Fantasy Baseball 2026 Two-Start Pitchers & Streaming Starters - 7/18

The All-Star Game break has thrown the usual mix of Fantasy Baseball 2026 Two-Start Pitchers that we discuss in this report weekly into a marvelous confusion, where plenty of starting pitchers are going to take the ball twice in the next 10 or 11 days, but will not be climbing the hill to do battle on their usual schedules. Things will shake out and return to normal soon enough, be advised. In the meantime, be content with a much small number of dual start options for the fantasy period beginning next Monday. Due to the relative dearth of two-start SPs, our usual tier system is much abbreviated, especially in the top and bottom groups.

As mangers reset their starting rotations, there will also be some confusion with regard to the options available for Fantasy Baseball 2026 Streaming Starters to plug into your lineups for the coming scoring period. SP usage will continue to evolve as the week progresses, so keep a sharp eye on your league’s waiver wire for gems to insert for spot starts in Week 17.

Please realize that these articles feature the most recent rotation information available at the time they are written, but circumstances can 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 but five dual start options that grace the upper tier this week, and that reduces the opportunities to engage in the usual “plug them in and forget them” procedure that is normally applied to the upper group of two-start hurlers. Nevertheless, you should do exactly that with this limited selection of aces, and know that things will return to normal with a much bigger set of SPs to rely upon as July winds up.

Martinez now has eight victories over the course of the season, after defeating the visiting Mariners by holding their offense to just two earned runs on four hits and one free pass. He is carrying some impressive ratio numbers into the post-All-Star break portion of the season: 2.65 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. His control has been superb, with him only handing out 19 walks over his 105.1 IP. Looking at his peripheral metrics, though, there could be a potential issue on the horizon: 3.90 FIP, .264 BABIP, 85.2% LOB. Just some indicia to be wary of, although he has been remarkably consistent through the first part of the 2026 season, and pitchers have on occasion outpitched their metrics.

Soriano had an aberrant start pre-All-Star Game break, where he did not record a single K against the host Twins, but has been amassing strikeouts at better than one per inning over the course of his 2026 efforts on the hill. Given the opponents and his home/road splits, the best bet is to use him in his second scheduled appearance against the Giants.

One positive aspect of the limited number of bottom tier arms available this week as dual start options is that the temptation to use these SPs just because of their two-start status is minimized. It is suggested strongly that the 10 bottom tier pitchers not grace your rotations, as they are coming off shaky performances pre-All Star break. Let them sit on the bench or the wire for this week; it is always possible their recent struggles on the hill will subside and lead them to more fantasy profitable condition in the future.

Potential Streaming Options for Week 17

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 Fantasy Baseball 2026 Streaming Starters candidates:

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Christian Scott, New York Mets @ Milwaukee Brewers

The second-year SP has yet to last a full six innings in any contest he has appeared in this season, which has limited his ability to collect victories, despite his effective time while on the hill. He has a useful 3.17 ERA over his 54.0 IP this season, racking up 65 Ks over that series of contests for a superior 10.8 K/9 rate. His peripheral metrics do suggest that some negative regression may be in the youngster’s future, although his home/road splits indicate that this road game plays to his strengths this year.

Cal Quantrill, Texas Rangers vs. Chicago White Sox

Since he was added to the Ranger rotation, he has been nothing short of spectacular on the hill, posting a 2.12 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through 17.0 IP as a starter for the Texas squad. He is not much of a strikeout artist, as evidenced by his paltry 5.4 K/9 rate over the course of 2026. He does have good control (2.5 BB/9), although his more successful outings have taken place away from his home park, where, alas, he pitches in this contest.

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Brandon Pfaadt, Arizona Diamondbacks @ St. Louis Cardinals

The fourth year right-hander is working on a three-game win streak as he returns to action following the All-Star Game break, and has accumulated some excellent ratio stats over those 15.2 IP: 1.72 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. The strikeouts are continuing to show up at a below-average rate, but his control is spot on: 10:1 K/BB rate over his last three times toeing the rubber. Another couple of pluses in this matchup: he is pitching better on the road this year, and he continues to generate a ton of groundballs (49.1% GB).

Owen Murphy, Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres

The rookie right-hander has been used exclusively as a starter at both Double-A and Triple-A this season, but any stay in the Brave rotation will depend on the return of some IL residents, namely Martin Perez and AJ Smith-Shawver-Shawver. He gets a home start against a team that has scored the fewest runs in both leagues in this start.

Friday, July 24, 2026

Grant Holmes, Atlanta Braves @ Baltimore Orioles

Another Brave hurler, this one not likely to be removed from the starting rotation. He has looked exceptionally strong on the hill over his last four outings, racking up a stellar set of ratios: 0.96 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over those 18.2 IP. His results as a road hurler have been significantly better than when he toes the rubber at home, so this game at Camden Yards plays to his strengths this season. 

Sean Manaea, New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The veteran southpaw picked up his second victory of the season in his last start before the All-Star break, which also was his second QS of the year, by going 7.0 IP and holding the Royals to just three earned tallies on six hits and one walk, while striking out a half-dozen Kansas City batters. He is striking out nearly a batter per frame this season and is demonstrating good control (8.9 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 over 75.0 IP). This matchup is obviously a difficult one, facing the reigning World Champs, but his peripheral metrics indicate that his success on the hill has not been a fluke thus far this season.

Patrick Sandoval, Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays

The 29-year-old lefty has not seen MLB action since 2024 but was impressive over a limited 4.1 IP against the host White Sox, holding the Pale Hose hitters to a single earned run while whiffing five hitters in his debut in 2026. He may be a short-term SP, with Connelly Early and Ranger Suarez due to return from their IL stints soon, so if you want to stream him, the time to do so in now.

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Ryan Johnson, Los Angeles Angels @ San Francisco Giants

Over his last four outings, the 23-year-old right-hander has yielded three or fewer earned runs per start, and has accumulated a useful 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, while also posting a not unattractive 18:5 K/BB rate. Two of his most recent starts have been on the road, and thus this matchup against a not overwhelming opponent is the best streaming option for the end of this week’s action.