June continues to provide us with some wonderful fantasy action, and as this period arrives, there are loads of good two start options. Let us take a look-see at who can help you prosper this upcoming week.

Start 'em If You Own 'em

Starting Pitcher

First Start/Opponent

Second Start/Opponent

Masahiro Tanaka  NYY

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ SEA

@ OAK

 

Hisashi Iwakuma  SEA

Jesse Chavez  OAK

Stephen Strasburg  WAS

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ SF

@ STL

 

Ryan Vogelsong  SF

Shelby Miller  STL

Madison Bumgarner  SF

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. WAS

vs. COL

 

Doug Fister  WAS

Juan Nicasio  COL

David Price  TB

6/9/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. SEA

@ HOU

 

Erasmo Ramirez  SEA

Brad Peacock  HOU

Gerrit Cole  PIT

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

vs. CHC

@ MIA

 

Edwin Jackson  CHC

Randy Wolf  MIA

Corey Kluber  CLE

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ KC

@ BOS

 

Yordano Ventura  KC

Brandon Workman  BOS

Justin Verlander  DET

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ CHW

vs. MIN

 

John Danks  CHW

Ricky Nolasco  MIN

Hisashi Iwakuma  SEA

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. NYY

vs. TEX

 

Masahiro Tanaka  NYY

Nick Martinez P TEX

Doug Fister  WAS

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ SF

@ STL

 

Madison Bumgarner  SF

Jaime Garcia  STL

Mike Minor  ATL

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ COL

vs. LAA

 

Juan Nicasio  COL

Tyler Skaggs  LAA

If I had all these guys on my various rosters (one can wish, right?), I would plug them in and ride out the week without a moments hesitation. Remember my motto: no matter the opponent, or the venue, start these pitchers.

Maybe Yes, Maybe No

Starting Pitcher

First Start/Opponent

Second Start/Opponent

Josh Beckett  LAD

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ CIN

vs. ARI

 

Mike Leake  CIN

Bronson Arroyo  ARI

Ian Kennedy  SD

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ PHI

@ NYM

 

A.J. Burnett  PHI

Daisuke Matsuzaka  NYM

Jason Vargas  KC

6/9/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. NYY

@ CHW

 

Vidal Nuno  NYY

John Danks  CHW

R.A. Dickey  TOR

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

vs. MIN

@ BAL

 

Ricky Nolasco  MIN

Bud Norris  BAL

Jesse Chavez  OAK

6/9/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ LAA

vs. NYY

 

Garrett Richards  LAA

Masahiro Tanaka  NYY

Rick Porcello  DET

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ CHW

vs. MIN

 

Hector Noesi  CHW

Samuel Deduno  MIN

John Danks  CHW

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. DET

vs. KC

 

Justin Verlander  DET

Jason Vargas  KC

Gavin Floyd  ATL

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ COL

vs. LAA

 

TBA

Garrett Richards  LAA

Hector Noesi  CHW

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

vs. DET

vs. KC

 

Rick Porcello  DET

James Shields  KC

Ryan Vogelsong  SF

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

vs. WAS

vs. COL

 

Stephen Strasburg  WAS

TBA

Jarred Cosart  HOU

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ ARI

vs. TB

 

Josh Collmenter  ARI

Chris Archer  TB

Brad Peacock  HOU

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ ARI

vs. TB

 

Bronson Arroyo  ARI

David Price  TB

T.J. House  CLE

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ TEX

@ BOS

 

Nick Martinez P TEX

Jake Peavy  BOS

Tony Cingrani  CIN

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

vs. LAD

@ MIL

 

Dan Haren  LAD

Yovani Gallardo  MIL

Mike Leake  CIN

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. LAD

@ MIL

 

Josh Beckett  LAD

Marco Estrada  MIL

Dan Haren  LAD

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ CIN

vs. ARI

 

Tony Cingrani  CIN

Josh Collmenter  ARI

Travis Wood  CHC

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ PIT

@ PHI

 

Francisco Liriano  PIT

A.J. Burnett  PHI

Edwin Jackson  CHC

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ PIT

@ PHI

 

Gerrit Cole  PIT

David Buchanan  PHI

Tyler Skaggs  LAA

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. OAK

@ ATL

 

Drew Pomeranz  OAK

Mike Minor  ATL

Francisco Liriano  PIT

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. CHC

@ MIA

 

Travis Wood  CHC

Henderson Alvarez  MIA

Garrett Richards  LAA

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

vs. OAK

@ ATL

 

Jesse Chavez  OAK

Gavin Floyd  ATL

Marco Estrada  MIL

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ NYM

vs. CIN

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka  NYM

Mike Leake  CIN

Josh Collmenter  ARI

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

vs. HOU

@ LAD

 

Jarred Cosart  HOU

Dan Haren  LAD

Ricky Nolasco  MIN

6/9/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ TOR

@ DET

 

R.A. Dickey  TOR

Justin Verlander  DET

A.J. Burnett  PHI

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. SD

vs. CHC

 

Ian Kennedy  SD

Travis Wood  CHC

As is my usual practice, I have ranked this tier in the general order I would use them this period. The tier itself is divided into sub-tiers, the first running down through Noesi. Beckett tops this group, as he continues to pitch well following his no-no at Philadelphia. Low walks, mid-level Ks and limited earned runs makes him a fine option. Kennedy jumps up and down this middle tier. This week, coming off three consecutive wins and QS with good strike outs, albeit in six inning starts, he is good even on the road. Vargas had some control problems on the road recently, but also has a streak of three QS. A few too many hits, though, and unless he turns that around, his luck will deteriorate. Dickey continues to adjust to life in Toronto, and on occasion puts up good K numbers. Like Vargas, he needs to limit the hits allowed to be more effective.The youngster Chavez demonstrates good control, with up and down strikeout potential. His team is hot, and coupled with his production makes him valuable. Porcello has struggled a bit recently, coinciding with the Tiger's offensive struggles, but aside from a blow up against Texas, he has been good enough to trust. Danks, Floyd,and Noesi, two current and one former White Sox round out the top sub-tier. All three provide middling strikeout numbers, but Noesi needs to work on his control to stay a relevant SP. Floyd has been superb since joining the Braves rotation, and the other two have put together three consecutive QS each.

From Vogelsong down through Leake, we have pitchers I would consider using but would look to match ups before plugging them into my starting lineup. Vogelsong's pitch to contact approach has been working, but he does occasionally offer up a four earned run start, limiting his value in leagues that count QS. Still, the strikeout rate is top-notch and the wins courtesy of his first place team are nice, too. Cosart has been limiting the earned runs nicely, and can provide good strikeout totals, although those are inconsistent at best. Another member of the Astro staff, Peacock is a better general K producer and generally pitches six or better innings, giving his owners a good shot at a QS every appearance. House has looked better in his past two starts, after a bad initial game at Baltimore. If he continues to build on his past two appearances, he could help solidify the Indian rotation. Cingrani frustrates his owners, me included, but you have to like his strikeout potential. Beware of who the Reds move to the bullpen when Latos is activated, as with four consecutive losses, Cingrani seems a likely candidate. Leake, on the other hand, seems safe, despite his recent loss to the Giants. His strikeouts are more dependable, and his control keeps his peripherals well within limits fantasy players like.

The final sub-tier runs from Haren to Burnett. All these guys are too inconsistent to be good two start options. You need to look to match up and venue to determine their usability. Haren has been giving up too many round trip tours to batters to be a comfortable start in Cincinnati, but at home against Arizona seems a decent chance. Wood and Jackson continue to suffer because of their team, Jackson is a better K option, but both have occasional control issues that hurt their genarally decent performances. It is the inconsistency that concerns me. Skaggs has yielded four earned runs in his last two starts, and while the potential is nice, his up and down production makes me shy away from him. Liriano has been disappointing after an excellent 2013, and his walk rate is a major concern. If his control returns he moves up the ranks, but for now, beware. Most fantasy players see Richards and Estrada as good K producers, but the earned runs allowed are the killer. Of their four starts, Iike Estrada facing the Mets on Tuesday best. Colmenter had a couple of good starts in a row before he blew up against Colorado, but with limited Ks, and the potential for further blowups, I am dropping him to the bottom of the middle tier. Nolasco is, and always has been, too inconsistent for my taste to roster as a regular SP. Facing Toronto and then Detroit this week just makes him less a candidate for two start use. Burnett has been on a cold streak, and I would suggest benching him until he turns things around.

Not On My Roster

Starting Pitcher

First Start/Opponent

Second Start/Opponent

Chris Tillman  BAL

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. BOS

vs. TOR

 

Brandon Workman  BOS

J.A. Happ  TOR

Juan Nicasio  COL

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. ATL

@ SF

 

Mike Minor  ATL

Madison Bumgarner  SF

Daisuke Matsuzaka  NYM

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. MIL

vs. SD

 

Marco Estrada  MIL

Ian Kennedy  SD

Brandon Workman  BOS

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

@ BAL

vs. CLE

 

Chris Tillman  BAL

Corey Kluber  CLE

Vidal Nuno  NYY

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ KC

@ OAK

 

Jason Vargas  KC

Scott Kazmir  OAK

Bronson Arroyo  ARI

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. HOU

@ LAD

 

Brad Peacock  HOU

Josh Beckett  LAD

Nick Martinez P TEX

6/9/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. CLE

@ SEA

 

T.J. House  CLE

Hisashi Iwakuma  SEA

Erasmo Ramirez  SEA

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ TB

vs. TEX

 

David Price  TB

Joe Saunders  TEX

J.A. Happ  TOR

6/10/2014

6/15/2014

 

vs. MIN

@ BAL

 

Kevin Correia  MIN

Chris Tillman  BAL

Bud Norris  BAL

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

vs. BOS

vs. TOR

 

Jake Peavy  BOS

R.A. Dickey  TOR

Jake Peavy  BOS

6/9/2014

6/14/2014

 

@ BAL

vs. CLE

 

Bud Norris  BAL

T.J. House  CLE

I wouldn't use any of these pitchers this week. I am not ready to drop Arroyo, but he is sitting on my bench until he pitches like he was earlier in the season. Matsuzaka is not a guarantee to stay the Mets' rotation, but even if he does, I still don't trust him. I do have some faith in Nicasio and Tillman to move out the bottom tier, but for this week, they are not on my radar.

Should you have questions regarding fantasy baseball, especially starting pitching, you can reach me at ia@fantasyalarm.com to continue the discussion.