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Welcome back to our Two-Start Pitcher Streamers article - Waiver Wire Streamers and Starts for Week 18, from July 24 to July 30. With few teams with seven games on their schedule this week, we're looking at fewer two-start pitchers than usual. But there are also far more streamable two-start pitchers than usual, giving you the chance to get ahead with some of this week's two-start pitchers.
For those new to this recurring column, each week 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 28 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.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and weekly lineup resources:- Nick Mariano's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups (Premium)
- Start/Sit recommendations - All Pitcher Matchups for Week Ahead
- Fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings (top 80 players)
- FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Starting pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Outfield fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- 1B/3B fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- 2B/SS fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Catcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Hitter streamers - fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Two-start pitcher streamers - fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Cut List - Players To Consider Dropping
Two-Start Pitchers - Over 50% Rostered
- Justin Verlander (@ NYY, vs. WAS)
- Yu Darvish (vs. PIT, vs. TEX)
- Aaron Civale (vs. KC, @ CHW)
- Tarik Skubal (vs. SF, @ MIA)
- Eduardo Rodriguez (vs. LAA, @ MIA)
- Luis Castillo (@ MIN, @ ARZ)
- Nathan Eovaldi (@ HOU, @ SD)
- Jose Berrios (@ LAD, vs. LAA)
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Kenta Maeda (47% Rostered), Minnesota Twins
Scheduled Starts: vs. SEA, @ KC
After two-seasons-and-a-half of struggle following his second-place finish in the 2020 AL Cy Young voting, Kenta Maeda may be back. A 5.10 ERA looks ugly, but the 3.61 SIERA and 28.6% strikeout rate this season are far more beautiful.
His first start is against a Mariners team that he dominated in his latest start, turning in six-and-a-third innings and allowing three hits and two runs while striking out nine. His second start is against a Royals offense that he also dominated, going seven innings and allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out nine.
Logan Allen (26% Rostered), Cleveland Guardians
Scheduled Starts: vs. KC, @ CHW
While his demotion in late June soured things, Logan Allen has been impressive through 13 starts with a 3.21 ERA and 24.3% strikeout rate. He was incredible in his return, throwing five one-hit innings with eight strikeouts against the Pirates on July 18. Allen should continue his impressive rookie season with starts against two bottom-five offenses (by OPS).
Cristopher Sanchez (14% Rostered), Philadelphia Phillies
Scheduled Starts: vs. BAL, @ PIT
Cristopher Sanchez has blown past expectations this season, with a 3.06 ERA, 3.74 SIERA, and 17.1% strikeout-to-walk-percentage ratio through seven starts.
A matchup against Baltimore's offense isn't ideal, but Sanchez held his own against a talented Rays offense just a few weeks ago. Don't stream Sanchez with the same vigor as you would Maeda or Allen, but he's good enough for those in deeper leagues.
Steven Matz (7% Rostered), St. Louis Cardinals
Scheduled Starts: @ ARZ, vs. CHC
Steven Matz took his demotion to the bullpen in stride, putting up a 2.81 ERA in 16 innings. Now back in the rotation, Matz has put up a solid 3.07 ERA and 32.8% strikeout rate.
His first start is against a slumping Diamondbacks offense that ranks 25th in scoring this month. And while the Cubbies are second in scoring this month, he held them to just three hits in a five-inning start on July 20. Matz is in a good position to produce in fantasy this week.
Risky Two-Start Streamer Picks
Dean Kremer (43% Rostered), Baltimore Orioles
Scheduled Starts: @ PHI, vs. NYY
Dean Kremer had his latest implosion, with five runs allowed in four-and-two-thirds innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the two starts prior, Kremer allowed a combined two earned runs and six hits while striking out 18 in 13 innings against the Yankees and Marlins.
Kremer's 4.80 ERA isn't a good measure of his talent, but it shows how damaging his blow-ups can be in a fantasy context. Avoid him with a start against a top-10 Phillies offense.
Kyle Hendricks (40% Rostered), Chicago Cubs
Scheduled Starts: @ CHW, @ STL
The regression train keeps on chugging. Kyle Hendricks has long been one of the riskier streams due to the discrepancy between his sub-3.00 ERA and 4.50+ SIERA/xFIP. He was picked apart by the Yankees and Red Sox in back-to-back starts, with a combined 18 hits and nine runs allowed in 10-and-one-thirds innings.
While the White Sox are an easy matchup, the Cardinals top the league in scoring this month, making this another dangerous week for Hendricks.
Graham Ashcraft (16% Rostered), Cincinnati Reds
Scheduled Starts: @ MIL, @ LAD
A 1.82 ERA in his last four starts is impressive, but a 4.54 FIP, a 14.3% strikeout rate, and a 92.2% left-on-base rate in that stretch make things look significantly less impressive. With a start against the Dodgers this week, it's best to leave Graham Ashcraft on the wires.
Ross Stripling (15% Rostered), San Francisco Giants
Scheduled Starts: @ DET, vs. BOS
While Ross Stripling is better than his 5.92 ERA indicates, it's still not a good idea to stream him against a top-five Boston offense.
Brandon Bielak (13% Rostered), Houston Astros
Scheduled Starts: vs. TEX, vs. TB
Brandon Bielak's 4.86 SIERA won't cut it against two juggernaut offenses in Texas and Tampa Bay.
Patrick Corbin (7% Rostered), Washington Nationals
Scheduled Starts: vs. COL, @ NYM
Patrick Corbin's 4.85 SIERA and 15.7% strikeout rate this season are somehow worse than his marks from 2022. Need I say more?
Quinn Priester (4% Rostered), Pittsburgh Pirates
Scheduled Starts: @ SD, vs. PHI
Quinn Priester was perfect through three innings in his MLB debut before surrendering seven runs in the next three frames. It's always tempting to start top prospects like Priester, but don't think about streaming him with matchups against two offenses that rank top-10 in scoring since the start of June.
Trevor Williams (3% Rostered), Washington Nationals
Scheduled Starts: vs. COL, @ NYM
Even with matchups against the Rockies on the road and a disappointing Mets team, you don't want to stream a pitcher with a 4.97 SIERA and a 17% strikeout rate in Trevor Williams.
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