RADIO
As a new week is upon us, it's time to get rid of that bench bat or middle reliever you have hanging around. Instead, maximize your roster slots with some pitchers who have two starts this week and are probably still available in your league.
Here are the top two-start pitchers to stream for Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season. This can be especially helpful for head-to-head (H2H) leagues, where every start can be that much more valuable.
Note: I will be selecting starting pitchers who are owned in 50% or less of Yahoo! leagues.
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Under the Radar Two-Start SP Streamers - Week 3
Luis Severino, New York Yankees – owned in 28% of Yahoo! leagues
Projected starts: vs. CHW, @PIT
Luis Severino is easily this week’s top two-start pitcher after his dominant start against the Rays where he struck out 11 over seven innings, allowing just two earned runs. It may all be coming together for the 23-year-old, who sports a 97 mph fastball, gets groundballs with his changeup, and whiffs on his slider. He has seventeen strikeouts to just two walks in his 12 innings in 2017, and gets a cakewalk matchup in the White Sox to start Week 3. In case you have forgotten, the White Sox blew up their team this offseason and now have the likes of Cody Asche batting cleanup for them. Severino then gets to face the Pirates at pitcher-friendly PNC Park, against a Pittsburgh lineup that has scored just 28 runs this year -- second to last in the entire league. If Severino is still available in your league, pounce on him.
Jaime Garcia, Atlanta Braves – owned in 6% of Yahoo! leagues
Projected starts: vs. SD, @PHI
After two starts, Jaime Garcia has an unsightly 5.73 ERA with just four strikeouts in 11 innings. Despite his poor start to the season, Garcia is a great play for Week 3 because of his fantastic matchups. On Monday he gets the Padres, who have put up a .295 wOBA this year, placing them 24th overall. He then gets the Phillies, who were 29th in wOBA versus lefties last year and dead last in wRC. These are two of the worst lineups in all of baseball, so Garcia should fare much better against them than he did against the Mets and Marlins. The 30-year-old lefty won’t rack up the strikeouts but is a great play to help out your ERA and WHIP this week.
Brett Anderson, Chicago Cubs – owned in 6% of Yahoo! leagues
Projected starts: vs. MIL, @CIN
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Brett Anderson has a sparkling 0.84 ERA through his first two starts. His last start against the Dodgers wasn’t too pretty, walking four and striking out only two through five innings, but he managed to leave the outing without giving up a run. His first start at home against Milwaukee has lots of strikeout potential, as the last season Brewers struck out the third most in all of baseball against lefties with a 24.7 K%. Anderson then faces the Reds, who posted a .301 wOBA vs southpaws in 2016. Pitching for the Cubs, Anderson has a good chance to get the win in both of his starts, and the Cubs spectacular defense behind him will help suppress any balls put in play. Anderson’s solid 2015 was forgotten after he missed nearly all of last year with injuries, but he is a nice buy for this week and going forward.
Joe Musgrove, Houston Astros – owned in 30% of Yahoo! leagues
Projected starts: LAA, @TB
Joe Musgrove hasn’t gotten off to a hot start this year, allowing five runs in 10 1/3 innings for a 4.35 ERA. He reportedly has been working on keeping his delivery consistent, which could explain the shaky command he has had thus far. As Musgrove looks to improve this week, he gets a pretty easy week. His first start comes against the Angels, who were in the middle of the pack against righties last year with a .313 wOBA against right-handers. His next matchup is against the Rays, in their spacious home park which plays well for pitchers. The Rays put up a 24.4 K% versus righties in 2016, the third highest rate in the league. Tampa’s lineup isn’t looking any better this year, with Shane Peterson and Tim Beckham acting as everyday starters. Because of his solid matchups and potential to improve, Musgrove is a good Week 3 streamer.
Derek Holland, Chicago White Sox – owned in 3% of Yahoo! leagues
Projected starts: @NYY, vs. CLE
Derek Holland allowed just one hit in his last start against the Indians, although he walked four in the outing, and his ERA now sits at 1.50 for the year. Holland isn’t quite as talented as the ERA might make you believe, but he is still a useable starter in deep leagues this week. The Yankees are the first team he’ll face, who put up a weak .307 wOBA when facing lefties in 2016. He then rematches the Indians. Holland has put up two quality starts in his first two games of the year, and although he is a risky play, he may be able to keep the magic alive – or at least provide some value for this week.
