 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. This is a decent matchup, although the Astros are playing better of late, so that tempers the desirability of this streaming opportunity.

Kyle Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Baltimore Orioles

The veteran righty did not manage to extend his quality start streak beyond four, although he did toss 5.0 IP of two run ball against the host Brewers in a no-decision last time on the hill. He has pitched effectively, as evidenced by his 3.67 ERA and 1.20 WHIP to date. 

Simeon Woods Richardson, Minnesota Twins vs. Jake Irvin, Washington Nationals

The Nats’ Irvin has good control with average strikeout production and has two quality starts sandwiching a loss where the four runs scored were all unearned. The youngster is a better source of strikeouts (8.3 K/9 over 25.0 IP). Neither hurler is toiling in his preferred venue in this game, although Woods Richardson offers a more limited sample size to judge his road effectiveness. 

Austin Gomber, Colorado Rockies vs. Oakland Athletics

Gomber has fared slightly better away from Coors Field, but not spectacularly so. His last three starts have been of the quality variety, where he has allowed just one earned run. It is the opponent here, however, that provides the impetus to stream the Colorado southpaw.

Frankie Montas, Cincinnati Reds vs. San Diego Padres

The veteran right-hander has found his groove pitching at home this season, so taking on the Padres in The Great American Ballpark in Cincy lends itself to encourage streaming Montas in this contest. He does offer average K potential, too.

Andrew Heaney, Texas Rangers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The veteran lefty has been working to reduce his inflated ratios, yielding only four earned runs over his last 18.0 IP. He has been more effective on the road, and that is where he gets to climb the bump in this contest, albeit against a tough matchup in the form of the NL East leading Phillies. His ability to rack up Ks should be on display in this contest, too.

Bryse Wilson, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Boston Red Sox

Before struggling with his control in a 4.0 IP effort against the visiting Cardinals, he had tossed a pair of QS, collecting a dozen strikeouts over those two games. He has put up an appealing 2.65 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over his 34.0 IP this season, with average K production and spotty control. 

Trevor Williams, Washington Nationals vs. Seattle Mariners

Until giving up a dinger in his last appearance, the veteran righty had turned around his 2023 propensity for allowing homers and has been an extremely effective presence on the mound, witnessed by a superb set of ratios: 1.94 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 41.2 IP. The strikeout rate is nothing to get overly excited about, sitting at 6.9 K/9 thus far in 2024, but he does sport a 4-0 record.

JP Sears, Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros

The 28-year-old southpaw held the Astros to just one earned run on five hits in his most recent time atop the hill, although just two strikeouts were collected in that start. That he gets to attempt to repeat that success, and perhaps garner a win, is reason to consider plugging him into your rotation for this start.

Colin Rea, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Boston Red Sox

Despite tossing a quality start in his last outing, he was saddled with a loss. He has been a better road performer over the past couple of campaigns, and thus this appearance has streaming possibilities. He relies on his control to offset his below-average ability to generate swings and misses from opposing hitters, although the Red Sox are not an efficient bunch when it comes to putting the bat on the ball, ranking second overall in terms of strikeout production.