Two-Start Pitchers: Week 25 (Sept. 15-21)

Last week's recommendations provided big points, including a complete-game almost shutout from the Giants' Yusmeiro Petit (16 innings combined, 17 strikeouts in two starts) and a pair of quality starts from the Pirates' Edinson Volquez. The Angels' Hector Santiago picked up a win in his first start against the down-and-out Rangers, but couldn't get out of the second inning in his second turn against the Astros. All in all, a good week! Good luck in the playoffs, and -- as always -- feel free to ask questions in the comments below.

Results (through Week 24)

54-37
7.37 K/9
2.67 BB/9
3.50 ERA
1.21 WHIP

Start!

Max Scherzer: Mon-@MIN (Swarzak), Sun-@KC (Shields)
Stephen Strasburg: Mon-@ATL (Santana), Sat-@MIA (Cosart)
Corey Kluber: Tue-@HOU (Tropeano), Sun-@MIN (TBD)
Jacob deGrom: Mon-MIA (Cosart), Sun-@ATL (Santana)
Hisashi Iwakuma: Mon-@LAA (Shoemaker), Sat-@HOU (McHugh)

Tier 1

A.J. Burnett: Tue-@SD (Kennedy), Sun-@OAK (Kazmir)
Marcus Stroman: Mon-@BAL (Chen), Sat-@NYY (Capuano)
James Shields: Mon-CWS (Danks), Sun-DET (Scherzer)
Matt Shoemaker: Mon-SEA (Iwakuma), Sat-TEX (Lewis)
Collin McHugh: Mon-CLE (McAllister), Sat-SEA (Iwakuma)
Tanner Roark: Tue-@ATL (Harang), Sun-@MIA (Eovaldi)
Lance Lynn: Tue-MIL (Peralta), Sun-CIN (Simon)

Tier 2

Ian Kennedy: Tue-PHI (Burnett), Sun-SF (Vogelsong)
Andrew Cashner: Mon-PHI (Williams), Sat-SF (Petit)
Drew Hutchison: Tue-@BAL (Jimenez), Sun-@NYY (Pineda)
Scott Kazmir: Tue-TEX (Tepesch), Sun-PHI (Burnett)
Ervin Santana: Mon-WSH (Strasburg), Sun-NYM (DeGrom)
Michael Pineda: Tue-@TB (Odorizzi), Sun-TOR (Hutchison)
Jarred Cosart: Mon-@NYM (DeGrom), Sat-WSH (Strasburg)

Tier 3

Ryan Vogelsong: Mon-@ARI (Miley), Sun-@SD (Kennedy)
Nate Eovaldi: Tue-@NYM (Colon), Sun-WSH (Roark)
Charlie Morton: Tue-BOS (Ranaudo), Sun-MIL (Peralta)
Wade Miley: Mon-SF (Vogelsong), Sun-@COL (Matzek)
Tyler Matzek: Tue-LAD (Haren), Sun-ARI (Miley)
Dan Haren: Tue-@COL (Matzek), Sun-@CHC (Wood)
Alfredo Simon: Mon-@CHC (Wood), Sun-@STL (Lynn)
Wily Peralta: Tue-@STL (Lynn), Sun-@PIT (Morton)
Roenis Elias: Tue-@LAA (Rasmus), Sun-@HOU (Tropeano)

Not this week

Christian Bergman: Mon-LAD (Hernandez), Sat-ARI (Cahill)
Chris Capuano: Mon-@TB (Colome), Sat-TOR (Stroman)
John Danks: Mon-@KC (Shields), Sun-@TB (Archer)
Roberto Hernandez: Mon-@COL (Bergman), Sat-@CHC (Turner)
Cory Rasmus: Tue-SEA (Elias), Sun-TEX (Tepesch)
Nick Tepesch: Tue-@OAK (Kazmir), Sun-@LAA (Rasmus)
Nick Tropeano: Tue-CLE (Kluber), Sun-SEA (Elias)
Jerome Williams: Mon-@SD (Cashner), Sat-@OAK (Lester)
Travis Wood: Mon-CIN (Simon), Sun-LAD (Haren)

My Week 25 Picks

A.J. Burnett, Phillies
2014: 8-16, 197 IP, 8.04 K/9, 3.79 BB/9, 50.4 GB%, 4.34 ERA, 1.38 WHIP

I was surprised Burnett made it past the trade deadline (and waivers) without finding a new team, but the 37-year-old could be a handy two-start pitcher in Week 25. The veteran right-hander has been inconsistent, but offers strong strikeout upside and quality start potential. He's gone six-plus innings in seven straight starts, striking out 52 batters in 45 2/3 innings (10.25 K/9). In Week 25, he gets two favorable road starts against the Padres and Athletics. Over the last 30 days, Oakland and San Diego rank 28th and 29th, respectively, in terms of wOBA. Burnett is still available in over 60 percent of ESPN leagues and should be added in all 12-team formats for the upcoming scoring period.

Drew Hutchison, Blue Jays
2014: 10-11, 169.1 IP, 8.45 K/9, 2.87 BB/9, 36.2 GB%, 4.36 ERA, 1.25 WHIP

Over the last four starts, Hutchison is 2-0 and owns a 1.78 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings. Yet, somehow, the 24-year-old right-hander is available in 92 percent of ESPN leagues. Hutchison battled inconsistency early in the year, but he's been a reliable arm in the second half. His last four starts have been quality starts, and he's gone six innings or more in seven out of his last nine turns. In Week 25, Hutch faces the Orioles and Yankees on the road. He's had the Orioles number in 2014, going 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 25 Ks in 27 2/3 innings.

Jarred Cosart, Marlins
2014: 13-9, 163 IP, 5.80 K/9, 3.37 BB/9, 46.8 GB%, 3.70 ERA, 1.33 WHIP

Since relocating to South Beach, Cosart is 4-2 in seven starts with a 1.93 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. After giving up four runs against the Red in his Miami debut, the 24-year-old right-hander has tossed six consecutive quality starts, giving up six earned runs in 41 1/3 innings (1.30 ERA), including five starts with allowing one earned run or fewer. Cosart isn't a strikeout pitcher, but his walk rate has greatly improved since joining the Fighting Fish (3.95 BB/9 with the Astros, 1.93 with the Marlins). In Week 25, Cosart draws the Mets on the road and the Nationals in Miami. New York has scored the 26th fewest runs after the All-Star break, and Washington is middle of the road on offense (.307 wOBA, 15th in baseball) away from Nationals Park.

Stats from FanGraphs.com