Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers/Streaming Starters Week 17: Luis Castillo Starts Twice On The Road

After last week’s somewhat confusing return to action following the All-Star Game break, this scoring period returns the pitching situation to relative normalcy. The upper tier is loaded with fine options to run out there for a pair of starts, although the middle group is still on the sparse side in terms of useful alternatives. Plenty of arms to avoid in the bottom tier as ever. Starting pitching streamers are presented for your consideration to populate your fantasy rotations in the second half of this week’s report. Once you have perused the starting pitching suggestions, be wise and look into the rest of the fabulous fantasy information on Fantasy Alarm, such as the latest Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wirearticle or the MLB Streaks & Trends piece. Plus, do not fail to begin your fantasy football preparations with our assistance. The 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide is live and ready for you to start combing through it. Without further ado, here are this week’s two start pitchers.

This baker’s dozen of hurlers are the cream of the crop in Week 17, and you would be best served to simply insert them in your rotation when they are scheduled to toe the rubber and reap the benefits. Can a top tier arm disappoint? Of course, but the greater chance is that these SPs will provide greater benefits than most others due to their dual start opportunities. Plug them in and enjoy the fantasy goodness. Realize that some of these pitchers may be moving to new squads with the trade deadline approaching, and that may even improve their status going forward.

Christopher Sanchez has pitched five or more innings his last five times climbing the hill for the Phillies, and has not allowed more that three earned tallies in any of those contests-nine earned runs over 27.0 IP. He produces average K numbers (7.6 K/9 through his 35.1 IP this season to date) but has great control (1.5 BB/9) and generates an exceptional number of groundballs from opposing hitters (54.4%). His ratios are also admirable: 3.06 ERA, 1.05 WHIP. Not bad for a back of the rotation southpaw.

Graham Ashcraft, the second-year hurler for Cincy, has put together a four-game quality start (QS) streak, allowing just five earned runs over those 24.2 IP. He has two road games on the schedule in Week 17, and he has had better success away from the Great American Ballpark this season. His season numbers do not look great, so he is probably available on the wire. The downside is the mediocre strikeout production evidenced by his 6.3 K/9 rate through 93.2 IP; the 1.69 K/BB ratio is not spectacular and leads to concern for continued success, but for now he has a hot hand.

Steven Matz has been effective in two of his last three outings, and finally racked up his first win of the season against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He gets to take on those same Cub hitters in his second start of Week 17. His recent success has come on the road, where he gets to face the Diamondbacks, a team that has a better road record than at home. Those scenarios play into his favor as does his ability to record nearly a strikeout per frame. His peripheral metrics indicate he has the potential to continue this streak of successful pitching performance.

Brandon Bielak has enjoyed success since he returned from his Triple-A stint at the end of June, rolling out a superb 1.02 ERA and 0.85 WHIP over three outings covering 17.2 IP. The downside is that he is not a huge K producer with a below average 6.9 K/9 rate over his 65.0 total IP in the majors in 2023. His home/road splits are in favor of two home games this scoring period, although the opponents are tough matchups.

Ryan Yarbrough was forced to leave his last start against the Tigers due to a left hamstring cramp, so his status needs to be monitored with regard to his dual start potential. His last three starts have been productive, with him collecting a 2.60 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 17.1 IP. As with a couple other of the middle tier two-start SPs, his K production is sub-par with a 5.4 K/9 over his limited 38.0 IP on the year (12 games, five starts). To be open and honest, neither game is a great matchup but they are divisional contests which provides some incentive to produce.

Griffin Canning offers great swing and miss skills when on the bump, although his other skills are roller coasterish, with the 27-year-old righthander as likely to hand out numerous runs as he is to baffle the opposing hitters. This is an arm you employ essentially for the accumulation of counting stats, with a hope and prayer his relative success away from Anaheim aids his fantasy production.

Do not be fooled by the allure of dual starts in Week 17. None of these pitchers are deserving to be used twice during the scoring period. The games where Colorado is on the road are potential one and off starts, if you are truly desperate for innings. Even then, it would be best to seek out other streaming assistance.

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 streaming candidates:

Ben Lively, Cincinnati Reds @ Milwaukee Brewers

If you are seeking a victory from your streaming SP, this is not where you should be looking, as the veteran righty has not pitched deep into any of his last four outings, being limited to 80 or less pitches per contest over that stretch. He has accumulated an attractive ERA over his last five starts (3.37 over 24.0 IP) and is a good source for Ks as well, with an 8.2 K/9 in those recent five games. His home/road splits do not make a road outing anything to fear.

Matt Manning, Detroit Tigers vs Los Angeles Angels

After being part of a combined no-hitter his previous start, he came within an out of collecting a second consecutive QS. He has worked to post a useful 3.38 ERA and superior 0.98 WHIP on the season, limited to be certain with just six starts under his belt in 2023, and while this matchup is certainly concerning, he is at home which has been to his advantage over his short career as a major league starting pitcher.

Adrian Houser, Milwaukee Brewers @ Atlanta Braves

Houser may have collected three QS on the season, and provide a useful ERA at 3.79 through 57.0 IP, he lacks a consistent ability to miss bats (6.2 K/9) and hands out too many walks and hits to provide consistent fantasy value (1.53 WHIP, 68 hits and 19 walks over his 57.0 IP). He has been slightly better on the road this season, so a road game against a tougher opponent is not a reason not to use him here; the lack of Ks, if you need the counting stat, could be, however.

Kutter Crawford, Boston Red Sox @ San Francisco Giants

Coming off a QS with nine Ks, where the righty lowered his ERA to an attractive sub-3.00 level (3.74 to be precise), he heads out on the road where he has been extraordinarily effective in 2023. His 8.7 K/9 rate should also play well against the Giants, the fourth easiest team to strike out in the majors.

Jordan Lyles, Kansas City Royals vs Minnesota Twins

The veteran righty has been working diligently to lower his inflated ratio stats over the past four appearances he has made on the bump. The numbers are still ugly: 6.05 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with a 1.8 HR/9 over 102.2 IP, but the recent trend is favorable. He gets a home start against a sub-.500 road team. 

Tyler Anderson, Los Angeles Angels @ Toronto Blue Jays

Over the last six appearances, the veteran southpaw has picked up the rate of missing opponents’ bats, compiling a superb 10.7 K/9 rate over those 29.1 IP. His peripheral metrics do not suggest any negative regression in his immediate future. He is the best of the streaming options this coming weekend, albeit not a SP with a tremendously exciting matchup potential.

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