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Welcome back to our Two-Start Pitcher Streamers article - Waiver Wire Streamers and Starts for Week 20, from August 7 to August 13. With plenty of teams with seven games on their schedule this week, we're looking at a bunch of two-start pitchers. There are ample chances for you 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 37 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
- Spencer Strider (@ PIT, @ NYM)
- Grayson Rodriguez (vs. HOU, @ SEA)
- Brayan Bello (vs. KC, vs. DET)
- Gerrit Cole (@ CHW, @ MIA)
- Zach Eflin (vs. STL, vs. CLE)
- Dylan Cease (vs. NYY, vs. MIL)
- Gavin Williams (vs. TOR, @ TB)
- Tanner Bibee (vs. TOR, @ TB)
- Eduardo Rodriguez (vs. MIN, @ BOS)
- Pablo Lopez (@ DET, @ PHI)
- Sonny Gray (@ DET, @ PHI)
- Framber Valdez (@ BAL, vs. LAA)
- Dane Dunning (@ OAK, @ SF)
- Braxton Garrett (@ CIN, vs. NYY)
- Kodai Senga (vs. CHC, vs. ATL)
- Freddy Peralta (vs. COL, @ CHW)
- Mitch Keller (vs. ATL, vs. CIN)
- Julio Urias (@ ARZ, vs. COL)
- Tony Gonsolin (@ SD, vs. COL)
- Alex Cobb (@ LAA, vs. TEX)
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Jameson Taillon (38% Rostered), Chicago Cubs
Scheduled Starts:@ NYM, @ TOR
Jameson Taillon looked like a serious overpay after putting up an atrocious 6.15 ERA in the first half, but he's looking like he's worth every penny of that $68 million contract with his performance in the second half. Since July 7, Taillon holds a 2.08 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 8.3% walk rate. He'll get two easy matchups this week, as the Blue Jays and Mets both rank in the bottom half for runs scored since the All-Star break.
Brandon Williamson (7% Rostered), Cincinnati Reds
Scheduled Starts: vs. MIA, @ PIT
Brandon Williamson came into August with serious momentum after producing a 2.45 ERA across five starts in July. He then ran into the red-hot Chicago Cubs offense, who proceeded to hang five runs in four-and-one-third innings on the rookie pitcher. On the bright side, his seven strikeouts in that start are a season-high.
His first start is against a Miami offense that ranks 29th in scoring since the All-Star break. His second start is against a Pittsburgh offense that ranks 27th in scoring in that same span. He won't have an easier week to rebound from a bad start, so consider riding with the Reds rookie this week.
Risky Two-Start Streamer Picks
Seth Lugo (46% Rostered), San Diego Padres
Scheduled Starts: vs. LAD, @ ARZ
Seth Lugo has quietly been one of the better pitchers in baseball this season. After spinning a seven-inning gem at Coors Field in his most recent start, he holds a 3.54 ERA, 24% strikeout rate, and 5.2% walk rate in 16 starts for San Diego. Seth Lugo has been incredibly consistent this season, but this may not be his week. The Dodgers rank second in scoring this season. And while the Diamondbacks have been cold offensively, they're far too talented a lineup to give Lugo a confident stream this week.
Josiah Gray (38% Rostered), Washington Nationals
Scheduled Starts:@ PHI, vs. OAK
Josiah Gray appears to have turned a corner this season, with seven wins and a 3.54 ERA through 22 starts. However, the underlying numbers tell a different story. His 5.01 SIERA, 19.8% strikeout rate, and 10.7% walk rate are incredibly weak and should eventually get him into serious trouble.
The Phillies are in the top 10 in scoring since the start of July. If his first start goes awry, you can't count on Gray to reverse the damage in his second start against Oakland. The league's worst offense has put many pitchers back on course this season, but Gray's 5.17 ERA in home starts gives the Athletics a fighting chance.
MacKenzie Gore (35% Rostered), Washington Nationals
Scheduled Starts: @ PHI, vs. OAK
Despite his fantastic 26.9% strikeout rate, fantasy baseball managers have shunned MacKenzie Gore because of his 4.34 ERA and 4.39 FIP.
For what it's worth, a single start tanked his ERA; on June 1, he allowed seven runs before being pulled midway through the third inning. That ill-fated start came against the Philadelphia Phillies, the team he'll face in his first start this week.
While he is a good bet against Oakland later this week, you can't call him a safe stream considering his history with the Phillies.
Ranger Suarez (27% Rostered), Philadelphia Phillies
Scheduled Starts: vs. WAS, vs. MIN
Ranger Suarez had his second start pushed a day back to Monday after Philadelphia acquired Michael Lorenzen. While he was a safe two-start streaming pick last week, he is a risky stream this week.
He will instead pitch to a Nationals offense that is 11th in scoring since the All-Star break. To make matters worse, Suarez surrendered seven hits and five runs in five-and-one-third innings in his last start against Washington on July 2. His second start is against a Minnesota team ranking eighth in scoring since the All-Star break.
Suarez's 4.30 SIERA and 20.8% strikeout rate are not strong enough to stream against two streaking offenses.
Drew Smyly (24% Rostered), Chicago Cubs
Scheduled Starts: @ NYM, @ TOR
Over his last seven appearances, Drew Smyly holds a 6.57 FIP and 8.40 ERA. This abysmal run may mean he won't be able to take advantage of matchups against two teams that are in the bottom half of the league in runs scored.
Hyun Jin Ryu (20% Rostered), Toronto Blue Jays
Scheduled Starts: @ CLE, vs. CHC
Hyun Jin Ryu returned for his first start since his Tommy John surgery, allowing nine hits and four runs across five innings. There isn't much to glean from that one start, but his pitches are working at about the same level they were in 2022, with a Stuff+ grade in the 70s.
With a 4.00+ SIERA in his last three seasons, the 36-year-old appears to be in a diminished state. Even in his prime, this Chicago Cubs offense would be a tough matchup for Ryu. Since coming out of the All-Star break, the Cubs have scored 147 runs in 20 games.
Carlos Carrasco (13% Rostered), New York Mets
Scheduled Starts: vs. CHC, vs. ATL
With a dreadful 5.28 SIERA and 14.9% strikeout rate through 16 starts this season, Carlos Carrasco is dead meat against two powerhouse offenses.
Kyle Freeland (10% Rostered), Colorado Rockies
Scheduled Starts: @ MIL, @ LAD
Kyle Freeland is amidst the worst season of his career, with a career-worst 5.25 SIERA and 14.6% strikeout rate through 22 starts this season. Avoid him with a start against a dangerous Dodgers offense.
Brandon Pfaadt (7% Rostered), Arizona Diamondbacks
Scheduled Starts: vs. LAD, vs. SD
While his 7.11 ERA and 19% strikeout rate on the season are unmistakably terrible, the top prospect has looked like an entirely different pitcher since his recent recall. In three starts since being recalled on July 22, Pfaadt holds a 3.38 ERA, 21.9% strikeout rate, and 2.7% walk rate.
Unfortunately, a 100% left-on-base rate and 5.52 FIP since the recall means his success is unsustainable. While these improbable stretches can continue for weeks before regression, Pfaadt's first start against the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers may do the trick.
Yonny Chirinos (3% Rostered), Atlanta Braves
Scheduled Starts: @ PIT, @ NYM
The Braves acquired Yonny Chirinos off waivers just a few weeks ago, and they have used him exclusively as a starter. That may be a rare blunder for Atlanta, as Chirinos holds a 6.61 ERA as a starter and a 2.81 ERA when pitching in bulk relief.
The Pirates and Mets rank in the bottom third of the league for scoring, but Chirinos' struggles as a starter are too glaring to stream confidently this week.
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