5 Two-Start Fantasy Starting Pitchers: Sleeper Streamers for Week 24

Even though fantasy football season is in full swing, many fantasy baseball leagues are now in playoff mode, making two-start starting pitcher streamers even more important! Don’t get so distracted with fantasy football that you let your fellow fantasy baseball owners out-manage you down the stretch, costing you your playoffs (and pride).

This piece focuses on the best two-start starting pitcher streamers and sleeper waiver wire pickups for Week 24 of fantasy baseball. These sleeper pitchers are near or below 50% ownership in Yahoo! and FleaFlicker leagues, and some are ideal for shallow leagues, but most are under-the-radar starting pitchers that can be considered in head-to-head leagues.

 

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Jacob deGrom, NYM - 48% Owned

Projected starts: Tuesday vs. COL, Sunday vs. WAS

Having a very underrated season, deGrom’s ownership is still hovering around the 50% mark, despite the 2.79 season ERA with nearly a strikeout per inning. Over his last nine contests, the young Mets pitcher has notched eight quality starts while allowing one run of fewer six times.

To add to deGrom’s appeal this week, he has two home starts-- he has a 1.68 ERA and a .216 batting average against at Citi Field this year. Colorado’s offense has been historically bad on the road this season, and continues to operate without Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki. deGrom also faces Washington over the weekend.

 

Danny Salazar, CLE - 54% Owned

Projected starts: Monday vs. LAA, Saturday @DET

Salazar has been great lately, and finally showing some consistency after a very up-and-down 2014 season. His last four starts have resulted in a 2-1 record, and just three earned runs over 25 innings pitched. He also has struck out 23 hitters and walked just five over that span.

Hopefully he can continue his late-season success, as many fantasy leagues are now in the playoffs. This week, he’ll face the Angels and the Tigers-- neither opponent is a cakewalk as far as offense goes, but I trust Salazar’s stuff, especially if he could build off of his complete-game nine-strikeout shutout last time out.

 

Marcus Stroman, TOR - 35% Owned

Projected starts: Monday vs. CHC, Sunday vs. TB

Stroman continues to be one of Toronto’s best pitchers, as the rookie has a 9-5 record on the season. His last two starts have resulted in wins, but I’m rolling with Stroman because of the matchups this week. He’ll have two home starts against subpar offenses, and both the Cubs and the Rays are in the bottom third in the league in runs scored since the All-Star break.

Stroman has also been much better at home this year than on the road, as his ERA, WHIP and BAA are all considerably better at the Rogers Centre, where he’ll get two cracks this week at continuing his winning streak.

 

Edinson Volquez, PIT - 20% Owned

Projected starts: Tuesday @PHI, Sunday vs. CHC

Watching Volquez pitch gives me a headache. However, he has given fantasy owners decent results this year, especially over the past couple of months. In particular, he has not allowed more than three runs in a start since July 21st (also the last time he lost a decision), and he has lowered his season ERA from 3.88 to 3.31 since that date.When Volquez pitches, you know his control is a crapshoot, and he’ll likely walk at least a couple of hitters, but he has been able to manage and pitch around his wildness and his tendency to give up some hits.

The Pirates have been playing better ball of late, and are fighting for an NL wildcard spot. I like Volquez’s matchups this week, as the Phillies and Cubs will try their luck against the veteran righty. Both are fairly light-hitting, and Volquez should be able to find success, as long as he doesn’t walk too many hitters.

 

Miguel Gonzalez, BAL - 20% Owned

Projected starts: Monday @BOS, Sunday vs. NYY

Coming off his best outing of the year, a complete-game four-hit shutout against the Reds, Gonzalez has now thrown four straight quality starts, and he's only allowed one run since August 24th. It now seems clear that the Orioles will give Gonzalez a consistent spot in the rotation heading into the playoffs, making him a viable two-start guy this week. He’ll face off against the Red Sox and the Yankees, which would have been a guaranteed 'avoid' if this were 2007, but with both offenses struggling mightily since the All-Star break, neither should be considered formidable at this point. The Orioles also provide their hurlers fantastic run support, giving Gonzalez a couple of chances at wins this week.