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Welcome back to our Two-Start Pitcher Streamers article - Waiver Wire Streamers and Starts for Week 26, from September 18 to September 24. With plenty of teams that have six and seven games on their schedule this week, we're looking at a variety of 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 33 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
- Yusei Kikuchi (@ NYY, @ TB)
- Mike Clevinger (@ WAS, @ BOS)
- Eduardo Rodriguez (@ LAD, @ OAK)
- Joe Ryan (@ CIN, vs. LAA)
- Justin Verlander (vs. BAL, vs. KC)
- Jordan Montgomery (vs. BOS, vs. SEA)
- Kyle Wright (vs. PHI, @ WAS)
- Max Fried (vs. PHI, @ WAS)
- Zack Wheeler (@ ATL, vs. NYM)
- Marcus Stroman (vs. PIT, vs. COL)
- Freddy Peralta (@ STL, @ MIA)
- Lance Lynn (vs. DET, vs. SF)
- Ryan Pepiot (vs. DET, vs. SF)
- Michael Wacha (vs. COL, vs. STL)
- Alex Cobb (@ ARZ, @ LAD)
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Clarke Schmidt (31% Rostered), New York Yankees
Scheduled Starts: vs. TOR, vs. ARZ
While he certainly didn't impress in his latest start against the Boston Red Sox (three earned runs allowed over five-and-a-third innings), Clarke Schmidt has generally been one of the more consistent pitchers in baseball. He was also amid a solid stretch of pitching, with a 3.43 xFIP and 25.5% strikeout rate in the seven starts before his start against Boston.
He has appealing matchups this week, as Toronto and Arizona rank 15th and 24th in scoring. He's a high-floor, low-ceiling streaming option this week.
Taj Bradley (21% Rostered), Tampa Bay Rays
Scheduled Starts: vs. LAA, vs. TOR
Taj Bradley has had a tumultuous but ultimately impressive rookie year. His 3.76 SIERA and 29.4% strikeout rate are generally worth streaming against most opponents, but he warrants an enthusiastic stream this week. He'll start with a matchup against an Ohtani-less Angels lineup that ranks dead last in scoring this month and will then face a middle-of-the-pack Toronto offense.
Paul Blackburn (15% Rostered), Oakland Athletics
Scheduled Starts: vs. SEA, vs. DET
Streaming an Oakland Athletics pitcher requires a lot of convincing, but Paul Blackburn is really worth considering this week. He's been among the better pitchers in the Athletics organization, with a 22.7% strikeout rate and 3.88 FIP through 19 games this season. Even with terrible performances against Houston and Texas, Blackburn maintains a strong 3.68 ERA, 3.96 FIP, and 21.8% strikeout rate in 11 starts since the All-Star break.
The Tigers rank 18th in scoring and the Mariners rank 21st in scoring in September, making it a relatively easy week for Blackburn.
Adrian Houser (7% Rostered), Milwaukee Brewers
Scheduled Starts: @ STL, @ MIA
Outside of a freak two-inning implosion against the Padres (four earned runs allowed on four hits) and an expected poor showing against Atlanta, Adrian Houser has pitched the ball well since the All-Star break. While the 5.52 ERA is frightening, he maintains a 3.90 FIP, 3.83 xFIP, 25% strikeout rate, and 5.7% walk rate across nine starts since July 16 and that should impress.
He'll face two mediocre offenses this time around (St. Louis and Miami rank 14th and 15th in runs scored in September, respectively), meaning Houser will likely have a solid week.
Risky Two-Start Streamer Picks
Brady Singer (37% Rostered), Kansas City Royals
Scheduled Starts: vs. CLE, @ HOU
Brady Singer has remained untrustworthy as a streamer this season, with a 5.51 ERA, 4.94 xERA, 4.45 SIERA, 19.1% strikeout rate, and 1.44 WHIP through 28 starts. A matchup against a Houston offense that ranks third in scoring since August 9 is enough to disregard Singer this week.
Bryan Woo (33% Rostered), Seattle Mariners
Scheduled Starts: @ OAK, @ TEX
With a 3.29 xERA, 24.1% strikeout rate, and a matchup with Oakland on tap, Bryan Woo seems like a no-brainer streaming pick. However, if there's ever a time to take "Don't Mess with Texas" seriously, it's this year. The Rangers annihilated Woo in his first start (seven hits and six earned runs allowed over two innings), and they have the talent to do it again.
Cristopher Sanchez (29% Rostered), Philadelphia Phillies
Scheduled Starts: @ ATL, vs. NYM
With a 3.44 SIERA and 23.6% strikeout rate, Cristopher Sanchez has generally been one of the more reliable streaming options this season. However, a matchup against Atlanta to start the week leaves him in obvious unsafe territory.
Cal Quantrill (25% Rostered), Cleveland Guardians
Scheduled Starts: @ KC, vs. BAL
Cal Quantrill held a 14.06 ERA in his last four starts with Cleveland before being demoted to the minors. He finally returned to the 26-man roster in September and has wowed with a 1.50 ERA in three starts. It's a heartwarming story, but his 5.96 xFIP, 14.3% strikeout rate, and 11.4% walk rate in September prove that his glorious return to the majors is mostly a fluke.
Edward Cabrera (25% Rostered), Miami Marlins
Scheduled Starts: vs. NYM, vs. MIL
Edward Cabrera's new role as a bulk reliever is ultimately a net positive for fantasy managers, but he's still on shaky ground this week. He struggled in an appearance last week against Milwaukee, with six walks allowed and a 7.76 FIP through four-and-two-third innings. Cabrera has a high ceiling, but it's tough to trust him this week with another appearance against Milwaukee scheduled.
John Means (18% Rostered), Baltimore Orioles
Scheduled Starts: @ HOU, @ CLE
John Means finally returned to the MLB for his first start since April 14, 2022. He took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits, but it was an incredibly encouraging performance. He picked up right where he left off, with a 115 Stuff+ grade and 110 Pitching+ grade. Those metrics would be enough against most opponents, but an Astros offense that ranks fifth in scoring this season is a far too daunting task for the recently recovered Means.
Kutter Crawford (18% Rostered), Boston Red Sox
Scheduled Starts: @ TEX, vs. CHW
Kutter Crawford has taken a step back lately, with a 6.00 ERA, 5.26 xFIP, and 1.40 WHIP in his last seven starts. His first start against Texas is a clear danger, making it a bad week to stream Crawford.
JP Sears (13% Rostered), Oakland Athletics
Scheduled Starts: vs. SEA, vs. DET
While they have relatively similar pedigrees, JP Sears and Paul Blackburn may end up with vastly different results this week. Sears has been unsteady since the All-Star break, with a 5.28 ERA, 5.59 FIP, 5.39 xFIP, and 19.3% strikeout rate through 11 starts since July 16. The 27-year-old has been trending downwards in the second half of the season, leaving him as a risky stream.
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