2017 MLB Two-Start Pitchers: Week 17

Week 17 presents fantasy owners with some nice top-level starter options, and a fair representation in the middle tier, as well. Of course, there are still a whole boatload of SPs suggested that should be left on the waiver wire or your bench. Let us look at what this week has in store for fantasy players in terms of starting pitching.

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:

As is usually the case, any of these starters should be safe to plug into your rotations and then you can sit back and enjoy the results. Of course, there may be a hiccup or two. Verlander sticks at the top, as he has recently changed his delivery so that he will not be pitching up in zone so much, and potentially, not allowing so many fouls by opposing batters, which in turn will result in him pitching deeper into games going forward. Cole has been pitching better, and has a good pair of matchups this scoring period. Lynn gets two home games this week, which bolsters his value, and while Peacock is on the road for his two starts, he has been pitching deeper into games lately and that improves his chances for either a victory or quality start (QS), or optimally both.

Faria tops the middle tier this week, and although he was roughed up in Oakland in his last start to the tune of four earned runs on six hits and four walks, he had spun a pair of QS before that to open his time in the MLB. He still has a 2.52 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over his eight starts, consisting of 50.0 innings. He offers good strikeout potential (8.10 K/9), and keeps the ball in the park for the most part, having allowed just four dingers this season. His first start against Baltimore at home holds more promise than the trip to Yankee Stadium for his second start.

Rodriguez returned from the DL and while initially he has problems, he settled down in his first start since the knee injury sidelined him, allowing three earned runs on six hits and four walks over 5.1 innings against the Blue Jays. He is an excellent strikeout artist (9.90 K/9) but has trouble with the long ball (1.4 HR/9 over 66.1 innings) and struggles with his control. The Week 17 matchups are nice, though, and that makes him worthy of consideration as a two-start option.

Chacin has two home starts at Petco this coming scoring period, putting him this high on the middle tier. He has twirled eight QS in his last nine starts and has a superb 1.94 ERA and 0.98 over 65.0 innings at home this season. He is an extreme groundballer with a 2.11 GB/FB ratio, but does struggle with his control, as witnessed by a 3.16 BB/9 rate over his 20 starts.

Straily is frustrating with his inconsistency, although he has been effective at home, which is not a big surprise as Marlins Park is definitely a pitcher's park. He is a good source of Ks and has good control (8.34 K/9, 2.54 BB/9). but does give up a lot of flyballs, but then again, his home park is effective at protecting pitchers. Start at home against the Reds and consider sitting him on the road against Cole Hamels and the Rangers.

Walker rejoins the Diamondback rotation after being out on a paternity leave. He gets to face the Braves away from SunTrust Park, but his home ballpark is rated even worse for pitchers than the Braves' new field. His ERA on the road is a useful 2.70 as opposed to the 4.50 he has put up at home. He is an average K producer, but keeps the ball within the confines of the outfield walls consistently (0.8 HR/9 over 87.1 innings) and can generate groundball outs consistently (1.65 GB/FB). The Cardinals are the 18^th rated MLB at home this season, so if you worry about his home numbers, use him against the Cards in his second start of the week.

Montgomery picks up a pair of home starts this week, and he has been better at Yankee Stadium than on the road so far in his rookie season. He is a good candidate to rack up strikeouts with a 8.26 K/9 rate over his 101.1 innings pitched in 2017, but is prone to giving up homers to opposing batter. Cincinnati is the easier matchup on paper, but the Tampa game is not horrible either.

Castillo has had a good run since joining the Reds' rotation, posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with a 43:15 K/BB ration over his six starts. Realize that he has faced some intimidating opponents over his short time in the majors, taking on the Nationals and the Diamondbacks twice each, and facing Colorado at Coors Field. So long as he does not let down his guard against his opponents this coming week, he could be useful for fantasy purposes.

Dickey had been on a five game QS run until the Cubs plated four earned runs in his last start. The knuckleballer is not a good source for Ks, with a poor 5.98 K/9 ratio over his 19 starts and because of his primary pitch, he also tends to have control issues. He is also much more useful at home this season, so with two road starts, he is primarily a SP to use if you cannot find anyone with better peripheral and counting stats to use.

Leake seems to be wearing down as the season moves along, likely due to his bout with shingles last season. He has only lasted a total of 10.2 innings in his last three starts, the last being a two-inning effort against Mets where he yielded four earned runs (seven total) on 10 hits, a walk and zero strikeouts. He has a pair of home starts, but those are against the Rockies and Diamondbacks, so he is another SP that will carry a huge amount of risk if you decide to place him in your starting rotation in Week 17. It would perhaps be better to leave him alone for now.

Lugo gets to toe the rubber in a couple of road games this week, against teams that are not considered offensive powerhouses in San Diego and Seattle. Both parks are pitcher-friend venues, so there is that positive for him. He is a poor strikeout producer (6.36 K/9 over 46.2 innings, but does generate a fair share of grounders (1.56 HR/9) which is beneficial. Do not expect much of shift in his ERA, currently sitting at 4.05 as his FIP is at 3.93.

Ryu returns to the Dodger rotation after a stint on the DL with a foot injury for two home starts. His manager has indicated that he will not be replacing one of the current SPs, instead the team will go to a six-man rotation for the present. As with other two-start options in Week 17, there is a tendency to allow too many homers, although he does miss a good number of bats (8.55 K/9). He has good opponents in the Twins and Giants, so take advantage of his two-start week.

Davies is another inconsistent mound presence, and could easily have dropped into the bottom tier as an unusable option this week. He has been much more effective at home this season, but his home game is against the Nationals, so that mitigates some of the good will. The Cubs at home are not exactly a great option, either, for a pitcher who sports a 4.76 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over his 20 starts in 2017, consisting of 109.2 innings. He is a starter to use only in desperate times at present. 

The bottom tier, as the title to the section implies, are best not employed in your fantasy rotation this coming week. If you are thinking that Senzatela is an option because he is away from Coors for both his starts, realize he has not exactly been a Cy Young candidate in his road games, either. Tomlin had shown some signs of being a decent back of the rotation option, and he has a couple of good matchups if you want to take on the risk. There is still hope that Snell will become a dominant starter, but do not put your eggs in that basket this season. Overall, these are the SPs to avoid in Week 17.

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.