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With plenty of teams with seven games on their schedule this week, we're looking at a bunch of two-start pitchers. There are a bunch of risky starts this week, but there are also 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 and can be considered as fantasy baseball streamers ahead of the Sunday night waiver wire runs for leagues with weekly transactions.
There are 32 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
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- 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
- Bryce Elder (@ OAK, @ ARI)
- Marcus Stroman (vs. TB, @ SD)
- Sandy Alcantara (vs. SD, vs. OAK)
- Kodai Senga (vs. PHI, vs. TOR)
- Anthony DeSclafani (vs. PIT, vs. BAL)
- Tyler Wells (vs. CLE, @ SF)
- Michael Kopech (vs. LAA, vs. DET)
- Sonny Gray (@ HOU, vs. CLE)
- Joe Ryan (@ HOU, vs. CLE)
- Bryce Miller (vs. NYY, @ TEX)
- Shane McClanahan (@ CHC, @ BOS)
- Nathan Eovaldi (@ DET, vs. SEA)
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Bobby Miller (46% Rostered), Los Angeles Dodgers
Scheduled Starts: vs. WAS, vs. NYY
Bobby Miller was impressive in his first major-league start, allowing just one run in a five-inning start against the powerhouse Atlanta Braves. To come out of a primetime start against one of the nation's best teams unscathed is an accomplishment that shouldn't be scoffed at.
His fastball was knocked around, with a .429 batting average and 103.4 mph exit velocity on the pitch. But give him a couple more starts before you declare a triple-digit mph pitch as lifeless and easy-to-hit. On a good note, his slider and changeup were each thrown over 20 times and had a combined opponent batting average of .111.
Bobby Miller, 100mph Fastball and 87mph Slider, Overlay pic.twitter.com/TKHpolIS5o
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 24, 2023
He'll take the bump against two middle-of-the-pack offenses in the Nationals and Yankees and should see success against both. Bobby Miller won't be a streamer for long, and his next two starts should take him off of waiver wires completely.
Logan Allen (31% Rostered), Cleveland Guardians
Scheduled Starts: @ BAL, @ MIN
Rookie Logan Allen has met expectations in his first six starts, with a 3.29 FIP, 6.2% walk rate, and 22.6% strikeout rate. He'll make his first start against the Orioles. The Orioles are a solid offense, with a .791 OPS against lefties. That start presents some danger for the left-handed Allen, but he has yet to surrender more than three earned runs in a start. His next start comes against a Twins team he had some success against earlier this month (five-and-two-thirds innings, two runs allowed, two walks, three strikeouts).
He'll be solid, and a solid pitcher with two starts is startable in all formats.
Ben Lively (7% Rostered), Cincinnati Reds
Scheduled Starts: @ BAL, @ MIN
It's been five years since Ben Lively was an MLB starter. Since 2018, Lively has bounced around the minor leagues and the KBO. After the Reds designated reliever Luis Cessa for assignment, they gave Lively a chance as a reliever.
He's made the most of it, pushing into the rotation and putting up back-to-back eight-strikeout starts for the Reds. He has posted a 4.5% walk rate, 2.52 xERA, and a .245 opponent wOBA this season, all numbers that rank in the 90th percentile. He'll get starts against the Milwaukee Brewers and a strong but beatable Red Sox offense. Look for Lively to continue his stellar start this week.
Risky Two-Start Streamer Picks
Domingo German (32% Rostered), New York Yankees
Scheduled Starts: @ SEA, @ LAD
With his 10-day sticky stuff suspension ending Monday, Domingo German will immediately step into a two-start week. While his use of sticky stuff adds dubiousness to his stellar 1.64 ERA in three starts this May, his risk this week is entirely unrelated to German himself. He could do well regardless of what's on his hands in his first start against Seattle, but his second start against a top-5 offense in Dodger Stadium makes that first start obsolete from a fantasy perspective.
Brayan Bello (26% Rostered), Boston Red Sox
Scheduled Starts: vs. CIN, vs. TB
After a tough start to the season (9.82 ERA in first two starts), Bello has settled down with a 2.57 ERA in his past five starts. While his 90.9 mph average exit velocity may tempt some into thinking the 24-year-old's recent stretch of success is a mirage, it's the opposite. His 59.4% ground-ball rate (ranks sixth among starters) has allowed him to put up solid numbers despite getting hit so hard. He should have some success in his first start against Cincinnati.
But a general rule of thumb for this season: avoid starting any pitcher set to face the Tampa Bay Rays. Especially when two of Bello's worst starts in 2022 came against Tampa. In back-to-back July 2022 starts, Bello surrendered 13 hits, nine runs, and six walks in eight innings combined.
Bello can be a solid fantasy starter ROS, but this week's matchup against Tampa makes him a risky stream.
J.P. France (23% Rostered), Houston Astros
Scheduled Starts: @ NYY, vs. TEX
After getting blown up with six runs allowed against the Chicago Cubs two weeks ago, France recentered himself with a solid start against the Brewers, allowing just one earned run. While you can't ask for much more than a 3.43 ERA from the rookie, he's in for a tough two starts this week. The 28-year-old has a home run problem, with five home runs allowed in his last three starts. The Angels and Twins are home-run-happy teams who rank in the top-8 for team HRs. There are better options than France this week.
Adrian Houser (4% Rostered), Milwaukee Brewers
Scheduled Starts: @ TOR, @ CIN
Adrian Houser has surprised this season with a 2.25 ERA and 4.8% walk rate through four starts. However, that run of success may end this week. Houser's 84.7% left-on-base rate and 4.10 SIERA indicate some regression is in store, and he'll have two opportunities to regress this week.
The Blue Jays can score in bunches, with a recent 20-run game against the Tampa Bay Rays. And few pitchers look forward to a game in the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark. Houser is a candidate to regress, doesn't strike out guys (16.9% K rate), and may get roughed up this week; it is best to leave him on the wires this week.
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