2017 MLB Two-Start Pitchers: Week 10

Not so many choices to consider for two starts this week, although there are a nice bunch sitting in the top tier, and an even dozen in the middle tier to contemplate for your Week 10 fantasy baseball rotations. There is also a large group sitting in the bottom tier that you would be wise to avoid this upcoming scoring period.

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:

There are just nine SPs that are worthy of gracing the upper tier this week. Paxton has broken out from his DL stint and looks to be over his forearm strain that kept him on the sidelines for a month. Wainwright, Manaea and Pomeranz all join the top group, and for those who suffered through Wainwrights 2016 season, his return to A-list status is a welcome development. Any of these pitchers is worth inserting into your lineup in Week 10 for both their trips to the hill.

Garcia opens up the middle tier, although you need to keep in mind that both his scheduled starts are at home, where offense has ruled in 2017. The first start against the Phillies is more promising than taking on the Mets at the end of the week. He is not a great K producer, but does generate a ton of grounders (2.71 GB/FB over his 10 starts in 2017), which helps keep him relevant for fantasy purposes.

Guerra has come back from his calf injury, looking like he did in 2016 in a breakout season. He is not exactly a strikeout artist, but he does manage to generate ground balls and generally keep the ball in the park. His first start against the Giants at home is the best option in Week 10 to plug him into your rotation, as the second start is in Arizona, not the best away park to pitch in normally. Realize that a 4.63 FIP and .175 BABIP do indicate that some regression is due in the future.

The 24-year old righty rookie Lamet has sparkled in his two major league starts, allowing just three earned runs over his 10 innings pitched, while racking up eight strikeouts in each of those two appearances. It will be a test of his skill set when he heads out on the road to face the Diamondbacks to open Week 10, although the second trip to the rubber against the underperforming Royals at home looks more auspicious.

Anderson is coming off a couple quality starts (QS), where he has allowed no runs on just four hits, while also collecting 18 Ks. As with Guerra and Lamet, he has a start at Chase Field, which could be a tough matchup. The first start against the Giants at home is a better option to employ his talents in Week 10.

Senzatela is forming part of an effective rotation in Colorado and has a couple of games against middle of the pack offenses in the form of the Indians and the Cubs. Be wary of regression, however, with a 4.32 FIP (as opposed to his 3.49 ERA over his 67.0 innings pitched this season) and an unsustainable .260 BABIP.

Nova has spun four QS among his last five starts for the Pirates, and has been relying his groundball tendencies and excellent control (2.02 GB/FB, 0.70 BB/9) to offset his poor strikeout skills (4.68 K/9 over 77.0 innings and 11 starts). The second start against the Marlins is his best opportunity in Week 10 to provide good results, as he heads to Baltimore for his first start of the scoring period, although he has been good on both the road and at home this season.

Gonzalez has pitched much better at home than on the road, although facing the Rangers at Nationals Park is not an especially attractive matchup. He frequently has to pitch out of trouble, which will undoubtedly catch up with him at some point. Still, a 3.03 ERA over 11 starts and a useful 7.90 K/9 makes him a worthwhile starting option going forward.

Straily has two road starts in Week 10, and he has struggled while pitching away from his pitcher friendly home park in Miami. He is posting great strikeout numbers with a 9.49 K/9 over his 60.2 innings in 2017, and sports a useful 3.56 ERA and 1.12 WHIP through 11 starts. If you were to pick a game to start the Miami right hander in, opt for his second start against the Pirates and avoid the appearance at Wrigley Field.

Happ was limited to just 81 pitches over 4.0 innings in his first start after coming off the DL at the end of May, but is expected to pitch deeper into games going forward. He provides decent if not great strikeout numbers, and will be pitching in two pitcher favorable parks in Week 10 when he heads to Oakland and then Seattle to toe the rubber.

Samardzija’s 4.63 ERA is not reflected by his 3.30 FIP and 2.81 xFIP, so there should be expectations that he will soon see a positive movement in his peripherals. A 10.50 K/9 and 1.38 BB/9 are both attractive stats for a SP, although his first start on the road at Miller Park against the Brewers’ potent offense is not an ideal time to use him. Facing the Twins at home at the end of Week 10 is a better option.

Cain just barely makes the middle tier, and as with his teammate Samardzija, might be best to sit when he heads to Milwaukee for his first start of the week. Apart from his moderate groundball inducing skills, there is not a lot to recommend him this season, with a 4.53 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over his 59.2 innings pitched in 11 starts, and a poor 5.88 K/9 and 3.77 BB/9. He gets to face the Twins at home in his second start, the better possibility for a decent appearance Week 10.

Ryu is at risk of losing his starting role, and heading back to the bullpen for the Dodgers, depending on when Alex Wood is ready to resume his starting role after suffering a shoulder injury. Keep an eye on his status if you want to plop him into your rotation in Week 10. If he does start a game or two in Week 10, enjoy the Ks but do not expect much else in the way of counting stats or peripherals.

There a bounty of two-start pitchers that you should avoid if at all possible in Week 10. Quintana, Tanaka and Kennedy were all likely drafted with expectations of serving as your SP2/3 in 2017. That has not exactly worked out to this point, now, has it? It also appears that the tank is finally on empty for the big fellow, Bartolo Colon, not an entirely unexpected development. You should only consider starting one of these bottom tier residents if you are desperate and see a matchup that has some potential for a useful start-think Norris at home against the Angels or Kennedy at Petco for his second start.

Please note that the Fantasy Alarm Forums are now open for your use, to ask questions or provide your own commentary and wisdom. I enjoy responding to comments, or if you do not want to put your question out for public consumption, feel free to write me at ia@fantasyalarm.com for a more personal 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 my response will be suited to your individual situation. I am open to questions about issues apart from starting pitching, too, as I play fantasy sports as well as serve as an analyst. As ever, good luck and Godspeed in all your fantasy endeavors.