Two-Start Pitcher Streamers: Fantasy Baseball SP Pickups and Starts - Week 9 (2024)

Welcome RotoBallers to our Two-Start Pitcher Streamers article - Waiver Wire Streamers and Starts for Week 9, from May 20 to May 26. 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

• Kyle Bradish (@ STL, @ CHW)
• Tanner Houck (@ TB, vs. MIL)
• Marcus Stroman (vs. SEA, @ SD)
• Clarke Schmidt (vs. SEA, @ SD)
• Jose Berrios (vs. CHW, @ DET)
• Yusei Kikuchi (vs. CHW, @ DET)
• Garrett Crochet (@ TOR, vs. BAL)
• Pablo Lopez (@ WAS, vs. TEX)
• Logan Gilbert (@ NYY, @ WAS)
• Jon Gray (@ PHI, @ MIN)
• Chris Sale (vs. SD, @ PIT)
• Charlie Morton (@ CHC, @ PIT)
• Ranger Suarez (vs. TEX, @ COL)
• Javier Assad (vs. ATL, @ STL)
• Sonny Gray (vs. BAL, vs. CHC)
• Dylan Cease (@ ATL, vs. NYY)
• Michael King (@ CIN, vs. NYY)
• Logan Webb (@ PIT, @ NYM)

Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers

Dean Kremer (46% Rostered), Baltimore Orioles

Scheduled Starts: @ STL, @ CHW

A 3.72 ERA, 25.3% strikeout rate, and 1.02 WHIP are all metrics that make it easy to certify Dean Kremer as streaming-safe. However, a 4.60 FIP and a 5.24 xERA will rightfully drive some away from Kremer. But it doesn't quite matter if Kremer is a good pitcher when he is set to face two of the league's worst offenses, with the Cardinals and White Sox ranked 28th and 30th, respectively, in runs scored.

Dean Kremer, 93mph Paint. 🖌️🎨

7th K thru 4 pic.twitter.com/YVdqJi1jpb

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 12, 2024

Reese Olson (40% Rostered), Detroit Tigers

Scheduled Starts: @ KC, vs. TOR

Reese Olson has taken his game to another level this season, with a 2.09 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 0.99 WHIP, 21.7% strikeout rate, and 57.5% ground-ball rate through eight starts and 47.1 innings.

The Toronto Blue Jays are the second-worst offense in baseball by runs scored, so they shouldn't be a concern this week. While a Royals offense ranked 11th in scoring would be cause for concern for a lesser pitcher, Olson held Kansas City to just one run across seven innings in an April 26 start, meaning he's ripe for streaming this week.

Reese Olson, Wicked 85mph Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/DVzmCQlMrc

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 14, 2024

Risky Two-Start Streamer Picks

Gavin Stone (48% Rostered), Los Angeles Dodgers

Scheduled Starts: vs. ARZ, @ CIN

Usually, you'd be happy with a Dodgers pitcher in a two-start week, especially one with a 1.38 ERA in his last four starts. However, Gavin Stone's recent run was spurious, as a 4.32 FIP and 13.1% strikeout rate against four offenses that rank in the bottom half of the league in scoring is deeply unimpressive.

The 25-year-old carries heightened risk with starts against an Arizona offense ranked sixth in scoring this season and a talented Cincinnati offense in the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark.

Erick Fedde (47% Rostered), Chicago White Sox

Scheduled Starts: @ TOR, vs. BAL

One of few bright spots on this White Sox roster, Erick Fedde holds a 2.60 ERA, 23.6% strikeout rate, and 6.6% walk rate through nine starts this season. However, a 3.88 FIP, 86.9% left-on-base rate, and 9.8% SwStr% signal some regression. You'll trust the 31-year-old against an awful Toronto Blue Jays offense, but a start against an Orioles offense ranked eighth in scoring this season makes him a risky stream this week.

Taj Bradley (43% Rostered), Tampa Bay Rays

Scheduled Starts: vs. BOS, vs. KC

After a turbulent 2023 season, it has been nice to see Taj Bradley see some success since his return on May 10. After two starts against the Yankees and Red Sox, Bradley holds a 2.45 ERA, 3.04 FIP, 1.00 WHIP, 29.5% strikeout rate, and 6.8% walk rate through 11 innings. A 7.24 xERA, 51.9% hard-hit rate, and 84.9% left-on-base rate don't inspire confidence, but the small sample size makes it hard to nail down a verdict on Bradley.

Regardless, you'll want to see a little more from the 23-year-old before streaming against a Royals offense ranked 11th in runs scored.

Andrew Abbott (42% Rostered), Cincinnati Reds

Scheduled Starts: vs. SD, vs. LAD

Never stream a pitcher starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers (or a Padres offense ranked seventh in runs scored, for that matter).

Reid Detmers (36% Rostered), Los Angeles Angels

Scheduled Starts: @ HOU, vs. CLE

Despite a jaw-dropping 15.6% SwStr% across all pitches this season, Reid Detmers maintains an awful 5.19 ERA and 1.35 WHIP through nine starts. A 3.84 FIP makes his line look less ugly, but it isn't enough for Detmers in a week with starts against a Houston offense ranked fifth in wOBA and a Cleveland offense ranked eighth in runs scored.

Michael Wacha (30% Rostered), Kansas City Royals

Scheduled Starts: vs. DET, @ TB

With a 4.71 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 20.6% strikeout rate, and 3.81 FIP through nine starts this season, you'll want to ignore Michael Wacha. While Detroit and Tampa Bay aren't world-beaters, Tampa Bay is ranked seventh in scoring this month and Detroit's 20th-ranked offense can still cause problems against a pitcher who isn't giving us his best stuff.

Mitchell Parker (21% Rostered), Washington Nationals

Scheduled Starts: vs. MIN, vs. SEA

Previously-unknown prospect Mitchell Parker has held his own in his first MLB season, with a 3.09 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 5.5% walk rate through six starts. He doesn't have electric stuff -- with a 19.5% strikeout rate, 25.5% CSW%, and 10.5% SwStr% ranking him among the league's worst -- so it is hard to trust him week in and week out.

He's also struggled recently, with a 4.50 ERA and 5.13 FIP through his last three starts. He's held his own against some intimidating offenses, but his track record isn't good enough to trust him against a Minnesota offense ranked second in runs scored since April 17.

Casey Mize (20% Rostered), Detroit Tigers

Scheduled Starts: @ KC, vs. TOR

Casey Mize has pitched well this season, but not nearly well enough to safely stream. With a 3.50 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 17.5% strikeout rate, and 5.5% walk rate through eight starts, the former first-overall pick still lacks security in standard fantasy leagues.

Mize doesn't have nearly as high a strikeout ceiling as teammate Reese Olson and he looked uninspiring in his latest start against Kansas City (three runs allowed with two strikeouts across five innings), so there is still more of a risk in streaming him. While he's a better option this week than most on this side of the list, he shouldn't be streamed with no fear.

Ben Lively (14% Rostered), Cleveland Guardians

Scheduled Starts: vs. NYM, @ LAA

With a 3.06 ERA, 4.33 FIP, 23.1% strikeout rate, and 9% walk rate through six starts, Ben Lively's odd profile carries some intrigue. There may be enough to stream him against lesser opponents, but an Angels offense ranked 14th in runs scored is just good enough to leave Lively off your mind this week.

Martin Perez (14% Rostered), Pittsburgh Pirates

Scheduled Starts: vs. SF, vs. ATL

While you may want to capitalize on an unusual dry spell from the juggernaut Atlanta Braves (ranked 15th in runs scored this year), Martin Perez -- with his 4.86 ERA, 4.57 FIP, and 18.2% strikeout rate -- is not the best option to do so.

Cal Quantrill (9% Rostered), Colorado Rockies

Scheduled Starts: @ OAK, vs. PHI

You'd rarely even consider streaming a Colorado Rockies pitcher, but Cal Quantrill has been on quite the run as of late. In his last three starts, Quantrill holds a 0.92 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, and 26% strikeout rate.

Despite his recent success, Quantrill is not someone you should seriously consider this week. His last three starts do not mean you can disregard his season-long 4.77 FIP, 16.7% strikeout rate, and 9.3% walk rate through nine starts. While he's shown Rockies fans some of the best pitching they've seen in a while, a home start against a Phillies offense that has led the league in scoring since March 27 should bring him back down to earth.

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