Two-Start Streaming Options at Starting Pitcher for Week 2

Your draft is over. You’re pretty excited about your team. And Week 1 is officially underway. Now the fun part of managing your fantasy team really begins—pursuing the waiver wire and free agent pool like there’s no tomorrow.

This is the first article of what will be a season-long, weekly piece on under-the-radar, two-start pitchers who you should consider picking up for the following week of play.  In weekly leagues, we know your attention turns to the next week as soon as lineups lock on Monday - this post will always be published on either Tuesday or Wednesday, in order to give you ample time to prepare for the next week.

The names that will appear on this list will not be your obvious, must-start guys who are likely already owned. It does you no good for me to tell you to start Kershaw and Strasburg. Rather, I'll look at starting pitchers who are less than ~ 50% owned. These arms are worth taking a look at if you’re looking to stream two-start pitchers for the following week.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:

• Fantasy baseball injury reports
• Fantasy baseball trade analyzer
• Daily MLB starting lineups for fantasy baseball
• Fantasy baseball BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
• Fantasy baseball PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
• Who should I start? Fantasy baseball player comparisons
• Fantasy baseball closer depth charts, bullpens, saves
• Fantasy Baseball live scoreboard, daily leaderboards

 

Editor’s Note: be sure to check out our famous Waiver Wire Pickups List, updated daily with waiver wire options for different positions. Our Waiver Wire Pickups iPhone app is also free, and available for download in the Apple Store.

 

Two-Start Starting Pitcher Streamers for Week 2

For this first week - looking towards week 2 (4/7-4/13) - it’s a little bit of a crap shoot, to be honest.  Other than spring training stats and projected lineups of opponents, there’s not much to go by at this point. As the season goes on and as teams start to find more of an identity, it will be much easier to analyze matchups and find the best two-start streamers.

 

Martin Perez - TEX

Projected starts: Monday @BOS, Sunday vs. HOU. The Rangers are pretty excited about this guy.  Perez had a solid first outing of the season against the Phillies on Tuesday, allowing two runs in 5.2 innings while striking out seven. While Monday's outing in Boston may look difficult on paper, the weather will likely be chilly at best, making it a good pitching environment. Perez will also probably get a home start Sunday against a soft Astros lineup. He’s not a terrible streamer option for week 2.

 

Charlie Morton - PIT

Projected starts: Tuesday @CHC, Sunday @MIL. Morton had a really good spring for the Pirates, and with the departure of A.J. Burnett, it will be important for Morton to assume a bigger role in the rotation. He’s a solid two-start option next week, with two divisional, road starts. The Cubs have a bunch of young talent, but probably won’t score too many runs this year. The Brewers are a decent offense, but strike out a decent amount and while Morton isn't a strikeout guy (only 85 in 116 innings in 2013), he found a nice groove in 2013's second half and should be able to find some success in week 2.

 

Edwin Jackson - CHC

Projected starts: Tuesday vs. PIT, Sunday @ STL. Let me just say that I’m not really a big Jackson fan. But he’s the Cubs number two starter, and is usually a guaranteed innings-eater who will also give you decent strikeout numbers. So as far as two-start, streaming options go for next week, he’s OK. A home start against the Pirates and road start in St. Louis gives the veteran right-hander two chances to rack up some strikeouts and possibly a win in the process, but don't be surprised if his ERA takes  big hit in the STL game.

 

Trevor Cahill - ARI

Projected starts: Tuesday @ SF, Sunday vs. LAD. Cahill had a forgettable first start in Australia against the Dodgers, but honestly I’m not putting a lot of stock into it. Cahill has a favorable match-up against the Giants in San Francisco on Tuesday and then gets to come home for a meeting with the Dodgers. I think he could have a nice week 2, but it's also kind of a gut call here.

 

Kevin Correia - MIN

Projected starts: Monday vs. OAK, Saturday vs. KC. Correia actually had a decent 2013, throwing 185 innings with an ERA just north of 4.00. And he does pitch in a pitcher-friendly ballpark. So if you’re sitting there with maybe Clayton Kershaw and Mat Latos on your DL and you’re needing some innings for next week, Correia and his two home starts versus the A’s and the Royals is fairly reasonable to work with.