Welcome RotoBallers to our Two-Start Pitcher Streamers article - Waiver Wire Streamers and Starts for Week 10, from May 27 to June 2. With multiple teams having six or seven games on their schedule, we're looking at a nice variety of two-start pitchers.
Each week of this fantasy baseball season, this fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups column will identify starting pitchers expected to make two starts in the upcoming week. It can be considered as fantasy baseball streamers ahead of the Sunday night waiver wire run for leagues with weekly transactions.
There are 36 pitchers currently scheduled to make two starts during this period. We will be looking at pitchers who are less than 50% owned in Yahoo leagues. Listed will be those who are rostered over 50%, those who are best available under 50%, and risky options under 50%. There are a few other two-start pitchers available, but they should be avoided.
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Two-Start Pitchers - Over 50% Rostered
- Brayan Bello (@ BAL, vs. DET)
- Nestor Cortes (@ LAA, @ SF)
- Chris Bassitt (@ CHW, vs. PIT)
- Tarik Skubal (vs. PIT, @ BOS)
- Cole Ragans (@ MIN, vs. SD)
- Joe Ryan (vs. KC, @ HOU)
- Framber Valdez (@ SEA, vs. MIN)
- Bryce Miller (vs. HOU, vs. LAA)
- Luis Castillo (vs. HOU, vs. LAA)
- Charlie Morton (vs. WAS, vs. OAK)
- Max Fried (vs. WAS, vs. OAK)
- Shota Imanaga (@ MIL, vs. CIN)
- Justin Steele (@ MIL, vs. CIN)
- Nick Lodolo (vs. STL, @ CHC)
- Freddy Peralta (vs. CHC, vs. CHW)
- Michael King (vs. MIA, @ KC)
- Blake Snell (vs. PHI, vs. NYY
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Zack Littell (32% Rostered), Tampa Bay Rays
Scheduled Starts: vs. OAK, @ BAL
The Orioles offense holds a .695 OPS against right-handed pitchers, so Littell may not have as hard a time as some may think. The Athletics are fifth in runs scored this month, but they're mostly riding high off an offensive barrage from the beginning of the month (7.75 runs per game from May 4 to May 11, 3.21 runs per game in the rest of the month).
Zack Littell's 6Ks thru 6. pic.twitter.com/WQnELKDZt9
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 30, 2024
Cole Irvin (32% Rostered), Baltimore Orioles
Scheduled Starts: vs. BOS, vs. TB
Injuries to Dean Kremer and John Means have pushed Cole Irvin back into a rotation spot and a two-start week. Irvin has done well when called upon as a starter, with a 2.90 ERA, 3.38 FIP, and 1.07 WHIP through five starts.
Boston and Tampa Bay lag behind the top offenses in most metrics as of late, with Tampa Bay ranked 16th in runs scored this month and Boston ranked 21st. While his guaranteed stay in the rotation may not last too long, Irvin should have a good time this week.
Cooper Criswell (11% Rostered), Boston Red Sox
Scheduled Starts: @ BAL, vs. DET
Cooper Criswell has been a revelation this season, with a 2.86 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 23.9% strikeout rate, and 5.6% walk rate. The Orioles offense holds a .695 OPS against right-handed pitchers, so Criswell could have a chance in the pitcher-friendly Camden Yards. The Detroit Tigers, ranked 20th in runs scored, are less of a concern.
Cooper Criswell's 2Ks in the 5th. pic.twitter.com/l9aBj5ud8X
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 22, 2024
Risky Two-Start Streamer Picks
Gavin Stone (47% Rostered), Los Angeles Dodgers
Scheduled Starts: @ NYM, vs. COL
While his extremely low 16.3% strikeout rate is maddening, Gavin Stone is in the conversation weekly because he is a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Through nine starts and 50 innings this season, Stone holds a 3.60 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.30 WHIP, 16.3% strikeout rate, and 8.1% walk rate with four wins.
While a Colorado offense outside of Coors isn't much of a threat, Stone struggled in a recent start against the Mets (two runs and five walks allowed in 3 1/3 innings). With control issues and little appeal outside of the wins category, Stone may be worth fading this week.
Alec Marsh (26% Rostered), Kansas City Royals
Scheduled Starts: @ MIN, vs. SD
Alec Marsh is a big reason why the Royals rotation places in the top five of ERA rankings this season. Through eight starts, Marsh holds a 2.72 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 1.07 WHIP, 20.6% strikeout rate, and 6.9% walk rate.
The 26-year-old does present some risks; a 4.02 xERA, 4.12 xFIP, 4.14 SIERA, and 7% HR/FB% all indicate slight regression, but it's primarily his concerning matchups that leave him on this side of the list. The Padres rank eighth in runs scored and hold a .749 OPS against RHP like Marsh, making that start risky enough to disregard Marsh this week.
Lance Lynn (20% Rostered), St. Louis Cardinals
Scheduled Starts: @ CIN, @ PHI
The Philadelphia Phillies are flying on offense, and by flying, I mean FLYING! As the season leaders in runs scored by an 11-run margin, the Phillies should be avoided in any form of pitcher streaming. 37-year-old Lance Lynn (3.68 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 1.34 WHIP) is no exception.
Mitchell Parker (20% Rostered), Washington Nationals
Scheduled Starts: @ ATL, @ CLE
Many must be eager to take advantage of an unusually cold Atlanta offense (27th in runs scored in May), and Mitchell Parker would be a nice arm to do it with (3.32 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 1.16 WHIP, 20.9% strikeout rate). However, a weekend road start against a Cleveland offense ranked fifth in runs scored this season makes it difficult to justify a Mitchell Parker stream.
Taijuan Walker (14% Rostered), Philadelphia Phillies
Scheduled Starts: @ SF, vs. STL
Taijuan Walker has been one of the few weak spots on a Phillies roster that paces the league in wins. Through five starts, Walker holds a 5.06 ERA, 5.83 FIP, 1.54 WHIP, 18.3% strikeout rate, and 8.7% walk rate. While his lineup may ultimately pull him through to a win, your ERA category may take a huge hit after his start against a Giants offense that is third in runs scored this month.
Austin Gomber (13% Rostered), Colorado Rockies
Scheduled Starts: vs. CLE, @ LAD
On the seemingly never-ending quest for a Colorado Rockies pitcher that we can trust to stream in a two-start week, Austin Gomber (2.76 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through 10 starts) looks to be the holy grail. However, a 4.60 FIP, 17.4% strikeout rate, and starts against two top-five offenses this week mean Gomber is nothing more than a cruel hallucination. We'll find that castle in the sky soon, but not this week.
Simeon Woods Richardson (10% Rostered), Minnesota Twins
Scheduled Starts: vs. KC, @ HOU
Simeon Woods Richardson has pitched well in his first year in the rotation, with a 2.57 ERA, 3.16 FIP, and 1.11 WHIP through seven starts. However, a low strikeout ceiling (18.2% strikeout rate) and starts against a Kansas City offense ranked fourth in runs scored and a Houston offense ranked third in OPS this year are reasons to wait another week for the 23-year-old.
Griffin Canning (10% Rostered), Los Angeles Angels
Scheduled Starts: vs. NYY, @ SEA
Griffin Canning has had an awful year, with a 5.05 ERA, 5.39 FIP, and 16.1% strikeout rate through 10 starts. It's bound to worsen this week with a matchup against a Yankees offense ranked third in runs scored this year.
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