Welcome RotoBallers to our Two-Start Pitcher Streamers article - Waiver Wire Streamers and Starts for Week 25, from September 9 to September 15. With multiple teams having six or seven games on their schedule, we're looking at a nice variety of two-start pitchers.
Each week of this fantasy baseball season, 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 26 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
- Kutter Crawford (vs. BAL, @ NYY)
- Tanner Houck (vs. BAL, @ NYY)
- Carlos Rodon (vs. KC, vs. BOS)
- Jeffrey Springs (@ PHI, @ CLE)
- Chris Bassitt (vs. NYM, vs. STL)
- Brady Singer (@ NYY, @ PIT)
- George Kirby (vs. SD, vs. TEX)
- Nathan Eovaldi (@ ARZ, @ SEA)
- Charlie Morton (vs. CIN, vs. LAD)
- Cristopher Sanchez (vs. TB, vs. NYM)
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Ben Lively (43% Rostered), Cleveland Guardians
Scheduled Starts: @ CHW, vs. TB
Ben Lively has found some stability this season, holding a serviceable 4.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 19.2% strikeout rate, and 7.6% walk rate. His 4.84 FIP and 68 Stuff+ grade don't exactly inspire confidence, but you don't need confidence in Lively to stream him this week.
The 32-year-old will face off against two of the league's worst offenses, with the White Sox ranked last in scoring (behind 29th-ranked Miami by an astounding 98 runs) and Tampa Bay ranked 28th in scoring this season. It's hard to mess that up.
Ben Lively, Dirty 76mph Curveball. 😨 pic.twitter.com/tCSBYe6MC3
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 1, 2024
Alex Cobb (20% Rostered), Cleveland Guardians
Scheduled Starts: @ CHW, vs. TB
Alex Cobb made his season debut in early August, but he still looks as reliable as ever. Through three starts, the 36-year-old holds a 2.76 ERA, 3.30 FIP, and 1.04 WHIP. Like teammate Ben Lively, Cobb will step into one of the easiest two-start weeks in recent memory. You should feel comfortable streaming Cobb this week.
Alex Cobb, Painted 93mph Front Door Two Seamer. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/SSQ508T4VB
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 1, 2024
David Festa (16% Rostered), Minnesota Twins
Scheduled Starts: @ TB, vs. CIN
Having been moved off of a Sunday start against a high-powered Royals offense, rookie starting pitcher David Festa will now settle into a nicer slate of matchups.
Though he still holds a 4.75 ERA, Festa's 3.82 FIP, 3.29 xFIP, 29.1% strikeout rate, 6.5% walk rate, 12.8% SwStr%, 29.8% CSW%, and 102 Stuff+ grade should encourage many to buy in.
An Angels offense ranked 27th in scoring this season should not be a worry. Cincinnati will likely prove to be a tougher challenge, but the Reds rank only 19th in wRC+ since August 1. Festa's ceiling may be too high to pass up at this point.
David Festa, Filthy 88mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/pvlh8DO2G8
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 29, 2024
Risky Two-Start Streamer Picks
Taj Bradley (45% Rostered), Tampa Bay Rays
Scheduled Starts: @ PHI, @ CLE
With a 27% strikeout rate and 3.62 xFIP, you'll take Taj Bradley most weeks you can get your hands on him in fantasy. Unfortunately, a start against a Phillies offense ranked fifth in scoring will prove to make this week an exception.
Aaron Civale (39% Rostered), Milwaukee Brewers
Scheduled Starts: @ SF, @ ARZ
With a 4.62 ERA through 27 starts this season, you'll have a hard time justifying streaming Civale against any opponent. With Arizona (an offense leading the league in scoring this season) on the slate, don't think about Civale this week.
Nick Martinez (18% Rostered), Cincinnati Reds
Scheduled Starts: @ ATL, @ MIN
Nick Martinez has had a fantastic season as a reliever, with a 1.86 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 22.5% strikeout rate, and 2.9% walk rate through 53 1/3 innings. Nick Martinez's season as a starting pitcher is a different story. Through 12 starts, he holds a 5.23 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 17.2% strikeout rate, and 4% walk rate.
With a start against a Minnesota Twins offense ranked 11th in scoring, it is best to avoid streaming the starting pitcher version of Nick Martinez.
Rhett Lowder (11% Rostered), Cincinnati Reds
Scheduled Starts: @ STL, @ MIN
2023 seventh-overall pick Rhett Lowder has had a nice go of it in his debut, with a 0.87 ERA and 20.5% strikeout rate through two starts. Of course, you can't put any weight into Lowder's two starts (if you do, Lowder's 18.2% walk rate should put you off anyway).
Lowder is one of the league's best young pitching talents, but there's no reason to take him against a Minnesota offense ranked 11th in scoring this season.