Two-Start Pitchers/Streaming Starters: The Last Days

We have arrived at the final week of the 2021 MBL season, and therefore, the end of the two-start/streaming articles. It has been a much more normal season than the COVID-interrupted 2020, but things still are not entirely “normal” in our realm. Those who have clinched their championships: Congratulations! For those still fighting it out, however, here are some SP options to consider and avoid, depending on the tier below.

Please realize that these articles feature most recent rotation information available when the article is written, but that circumstances do change due to weather conditions, injuries and general craziness with managers. If a pitcher listed here as having two starts ends up with one (or perhaps none) in the upcoming week, apologies but this article is meant to provide analysis, it is up to the manager to set the lineups or rotations.

Without further ado, here are this week’s two-start pitchers:

These seven starting pitchers are your best bets for two solid pitching performances this final week of the season. Wind these arms up and let them go, for two more outings, and reap the benefits. In the interest of planning for next season, take note of Quantrill and Flexen as potential early SP selections in your fantasy drafts.

Rasmussen leads off the middle group, and he has become a valuable SP since he became part of the Ray rotation mid-August. His ERA during those seven starts sits at 1.69 and the accompanying WHIP of 0.84 is superb. Not a huge K producer, granted, as witnessed by his 5.9 K/9 rate during his SP role for Tampa Bay, though his season-long K/9 ratio sits at 9.0. 

Urquidy’s last time toeing the rubber was not exactly a success to write home about, but he has been an effective SP for the most part this season. He still has an attractive 3.56 ERA and 0.99 WHIP for the season, to go along with his great control (1.6 BB/9 rate through 96.0 IP). His K rate is average, to be certain, sitting at 7.6 K/9. He has two home starts, and has been better pitching in Houston than on the road this season.

Singer came back from his COVID-imposed to toss a quality start (QS) against the visiting Cleveland team. He now gets to face that same team again, albeit on the road this time around but then gets to take on the Twins at home. He did put together a good stretch of games, including three additional QS prior to his stint on the IL. His ability to strike out better than a batter per inning speaks better for him than his inflated ratios (4.72 ERA, 1.53 WHIP through 127.2 IP, 26 starts). Singer is perhaps a better long-term option, as the Royals believe in him, but these matchups are not terrible.

Keep an eye on Ryan’s status, as he was placed on the bereavement list Saturday, which still leaves him a window to make the start on Tuesday when the Twins begin their series with the visiting Detroit Tigers. It would be a shame to have to miss out on his fine ratio stats: 2.45 ERA and 0.59 WHIP that he has gathered in his four September starts for Minnesota. The 25:3 K/BB ratio is also highly tempting. 

Rogers does not pitch deep into his contests since July rolled around, with him getting past the fifth inning just once in the last eight starts, that being his last time on the bump against the Nationals. That makes him tough to use in leagues that reward for QS over wins. The 10.6 K/9 rate and the stellar 2.67 ERA and 1.17 WHIP override the limited pitch count he is experiencing in the season’s second half.

Alexander has been good but not great during the month of September, posting a useful 3.20 ERA and an acceptable 7.3 K/9. The WHIP is inflated due to his 3.7 BB/9 rate (eight walks over his recent 19.2 IP). Both his Week 27 starts are on the road, but he fares well away from Comerica Park.

Marquez has been much better at Coors Field than on the road, so the first start when the Nationals come to visit is a good matchup for the 26-year-old righthander, and then he gets to take on the last-place Diamondbacks. Prior to his recent two starts, he was pitching well, and there is potential for the return to pitching production, especially with his 8.8 K.9 rate on the season.

Irvin suffered a loss in his last outing, but before that, had tossed two QS. End of August and first start of September saw him struggle, but overall, his season has been successful. He does have two road starts for the final week of the regular season, although his home/road splits this year are not dramatically divergent, so that is no reason to avoid employing his services. The mediocre strikeout rate, that 6.2 K/9 rate through 169.1 IP, that could be another reason to hesitate using him in this final stretch of 2021.

Manning is the second best two-start Tiger SP profiled in the middle-tier this week, and has been pitching well over his past three outings. Like rookie pitchers throughout time, he has been inconsistent in his first full season, but a 3.21 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over the most recent 14.0 IP, with an average 7.7 K/9 rate raises the potential for a strong finish to the season, despite taking on the division rival White Sox, who having locked up the division title, may or may not be the most formidable opponents.

Kluber winds up this week’s final middle tier of the season, and he is working on regaining something near top SP status, although he has struggled a tad over the past four outings. During that stretch, he has lasted past the fifth inning just once, limiting his opportunities to provide wins or QS for his owners. He still strikes out better than a batter per frame, so there is that to recommend him. The Yankees will be fighting hard for their post-season lives, and thus may inspire better final week efforts from the veteran righty.

There are still a whole bunch of hurlers that you should avoid, even during the final week of the regular and fantasy baseball season. There are only 10 bottom tier options this week…not options, exactly, more non-options in truth. Even if you are totally out of contention, there is no reason to sully your rotations with these pitchers.

Potential Streaming Options for Week 

There is no promise that each game day will provide a streaming option. First of all, the pitcher must be available in at least 50% of leagues to be a viable candidate to snag off the wire. Then, the pitchers discussed above are not included as they have a different sort of value, even though some might be available as free agents in your league. Plus, some days the matchups and/or venues just do not figure as positive enough factors to favor plugging the arm into your rotation, even for one start. That all being said, here are this week’s best streaming candidates:

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Miles Mikolas StL vs MIL Brett Anderson

The veteran righthander spun a QS his last time toeing the rubber, holding the Brewers to just a pair of earned runs on four hits. He now gets to face the same squad, this time on his home field. Mikolas is just a mediocre K producer (5.5 K/9), but he is pitching for the hottest team in baseball, so there is that on the plus side of the ledger.

Michael Pineda MIN vs DET Casey Mize

Pineda has had a productive September, collecting four victories out of his four appearances. Not a huge surprise, since he has a 1.93 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over those 18.2 IP. He is a low K producer, though, with just 10 strikeouts over that period. He had a decent matchup, although he has been better away from Target Field this season, but not by enough not to use him for streaming purposes.

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Adrian Houser MIL @ StL J.A. Happ 

Three of his last four outings have produced a QS and a pair of victories. There was a misstep against the Cubs, to be sure, and he has to take on a hot St. Louis team on the road, but his overall production has been solid this season. 

Alex Cobb LAA @ TEX Spencer Howard

In two starts in September, he has allowed just a single earned run. Here he gets to face off against the last-place Texas Rangers, even though it is on the road. 

Friday, October 1, 2021

Eric Lauer MIL @ LAD Clayton Kershaw

In September, the 26-year-old southpaw has notched three QS and tossed five games where he allowed one run or less. He also strikes out a batter per inning, so despite what looks to be a less than ideal matchup, he is a fine streaming option on the last Friday on the regular season.

Tyler Anderson SEA vs LAA Jose Suarez

The veteran lefty gets a home game to seek to continue his dominance, having allowed just a single earned run in both of his most recent starts. He has also picked up the K rate of late, with 12 Ks over his recent 11.1 IP. 

Kris Bubic KC vs MIN TBD

Bubic is another SP that has been pitching well recently, allowing just five earned runs over the past 17.0 IP. He has occasional bouts where he lacks control, such as his last start where he handed out four free passes to the Mariners. Pitching at home against the last place Twins is a nice matchup.

Wily Peralta DET @ CHW Lance Lynn

Peralta has been nothing short of brilliant for the Tigers, and is working on a 13.0 IP streak where he has held the two opponents scoreless, earned and unearned. The 8:5 K/BB ratio is not exciting, however, but the 3.04 ERA and 1.23 WHIP on the season are attractive ratios. Pitching on the road against the White Sox is not ideal in terms of a matchup, but then again, the Pale Hose have secured a playoff spot and may be coasting (no guarantees of that, though).

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Jon Lester StL vs CHC Adrian Sampson

Adrian Sampson CHC @ StL Jon Lester

The only head-to-head pairing this week, both Lester and Sampson have their positive points. Lester is on a six-game stretch where he has allowed just two or one earned tallies, and he is pitching for the hottest team in baseball. Sampson is also being effective in stopping the opponents from touching Homeplate, but has been tossing less frames than his Cardinal counterpart. The Cub hurler does carry a 2.84 ERA and 1.18 WHIP into this contest. Neither is a strong K producer, so there is that downside to using either arm in your rotation, or both if you so desire.

Jaime Barria LAA @ SEA Marco Gonzales

Barria has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last five appearances. Of course, those trips to the hill amount to just 24,0 IP, and his record is 0-2 over that stretch, but the 3.38 ERA during those outings is useful. His earlier problems on the road have subsided of late. 

Josh Rogers WAS vs BOS TBD

In his four starts since joining the Nationals, the 27-year-old southpaw has been steadily improving his efforts on the hill. He now sports a 2.57 ERA and stellar 0.71 WHIP over his 25.0 IP. He gets a home start here, but the matchup is unclear at present, and there is the issue that Boston is deep into a fight for playoff opportunity. Still, the Nationals are trusting Rogers, and perhaps he has another stellar start in store for the home crowd.

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Jake Woodford StL vs CHC Keegan Thompson

Woodford’s last four trips to the bump have resulted in a stellar 1.47 ERA and 0.87 WHIP over those 18.1 IP. He is not a great source of Ks with just an average 7.1 K/9 over the season, which has dropped a bit during his recent stretch of success (6.4 K/9). He has a home contest against the division rival Cubs, a generally tough matchup in most cases, but then again, as noted above, the Cards have been playing some mighty fine baseball recently.

Feel free also to send any starting pitching or other fantasy baseball questions to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a private response to your specific issue. The more detail you can provide about your team and league, including settings (H2H vs roto, points or categories, weekly or daily moves, roster size, league size, etc.) the better the response will be suited to your individual situation. As ever, good luck and Godspeed in all your fantasy endeavors.