Two Start Pitchers: Week of May 2 - 8

When streaming starting pitching in fantasy baseball, especially in leagues with moves limits, knowing who the two-start pitchers are is valuable information to have. Each week we will give you the rundown on who is in line for a big week and give you one option which is poised to make for a great streaming option for the week.

Starting rotations stay fluid all season long and this week is no different. Between rainouts, big league callups, and bullpen demotions; the two-start pitchers list has been quickly changing this week. Out are Sonny Gray, Kyle Hendricks, and Ricky Nolasco. In are Jason Hammel, Kendall Graveman, and Jose Berrios. While some rotation spots may be up in the air (Milwaukee), our first pitcher is in line for a big week in Week Five.

Bartolo Colon (ATL, @SD)

Back in the day, Bartolo Colon was an elite pitcher, earning the Cy Young Award for the Angels in 2005. Flash forward a decade later and the 43-year-old Colon is still thriving on the mound, albeit not at the same level. In his last two seasons with the Mets, the husky right-hander has been a surprisingly serviceable fantasy option with 29 wins, an ERA of 4.13 and a WHIP of 1.23 over nearly 400 innings. This season too, Colon has posted a respectable 21 Ks in 23.2 innings on his way to a 1-1 record in four starts.

This week, Colon gets to make two starts aginst two of the worst run scoring teams in all of baseball. Atlanta and San Diego rank 14th and 15th in the National League with only 51 and 49 run scored versus righties this season, well below the major league average of 72 runs. Factor in the Padres are hitting only .219 at home and the Braves .229 overall, and you could not ask for two more favorable starts for the Mets' veteran this week.

Colon may no longer give you the big innings that he used to but with two very winnable matchups, he should be owned in more than the one-fifth of Yahoo! Leagues, that he currently is, this week.

Aces

Jake Arrieta (@PIT, WAS)

Matt Harvey (ATL, @SD)

Arrieta has allowed one run in his last 24 innings, including his second career no-hitter on April 21. His K rate is down a bit from last season (9.3 K/9 in 2015, 8.0 in 2016), but no one is complaining about his production...Harvey started his year off rough (11 ER with 9 K in first 17.1 IP) but has gotten back into his groove the last two starts and gets to face off with two of the worst hitting teams in the NL.

Lineup Locks

Gerrit Cole (CHC, @STL)

Johnny Cueto (@CIN, COL)

Dallas Keuchel (MIN, SEA)

Aaron Nola (@STL, @MIA)

Jose Quintana (BOS, MIN)

Coming off an 11 strikeout shutout of the Padres, Cueto has now strung together three straight quality starts. While Cincinnati is not the most desirable pitching location, the former Red will have revenge on his mind as he returns to his old stomping grounds...In Keuchel's last 16 home starts, dating back to last season, the Astro's ace is 16-0 with a 1.38 ERA and a 9.4 K/9 rate. This week he gets two favorable home turns against the Twins and Mariners...Quintana has been lights out so far in 2016 twirling 16 straight scoreless innings on his way to a 1.47 ERA this season. He can continue the momentum with two teams struggling against lefties; Boston is hitting .198 while the Twins are no better at .220.

Solid Starts

Gio Gonzalez (@KC, @CHC)

Jason Hammel (@PIT, WAS)

Collin McHugh (MIN, SEA)

Matt Moore (LAD, @LAA)

Tanner Roark (@KC, @CHC)

Jeff Samardzija (@CIN, COL)

Edinson Volquez (WAS, @CLE)

Michael Wacha (PHI, PIT)

Adam Wainwright (PHI, PIT)

A sizzling start for Hammel in 2016 as batters are hitting only .195 against the Cubs' starter through four starts. His 0.75 ERA leads the league and will face a tough test with the hot-hitting Pirates on Monday....Back-to-back gems by Roark (14 IP, four hits, zero runs, 21 Ks), albeit against the Twins and Phillies, has the fourth-year pitcher finally fulfilling his potential...Wainwright has seen his strikeout rate decline (4.6 K/9) and ERA rise (7.16), prompting speculation that the 34-year-old is in the twilight of his career. If a home date with the Phillies is not the perfect spark to get the Cardinals' righty season going, nothing will be.

A Bit of a Gamble

Jeremy Hellickson (@STL, @MIA)

Hisashi Iwakuma (@OAK, @HOU)

Jimmy Nelson (LAA, @CIN)

James Shields (COL, NYM)

Chris Tillman (NYY, OAK)

Josh Tomlin (DET, KC)

Justin Verlander (@CLE, TEX)

Steven Wright (@CWS, @NYY)

A seven inning, zero run, eight strikeout performance versus the Nationals in his last time out has Hellickson back in fantasy owners' good graces. While his trip to the mound versus the Redbirds may be tough, he gets to visit pitcher-friendly Miami...Nelson has improved his numbers across the board in each of the last three seasons. From an ERA of 4.93 in 2014, to 4.13 in 2015, to 3.16 this season the Brewers' big right-hander is also limiting opponents to a .212 average so far...Despite his 5.46 ERA this year, Verlander has thrown a quality start in four of his five starts with a 10.36 K/9 rate. In fact, he has been bringing the heat lately with 24 Ks in his last 19.1 innings.

Take a Chance

Jose Berrios (@HOU, @CWS)

Patrick Corbin (@ATL, @MIA)

Brandon Finnegan (SF, MIL)

Jon Gray (@SD, @SF)

Kendall Graveman(SEA, @BAL)

A.J. Griffin (@TOR, @DET)

Nathan Karns (@OAK, @HOU)

All the success in Triple-A could not prepare Berrios and his nerves for his MLB debut. His 4.0 IP and five runs allowed were not what the Twins were hoping for from their top prospect. A start versus the struggling Astros will allow the 21-year-old to settle in before facing the division-leading Pale Hose...Gray is in a terrible place as his next start out may be his last in the Rockies' rotation if he turns in a dud again despite his 12 Ks in 8.2 innings this year. Lucky for him, he faces the free-swinging (218 Ks tops the NL) and light-hitting (.219 AVG at home) Padres...In his last start, Karns shut out Houston for seven innings while allowing only five base runners. This week he gets another turn against the Astros plus the A's who are hitting only .220 at home this season. Owned in less than 10% of Yahoo leagues, the M's righty is the perfect streaming option this week.

No Thank You

Eddie Butler (@SD, @SF)

Andrew Cashner (COL, NYM)

R.A Dickey (TEX, LAD)

Marco Estrada (TEX, LAD)

Jon Moscot (SF, MIL)

Justin Nicolino (ARI, PHI)

Martin Perez (@TOR, @DET)

Luis Severino (@BAL, BOS)

Jered Weaver (@MIL, TB)

Matt Wisler (@NYM, ARI)