Two Start Pitchers: Week of May 23 - 30

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.

If you are in the mood for gambling, this is the week for you. A majority of the startable two-start pitchers in Week 8 are widely owned, leaving those who love streaming grasping at straws. The best candidates for pickup this week all come with plenty of flaws and risk. But if you are one of those owners who is facing an uphill battle and need a boom or bust option off the wire, look out west.

Nick Tropeano (@TEX, HOU)

Owned in less than 10 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Tropeano deserves to get the call this week. Coming off his best performance of the season, 7.0 IP with one run allowed against the Dodgers, the 25-year-old enters the week as the Angels defacto ace. Holding a 3.30 ERA and an 8.9 K/9 rate, NiTro has been the most reliable arm in the rotation despite making it to the seventh inning only one time. Capable of posting huge strikeout numbers, he fanned 10 Rays in only 5.1 innings on May 8, Tropeano also has a wild side. His walk rate of 4.5 BB/9 has led to high pitch counts and an awful 1.59 WHIP.

Despite his flaws, Tropeano deserves a look as he gets a couple of favorable matchups in Week 8. Over the last week, the Rangers are the worst-hitting team in the American League with a .216 average and only 3.67 runs scored per game. Following up with a home turn against the Astros, the MLB-leading swing-and-miss kings, Tropeano is catching two clubs at the best time.

Aces

Clayton Kershaw (CIN, @NYM)

Chris Sale (CLE, @KC)

Stephen Strasburg (NYM, STL)

Sale has enjoyed an exceptional start to the season with a perfect nine wins in nine starts and owns the best ERA and WHIP in the AL. However, his .197 BABIP and 2.80 FIP suggests his numbers will slide back a bit, but he remains one of the top five starters in all of fantasy. ..Blessed with excellent run support, 6.4 runs per game, Strasburg is second in NL, behind Jake Arrieta, with seven wins. With four home runs allowed, leading to a home ERA of 4.18, the Nats righty needs to be careful with the top two home run hitters in the NL, Cards and Mets, coming to town.

Lineup Locks

Johnny Cueto (SD, @COL)

Rich Hill (@SEA, DET)

Francisco Liriano (ARI, @TEX)

Drew Pomeranz (@SF, @ARI)

David Price (COL, @TOR)

Vincent Velasquez (@DET, @CHC)

In Hill's first start of the season, he went only 2.2 innings as he allowed four runs. In the eight starts since he is posting a 2.30 ERA, a .190 batting average against with 56 Ks in 47 IP, ace level stuff from the 12-year veteran...The 5th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Pomeranz is finally living up to expectations. The big lefty has allowed three runs or less in all eight of his starts leaving him with a sub-2.00 ERA. Not ideal starts this week, but there is no way you bench him this week...Ranking in the top five of both H/9 (6.15) and K/9 (10.99), Velasquez has emerged in Philly. The 23-year-old will be facing an innings cap this year, so keep him locked in as long as he continues to get the call.

Solid Starts

Wei-Yin Chen (TB, @ATL)

Gio Gonzalez (NYM, STL)

Ian Kennedy (@MIN, CWS)

John Lackey (@STL, PHI)

Jimmy Nelson (@ATL, CIN)

Jake Odorizzi (@MIA, NYY)

Julio Teheran (MIL, MIA)

Chris Tillman (@HOU, @CLE)

Taijuan Walker (OAK, MIN)

Chen hasn't been lights out this year (4.22 ERA), but with only nine walks in nearly 50 IP, the former Oriole has been a dependable SP with six quality starts. With the Rays and Braves on the bill this week, you could do much worse the Chen this week...Tillman has quietly returned to his 2013 All-Star form after disastrous 2015. A sub 3.00 ERA was not entirely unexpected, but a career-high 9.2 K/9 rate is...With two tasty matchups, we will find out who the real Taijuan Walker is this week. Is he the young ace from his first four starts, 1.44 ERA, .223 BA against, or the back end of the rotation pitcher from his last four, 0-3 with a 5.09 ERA in less than five IP per start.

Not a Sure Thing

Bartolo Colon (@WAS, LAD)

R.A. Dickey (@NYY, BOS)

Nathan Eovaldi (TOR, @TB)

Doug Fister (BAL, @LAA)

Matt Moore (@MIA, NYY)

Edinson Volquez (@MIN, CWS)

Michael Wacha (CHC, @WAS)

Adam Wainwright (CHC, @WAS)

Last week's one-hit gem in Arizona gave Eovaldi three straight wins and lowered his ERA down to 4.44. It was nearly 7.00 after two starts. His walk rate is down (1.8 BB/9) while his strikeouts are up (8.3 K/9). A couple of solid outings this week will make us a full believer...Victimized by the long ball, eight HR allowed in only 46 IP, Moore has been unable to put it all together so far this year. His 5.09 ERA is disastrous, but a solid K/9 rate along with a decent WHIP and BA against, hope remains Moore can turn it around...An All-Star appearance and 17 wins in 2015 combined with a 2.65 ERA to start 2016 had Wacha firmly in our good graces. After allowing 12 ER in 14 IP, his last three starts, the Cardinals' righty has us unsure what to expect. Facing two tough offenses in the Cubs and Nats, Wacha is not a must start anymore.

Shot in the Dark

Brandon Finnegan (@LAD, @MIL)

Tom Koehler (TB, @ATL)

Shelby Miller (@PIT, SD)

Koehler's line over his last three starts, (1.83 ERA, .221 BA against, and 7.51 K/9) coupled with starts this week against the Rays and Braves, would make you think he is a must add. However, his 25 walks, the most allowed in the NL this year, makes the Marlins' starter a ticking time-bomb...The perfect example of how weak the crop of waiver adds this week is that Miller looks like a decent pickup in Week 8. After three decent outings with three runs or less allowed, the 25-year-old may be turning the corner. While no one will argue, he will be lights out or even be surprised if he gets torched; the matchups are favorable and hope the pitcher with the career ERA of 3.22, before this season, is still in there somewhere.

No Thank You

Mike Clevinger (@CWS, BAL)

Derek Holland (LAA, PIT)

Mat Latos (CLE, @KC)

Ricky Nolasco (KC, @SEA)

Mike Pelfrey (PHI, @OAK)

Chris Rusin (@BOS, SF)

Ervin Santana (KC, @SEA)