Randy and I are back to help plan out your pitching staff for Week 2. Every two start pitcher will be ranked and placed into groups, plus we will recommend a handful of single start streamers for the week.
Pitchers are broken down into the following 4 groups. No Brainers, which is pretty self-explanatory. Lock and Load, who are must starts based on matchups and their expected total value for the week. Proceed with Caution are guys that, depending on the options I have available, I’d probably start in most 15 teamers, but are iffy below that. Potential Nightmares are guys to avoid in mixed leagues. Streamers are guys with lower ownership levels that I am looking to add for this week. Their availability will be league size dependent.
Lots of team Aces getting 2 starts this week. With more days off than ever, these will be rarer than they used to be, so make sure you don’t leave your horses on the bench. You’ll need those W’s and K’s.
No Brainers
Jacob deGrom vs MIN, @ ATL
Corey Kluber @ DET, @ KC
Justin Verlander vs NYY, @ SEA
Blake Snell @ CWS, @ TOR
Lock and Load
German Marquez vs ATL, @ SF (I’d start in both games, but can’t blame anyone for sitting him for the Coors start against ATL to take a look)
Luis Castillo vs MIA, vs STL (Walks still an issue, but early signs have been encouraging)
Zack Greinke vs TEX, vs SD (At home with the 2 step, I’m starting him)
Masahiro Tanaka @ HOU, vs CWS (The HOU start will be his first challenge of the year. Shallower daily leagues, I may sit for the first game)
Joey Lucchesi @SF, @ ARI (Will see both these teams for the 2nd time around, but neither concern me).
Hyun-Jin Ryu @STL, vs MIL (Tougher competition this week, but when healthy is a must start)
Jameson Taillon @ CHC, @ WAS (Tough matchups away, but if I paid his draft price, I’m not sitting him in a 2 start week)
Madison Bumgarner vs SD, vs COL (Nice 2 step at home)
Jon Lester vs PIT, @ SF (2 step with good match-ups push him up my board this week)
Proceed With Caution
Mike Minor @ ARI, vs OAK (Improved second start. The home step will be the test here)
Marco Gonzales @ KC, vs HOU (Good results so far, but doesn’t get K’s. KC, offsets the HOU match-up).
Miles Mikolas vs LAD, @ CIN (I don’t like these match-ups based on what we’ve seen from his so far. Hopefully finds some of his 2018 form soon).
Jacob Junis vs SEA, vs CLE (2 home starts makes him more attractive this week)
Kyle Freeland vs ATL, @ SF (The trip to SF makes the week more appealing).
Derek Holland vs SD, vs COL (2 step at home makes a much more attractive option)
Eric Lauer @ SF, @ ARI (Couldn’t get a better 2 start week)
Carlos Rodon vs TB, @ NYY (Looked great so far, but much stiffer opponents this time around)
Jhoulys Chacin @ LAA, @ LAD (Some hesitation, but I think I’m rolling him out there in 15 teamers)
Jordan Zimmerman vs CLE, @ MIN (Looked great in first pair. It’s unlikely to continue, but CLE isn’t a concern and might pay to roll with him while he’s hot)
Potential Nightmares
Trevor Cahill vs MIL, @ CHC (At least the MIL start is at home… I’m sitting him in TGFBI this week)
Matt Shoemaker @ BOS, vs TB (An amazing start, but against much worse offences. I can’t roll him out with those match-ups)
Vince Velasquez vs WAS, @ MIA (Should get you some K’s at the expense of your ratios in a weekly league. In daily, I’ll start in MIA)
Julio Teheran @ COL, vs NYM (I’m not starting Julio in Coors)
Kyle Gibson @ NYM, vs DET (Got blown up last start by KC?!?… The match-ups aren’t bad, but I’d wait and see)
Marco Estrada @ BAL, @ TEX (2 terrible parks for a fly ball pitcher, though not amazing offences. I can’t do it)
Anibal Sanchez @ PHI, vs PIT (I don’t want to watch Anibal in Philly. Would start at home vs PIT in daily)
Felix Hernandez @ KC, vs HOU (Not worth the risk)
Homer Bailey vs SEA, vs CLE (Home park is good and CLE isn’t scary at all, but I’m taking a wait and see approach)
Jose Urena @ CIN, vs PHI (I’m avoiding both starts)
Andrew Cashner vs OAK, @ BOS (2 nice DFS stack options this week)
Streamers I Want
Michael Pineda vs DET (Fantrax 67%, CBS 74%, ESPN 15%) – Across 9 innings he’s K’d 10 and walked 2 for only 2 earned runs in his first 2 starts, Pineda may just stick in your rotation all year in this bad division if you can still grab him.
Yonny Chirinos @ TOR (Fantrax 55%, CBS 38%, ESPN 10.1%) – Hopefully you grabbed Chirinos on Randy’s advice last week. If not, grab him if he’s still available. Looks like Tampa is giving him traditional starts now, but even if they do use an opener, he’ll still be in line for plenty of wins. Toronto’s offence looks good for streaming so far.
Frankie Montas @ BAL (Fantrax 50%, CBS 35%, ESPN 5.7%) – If he can perform like he did @ HOU on Saturday against BAL this week, you’ll be happy you picked Frankie up.
Drew Pomeranz vs COL (Fantrax 33%, CBS 18%, ESPN 3.7%) – Hopefully this week he will go more than 4 IP, but the lefty at home against COL feels like a good bet to me.
Merrill Kelly vs SD (Fantrax 32%, CBS 15%, ESPN 2.5%) – Kelly went 8 innings deep against Boston, racking up 9 K’s, on 4 hits, no walks, allowing 1 earned on a Moreland HR Sunday. I’d take the chance on that kind of upside against the Padres and see if he sticks.
Tyler Mahle vs DET (Fantrax 20%, CBS 6%, ESPN 0.9%) – Mahle is coming off a strong outing @ PIT that saw him give up five hits over six for no runs, with five K’s and no walks. He won’t have the advantage of that park this week and his biggest issue last year was the long ball, but Detroit aren’t a huge concern to me. If I need an extra starter this week, I’ll take the chance.
Good luck everyone!
-Matchups and ownership percentages are accurate as of 4/7.
@SteveRossBB on Twitter
Leave a Reply
Friends don't let friends talk to themselves.
You must be logged in to post a comment.