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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.
A majority of the two-start pitchers this week are sitting on the waiver wire, where they belong. With only 14 of our pitchers, an absolute must start, this week matchups will be won not by the quantity but the quality of your pitchers in Week Six. Even with the limited streaming options, there is one pitcher available in over 90-plus percent of Yahoo! leagues worth the risk.
Matt Wisler (PHI, @KC)
Wisler's 4.71 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 5.9 K/9 rate in 109 innings last season had the 23-year-old far off the fantasy radar this spring. However, cComing off an eight-inning, one-hit, zero run performance against the Mets, the Braves righty has all our ears perked up. Even with his strikeout rate staying virtually the same, 6.2, Wisler has caught the eye of streamers this week with his 0.90 WHIP and .175 opponents batting average in 33.1 innings.
With Atlanta hitting a league-worst .226 and only six home runs as a team, don't expect much run support, or wins, from Wisler this week. However, with two of the more favorable matchups you could ask for, the weak-hitting Phillies (29th in batting average, .227, and 27th in runs scored, 94) and the struggling Royals offense (29th in runs scored, 91), Wisler has a good shot at posting a pair of quality starts.
It's not to say that I would expect a repeat of his Mets performance, but with the limited options for streamers this week, Wisler can help lower your ratios this week even if both his trips out are nothing to write home about.
Aces
Corey Kluber (@HOU, MIN)
Jon Lester (SD, PIT)
Stephen Strasburg (DET, MIA)
Masahiro Tanaka (KC, CWS)
After a rough start (6.16 ERA, .286 BA against in first three starts), Kluber has settled in. The Indians' right-hander is fresh off a five-hit shutout of the Tigers and is looking to feast on a pair of free-swinging teams...Lester is paying off big for the Cubs as he sports a 1.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 8.6 K/9 rate through 40 innings. With the whiff-kings of the NL (San Diego) coming into Wrigley, the southpaw is in line for a big week...Even with a 2.29 ERA and four consecutive quality starts, Tanaka still only has one win so far. After tossing eight shutout innings his last time out, and two cushy home starts coming his way, the Yankees ace will likely double his victories by week's end.
Lineup Locks
Jacob deGrom (@LAD, @COL)
Jose Fernandez (MIL, @WAS)
Felix Hernandez (TB, LAA)
Steven Matz (@LAD, @COL)
If not for the trip to Coors Field, the Mets' duo of deGrom and Matz would be in the Aces category. However, anytime you have to face a team hitting .293 and slugging .513 at home, it is always a risk no matter who you are...Off to an overall poor start, 4.28 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, Fernandez still is the strikeout king as he leads all of the majors with a 12.6 K/9 rate...Speaking of royalty, King Felix has had one strange season so far. Hernandez has not been sharp despite his 2.21 ERA. His downfall has been his command as opponents are laying off his offspeed stuff leading to career worst walk and strikeout rates of 4.4 BB/9 and 7.1 K/9.
Solid Starts
Kevin Gausman (@MIN, DET)
Sonny Gray (@BOS, @TB)
Carlos Rodon (@TEX, @NYY)
Joe Ross (DET, MIA)
Hector Santiago (STL, @SEA)
Drew Smyly (@SEA, OAK)
The M's blasted Gray for seven runs in his last turn giving the A's ace two consecutive stinkbombs. After a tough matchup with the Red Sox, the righty gets a favorable matchup with light-hitting Rays this week...Second to only Jake Arrieta in the NL with a 1.23 ERA, Ross is fulfilling the preseason hype. With a sub-1.0 WHIP and opponents hitting under .200 against him, the Nationals youngster has moved into must-start territory this week...Only three pitchers have posted a better WHIP than Smyly this season, Arrieta, Kershaw, and Sale, and the Tampa southpaw has a better K/9 rate than all three at 10.7. If the Rays could score any runs (26th in MLB), Smyly would have more than one win.
Not a Sure Thing
Jose Berrios (BAL, @CLE)
Scott Kazmir (NYM, STL)
Colby Lewis (CWS, TOR)
Aaron Sanchez (@SF, @TEX)
Anibal Sanchez (@WAS, @BAL)
Alex Wood (NYM, STL)
Kazmir has flat out struggled this year as he is off to his worst start in six years. While his strikeout rate is up (8.5 K/9), opponents are hitting .273 against him, the worst mark in his 12-year career...Take away his six-run blowup against the A's and Aaron Sanchez is carrying a 1.58 ERA and a perfect record. The 23-year-old faces a tough test this week as he visits two of the best hitting clubs at home...Talk about an up and down season; Wood has four starts with five or more runs allowed and two seven-inning one-run gems. With a matchup against deGrom and then the bruising Cardinals on the docket this week, you may want to stay away from Wood.
Shot in the Dark
Clay Buchholz (OAK, HOU)
Rubby De La Rosa (@COL, SF)
Mike Fiers (CLE, @BOS)
Kris Medlen (@NYY, ATL)
Buchholz last turn on the mound was a good one as he allowed only three hits and struck out six in seven strong innings versus the White Sox. Oakland and Houston both are hitting under .235 on the year giving the Red Sox righty a solid shot at starting a hot streak...The Yankees and Braves rank 28th and 30th in runs scored this season making Medlen a reasonable desperation play this week, emphasis on desperate.
No Thank You
Matt Cain (TOR, @ARI)
Tyler Chatwood (ARI, NYM)
Zach Davies (@MIA, SD)
Chris Devenski (CLE, @BOS)
Michael Fulmer (@WAS, @BAL)
Mike Leake (@LAA, @LAD)
Adam Morgan (@ATL, CIN)
Jonathon Niese (@CIN, @CHC)
Ivan Nova (KC, CWS)
Jake Peavy (TOR, @ARI)
Wily Peralta (@MIA, SD)
Robbie Ray (@COL, SF)
Colin Rea (@CHC, @MIL)
Dan Straily (PIT, @PHI)
Cesar Vargas (@CHC, @MIL)
Tyler Wilson (@MIN, DET)
Chris Young (@NYY, ATL)