Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers/Streaming Starters Week 7: Walker Buehler In Line To Dominate

Time again to set your fantasy baseball lineups, and while this week does not offer a boatload of top-tier options, there are still a good group of arms to plug in and forget about in the upper realm. The middle set of hurlers are worthy of consideration as dual-start choices headlined by Nick Pivetta and Jordan Montgomery, although injuries continue to diminish the options, making the fantasy baseball waiver wire a worthwhile daily visit to peruse those pitchers that can help your efforts, at least in the short term. The streaming options are paltry to open the scoring period, but pick up as the week rolls on. Be sure to always check in on the MLB Lineups page to confirm starting pitchers each day.

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 but nine starting pitchers that should be considered wind ‘em up and let ‘em go options this week. No real surprises here. Congratulate yourself on drafting these arms for your rotation and take advantage of their two-start week.

Pivetta was highly coveted in drafts this past March, but his early efforts in his first five starts did not reward that confidence. His last three trips to the bump, however, are what was anticipated in the pre-season exuberance: 22.0 IP, 0.82 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 20:1 K/BB. A couple of good matchups on the schedule, to help him build on the recent success. If any owner had gotten impatient and cut him, AND he is languishing on the wire, snap him up. 

Montgomery has been unlucky, not being able to collect his first win of the season to this point despite posting a 3.35 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with a stellar 4:1 K/BB ratio over his 40.1 IP. Not the greatest matchups this coming week, either, so the possibility of collecting that first victory are not stellar, but then again, he does pitch for a first-place squad.

Quantrill has twirled four quality starts (QS) over his last five outings, although his record is not reflective of his success on the hill, with a 1-2 record in 2022. He has good ratios, with a 3.48 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. The limited K production and liberal tendency to hand out free passes limits his effectiveness, to be certain, but getting to take on the Tigers to close out the scoring period has potential goodness written all over it.

Seven dingers allowed over his last three starts helps to explain Steven Matz’s 0-2 record over that stretch. If he can keep the ball in the park, his 44:8 K/BB ratio on the season should play well for his fantasy owners. He has two starts at home in Week 7 to figure out how to keep the ball in the park confines. 

Gonzales has racked up three QS in his last four outings, and features a 3.08 ERA. The 1.50 WHIP is ugly, to be honest, and is fueled by his inability to miss bats and a general lack of control: 5.7 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 through 38.0 IP. He has two home starts against division rivals this week to inspire him.

Zimmermann was touched for five earned tallies by the Yankees in his last trip to the hill, easily his worst start of the season. Prior to that disaster, he had held opponents to three or fewer earned runs in each of his seven starts. Even with the Yankee output factored in, he has a useful 3.48 ERA on the season and an effective 3.40 K/BB ratio. He does open Week 7 against the Yankees and then heads to Boston to face the resurgent Red Sox. So temper expectations this week.

Lyles tossed his third QS over his last four times toeing the rubber, but took a loss against the visiting Yankees. Our second Oriole SP in the middle tier demonstrates how Baltimore has upgraded its pitching staff in 2022, although playing in the AL East is no picnic. Lyles gets to face the same two division opponents as his teammate discussed above, and expectations should certainly be held in check for the veteran righthander who has fared much better at home than on the road in 2022.

Houser has been a dependable arm to plug into your fantasy rotations, with three QS over his last five outings, and a useful 3.22 ERA to show for his efforts. The 1.35 WHIP is a bit bloated due to his shaky control (4.2 BB/9 over 36.1 IP). He is away from his home park for the next two contests where he take the ball to open start the game, and that has not been his forte, so as with most of the arms at the base of this tier, temper your expectations.

Dunning reduced his ERA to below 4.00 (3.92, in point of fact) after dealing a QS no-decision while facing the visiting Angel offense. He did give up a couple of round trippers to Mike Trout and Jared Walsh to account for the earned tallies he allowed and that has not been his tendency this season, to allow hitters to take him yard. He has two road contests on the schedule, the first against those self-same Angels, and he is not exactly a road warrior SP, thus his lower middle-tier status.

Brubaker resides in the middle tier of dual start options solely based on his recent K prowess: 22 Ks over his last 15.0 IP. A bloated 5.50 ERA and 1.42 WHIP do not scream “Start me” to be sure. Facing Colorado at home is a nice opening to the week ahead, and the Padres are not overly dominant at home in 2022. Faint praise, but realize the Padres have been induced to swing and miss a fair amount this year.

If Davies did not have a pair of home starts in Week 7, he dwells in the bottom tier this scoring period, having been touched for eight earned runs over his last two starts comprising 9.2 IP. His ERA has now ballooned to 4.35 after the most recent efforts on the bump. He is a below average K producer, but the home starts buoy his value as a two-start option. Use him if you feel lucky.  

Plenty of arms to avoid using this week, despite the fact that they are scheduled presently to trot out to toe the rubber twice in the scoring period. Even for streaming purposes these SPs are best avoided. Will one or more put up a stellar effort? Potentially, yes, but the inherent damage they have demonstrated that they can cause to your ratios make them too risky to rely upon.

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:

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Jakob Junis SF vs NYM TBD

If the righthander continues to pitch as he has in first four starts, compiling a superb 1.74 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with an 18:4 K/BB ratio, it will be difficult to see him leaving the Giant rotation even when Anthony DeSclafani is eligible to return from the IL in late June. Here, he gets a home game against a tough opponent, but he has been up to each challenge he’s faced on the hill so far this season.

Tyler Wells BAL @ NYY Nestor Cortes

Despite limited strikeout production, you have to like a SP that has not allowed one free pass over his last five outings. He has already faced the Yankees twice this season, and has held them to just two earned runs over 9.0 IP, so there is recent history here to rely on if you choose to stream him.

Zach Thompson PIT vs COL TBD

If other owners simply look at Thompson’s current stat line, he will likely be available on your waiver wire. Looking deeper, he has tossed 11.0 scoreless innings over his last two starts, albeit against the Reds, significantly dropping his still unattractive ERA and WHIP to 5.47 and 1.52 respectively. Thus, his potential availability to use at home against the Rockies who are not good away from Coors Field.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Justin Steele CHC @ CIN Hunter Greene

Steele twirled a masterful effort against the Diamondbacks in the desert, racking up 10 whiffs while being credited with a QS for his six innings of work. He gets to face the MLB’s worst team in this matchup, after a weekend repeat encounter against the Arizona offense. Before plugging him in, see if his recent mastery continues when facing the Diamondbacks-just a suggestion.

Humberto Castellanos ARI vs LAD TBD

The young righty has been extremely effective aside from a stumble in St. Louis at the end of April, going 28.1 IP (other than that poor outing) where he allowed just 9 earned tallies for a 2.81 ERA. Even with the problems in St. Louis, his ERA over his last six appearances sits at a palatable 3.95, with a 1.10 WHIP. He gets to face the Dodgers at home here, too, where the opponents have not been quite so dominant.

Alex Faedo DET vs CLE Shane Bieber

Given the Detroit injury situation, especially with regard to their starting pitchers, it looks like Faedo is going to stick in the Tiger rotation for the foreseeable future. He came within one out of tossing a QS in his last outing, holding the Rays to just one earned run. Granted the Tigers have had a run of bad luck and poor results against the Guardians in recent times, but this is a home effort for the rookie righthander.

Friday, May 27, 2022

Zach Eflin PHI @ NYM Carlos Carrasco

Eflin tossed a QS fresh off the COVID IL, but also took a hard-luck loss against the visiting Padres despite allowing just one earned run and striking out five. Despite being roughed up at Citi Field by the Mets prior to the IL placement, his peripherals speak of his being unlucky to an extent: 2.59 FIP and 59.0% LOB.

James Kaprielian OAK vs TEX Jon Gray

Over his last three outings, comprised of 16.0 IP, the A’s righty has allowed just five earned runs for a useful 2.81 ERA and stellar 1.00 WHIP to go along with that limited run allowance. His control has been slowly coming around to aid his average K production and as with a number of the streaming options profiled this week, he gets to take on the Rangers at home.

José Quintana PIT @ SD Joe Musgrove

The southpaw has kept opponents off the scoreboard over his last two outings, consisting of 16.0 IP. He only collected 10 Ks over that stretch, so he is not a huge assist fantasy-wise in that area, but the ratios are helpful: 2.19 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.  The opponent has not been dominating at their home park, either.

Jeffrey Springs TB vs NYY Luis Severino

Springs is being slowly stretched out since joining the rotation for the Rays, coming off a 4.2 IP effort against the visiting Blue Jays. His K rate is above average at 8.3 K/9 which couples nice with excellent control (1.2 BB/9). The ratios play nice, as well, sitting at a tasty 1.66 ERA and 0.78 WHIP. He has another home effort, against a division rival on tap here.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Wade Miley CHC @ CHW Dallas Keuchel

The veteran lefty looked much sharper in his second outing after returning to action from an elbow issue, one hitting the Pirates over seven frames, collecting six Ks over the contest. He also did not allow a free pass, his control much sharper than the five-walk effort against the Padres on the road in his first start in 2022. Here he takes on cross-town rivals the Pale Hose, a team not exactly burning it up at home.

Michael Lorenzen LAA vs TOR Yusei Kikuchi

The 30-year-old righty has been an excellent addition to the Angel rotation, pitching at least six innings in four of his six starts, and delivering nice ratios, with a 3.57 ERA and 1.10 WHIP through his 35.1 IP to date. The Ks have been sporadic, and the Jays are not exactly a free-swinging offense but neither are they overly patient at the dish.  It is a home contest and the Angels like their home cooking so far this season.

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Johnny Cueto CHW vs CHC Drew Smyly

With an odd off day on Friday, Cueto is scheduled to take the hill on consecutive Sundays in Weeks 6 and 7. He was strong in his initial start this season, two-hitting the host Royals over 6.0 IP while striking out seven KC hitters during his period on the mound, not allowing a single tally, earned or otherwise. A good matchup in store here, pitching at home against a less than stellar mound opponent.

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.

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