Two-Start Pitchers: Week 24 (Sept. 21-27)

My results so far

43-43 (124 starts, 70 quality starts)
4.12 ERA
6.61 K/9
2.59 BB/9
1.29 WHIP

Start!

David Price: Mon-NYY (Warren), Sun-TB (Moore)
Jacob deGrom: Mon-ATL (Miller), Sat-@CIN (Lamb)
Dallas Keuchel: Mon-LAA (Weaver), Sun-TEX (Perez)
Chris Archer: Mon-@BOS (Rodriguez), Sat-@TOR (Buehrle)
Danny Salazar: Tue-@MIN (Santana), Sun-@KC (Guthrie)

Tier 1

Jaime Garcia: Mon-CIN (Lamb), Sat-MIL (Peralta)
Bartolo Colon: Tue-ATL (Wisler), Sun-@CIN (TBD)
John Lackey: Tue-CIN (TBD), Sun-MIL (TBD)
Gio Gonzalez: Mon-BAL (Wright), Sun-PHI (Nola)

Tier 2

Ervin Santana: Tue-CLE (Salazar), Sun-@DET (Wolf)
Eduardo Rodriguez: Mon-TB (Archer), Sat-BAL (Gausman)
Shelby Miller: Mon-@NYM (deGrom), Sun-@MIA (Hand)
Brett Anderson: Mon-ARI (Chacin), Sat-@COL (Kendrick)
Jason Hammel: Mon-MIL (Peralta), Sun-PIT (Happ)
Chris Heston: Tue-@SD (Ross), Sun-@OAK (Martin)
Luis Severino: Tue-@TOR (Estrada), Sun-CWS (Johnson)
Roenis Elias: Tue-@KC (Guthrie), Sun-@LAA (Weaver)

Tier 3

J.A. Happ: Mon-@COL (Gray), Sun-@CHC (Hammel)
Alex Wood: Tue-ARI (Ray), Sun-@COL (Gray)
Henry Owens: Tue-TB (Moore), Sun-BAL (Wright)
Jered Weaver: Mon-@HOU (Keuchel), Sun-SEA (Elias)
Adam Warren: Mon-@TOR (Price), Sat-CWS (Samardzija)
Jhoulys Chacin: Mon-@LAD (Bolsinger), Sat-@SD (Kelly)
Robbie Ray: Tue-@LAD (Wood), Sun-@SD (Shields)
Martin Perez: Tue-@OAK (Martin), Sun-@HOU (Keuchel)

Not this week

Jon Gray: Mon-PIT (Happ), Sun-LAD (Wood)
Jeremy Guthrie: Tue-SEA (Elias), Sun-CLE (Salazar)
Erik Johnson: Mon-@DET, Gm. 2 (Wolf), Sun-@NYY (Severino)
John Lamb: Mon-@STL (Garcia), Sat-NYM (deGrom)
Wily Peralta: Mon-@CHC (Hammel), Sat-@STL (Garcia)
Cody Martin: Tue-TEX (Perez), Sun-SF (Heston)
Matt Moore: Tue-@BOS (Owens), Sun-@TOR (Price)
Jeff Samardzija: Mon-@DET, Gm. 1 (Ryan), Sat-@NYY (Warren)
Randy Wolf: Mon-CWS, Gm. 2 (Johnson), Sun-MIN (Santana)
Mike Wright: Mon-@WSH (Gonzalez), Sun-@BOS (Owens)

My Week 24 Picks

Brett Anderson, Dodgers (ARI, @COL)
2015: 9-8, 3.35 ERA, 2.52 K/9, 1.30 WHIP

Anderson got bumped from two starts last week, so double check to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to the 27-year-old left-hander in Week 24. In theory, the extra rest should benefit Anderson and the Dodgers, but we know that doesn't always apply. I'm still sticking by Anderson, who has put together a respectable season after throwing fewer than 50 innings in each of his past three campaigns. Anderson can set a new career high in innings pitched (175.1 IP in 2009), as he has thrown 164 innings across 28 starts. Matchups with the Diamondbacks and Rockies (in Coors ...  dun dun dun.) are in a word, "crap," but I like Anderson's consistent work: in his last six starts, he's allowed three runs or fewer, going 3-1 with a 3.05 ERA. And he's allowed just five runs (four earned) against his former mates in Colorado, striking out 16 in three starts (16.1 IP).

Henry Owens, Red Sox (TB, BAL)
2015: 3-2, 4.33 ERA, 2.12 K/BB, 1.35 WHIP

Owens is only expected to make three more starts this year, so, again, be careful when locking in two-starters this week. Teams are planning for the playoffs, and even those already out of the race (like Boston) are moving parts around. As of Sunday morning, the Red Sox rookie is scheduled to face the Rays and Orioles at home in Week 24, two manageable starts as the season creeps toward the end of September. (How did this happen?) The 23-year-old left-hander has made eight starts for Boston, making it past five innings in seven starts and making it past six innings three times against Baltimore (!), Kansas City and Seattle. He already has three starts with four walks, but the strikeouts are there with 36 punchouts in 43 2/3 innings. The Rays are among the better hitting teams against southpaws, but the O's rank 27th in wOBA and 25th in wRC+. Baltimore has also been one of the weaker-hitting teams in the second half. It could be a strong finish for Owens, who looks to leave an impression for 2016.

Chris Heston, SF (@SD, @OAK)
2015: 11-10, 3.61 ERA, 2.29 KBB, 1.27 WHIP

It's been a nice season for Heston, who gets two great matchups in Week 24 against the Padres and Athletics, both on the road. He's been a better pitcher at home, but you can't be too upset with starts in Petco and O.co Coliseum. Heston is right around the league average for SPs with an 18 percent strikeout rate (league AVG is 19.4 percent) and 8.2 percent walk rate (league AVG is 7.1), but I think he can feast on the Padres, who own a 21.9 percent strikeout rate, which is tied for the fourth worst rate behind the Cubs (24.5 percent), Astros (23.1) and Orioles (22.4). Sam Diego also ranks low on the totem pole with a 6.9 percent walk rate. The only concern (and it's a big one) is that Heston hasn't made it to six innings in any of his past six starts. Like I normally do, I'm judging Heston by the overall work, and that's been pretty good. With two favorable matchups, you should too! (Worst. Pitch. Ever.)

Stats from FanGraphs.com