Two-Start Pitchers/Pitching Streamers: Week 7

MLB is coming up on the trade deadline for this unique season, so keep an eye on what pitchers are shifting from one team to another, as that could affect the two-start options discussed below. That on top of weather and other events that operate to change the scheduled rotations which exist as of the writing of this article. In other words: adapt, improvise and overcome in your fantasy efforts, as you have always done.

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 stated nearly every week, these SPs in the top tier are as close to must start pitchers as exist in this upcoming scoring period. If you are fortunate enough to have one or more of these arms on your roster, make full use of both of their trips to the hill in Week 7. 

Kim leads off the middle tier this week, and has allowed just one earned run over his 15.2 IP covering three starts. The ratio stat line is eye-popping: 1.08 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. He is not much for missing bats with just 7 Ks, and he does have to face the Cubs in his second start on the road, so some tempering of expectations should be taken, as these stellar ratio numbers are due for some regression.

Hudson, teammate to the aforementioned Kim, is up next on the list. His ratios are not as outstanding, but still useful at 3.32 and 1.05 (ERA and WHIP), plus the K numbers are closer to average, sitting at 7.6 per nine innings. The same slate of opponents awaits him as Kim, with the first contest in Cincy being the best time to employ his services.

Moving on from Cardinal arms, Erlin has been working to reduce his inflated ERA to something more palatable, but still has work to do with a 5.14 ERA through 14.0 IP. The WHIP is useful, sitting at 1.07 as he is allowing less than a hit per inning and has an attractive 17:3 K/BB ratio. The matchups this week are good, with a pair of last place teams on tap, and Boston has been horrific at home, where the 29-year old southpaw faces them, before getting the defending (but reeling) World Series champs at home.

Anderson has been reasonably effective, and was in line to pick up his first decision before a bullpen meltdown cost him that opportunity against the visiting Red Sox. He has a good pair of matchups coming up, hosting the Orioles at home before heading to Fenway to try to get that elusive victory. He allows too many baserunners (1.43 WHIP over 14.2 IP) to be a safe option, but again, decent matchups favor his two-start potential this week. 

Tanaka’s team is reeling just now, having lost 7 consecutive contests, but the veteran righty is not the issue. He has not pitched deep into games this season, though, and that limits his utility. He does offer good ratio and counting stats: 3.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 17:3 K/BB through 20.2 IP spanning five starts. Facing the first place Rays to open the week is not optimal, but it is at home, and then heading to Camden Yards to wrap the scoring period puts him in the middle of this tier, although towards the upper reaches, still.

Keuchel has won three straight starts, and has pushed his ERA below three (2.70 to be precise). He is keeping the ball in the yard effectively (0.4 HR/9, 55% GB ratio) and while he does not rack up the Ks, he has great control (2.1 BB/9 through 43.1 IP). The second start against the Royals looks to be his best opportunity for his sixth victory, but do not discount his skills even against the Twins who has a 12-3 record at home.

Manaea struggled early on in 2020, but has limited opponents to just four earned runs over the past three starts. His ERA is still an ugly 5.64 but that is a huge improvement over the bloated 9.00 he was in possession of earlier this month. He has Seattle on the road, but that is not a daunting task, and then gets the Padres back home, a better matchup.

Javier, the Astros’ 23-year old rookie, is settling into the Houston rotation comfortably. He has now started six contests, and boasts a useful 3.77 ERA and 1.03 WHIP through his 31.0 IP over the course of this season. He is also producing swings and misses effectively, as witnessed by his 9.0 K/9 rate. Two great matchups make him a fine two-start option, although his advanced metrics hint at a coming regression in production: 5.15 FIP and unsustainable .194 BABIP and 85.6% strand rate, so be prepared.

Keller saw his win streak of three consecutive victories end against the host Cardinals, and he was finally touched for an earned run this season (five actually). He now has two tough matchups in line this week, with the Indians and White Sox coming to Kauffman Stadium, so at least he gets to pitch in his home park. His control is a concern, too, as it continues to deteriorate over him MLB career, and if he does not get a better sense of the plate and the strike zone, he may be leaving the middle tier soon.

Gonzales winds up the middle tier, and despite a pair of good matchups, his backing offense is not a source of great hope, either. On the plus side, he is demonstrating excellent control (0.8 BB/9 rate over 34.2 IP and is a decent K source, as well, with an 8.0 K/9 rate through his 6 starts to date.

You probably know the drill by now, avoid using these SPs despite the allure of dual starting status in Week 7. We are now heading into the final month of games, and you do not need to harm your roto stat line or your head-to-head win totals by using a sub-par arm just because the team is trotting a particular hurler out for a couple of starts. The damage to your ratio stats could be excruciatingly devastating. Just say no. 

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:

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Ljay Newsome SEA vs OAK Sean Manaea

Newsome is facing one of the arms profiled above in the middle tier and should not be expected to pitch deep into this contest as his arm is still being stretched out. With those elements against him, he has been effective in his limited usage by the Mariners, showing superb control and offering excellent ratios: 2.57 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. He has also yielding two dingers in limited action, so that is a concern.

Wednesday, September 2. 2020

Danny Duffy KC vs CLE Tristan McKenzie

Duffy’s matchup is not ideal, but he is at home (also not necessarily ideal, truth be told). He is pitching deeper into games than many starters this season, and fell one out short of collecting his second quality start (QS) in his last outing. With his superb 10.3 K/9 rate, that bodes well for his counting stats, although his ratios are just pedestrian. 

Thursday, September 3, 2020

David Peterson NYM vs NYY TBD

The Met rookie southpaw returned from shoulder inflammation that sidelined him, and while not lights out, he was effective enough, allowing three earned runs over four innings, while walking and striking out three. There is the fact that the Yankees have hit a serious funk, but Thursday is days away. He has been extremely effective on the bump at Citi Field, so that is a plus in his favor.

Nick Margevicius SEA vs OAK Chris Bassitt

The second-year lefthander gets to face the division-rival A’s on his home field, so view that fact as an asset. He has collected two QS this season so far, albeit away from T-Mobile Park. His 23:5 K/BB ratio is attractive, as is his 3.86/1.13 ratio stat set. The numbers favor his use as a streaming option, on a day when there are few appealing options to plug into your lineup.

Friday, September 4, 2020

Josh Fleming TB vs MIA Sixto Sánchez

His place in the Ray rotation is secure for the time being, with Yonny Chirinos out for the season and Charlie Morton still out of action. He gets to take on the second-place NL East Marlins, who play well on the road this season, limited as it is due to their COVID issues. The rookie southpaw has an extremely limited sample size with only one MLB start under his belt, but he managed to hold his own over five innings and is worthy of streaming consideration until he shows otherwise.

Ian Anderson ATL vs WAS Austin Voth

Another young arm, the 22-year old Brave collected a win in his first start against the visiting Yankees, allowing just a single earned run on a homer while striking out six. He gets to face another struggling team when the Nats come to Cumberland, GA and Truist Park.

Saturday, September 5, 2020

Brett Anderson MIL @ CLE Aaron Civale

Anderson has now strung together two victories in a row, although he did not pitch poorly in his previous two losses, either. He brings a 3.52 ERA and not horrible 1.26 WHIP into Progressive Field on Saturday, and is widely available in leagues. Not a terrific matchup, though.

Trevor Cahill SF vs ARI Taylor Clarke

Taylor Clarke ARI @ SF Trevor Cahill

Cahill and Clarke face off on Saturday in San Fran, and both are readily available off the wire. Both these SPs offer K production, although Cahill more so. Clarke is fresh to the rotation with Merrill Kelly out due to a shoulder injury, although he was effective out of the pen prior to joining the starting staff in Arizona. Neither team is exactly a daunting opponent to face, making the pair of these arms worthy of consideration at the end of the scoring period.

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Tejay Antone CIN @ PIT Chad Kuhl

The 26-year old righty has excelled in his dual roles as bullpen arm and spot starter, posting a stellar 1.65 ERA and 0.80 WHIP through six appearances spanning 16.1 IP (only one start of 4.1 IP). Taking on the woeful Pirate offense should be a fine opportunity to continue to excel, although his advanced metrics do indicate a potential for negative regression, not a huge shock given his success to date.

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.