Archive for the ‘Two Start Pitchers’ Category

2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 26

Posted by Todd Lammi on September 17th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 26 of the major league baseball season, covering September 19 – September 25.

2 start pitchers week 26: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Ricky Romero (TOR) ~ LAA (Pineiro), @TB (Davis)

Roll the Dice:

Jeremy Guthrie (BAL) ~ @BOS (TBD), @DET (Penny)
Gavin Floyd (CHW) ~ @CLE (Carmona), KC (Chen)
Phil Hughes (NYY) ~ MIN (Pavano), BOS (Wakefield)
Wade Davis (TB) ~ @NYY (Burnett), TOR (Romero)
Derek Holland (TEX) ~ @OAK (Harden), SEA (Furbush)

Holland is 3-0 in his last four starts and tossed seven shutout innings in his last start against the Red Sox. Davis has two tough matchups next week against the Yankees who he has yet to face this season and the Blue Jays who he has a 4.91 ERA and 1.56 WHIP against in four starts this season. Hughes was better in his last two starts allowing three runs in 12 innings on the heels of getting rokced his two previous outings. He faced Boston three starts ago and allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings and one run in 7 2/3 innings the last time he faced the Twins. Floyd did not make it to the sixth inning in either of his last three starts and faced Cleveland three times in his 10 starts, allowing six runs in 19 innings. Guthrie has allowed three runs or less in five straight starts, though he was knocked around the last time he faced the Tigers, allowing six runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Sit Them:

Rick VandenHurk (BAL) ~ @BOS (Weiland), @DET (Verlander)
David Huff (CLE) ~ SEA (Furbush), MIN (Pavano)
Fausto Carmona (CLE) ~ CWS (Floyd), MIN (Hendriks)
Brad Penny (DET) ~ @KC (Hochevar), BAL (Guthrie)
Jerome Williams (LAA) ~ @TOR (Morrow), OAK (Moscoso)
Joel Pineiro (LAA) ~ @TOR (Romero), OAK (Harden)
Liam Hendriks (MIN) ~ SEA (Vargas), @CLE (Carmona)
Carl Pavano (MIN) ~ @NYY (Hughes), @CLE (Huff)
A.J. Burnett (NYY) ~ TB (Davis), BOS (Lackey)
Rich Harden (OAK) ~ TEX (Holland), @LAA (Pineiro)
Charlie Furbush (SEA) ~ @CLE (Huff), @TEX (Holland)
Brandon Morrow (TOR) ~ LAA (Williams), @TB (Moore)

Pineiro has had two decent starts, an average start and one bad start since moving back into the Angels rotation. I would only look to start him if you are desperate for wins. Every once in awhile vintage Harden pops up from days gone by, but unless you can make up a lot of ground in strikeouts, it is tough to risk your ratios to two starts from him. He allowed four runs in four innings the last time he faced the Rangers. Williams has struggled on the road in two starts with a 7.62 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP and has a tough match up against Toronto next week. Carmona has not won since August 17th and has a 8.68 ERA and 2.09 WHIP for four starts in September. Despite Huff’s numbers overall on the season, I am not comfortable recommending him next week as has gotten exposed in his last three starts, allowing 10 runs in 16 1/3 innings. Morrow has been trending the wrong direction, allowing five runs or more in four of his last five starts. Furbush has lost five straight starts and allowed six runs in four innings the last time he faced Texas.

National League:

Start them:

Ian Kennedy (ARI) ~ PIT (Karstens), SF (Lincecum)
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) ~ SF (Lincecum), @SD (Luebke)
Cliff Lee (PHI) ~ WAS (Peacock), @NYM (Pelfrey)
Roy Halladay (PHI) ~ STL (Lohse), @NYM (Gee)
Cory Luebke (SD) ~ @COL (Millwood), LAD (Kershaw)
Tim Lincecum (SF) ~ @LAD (Kershaw), @ARI (Kennedy)
Edwin Jackson (STL) ~ NYM (Pelfrey), CHC (Coleman)

Roll the Dice:

Mike Minor (ATL) ~ @FLA (Nolasco), @WAS (Peacock)
Jhoulys Chacin (COL) ~ SD (Latos), @HOU (Norris)
Kevin Millwood (COL) ~ SD (Luebke), @HOU (Happ)
Bud Norris (HOU) ~ @CIN (Bailey), COL (Chacin)
Chris Narveson (MIL) ~ @CHC (Coleman), FLA (Hand)
Kyle Lohse (STL) ~ @PHI (Halladay), CHC (Dempster)
Brad Peacock (WAS) ~ @PHI (Lee), ATL (Minor)

Narveson had his last start skipped because of an off day and has not made it to the sixth inning in his last four starts making him a somewhat risky play. Millwood tossed seven shutout innings in his last start against the Padres, though it will be a little tougher at Coors Field this time. Chacin has been slowing down the second half of the season as the innings have piled up with a 4.76 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. I would be tempted to bench him if you have another alternative. Minor is 5-0 in his last eight starts and allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings in his last start against the Marlins.

Sit Them:

Casey Coleman (CHC) ~ MIL (Narveson), @STL (Jackson)
J.A. Happ (HOU) ~ @CIN (Maloney), COL (Millwood)
Mike Pelfrey (NYM) ~ @STL (Jackson), PHI (Lee)

Pelfrey faces St. Louis for the first time this season, but has struggled in five starts against the Phillies with a 6.84 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. Happ has been better in his last four starts allowing six runs in 24 innings, but two starts came against the Pirates and one against the Giants.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 25

Posted by Todd Lammi on September 10th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 25 of the major league baseball season, covering September 12 – September 18.

2 start pitchers week 25: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Justin Verlander (DET) ~ @CWS (Danks), @OAK (Moscoso)
Gio Gonzalez (OAK) ~ LAA (Pineiro), DET (Porcello)
Felix Hernandez (SEA) ~ NYY (Hughes), TEX (Harrison)
David Price (TB) ~ @BAL (Simon), @BOS (Lester)

Gonzalez has thrived when pitching at the Oakland Coliseum this season with a 2.80 ERA amd a 1.21 WHIP ratio.

Roll the Dice:

Zach Britton (BAL) ~ TB (Niemann), LAA (Pineiro)
Justin Masterson (CLE) ~ @TEX (Harrison), @MIN (Swarzak)
Bruce Chen (KC) ~ MIN (Diamond), CWS (TBD)
Guillermo Moscoso (OAK) ~ LAA (Williams), DET (Verlander)
Rick Porcello (DET) ~ @CWS (TBD), @OAK (Gonzalez)
Matt Harrison (TEX) ~ CLE (Masterson), @SEA (Hernandez)
Jeff Niemann (TB) ~ @BAL (Britton), @BOS (Weiland)

Harrison has struggled of late, making it past the sixth inning in only one of his last five starts. Niemann has been much better on the road this season where he has two starts next week and owns a 3.36 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Moscoso has allowed two runs or five of his last six starts, while collecting four wins. Chen had been on a five game winning streak before losing his last two outings. He tossed six shutout innings against the White Sox the last time he faced them. Porcell has been better on the road this year with a 4.01 ERA and 1.31 WHIP compared to 5.91 and 1.51 at Comerica Park. Britton has been better since coming back to the Orioles rotation August 22, going 3-0 in four starts.

Sit Them:

Tim Wakefield (BOS) ~ TOR (Morrow), TB (Price)
Joel Pineiro (LAA) ~ @OAK (Gonzalez), @BAL (Britton)

Pineiro has been okay in his last three starts, but struggled when he faced Oakland and Baltimore in July on the road, allowing a combined 10 runs in 5 2/3 innings. Wakefield is winless since June 24th and has not made it to the sixth inning in four straight starts.

National League:

Start them:

Brandon Beachy (ATL) ~ FLA (Volstad), NYM (Gee)
Johnny Cueto (CIN) ~ CHC (Dempster), MIL (Gallardo)
Cole Hamels (PHI) ~ @HOU (Happ), STL (Lohse)
Matt Cain (SF) ~ SD (Luebke), @COL (Cook)

Roll the Dice:

Joe Saunders (ARI) ~ @LAD (Lilly), @SD (Harang)
Ryan Dempster (CHC) ~ @CIN (Cueto), MIL (Gallardo)
Brett Myers (HOU) ~ PHI (Oswalt), @CHC (Dempster)
Chad Billingsley (LAD) ~ ARI (Kennedy), PIT (Karstens)
Ted Lilly (LAD) ~ ARU (Saunders), PIT (Lincoln)
R.A. Dickey (NYM) ~ WAS (Wang), @ATL (Hudson)
Roy Oswalt (PHI) ~ @HOU (Myers), STL (Westbrook)
Brad Lincoln (PIT) ~ STL (Lohse), @LAD (Lilly)
Aaron Harang (SD) ~ @SF (Surkamp), ARI (Saunders)
Eric Surkamp (SF) ~ SD (Harang), @COL (White)
Kyle Lohse (STL) ~ @PIT (Lincoln), @PHI (Hamels)

Harang has allowed two runs or less in four straight starts and allowed one run in seven innings in his last start against the Giants. Dickey is 3-0 in his last five starts and has allowed three runs or less in 10 straight starts. Lohse is 4-1 in his last five starts and has two wins over the Pirates in his last four appearances. Myers picked up his first win since June 17th in his last start and has allowed three runs in his last 16 2/3 innings of work. Dempster is winless in his last five starts, buit has allowed three runs or less eight of his last nine outings. Saunders has been much better on the road this season with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

Sit Them:

Rodrigo Lopez (CHC) ~ @CIN (Willis), HOU (Sosa)
Dontrelle Willis (CIN) ~ CHC (Lopez), MIL (Gallardo)
Chris Volstad (FLA) ~ @ATL (Beachy), @WAS (Strasburg)
Brad Hand (FLA) ~ @ATL (Minor), @WAS (Wang)
Dillon Gee (NYM) ~ WAS (Detwiler), @ATL (Beachy)
Jeff Karstens (PIT) ~ STL (Carpenter), @LAD (Billingsley)
Chien-Ming Wang (WAS) ~ @NYM (Gee), FLA (Hand)

Gee gets Washington and Atlanta again after facing each team in his last two starts in which he allowed eight runs in 11 innings. Volstad has not collected a win since July 19th and will struggle to do so facing Beachy and Strasburg next week.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 24

Posted by Todd Lammi on September 2nd, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 24 of the major league baseball season, covering September 5 – September 11.

2 start pitchers week 24: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Josh Beckett (BOS) ~ @TOR (Alvarez), @TB (Shields)
Doug Fister (DET) ~ @CLE (Jimenez), MIN (Swarzak)
Dan Haren (LAA) ~ SEA (Vazquez), NYY (Sabathia)
CC Sabathia (NYY) ~ BAL (Reyes), @LAA (Haren)
Felix Hernandez (SEA) ~ @LAA (Santana), KC (Duffy)
James Shields (TB) ~ TEX (Ogando), BOS (Beckett)

Roll the Dice:

Rich Harden (BOS) ~ KC (Paulino), @TEX (Ogando)
Jake Peavy (CHW) ~ @MIN (Pavano), CLE (Carmona)
Fausto Carmona (CHW) ~ DET (Porcello), @CWS (Peavy)
Luis Perez (TOR) ~ BOS (Lester), BAL (Reyes)
Henderson Alvarez (TOR) ~ BOS (Beckett), BAL (Simon)

Harden has not made it to five innings in two of his last four starts, so only if you need his strikeouts that badly. Peavy’s ERA has jumped 1/2 of a run over his last five starts, thanks to six home runs allowed over his last three outings.  Carmona faced the Tigers and White Sox a few weeks ago and allowed four runs in 15 1/3 innings.

Sit Them:

Jo-Jo Reyes (BAL) ~ @NYY (Sabathia), @TOR (Perez)
Philip Humber (CHW) ~ @MIN (Swarzak), CLE (Jimenez)
Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE) ~ DET (Fister), @CWS (Humber)
Danny Duffy (KC) ~ @OAK (Gonzalez), @SEA (Furbush)
Felipe Paulino (KC) ~ @BOS (Harden), @SEA(Vazquez)
Anthony Swarzak (MIN) ~ CWS (Humber), @DET (Scherzer)
Scott Diamond (MIN) ~ CWS (Stewart), @DET (Fister)
Anthony Vazquez (SEA) ~ @LAA(Haren), KC (Vazquez)
Alexi Ogando (TEX) ~ @TB (Shields), OAK (Harden)

Jimenez has been worse since coming to the American League with a 5.56 ERA and a 1,59 WHIP. He has faced Detroit twice already and the White Sox one time since moving to the AL. Humber returns from the disabled list, but he was not pitching well before he got hurt, going 0-4 in his last six appearances. Ogando has struggled in August, posting a 7.14 ERA with a 1.69 WHIP and a .339 batting average against.

National League:

Start them:

Josh Collmenter (ARI) ~ @COL (Rogers), SD (LeBlanc)
Tim Hudson (ATL) ~ @PHI (Oswalt), @STL (Westbrook)
Matt Garza (CHC) ~ CIN (Willis), @NYM (Batista)
Javier Vazquez (FLA) ~ NYM (Capuano), @PIT (McDonald)
Hiroki Kuroda (LAD) ~ @WAS (Lannan), @SF (Vogelsong)
Yovani Gallardo (MIL) ~ @STL (Westbrook), PHI (Worley)
Cliff Lee (PHI) ~ ATL (Lowe), @MIL (Wolf)
Madison Bumgarner (SF) ~ @SD (Stauffer), LAD (Lilly)
Stephen Strasburg (WAS) ~ LAD (Lilly), HOU (Sosa)

Roll the Dice:

Derek Lowe (ATL) ~ @PHI (Lee), @STL (Jackson)
Henry Sosa (HOU) ~ @PIT (McDonald), @WAS (Strasburg)
Ted Lilly (LAD) ~ @WAS (Strasburg), @SF (Bumgarner)
Randy Wolf (MIL) ~ @STL (Westbrook), PHI (Lee)
Chris Capuano (NYM) ~ @FLA (Vazquez), CHC (Wells)
Vance Worley (PHI) ~ ATL (Hudson), @MIL (Gallardo)
James McDonald (PIT) ~ HOU (Sosa), FLA (Vazquez)
John Lannan (WAS) ~ LAD (Kuroda), HOU (Rodriguez)

Lannan has allowed three runs or less in six straight starts but has only one win to show for it due to a lack of offensive support. McDonald has allowed three runs or less in five straight starts. Capuano is very familiar with the Marlins, having faced them four times in his last nine starts. Lilly has been on fire in August with a 2.35 ERA and 0.91 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .170 batting average.

Sit Them:

Miguel Batista (ARI) ~ @FLA (Volstad), CHC (Garza)
Wade Miley (ARI) ~ @COL (Cook), SD (Stauffer)
Dontrelle Willis (CIN) ~ @CHC (Garza), @COL (Cook)
Aaron Cook (COL) ~ ARI (Miley), CIN (Willis)
Wade LeBlanc (SD) ~ SF (Surkamp), @ARI (Collmenter)
Tim Stauffer (SD) ~ SF (Bumgarner), @ARI (Miley)
Jake Westbrook (STL) ~ MIL (Wolf), ATL (Hudson)

LeBlanc has a 5.14 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in nine starts and has made it past six innings in only one outing. Stauffer has struggled in the second half as his innings are starting to pile up with a 5.62 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP .

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 22

Posted by Todd Lammi on August 21st, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 22 of the major league baseball season, covering August 22 – August 28.

2 start pitchers week 22: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Justin Verlander (DET) ~ @TB (Niemann), @MIN (Pavano)
David Price (TB) ~ DET (Penny), @TOR (Morrow)
Jeff Niemann (TB) ~ DET (Verlander), @TOR (Perez)
C.J. Wilson (TEX) ~BOS (Bedard), LAA (Pineiro)

Roll the Dice:

Erik Bedard (BOS) ~ @TEX (Wilson), OAK (Moscoso)
Fausto Carmona (CLE) ~ SEA (Vargas), KC (Chen)
Carl Pavano (MIN) ~ BAL (Guthrie), DET (Verlander)
Bartolo Colon (NYY) ~ OAK (McCarthy), @BAL (Simon)
Colby Lewis (TEX) ~ BOS (Lackey), LAA (Chatwood)
Brandon Morrow (TOR) ~ KC (Chen), TB (Price)

Carmona has been solid the second half of the season with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in six starts. Colon’s five runs allowed in his last start broke a string of five consecutive starts with two runs allowed or less. Pavano has not won since July 7th, but has put together three good outings in a row after three bad ones. He has faced Detroit twice in his last six starts, allowing eight runs over 13 innings.

Sit Them:

Jeremy Guthrie (BAL) ~ @MIN (Pavano), NYY (Hughes)
Alfredo Simon (BAL) ~ @MIN (Duensing), NYY (Colon)
John Lackey (BOS) ~ @TEX (Lewis), OAK (McCarthy)
Brad Penny (DET) ~ @TB (Price), @MIN (Duensing)
Bruce Chen (KC) ~ @TOR (Morrow), @CLE (Carmona)
Brian Duensing (MIN) ~ BAL (Simon), DET (Penny)
Brandon McCarthy (OAK) ~ @NYY (Colon), @BOS (Lackey)
Jason Vargas (SEA) ~ @CLE (Carmona), CWS (Peavy)
Blake Beavan (SEA) ~ @CLE (Masterson), CWS (Stewart)

McCarthy has pitched well this year but two road starts against the Yankees and Red Sox can wreck your team ERA and WHIP for the week. Beavan was shelled shelled in his last two outings and looked more like the pitcher he was in Triple-A, giving up six home runs in this two starts. Vargas has struggled the second half of the year, with a 7.39 ERA and a 2.01 WHIP with 17 walks and 19 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. Duensing has lost four starts in a row by allowing eight home runs and has been worse at home with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Chen has struggled on the road where he has a 5.06 ERA and 1.58 WHIP for the season. If you are strictly looking for wins, then maybe you take a chance on Lackey who is 5-1 since the All-Star break despite a 4.53 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.  Guthrie had a better than 2:1 strikeout to walk ration the first half of the season at 78 to 32, but that has changed since the All-Star break with 17 walks and 17 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings.

National League:

Start them:

Ian Kennedy (ARI) ~ @WAS (Zimmermann), SD (Luebke)
Johnny Cueto (CIN) ~ @FLA (Nolasco), WAS (Zimmermann)
Zack Greinke (MIL) ~ @PIT (Karstens), CHC (Coleman)
Cliff Lee (PHI) ~ NYM (Niese), FLA (Nolasco)
Matt Cain (SF) ~ SD (Latos), HOU (Norris)
Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) ~ ARI (Kennedy), @CIN (Cueto)

Roll the Dice:

Joe Saunders (ARI) ~ @WAS (Detwiler), SD (Harang)
Jair Jurrjens (ATL) ~ @CHC (Dempster), @NYM (Dickey)
Ryan Dempster (CHC) ~ ATL (Jurrjens), @MIL (Gallardo)
Jhoulys Chacin (COL) ~ HOU (Myers), @LAD (Eovaldi)
Bud Norris (HOU) ~ @COL (Cook), @SF (Cain)
Brett Myers (HOU) ~ @COL (Chacin), @SF (TBD)
Nathan Eovaldi (LAD) ~ @STL (Carpenter), COL (Chacin)
Jon Niese (NYM) ~ @PHI (Lee), ATL (Hanson)
Jeff Karstens (PIT) ~ MIL (Greinke), @STL (Carpenter)
Chris Carpenter (STL) ~ LAD (Eovaldi), PIT (Karstens)
Kyle Lohse (STL) ~ LAD (Kershaw), PIT (TBD)

Carpenter is 6-1 in his last 10 starts and has been significantly better at Busch Stadium with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Lohse has allowed two runs or less in four of his past five starts and has not lost since July 19th. Niese has slightly higher numbers the second half of the season as he has been easier to hit, but has faced Philadelphia four times (3.42 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) and Atlanta three times (4.26 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) already this season. Myers has fared okay at Coors Field over his career with a 3.92 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, but victories may be hard to come by as he is winless since June 17th. Chacin has been slowing down, going 1-6 in his last 10 starts and has posted a 4.79 ERA and 1.48 WHIP the second half of the year. Dempster has allowed three runs or less in five straight starts and has a 3.56 ERA and 1.21 WHIP since the break with more than a strikeout per inning. Saunders has had success against both Washington (seven shutout innings) and San Diego (3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, two starts) this season.

Sit Them:

Casey Coleman (CHC) ~ ATL (Minor), @MIL (Greinke)
Ross Detwiler (WAS) ~ ARI (Saunders), @CIN (Leake)

Detwiler is a gut call as to whether to start him or not. He has pitched a little better than what I think he is and he faces Cincinnati a second time after starting against them on 8/17.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 21

Posted by Todd Lammi on August 12th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 21 of the major league baseball season, covering August 14 – August 20.

2 start pitchers week 21: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Alexi Ogando (TEX) ~ @LAA (Richards), @CWS (Peavy)

Roll the Dice:

Erik Bedard (BOS) ~ TB (Davis), @KC (Paulino)
Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE) ~ @CWS (Floyd), @DET (Porcello)
Rick Porcello (DET) ~ MIN (Liriano), CLE (Jimenez)
Gio Gonzalez (OAK) ~ BAL (Hunter), TOR (Alvarez)
Guillermo Moscoso (OAK) ~ : BAL (TBD), TOR (Mills)
Michael Pineda (SEA) ~ TOR (Alvarez), @TB (Davis)
Wade Davis (TB) ~ @BOS (Bedard), SEA (Pineda)
Derek Holland (TEX) ~ @LAA (Chatwood), @CWS (Danks)
Henderson Alvarez (TOR) ~ @SEA (Pineda), @OAK (Gonzalez)

Alavrez was just okay in his major league debut against Oakland, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. He gets them again in his second start next week. Holland can be hit or miss at times, but he has been much better on the road this season where he has two starts next week. On the road, he has a 3.42 ERA and 1.23 WHIP vs. 5.32 and 1.63 at home. Davis has gotten off to a slow start after the All-Star break with a 6.04 ERA in four starts and has two tough matchups next week so it could be a sit week for him if you have other alternatives. Moscoso has been slightly better at the Oakland Coliseum where he gets two starts next week where he owns a 3.18 ERA and 1.18 WHIP vs. 3.80 and 1.31 on the road. Gonzalez has not looked like the same pitcher the second half of the season with four straight losses and a 6.35 ERA and 1.80 WHIP after the break. He gets two home starts next week where he has a 2.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP on the season. Porcello had been on a five-game win streak before taking a no decision and loss in his last two starts. He bombed in his last start against Cleveland, allowing eight runs in 3 2/3 innings so he is a possible sit candidate for next week.

Sit Them:

Tommy Hunter (BAL) ~ @OAK (Gonzalez), @LAA (Chatwood)
Felipe Paulino (KC) ~ NYY (Burnett), BOS (Bedard)
Garrett Richards (LAA) ~ TEX (Ogando), BAL (Reyes)
Tyler Chatwood (LAA) ~ TEX (Holland), BAL (Hunter)
Francisco Liriano (MIN) ~ @DET (Porcello), NYY (Hughes)
Nick Blackburn (MIN) ~ @DET (Verlander), NYY (Burnett)
A.J. Burnett (NYY) ~ @KC (Paulino), @MIN (Blackburn)
Brad Mills (TOR) ~ @SEA (Vargas), @OAK (Moscoso)

Burnett has struggled on the road this season with a 5.19 ERA and 1.56 WHIP and has not collected a win since June 29th. Hunter hos not done much since moving into the starting rotation, allowing four runs in both of his starts and he no longer has the powerful Texas offense behind him. Blackburn has not won since July 8th and has seen his ERA rise a full run over his last 10 starts. Liriano has walked eight more hitters than last season in 74 less innings which is a good reason to keep him reserved until he can get his control issues fixed. Paulino has pitched better since coming to the American League but has a tough schedule next week facing the Yankees and the Red Sox.

National League:

Start them:

Tim Hudson (ATL) ~ SF (Bumgarner), ARI (Marquis)
Tommy Hanson (ATL) ~ SF (Sanchez), ARI (Collmenter)
Yovani Gallardo (MIL) ~ LAD (Billingsley), @NYM (Dickey)
Cliff Lee (PHI) ~ ARI (Collmenter), @WAS (Detwiler)
Cory Luebke (SD) ~ NYM (Niese), FLA (Sanchez)
Madison Bumgarner (SF) ~ @ATL (Hudson), @HOU (Lyles)

Roll the Dice:

Josh Collmenter (ARI) ~ @PHI (Lee), @ATL (Hanson)
Mike Leake (CIN) ~ @WAS (Detwiler), @PIT (McDonald)
Anibal Sanchez (FLA) ~ @COL (Chacin), @SD (Luebke)
Ted Lilly (LAD) ~ @MIL (Wolf), @COL (Rogers)
Chad Billingsley (LAD) ~ @MIL (Gallardo), @COL (Millwood)
Randy Wolf (MIL) ~ LAD (Lilly), @NYM (Capuano)
R.A. Dickey (NYM) ~ @SD (Harang), MIL (Gallardo)
James McDonald (PIT) ~ STL (Westbrook), CIN (Leake)
Aaron Harang (SD) ~ NYM (Dickey), FLA (Hensley)
Jake Westbrook (STL) ~ @PIT (McDonald), @CHC (Lopez)

Westbrook has allowed three runs or less in five of his last six starts and has an ERA a full two runs lower when pitching on the road. Leake has allowed two runs or less in four of his last five starts while going six innings or more in each of those outings. McDonald’s ratios have been much better the second half of the season with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.28. Now if could just cure that second-half gopheritis of seven home runs in 29 2/3 innings. Dickey deserves to have a few more wins with the way he has pitched, but the Mets have scored three runs or less for him in five of his last 10 starts. Wolf is on a three game win streak and has allowed three runs or less in five of his last six appearances. Sanchez has gone 11 starts without a win so he should be due for one soon, though going to Coors Field will not help the ratios.

Sit Them:

Rodrigo Lopez (CHC) ~ @HOU (Sosa), STL (Westbrook)
Kevin Millwood (COL) ~ FLA (Hensley), LAD (Billingsley)
Henry Sosa (HOU) ~ CHC (Lopez), SF (Sanchez)
Clay Hensley (FLA) ~ @COL (Millwood), @SD (Harang)
Jonathan Sanchez (SF) ~ @ATL (Hanson), @HOU (Sosa)
Ross Detwiler (WAS) ~ CIN (Leake), PHI (Lee)

Detwiler’s numbers have been okay in a small sample size, but factor in from three starts he has five walks and seven strikeouts and he faces two strong offenses next week. There is enough options out there that you should not have to use reliever turned starter Hensley in your rotation, especially with a trip to Coors Field coming up. Sanchez has not made it to the fifth inning in his last four starts.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 20

Posted by Todd Lammi on August 6th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 20 of the major league baseball season, covering August 7 – August 13.

2 start pitchers week 20: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Justin Masterson (CLE) ~ DET (Fister), MIN (Baker)
Doug Fister (DET) ~ @CLE (Masterson), @BAL (TBD)
Dan Haren (LAA) ~ @NYY (Nova), @TOR (Cecil)
Scott Baker (MIN) ~ BOS (Wakefield), @CLE (Masterson)
James Shields (TB) ~ KC (Francis), @NYY (Nova)
Jeremy Hellickson (TB) ~ KC (Hochevar), @NYY (Garcia)

Roll the Dice:

Jeremy Guthrie (BAL) ~ CWS (Floyd), DET (Scherzer)
Philip Humber (CHW) ~ @BAL (TBD), KC (Hochevar)
Gavin Floyd (CHW) ~ @BAL (Guthrie), KC (Duffy)
Luke Hochevar (KC) ~ @TB (Hellickson), @CWS (Humber)
Ivan Nova (NYY) ~ LAA (Haren), TB (Shields)
Rich Harden (OAK) ~ @TOR (Cecil), TEX (Harrison)
Matt Harrison (TEX) ~ SEA (Furbush), @OAK (Harden)
Brett Cecil (TOR) ~ OAK (Harden), LAA (Haren)

Harden has allowed a home run in all six starts this season which has contributed to his high ERA. He has a couple of tough starts next week though if you are in need of strikeouts, he can definitely help in that category. Hughes has been better since returning to the Yankees rotation than he was earlier in the season, but his 4.43 ERA and 1.43 WHIP since the All-Star break is mediocre at best. Humber has lost four straight, allowing four runs or more in each outing.
Floyd has been inconsistent all season long. After winning three straight games with two runs allowed in 22 1/3 innings, he then got bombed in his last start for 10 runs. Guthrie has alternated wins and losses in his last four outings and has not performed as well at home this season vs. the road where he has a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Hochevar has won three straight starts and has been solid since the All-Star break with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Cecil is 3-0 in his last five starts and has a 2.79 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP since the All-Star break. Harrison’s ratio’s the second half of the season have been similar to the first half, though he has been easier to hit of late with a 2.86 batting average against after the break compared to .249 prior.

Sit Them:

Tim Wakefield (BOS) ~ @MIN (Baker), @SEA (Furbush)
Charlie Furbush (SEA) ~ @TEX (Harrison), BOS (Wakefield)

Furbush was solid in his first start, picking up a win with one run allowed in five innings, but facing Texas and Boston makes him a good candidate to reserve for next week.

National League:

Start them:

Daniel Hudson (ARI) ~ HOU (Rodriguez), NYM (Pelfrey)
Hiroki Kuroda (LAD) ~ PHI (Halladay), HOU (Lyles)
Shaun Marcum (MIL) ~ @STL (Jackson), PIT (Morton)
Roy Halladay (PHI) ~ @LAD (Kuroda), WAS (Wang)
Tim Stauffer (SD) ~ @NYM (Pelfrey), @CIN (Bailey)
Ryan Vogelsong (SF) ~ PIT (Morton), @FLA (Hand)

Roll the Dice:

Matt Garza (CHC) ~ WAS (Wang), @ATL (Lowe)
Homer Bailey (CIN) ~ COL (Hammel), SD (Stauffer)
Jordan Lyles (HOU) ~ @ARI (Marquis), @LAD (Kuroda)
Wandy Rodriguez (HOU) ~ @ARI (Hudson), @LAD (Lilly)
Mike Pelfrey (NYM) ~ SD (Stauffer), @ARI (Hudson)
Chris Capuano (NYM) ~ SD (TBD), @ARI (Marquis)
Edwin Jackson (STL) ~ MIL (Marcum), COL (Rogers)

Jackson has struggled in his move back to the National League with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP through two starts.
Capuano and Pelfrey have similar numbers in terms of a mid four ERA and a WHIP in the 1.3′s. In you are looking to make up ground in wins, cross your fingers and hope for the best. Lyles is going to struggle for wins with just 1 in 12 starts. His last outing was the first time the Astros scored more than four runs for him. Bailey has won three of his last four starts, though in the one loss he gave up nine runs in four innings.

Sit Them:

Jason Marquis (ARI) ~HOU (Lyles), NYM (Capuano)
Derek Lowe (ATL) ~ @FLA (Hand), CHC (Garza)
Dontrelle Willis (CIN) ~ COL (Rogers), SD (LeBlanc)
Esmil Rogers (COL) ~ @CIN (Willis), @STL (Jackson)
Jason Hammel (COL) ~ @CIN (Bailey), @STL (Garcia)
Brad Hand (FLA) ~ ATL (Lowe), SF (Vogelsong)
Charlie Morton (PIT) ~ @SF (Vogelsong), @MIL (Marcum)
Chieng-Ming Wang (WAS) ~ @CHC (Garza), @PHI (Halladay)

Morton’s ERA has been okay at 3.80 since the All-Star break because he has shown the abiltiy to limit walks this season but his 1.69 ERA due to a lack of control is a killer. Hand’s ratios look okay at first glance but with more walks than strikeouts, that is not likely to last long. Lowe has lost four of his last five starts and has a 7.97 ERA and 2.02 WHIP since the All-Star break.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 15

Posted by Todd Lammi on July 2nd, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 14 of the major league baseball season, covering July 4 – July 10.

2 start pitchers week 15: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Justin Verlander (DET) ~ @LAA (Haren), @KC (Francis)
Dan Haren (LAA) ~ DET (Verlander), SEA (Hernandez)
Scott Baker (MIN) ~ TB (TBD), @CWS (Peavy)
CC Sabathia (NYY) ~ @CLE (Carrasco), TB (Shields)
Michael Pineda (SEA) ~ @OAK (Moscoso), @LAA (Pineiro)
Felix Hernandez (SEA) ~ @OAK (Cahill), @LAA (Haren)
James Shields (TB) ~ @MIN (Baker), @NYY (Sabathia)

Roll the Dice:

Mark Buehrle (CHW) ~ KC (Paulino), MIN (Duensing)
Jake Peavy (CHW) ~ KC (Francis), MIN (Baker)
Carlos Carrasco (CLE) ~ NYY (Sabathia), TOR (Cecil)
Charlie Furbush (DET) ~ @LAA (Pineiro), @KC (Paulino)
Brian Duensing (MIN) ~ TB (Shields), @CWS (Buehrle)
A.J. Burnett (NYY) ~ @CLE (Tomlin), TB (Price)
Trevor Cahill (OAK) ~ SEA (Hernandez), @TEX (Harrison)
Guillermo Moscoso (OAK) ~ SEA (Pineda), @TEX (Lewis)
Brandon Morrow (TOR) ~ @BOS (Lackey), @CLE (Tomlin)
Colby Lewis (TEX) ~ BAL (Jakubauskas), OAK (Moscoso)
Matt Harrison (TEX) ~ BAL (TBD), OAK (Cahill)

Harrison had three straight outing in which he allowed one earned run before allowing five runs in his last start against the Houston Astros. Lewis has turned things around since back-to-back shellackings in early June, allowing four runs over his last 20 1/3 innings. Burnett has allowed two runs or less in three of his last four starts with 25 strikeouts. Buehrle has quietly not allowed more than three runs in a start since April 22 against the Detroit Tigers, going 5-3 since that start. Morrow faces two teams he struggled against in his last start, allowing nine runs vs. Boston and six runs vs. Cleveland, so I would be fine with benching him if you have other alternatives. Duensing was much better in June, posting a 3.25 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP in five starts for the Twins. Furbush replaces Phil Coke in the Tigers rotation, and posted a 2.91 ERA in AAA with 55 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings before moving to a relief role with Detroit. Carrasco has allowed four runs in his last 36 2/3 innings, going 4-1 in that stretch.

Sit Them:

Chris Jakubauskas (BAL) ~ @TEX (Lewis), @BOS (Beckett)
Josh Tomlin (CLE) ~ NYY (Burnett), TOR (Morrow)
Felipe Paulino (KC) ~ @CWS (Buehrle), DET (Furbush)
Jeff Francis (KC) ~ @CWS (Peavy), DET (Verlander)
Joel Pineiro (LAA) ~ DET (Furbush), SEA (Pineda)
Brett Cecil (TOR) ~ @BOS (Lester), @CLE (Carrasco)

Pineiro has struggled at home where he has two starts next week with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP and he has allowed four earned runs in six of his last eight outings. Paulino has been better as a starter, posting a 3.58 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in June with 33 strikeouts in 37 2/3, not sure I am ready to trsut him in mixed league formats just yet. Cecil did not fare well in his first start back from Triple-A, allowing six runs in 6 1/3 innings. Tomlin allowed six runs in each of his last starts against the Yankees and the Blue Jays.

National League:

Start them:

Daniel Hudson (ARI) ~ @MIL (Marcum), @STL (Carpenter)
Tommy Hanson (ATL) ~ COL (Jimenez), @PHI (Lee)
Johnny Cueto (CIN) ~ @STL (Carpenter), @MIL (Marcum)
Wandy Rodriguez (HOU) ~ @PIT (Karstens), @FLA (Volstad)
Shaun Marcum (MIL) ~ ARI (Hudson), CIN (Cueto)
Tim Stauffer (SD) ~ @SF (Lincecum), @LAD (de la Rosa)
Tim Lincecum (SF) ~ SD (Stauffer), NYM (Pelfrey)
Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) ~ CHC (Dempster), COL (Jimenez)

Roll the Dice:

Derek Lowe (ATL) ~ COL (Cook), @PHI (Worley)
Ryan Dempster (CHC) ~ @WAS (Zimmerman), @PIT (Correia)
Edinson Volquez (CIN) ~ @STL (Westbrook), @MIL (Wolf)
Ubaldo Jimenez (COL) ~ @ATL (Hanson), @WAS (Zimmermann)
Ricky Nolasco (FLA) ~ PHI (Worley), HOU (Myers)
Brett Myers (HOU) ~ @PIT (Maholm), @FLA (Nolasco)
Ted Lilly (LAD) ~ NYM (Capuano), SD (Richard)
Chris Capuano (NYM) ~ @LAD (Lilly), @SF (Zito)
Randy Wolf (MIL) ~ ARI (Duke), CIN (Volquez)
Vance Worley (PHI) ~ @FLA (Nolasco), ATL (Lowe)
Paul Maholm (PIT) ~ HOU (Myers), CHC
Barry Zito (SF) ~ SD (Richard), NYM (Capuano)
Chris Carpenter (STL) ~ CIN (Cueto), ARI (Hudson)
Tom Gorzelanny (WAS) ~ CHC (Ortiz), COL (Cook)

Carpenter picked up wins in his last two starts which were his first wins since May 10th. Gorzelanny has allowed one run over his last two starts but has yet to win since May 7th. Worley has allowed two runs in 18 innings since moving back into the Phillies rotation. Capuano is 4-1 over his last five starts with 28 strikeouts. Myers has been a little better of late with three runs or less allowed in three consecutive starts, though he has allowed a home run in eight straight starts. Nolasco has struggled since starting out strong in April, thoguh he finished strong in June with a complete game shutout.

Sit Them:

Zach Duke (ARI) ~ @MIL (Wolf), @STL (Westbrook)
Aaron Cook (COL) ~ @ATL (Lowe), @WAS (Gorzelanny)
Chris Volstad (FLA) ~ PHI (Hamels), HOU (Rodriguez)
Rubby de la Rosa (LAD) ~ NYM (Pelfrey), SD (Stauffer)
Mike Pelfrey (NYM) ~ @LAD (de la Rosa), @SF (Lincecum)
Clayton Richard (SD) ~ @SF (Zito), @LAD (Lilly)
Jake Westbrook (STL) ~ CIN (Volquez), ARI (Duke)

Richard away from PETCO Park, 5.85 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP. Pelfrey at home: 2.96 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP, Pelfrey on the road where he has two starts next week, 6.75 ERA with a 1.65 WHIP. Volstad has been trending in the right direction of late but two tough starts next week and a lack of strikeouts makes him one to bench except in the deepest of mixed leagues.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 14

Posted by Todd Lammi on June 25th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 14 of the major league baseball season, covering June 26 – July 3.

2 start pitchers week 14: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Josh Beckett (BOS) ~ @PHI (Lee), @HOU (Lyles)
Gio Gonzalez (OAK) ~ FLA (Vazquez), ARI (Kennedy)
Jeremy Hellickson (TB) ~ CIN (Leake), STL (Lohse)
C.J. Wilson (TEX) ~ @HOU (Lyles), FLA (Vazquez)

Roll the Dice:

Jake Arrieta (BAL) ~ STL (Lohse), @ATL
Max Scherzer (DET) ~ TOR (Stewart), SF (Bumgarner)
Ervin Santana (LAA) ~ WAS (Lannan), LAD (Billingsley)
Nick Blackburn (MIN) ~ LAD (Billingsley), MIL (Greinke)
Freddy Garcia (NYY) ~ MIL (Greinke), @NYM (Dickey)
Erik Bedard (SEA) ~ ATL (Beachy), SD (Latos)
Jo-Jo Reyes (TOR) ~ PIT (Correia), PHI (Lee)

Santana has taken four straight losses but deserved a better fate as the Angels scored only seven runs in those outings.
Reyes is 3-2 over his last five starts and has a slightly better WHIP at home for the season at 1.36 vs. 1.54 on the road.
Garcia has been one of the bigger surprises this season and has allowed three runs or less in six of his last seven starts.
Blackburn gets two home starts next week where he has a 2.40 ERA and 1.31 WHIP vs. 3.72 and 1.31 on the road.
Scherzer has struggled over the last month and a half, allowing five runs or more in four of his six starts. Two starts at home will hopefully cures what ails him where he has a 3.20 ERA and 1.26 WHIP vs. 6.64 and 1.70 on the road. Arrieta is 3-1 over his last four starts and has allowed three runs or less in each of them.

Sit Them:

Mitch Talbot (CLE) ~ @ARI (Kennedy), @CIN (Leake)
Jeff Francis (KC) ~ @SD (Latos), @COL (Hammel)
Zach Stewart (TOR) ~  @DET (Scherzer), PHI (Halladay)

Average numbers a lack of strikeouts and a road start at Colorado are a good reason to avoid Francis in mixed league formats. Talbot has allowed seven home runs over his last four starts which has pushed his ERA three quarters of a run higher.

National League:

Start them:

Ian Kennedy (ARI) ~ CLE (Talbot), @OAK (Gonzalez)
Brandon Beachy (ATL) ~ @SEA (Bedard), BAL
Jhoulys Chacin (COL) ~ @CHC (Garza), KC (Hochevar)
Zack Greinke (MIL) ~ @NYY (Garcia), @MIN (Blackburn)
Cliff Lee (PHI) ~ BOS (Beckett), @TOR (Reyes)
Ryan Vogelsong (SF) ~ @CHC (Davis), @SEA (Bedard)
Kyle Lohse (STL) ~ @BAL (Arrieta), @TB (Hellickson)

Roll the Dice:

Matt Garza (CHC) ~ COL (Chacin), CWS (Danks)
Mike Leake (CIN) ~ @TB (Hellickson), CLE (Talbot)
Jason Hammel (COL) ~ CWS (Floyd), KC (Francis)
R.A. Dickey (NYM) ~ @DET (Porcello), NYY (Garcia)
Kevin Correia (PIT) ~ @TOR (Reyes), @WAS (Marquis)
Mat Latos (SD) ~ KC (Francis), @SEA (Bedard)
John Lannan (WAS) ~ @LAA (Santana), PIT

Latos had some trouble in his last two road starts allowing four runs in each outing at Boston and Colorado. Before those appearances, he had allowed seven runs in his previous four starts. Leake is 3-2 since returning to the Reds rotation on May 27th, allowing three runs or less in five of six starts. Garza gets two starts at Wrigley Field next week where he has a 3.75 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Correia should be happy getting back on the road next week where he has performed significantly better this season with a 2.34 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP vs. 5.61 and 1.45 at home. Dickey has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his last five starts but only has one win to show for it.

Sit Them:

Doug Davis (CHC) ~ SF (Vogelsong), CWS (Humber)
Javier Vazquez (FLA) ~ @OAK (Gonzalez), @TEX (Wilson)
Jordan Lyles (HOU) ~ TEX (Wilson), BOS (Beckett)
Chad Billingsley (LAD) ~ @MIN (Blackburn), @LAA (Santana)

Tough to consider benching Billingsley as he was likely the first or second fantasy baseball start for some owners, but with a 8.53 ERA and 2.42 WHIP in June plus a 6.49 ERA and 1.84 WHIP on the road for the season, there is good reason to consider it. Two tough matchups for Lyles this week so if you have better or similar options I would reserve him.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 13

Posted by Todd Lammi on June 19th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 13 of the major league baseball season, covering June 20 – June 26. This looks like a trap week to me with so few quality pitching options for two start pitchers that some fantasy baseball owners might be tempted to start less quality options just in order to get an extra couple of starts. That is the quickest way to drop 6-10 points in pitching by going into the week with that kind of mindset.

2 start pitchers week 13: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Jered Weaver (LAA) ~ @FLA (Sanchez), @LAD (Kershaw)
Ricky Romero (TOR) ~ @ATL (Hudson), @STL (McClellan)

Roll the Dice:

Jake Arrieta (BAL) ~ @PIT (Morton), CIN (Cueto)
Gavin Floyd (CHW) ~ CHC (Zambrano), WAS (Hernandez)
Carl Pavano (MIN) ~ @SF (Bumgarner), @MIL (Narveson)
Josh Outman (OAK) ~ @NYM (Gee), @PHI (Halladay)
Doug Fister (SEA) ~ @WAS (Hernandez), @FLA (Sanchez)

Fister is 1-4 in his last five starts but has not pitched that badly, going at least 6 2/3 innings in each outing. Outman has been solid in four of his five starts though he gets two tough road starts next week. Pavano has allowed four runs over his last three starts, but has not fared well on the road this season with a 5,58 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Arrieta has won two of three starts in June, posting a 2.75 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP.

Sit Them:

Andrew Miller (BOS) ~ SD (LeBlanc), @PIT (Morton)
Luke Hochevar (KC) ~ ARI (Saunders), CHC (Zambrano)
Brad Penny (DET) ~ @LAD (Kershaw), ARI (Saunders)
Fausto Carmona (CLE) ~ COL (Nicasio), @SF (Bumgarner)
Ivan Nova (NYY) ~ @CIN (Cueto), COL (Nicasio)
Jeff Niemann (TB) ~ @MIL (Narveson), @HOU (Happ)
Derek Holland (TEX) ~ HOU (Happ), NYM (Gee)

Holland has been dreadful at home with a 6.68 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP vs. 3.72 and 1.33 on the road. He has also allowed four or more runs in four of his last five starts. Niemann is just coming back from the disabled list and was not pitching well before he was hurt so I woul dleave him reserved until he gets a few good starts under his belt. Yes, Nova has won two starts in a row but he always seems to have a blow up start every three to four outings and he has not had one in a while which means he is due to have one next week. Andrew Miller has been pitching well in Triple-A for the Red Sox, but there is no way I want two starts from him in a mixed league format. In an AL only league, I might be slightly tempted depending on the makeup of my staff.

National League:

Start them:

Johnny Cueto (CIN) ~ NYY (Nova), @BAL (Arrieta)
Anibal Sanchez (FLA) ~ LAA (Weaver), SEA (Fister)
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) ~ DET (Penny), LAA (Weaver)
Dillon Gee (NYM) ~ OAK (Outman), @TEX (Holland)
Roy Halladay (PHI) ~ @STL (McClellan), OAK (Outman)
Madison Bumgarner (SF) ~ MIN (Pavano), CLE (Carmona)

Roll the Dice:

Tim Hudson (ATL) ~ TOR (Romero), @SD (LeBlanc)
Carlos Zambrano (CHC) ~ @CWS (Floyd), @KC (Hochevar)
Juan Nicasio (COL) ~ @CLE (Carmona), @NYY (Nova)
Chris Narveson (MIL) ~ TB (Niemann), MIN (Pavano)
Charlie Morton (PIT) ~ BAL (Arrieta), BOS (Miller)
Wade LeBlanc (SD) ~ @BOS (Beckett), ATL (Hudson)
Kyle McClellan (STL) ~ PHI (Halladay), TOR (Romero)
Livan Hernandez (WAS) ~ SEA (Fister), @CWS (Floyd)

McClellan’s ERA has been trending the wrong direction since April and he gets two tough starts at home next week. He has not done as well at Busch Stadium where he has a 4.38 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP vs. 3.53 and 1.29 on the road. Hernandez’s win in his last outing was his first in his last nine starts, thanks to a lack of run supports as the team was shutout in four of his starts and in another the Nationals scored only one run. Zambrano has run hot and cold this season. He is winless in his last four starts but had been pitching well before allowing 12 runs in his last 12 1/3 innings.

Sit Them:

Joe Saunders (ARI) ~ @KC (Hochevar), @DET (Penny)
J.A. Happ (HOU) ~ @TEX (Holland), TB (Niemann)

Happ is winless since May 14th, in large part due to control issues and a lack of run support. Happ has not gone seven innings in an outing since April 15th of this year.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 12

Posted by Todd Lammi on June 12th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 12 of the major league baseball season, covering June 13 – June 19.

2 start pitchers week 12: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Gavin Floyd (CHW) ~ @MIN (Pavano), @ARI (Collmenter)
Justin Verlander (DET) ~ CLE (Masterson), @COL (Cook)
Dan Haren (LAA) ~ @SEA (Vargas), @NYM (Niese)
CC Sabathia (NYY) ~ TEX (Ogando), @CHC (Wells)
James Shields (TB) ~ BOS (Wakefield), FLA (Volstad)
Alexi Ogando (TEX) ~ @NYY (Sabathia), @ATL (Jurrjens)

Roll the Dice:

Tim Wakefield (BOS) ~ @TB (Shields), MIL (Gallardo)
Justin Masterson (CLE) ~ @DET (Verlander), PIT (Karstens)
Carlos Carrasco (CLE) ~ @NYY (Burnett), PIT (Maholm)
Carl Pavano (MIN) ~ CWS (Floyd), SD (Bass)
A.J. Burnett (NYY) ~ CLE (Carrasco), @CHC (Dempster)
Josh Outman (OAK) ~ KC (Duffy), SF (Cain)
Jason Vargas (SEA) ~ LAA (Haren), PHI (Kendrick)
Alex Cobb (TB) ~ @DET (Coke), FLA (Nolasco)
Carlos Villanueva (TOR) ~ BAL (Jakubauskas), @CIN (Arroyo)

Masterson is 0-4 in his last eight starts and has not won since April 26th. He still has good numbers for the season with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Villanueva is 3-0 since moving into the starting rotation with 14 strikeouts in 22 1.3 innings. Cobb is on the fence as a starter with the lack of control he has shown so far in the major leagues. He had a 1.14 ERA in Triple-A with 50 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings. Pavano has two home starts next week where he has been a much better pitcher with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Outman has been solid in three of his four starts since being recalled from the minor leagues and gets two home starts next week. Burnett had three good starts in a row before getting blasted for seven runs by the Boston Red Sox in his last outing. Carrasco has won four of his last five starts and tossed 8 1/3 shutout innings in his last outing. Wakefield is 3-0 in his last four outings though he will face two tough opposing pitchers next week.

Sit Them:

Chris Jakubauskas (BAL) ~ @TOR (Villanueva), @WAS (Maya)
Phil Coke (DET) ~ TB (Cobb), @COL (Jimenez)
Danny Duffy (KC) ~ @OAK (Outman), @STL (Garcia)

Duffy looks like he is still a year away with 17 walks and 18 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings and opposing hitters batting .309 against him. Coke lost his first start after coming off the disabled list, allowing 13 baserunners and four runs in five innings. With a tough second start at Colorado next week, I would keep him benched.

National League:

Start them:

Jair Jurrjens (ATL) ~ NYM (Niese), TEX (Ogando)
Cole Hamels (PHI) ~ FLA (Volstad), @SEA (Vargas)
Jeff Karstens (PIT) ~ @HOU (Norris), @CLE (Masterson)
Matt Cain (SF) ~ @ARI (Collmenter), @OAK (Outman)
Jaime Garcia (STL) ~ @WAS (Maya), KC (Duffy)

Roll the Dice:

Josh Collmenter (ARI) ~ SF (Cain), CWS (Floyd)
Derek Lowe (ATL) ~ @HOU (Rodriguez), TEX (Harrison)
Ryan Dempster (CHC) ~ MIL (Wolf), NYY (Burnett)
Ricky Nolasco (FLA) ~ ARI (Duke), @TB (Cobb)
Bud Norris (HOU) ~ PIT (Karstens), @LAD (Kuroda)
Wandy Rodriguez (HOU) ~ ATL (Lowe), @LAD (De La Rosa)
Hiroka Kuroda (LAD) ~ CIN (Arroyo), HOU (Norris)
Randy Wolf (MIL) ~ @CHC (Dempster), @BOS (Lester)
Yovani Gallardo (MIL) ~ @CHC (Wells), @BOS (Wakefield)
Jonathon Niese (NYM) ~ @ATL (Jurrjens), LAA (Haren)
Paul Maholm (PIT) ~ NYM (Pelfrey), @CLE (Carrasco)

Maholm has pitched better this season but is still finding wins hard to come by despite his improved numbers due to a lack of offensive support. Kuroda is on a four game losing streak but was better in his last two outings, allowing three runs in 11 1/3 innings.  Norris has allowed two runs or less in three of his last four starts and has won two starts in a row. Lowe has not won in more than a month, though he has been pitching better in June 2.13 ERA and .95 WHIP vs. May 4.86 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Niese has allowed two runs or less in five consecutive starts, lowering his overall ERA by 1.5 runs. Gallardo had won six straight starts before lasting only four innings against the New York Mets in his last appearance. Rodriguez returns from the disabled list as a two start pitcher. He was rolling before the injury, allowing three runs or less in five straight starts. Dempster has been better at Wrigley Field where he has a 4.76 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He has yet to face the Brewers this year, but posted a 2.23 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in five starts against them last year.

Sit Them:

Zach Duke (ARI) ~ @FLA (Nolasco), CWS (Humber)
Randy Wells (CHC) ~ MIL (Gallardo), NYY (Sabathia)
Bronson Arroyo (CIN) ~ @LAD (Kuroda), TOR (Villanueva)
Aaron Cook (COL) ~ SD (Bass), DET (Verlander)
Chris Volstad (FLA) ~ @PHI (Hamels), @TB (Shields)
Mike Pelfrey (NYM) ~ @PIT (Maholm), LAA (Chatwood)
Anthony Bass (SD) ~ @COL (Cook), @MIN (Pavano)
Yunesky Maya (WAS) ~ STL (Garcia), BAL (Jakubauskas)

Bass moves into the rotation for the San Diego Padres with Aaron Harang going on the disabled list. Bass had a 3.53 ERA in AA with 60 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings and had one start at Triple-A where he allowed one run in five innings with three strikeouts. I need to see a few more starts from Duke before I believe he is a different pitcher than previous seasons. His improved control and lack of home runs allowed in three starts is no guarantee going forward. Maya has made it to six innings in only two of eight career starts and is too hittable with little control at this point. Pelfrey seemed to be turning things around in May with a 3.09 ERA and 1.06 WHIP but got pummeled in his first June start, allowing seven runs in five innings. Volstad has not won since April 26th and has been more homer prone in 2011.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 11

Posted by Todd Lammi on June 4th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week 11 of the major league baseball season, covering June 6 – June 12.

2 start pitchers week 11: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Gio Gonzalez (OAK) ~ @BAL (Matusz), @CWS (Peavy)
Michael Pineda (SEA) ~ @CWS (Danks), @DET (Scherzer)
Felix Hernandez (SEA) ~ @CWS (Humber), @DET (Porcello)
David Price (TB) ~ @LAA (Chatwood), @BAL (Matusz)
Colby Lewis (TEX) ~ DET (Scherzer), @MIN (Baker)

Roll the Dice:

Brian Matusz (BAL) ~ OAK (Gonzalez), TB (Price
Jon Lester (BOS) ~ @NYY (Garcia), @TOR (Drabek)
Josh Tomlin (CLE) ~ MIN (Baker), @NYY (Garcia)
Max Scherzer (DET) ~ @TEX (Lewis), SEA (Pineda)
Rick Porcello (DET) ~ @TEX (Harrison), SEA (Hernandez)
Freddy Garcia (NYY) ~ BOS (Lester), CLE (Tomlin)
Anthony Swarzak (MIN) ~ @CLE (Carrasco), TEX (Harrison)
Scott Baker (MIN) ~ @CLE (Tomlin), TEX (Lewis)
Guillermo Moscoso (OAK) ~ @BAL (Matusz), @CWS (Danks)
Matt Harrison (TEX) ~ DET (Porcello), @MIN (Swarzak)
Brandon Morrow (TOR) ~ @KC (Paulino), BOS (Lackey)

Morrow piled up strikeouts in May with 41 in 32 2/3 innings, but was much more hittable, allowing a .271 batting average against. Harrison has tossed 14 1/3 scoreless innings over his last two starts and has allowed five runs in his last 27 1/3 innings. Baker is 0-2 over his last five starts, despite striking out 32 in 28 1/3 innings. He has performed much better on the road where he has a 3.41 ERA and 1.21 WHIP vs. 4.96 and 1.59 at home. Garcia has won two starts in a row. He lost to Boston earlier in the season when he allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Porcello has won four of his last five starts but has two tough matchups next weel. He won at Seattle earlier in the season, allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings. Scherzer had been sailing along for most of the saeason before allowing seven runs in each of his last two starts. He faced both Texas and Seattle earlier in the year, allowing two runs in six innings in both of those outings.

Sit Them:

John Danks (CHW) ~ SEA (Pineda), OAK (Moscoso)
Felipe Paulino (KC) ~ TOR (Morrow), @LAA (Santana)
Tyler Chatwood (LAA) ~ TB (Price), KC (TBD)
Kyle Drabek (TOR) ~ @KC (TBD), BOS (Lester)

Danks is 0-8 on the season and has been the victim of the long ball of late, allowing five home runs in his last two starts.
Chatwood’s ERA is too much of a killer to take two starts from him in a week, thanks to 34 walks allowed in 64 1/3 innings. Drabek’s control is not good enough to make his successful yet with 45 walks in 63 1/3 innings.

National League:

Start them:

Tommy Hanson (ATL) ~ @FLA (TBD), @HOU (Myers)
Shaun Marcum (MIL) ~ NYM (Capuano), STL (Westbrook)
Zack Greinke (MIL) ~ @FLA (Vazquez), STL (Carpenter)
Roy Oswalt (PHI) ~ LAD (De La Rosa), CHC (Davis)
Cliff Lee (PHI) ~ LAD (Lilly), CHC (Garza)
Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) ~ @SF (Sanchez), @SD (Stauffer)
Tim Lincecum (SF) ~ WAS (Lannan), CIN (Reineke)

Roll the Dice:

Daniel Hudson (ARI) ~ @PIT (Correia), @FLA (TBD)
Matt Garza (CHC) ~ @CIN (Reineke), @PHI (Lee)
Ubaldo Jimenez (COL) ~ @SD (Stauffer), LAD (TBD)
Tim Stauffer (SD) ~ COL (Jimenez), WAS (Zimmermann)
Kevin Correia (SD) ~ ARI (Hudson), NYM (Capuano)
Clayton Richard (SD) ~ COL (Mortensen), WAS (Lannan)
Mike Leake (STL) ~ CHC (Davis), @SF (Sanchez)
Jake Westbrook (STL) ~ @HOU (Myers), @MIL (Marcum)
Jonathan Sanchez (SF) ~ WAS (Zimmermann), CIN (Leake)
John Lannan (WAS) ~ @SF (Lincecum), @SD (Richard)

Sanchez has allowed three runs or less in five consecutvie starts, though he only has one win to show for it. Jimenez seems to have his control back on track after walking to batters in his last 15 innings. Lannan is working on 13 scoreless innings over his last two starts and worked 7 2/3 scoreless innings against San Diego tqo starts ago and allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Ginats earlier in the season. Westbrook is 3-0 in his last four starts and has been a better pitcher on the road this season. Unlike most Padres pitchers, Stauffer has pitched worse at PETCO Park this season with a 4.41 ERA and 1.53 WHIP vs. 3.62 and 1.26 on the road. Richard has been winless at home this season, but his numbers have been solid with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Leake has pitched better since coming back to the Cincinnati Reds rotation with four runs allowed in 12 innings. Hudson is 3-0 in his last four starts, though he allowed four runs in seven innings in his last start against the Florida Marlins.

Sit Them:

Doug Davis (CHC) ~ @CIN (Leake), @PHI (Oswalt)
Chad Reineke (CIN) ~ CHC (Garza), @SF (Lincecum)
Clayton Mortsensen (COL) ~ @SD (Richard), LAD (Lilly)
Javier Vazquez (FLA) ~ MIL (Greinke), ARI (Kennedy)
Brett Myers (HOU) ~ STL (Westbrook), ATL (Hanson)
Chris Capuano (NYM) ~ @MIL (Marcum), @PIT (Correia)

Myers has been too easy to hit this season and too homer prone, with 15 long balls allowed in 74 2/3 innings. Capuano took a loss in his last start which was against the Pirates, allowing five runs in six innings. Mortensen could be losing his spot in the Rockies rotation when Aaron Cook returns from the disabled list this week.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 9

Posted by Todd Lammi on May 21st, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week nine of the major league baseball season, covering May 23 – May 29. The Oakland A’s rotation is in flux right now with Tyson Ross and Brandon McCarthy, both scheduled for two starts next week and both getting placed on the disabled list. The A’s don’t have any exciting options in Triple-A that would be worth start if they were called up. Only Josh Outman has had major league success and he has not been the same pitcher since having Tommy John surgery in 2009. Outman has a 4.78 ERA in eight starts with 27 walks and 30 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.

Joe Blanton is headed back to the disabled list for the Philadelphia Phillies, pushing Vance Worley back into the rotation and making him a two start pitcher in week 9 with Kyle Kendrick remaining in the bullpen. In Toronto, Carlos Villanueva becomes a two start pitcher as he replaces Jesse Litsch in the rotation after Litsch was put on the disabled list.

2 start pitchers week 9: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Josh Beckett (BOS) ~ @CLE (Carmona), @DET (Verlander)
Justin Masterson (CLE) ~ BOS (Buchholz), @TB (Hellickson)
Justin Verlander (DET) ~ TB (Davis), BOS (Beckett)
Dan Haren (LAA) ~ OAK (TBD), @MIN (Pavano)
Jered Weaver (LAA) ~ OAK (TBD), @MIN (Liriano)
Jeremy Hellickson (TB) ~ @DET (Coke), CLE (Masterson)
Alexi Ogando (TEX) ~ CWS (Danks), KC (Duffy)
Ricky Romero (TOR) ~ @NYY (Sabathia), CWS (Danks)

Roll the Dice:

Zach Britton (BAL) ~ KC (Duffy), @OAK (TBD)
Clay Buchholz (BOS) ~ @CLE (Masterson), @DET (Coke)
Phil Coke (DET) ~ TB (Hellickson), BOS (Buchholz)
Bartolo Colon (NYY) ~ TOR (Villanueva), @SEA (Vargas)
Jason Vargas (SEA) ~ @MIN (Pavano), NYY (Colon)

Buchholz has allowed two runs or less in four straight starts and has 20 strikeouts in his last 19 innings of work. Vargas has been on a roll, going 3-0 in his last four starts and has allowed one run in his last 23 2/3 innings. Colon picked up a win against Toronto earlier in the season, working 6 2/3 innings with two runs allowed and seven strikeouts. Coke has allowed two runs or less in three of his past four starts and tossed seven shutout innings against the Red Sox back on May 18th.

Sit Them:

John Danks (CHW) ~ @TEX (Ogando), @TOR (Romero)
Danny Duffy (KC) ~ @BAL (Britton), @TEX (Ogando)
Carl Pavano (MIN) ~ SEA (Vargas), LAA (Haren)
Carlos Villanueva (TOR) ~ @NYY (Colon), CWS (Jackson)

Even though Duffy is a top prospect for the Royals, pitching in the major leagues is a different level and with two tough road starts next week, I would keep him reserved in mixed formats. Villanueva moves into the rotation with Litsch getting placed on the disabled list but has not started a major league game since 2009. Since he has no been stretched out, I would not expect more than five or six innings from him. Pavano was better in his last two starts but has not won in the month of May and in his last four outings he has picked up just three strikeouts. Danks has had trouble on the road this season with a 4.88 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. His control has not been great in his last four outings with 12 walks allowed and only 9 strikeouts collected.

National League:

Start them:

Ricky Nolasco (FLA) ~ @SF (Cain), @LAD (Kershaw)
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) ~ @HOU (Norris), FLA (Nolasco)
Cole Hamels (PHI) ~ CIN (Arroyo), @NYM (Pelfrey)
Matt Cain (SF) ~ FLA (Nolasco), @MIL (Gallardo)

Roll the Dice:

Ryan Dempster (CHC) ~ NYM (Niese), PIT (Maholm)
Johnny Cueto (CIN) ~ @PHI (Worley), @ATL (Lowe)
Bronson Arroyo (CIN) ~ @PHI (Hamels), @ATL (Hanson)
Jorge De La Rosa (COL) ~ ARI (Saunders), STL (Lohse)
Bud Norris (HOU) ~ LAD (Kershaw), ARI (Saunders)
Yovani Gallardo (MIL) ~ WAS (Gorzelanny), SF (Cain)
Jonathon Niese (NYM) ~ @CHC (Dempster), PHI (Worley)
Vance Worley (PHI) ~ CIN (Cueto), @NYM (Niese)
Dustin Moseley (SD) ~ STL (Lohse), @WAS (Gorzelanny)
Kyle Lohse (STL) ~ @SD (Moseley), @COL (Da La Rosa)
Tom Gorzelanny (WAS) ~ @MIL (Gallardo), SD (Moseley)

Gorzelanny has allowed three runs or less in six of eight starts this season and went six innings with two runs allowed against the Brewers earlier in the year. Gallardo has rattled off three straight wins, allowing four runs in 20 innings with 20 strikeouts. Norris has had trouble getting wins with a lack of offensive support, getting one run in each of his last three starts. His last outing was the first start this season he struck out less than six hitters. De La Rosa has two home starts at Coors Field but his numbers 3.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP have been similar to what he has posted on the road this season. Moseley has come back to earth, losing three straight starts with 13 runs allowed in 14 1/3 innings. Niese has allowed three runs or less in five of his last six starts and allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings in a start against Philadelphia earlier in the year. Arroyo has not won since April 25th and his ERA has been victimized by the long ball of late with six home runs allowed in his last four starts. Demspter had been pitching better allowing five runs in 20 innings before giving up five runs in five innings in his last start.

Sit Them:

Joe Saunders (AZ) ~ @COL (De La Rosa), @HOU (Norris)

I wouldn’t want to start him even in NL-only leagues.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 8

Posted by Todd Lammi on May 14th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week eight of the major league baseball season, covering May 16 – May 22. There are a lot of options with multiple teams having seven games next week so you should have a chance to make up some ground in pitching points next week if you choose your rotation wisely.

2 start pitchers week 8: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Zach Britton (BAL) ~ @BOS (Lackey), WAS (Zimmermann)
Brett Anderson (OAK) ~ LAA (Pineiro), @SF (Sanchez)
Gio Gonzalez (OAK) ~ LAA (Chatwood), @SF (Cain)
Felix Hernandez (SEA) ~ MIN (Liriano), @SD (Richard)
David Price (TB) ~ NYY (Burnett), @FLA (Johnson)
James Shields (TB) ~ NYY (Nova), @FLA (Nolasco)

Roll the Dice:

Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) ~ BAL (Tillman), CHC (Garza)
Edwin Jackson (CHW) ~ TEX (Lewis), LAD (Garland)
Justin Masterson (CLE) ~ @KC (O’Sullivan), CIN (Volquez)
Rick Porcello (DET) ~ TOR (Drabek), @PIT (Maholm)
Joel Pineiro (LAA) ~ @OAK (Anderson), ATL (Hanson)
Scott Baker (MIN) ~ @SEA (Vargas), @ARI (Hudson)
A.J. Burnett (NYY) ~ @TB (Price), NYM (Pelfrey)
Ivan Nova (NYY) ~ @TB (Shields), NYM (Niese)
Jason Vargas (SEA) ~ MIN (Baker), @SD (Stauffer)
Colby Lewis (TEX) ~ @CWS (Jackson), @PHI (Lee)
Kyle Drabek (TOR) ~ @DET (Porcello), HOU (Myers)
Jesse Litsch (TOR) ~ @DET (Coke), HOU (Rodriguez)

Masterson lost his first start of the year in his last outing and has some correction coming to his ERA with only one home run allowed so far in 52 2/3 innings. Litsch has become a lot more fantasy relevant in mixed leagues this year by more than doubling his strikeout rate per nine innings from a year ago. He allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings when he faced the Tigers two starts ago. Vargas has posted a decent ERA and WHIP, just know that wins are going to be hard to come by with the offense behind him. The Mariners have scored three runs or less in six of his eight starts this year. Porcello has allowed two runs or less in his last five outings, going 3-0 during that time. Jackson gets two home starts next week where he has a 2.18 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP vs. 5.76 and 1.75 on the road.

Sit Them:

Chris Tillman (BAL) ~ @BOS (Matsuzaka), WAS (Lannan)
John Lackey (BOS) ~ BAL (Britton), CHC (Coleman)
Carlos Carrasco (CLE) ~ @KC (Mazzaro), CIN (Bailey)
Phil Coke (DET) ~ TOR (Litsch), @PIT (Morton)
Vin Mazzaro (KC) ~ CLE (Carrasco), STL (Westbrook)
Sean O’Sullivan (KC) ~ CLE (Masterson), STL (Garcia)
Tyler Chatwood (LAA) ~ @OAK (Gonzalez), ATL (Lowe)
Francisco Liriano (MIN) ~ @SEA (Hernandez), @ARI (Galarraga)
Matt Harrison (TEX) ~ @CWS (Danks), @PHI (Worley)

Harrison has come back down to earth, losing four consecutive starts and in each of his last three outings, he walked more hitters than he struck out. Until Chatwood is able to improve his control (25 walks in 41 2/3 innings), his WHIP is a killer in two start weeks. Coke was pounded by the Blue Jays when he faced them two starts ago, allowing 11 hits and four runs in six innings. The Indians brought back Carrasco too soon after just one rehab start. I would wait until we see a few more starts from him and make sure that he is okay before having him active.

National League:

Start them:

Tommy Hanson (ATL) ~ HOU (Myers), @LAA (Pineiro)
Matt Garza (CHC) ~ @CIN (Bailey), @BOS (Matsuzaka)
Josh Johnson (FLA) ~ @NYM (Pelfrey), TB (Price)
Ricky Nolasco (FLA) ~ @NYM (Niese),TB (Shields)
Hiroki Kuroda (LAD) ~ MIL (Marcum), @CWS (Buehrle)
Shaun Marcum (MIL) ~ @LAD (Kuroda), COL (Mortensen)
Roy Oswalt (PHI) ~ @STL (Garcia), TEX (Harrison)
Cliff Lee (PHI) ~ @STL (Westbrook), TEX (Lewis)
Matt Cain (SF) ~ @COL (Jimenez), OAK (Gonzalez)
Jaime Garcia (STL) ~ PHI (Oswalt), @KC (O’Sullivan)

Roll the Dice:

Dan Hudson (ARI) ~ SD (Stauffer), MIN (Baker)
Derek Lowe (ATL) ~ HOU (Rodriguez), @LAA (Chatwood)
Homey Bailey (CIN) ~ CHC (Garza), @CLE (Carrasco)
Jon Garland (LAD) ~ MIL (Wolf), @CWS (Jackson)
Wandy Rodriguez (HOU) ~ @ATL (Lowe), @TOR (Litsch)
Randy Wolf (MIL) ~ @LAD (Garland), COL (Jimenez)
Jon Niese (NYM) ~ FLA (Nolasco), @NYY (Nova)
Charlie Morton (PIT) ~ @WAS (Zimmermann), DET (Coke)
Paul Maholm (PIT) ~ @WAS (Lannan), DET (Porcello)
Tim Stauffer (SD) ~ @ARI (Hudson), SEA (Vargas)
Jonathan Sanchez (SF) ~ @COL (Mortensen), OAK (Anderson)
Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) ~ PIT (Morton), @BAL (Britton)

Niese has allowed three runs or less in four of his last five starts with the lone bad outing at Coors Field in his last start.
Rodriguez has allowed five runs in his last 22 innings and has gone seven innings or more in five straight starts. Maholm has been a victim of poor run support with the Pirates scoring three runs or less in seven of his eight starts.

Sit Them:

Armando Galarraga (ARI) ~ SD (Richard), MIN (Liriano)
Clayton Mortensen (COL) ~ SF (Sanchez), @MIL (Marcum)
Ubaldo Jimenez (COL) ~ SF (Cain), @MIL (Wolf)
John Lannan (WAS) ~ PIT (Maholm), @BAL (Tillman)
Jake Westbrook (STL) ~ PHI (Lee), @KC (Mazzaro)
Mike Pelfrey (NYM) ~ FLA (Johnson), @NYY (Burnett)
Brett Myers (HOU) ~ @ATL (Hanson), @TOR (Drabek)
Edinson Volquez (CIN) ~ CHC (Coleman), @CLE (Masterson)
Casey Coleman (CHC) ~ @CIN (Volquez), @BOS (Lackey)
Clayton Richard (SD) ~ @ARI (Galarraga), SEA (Hernandez)

Lannan has three losses and a no decision in his last four starts and allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings in an outing against the Pirates earlier in the season. Pelfrey has won three of his last four starts so if you are short a pitcher, you could roll with him, though he has two tough starts next week. Myers has lost three starts in a row and while giving up a total of 16 runs. Don’t let Volquez’s 3-1 record deceive you. He has walked 33 in 42 1/3 innings and has not gone six innings since May 11th. Galarraga is winless in his last four starts and has allowed six home runs in his two starts at Chase Field. Jimenez has been tough to hit just like in years past, but his lack of control has left him winless in six starts.
Richard has lost four starts in a row and is tough to pitch on the road where he has a 7.97 ERA with a 1.82 WHIP vs. 1.71 and 1.19 at PETCO Park

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 7

Posted by Todd Lammi on May 8th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week seven of the major league baseball season, covering May 9 – May 15. Be aware that several rotations have been shuffled so pitchers that may have looked like they were going to be start pitchers like Francisco Liriano are only getting one start next week.

2 start pitchers week 7: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Josh Beckett (BOS) ~ MIN (Blackburn), @NYY (Garcia)
Max Scherzer (DET) ~ @TOR (Morrow), KC (Davies)
Trevor Cahill (OAK) ~ @TEX (Wilson), CWS (Jackson)
Michael Pineda (SEA) ~ @BAL (Arrieta), @CLE (Tomlin)
C.J. Wilson (TEX) ~ OAK (Cahill), LAA (Santana)
Brandon Morrow (TOR) ~ DET (Scherzer), @MIN (Blackburn)

Roll the Dice:

Jake Arrieta (BAL) ~ SEA (Pineda), @TB (Sonnanstine)
Edwin Jackson (CHW) ~ @LAA (Santana), @OAK (Cahill)
Josh Tomlin (CLE) ~ TB (Sonnanstine), SEA (Pineda)
Ervin Santana (LAA) ~ CWS (Jackson), @TEX (Wilson)
Freddy Garcia (NYY) ~ KC (Davies), BOS (Beckett)

Despite only one win on the season, Santana has pitched decent enough this season and has allowed one earned run in his last 10 innings. He did get blasted in his one start against Texas earlier in the season, allowing 10 hits and six runs in four innings. Tomlin has been more lucky than good so far this season and has two winnable starts next week. Arrieta has not lost since April 9th and has struck out 19 in his last 18 innings. Garcia has struck out 21 in his last 18 innings

Sit Them:

Kyle Davies (KC) ~ @NYY (Garcia), @DET (Scherzer)
Nick Blackburn (MIN) ~ @BOS (Lester), TOR (Morrow)
Andy Sonnanstine (TB) ~ @CLE (Tomlin), BAL (Arrieta)

Blackburn finally picked up a win in his last start after losing four straight. With 13 walks and 15 strikeouts and batters hitting .299 against him, his margin for error is too small to warrant starting him in mixed leagues.

National League:

Start them:

Tommy Hanson (ATL) ~ WAS (Marquis), PHI (Blanton)
Chad Billingsley (LAD) ~ @PIT (Karstens), ARI (Saunders)
Zack Greinke (MIL) ~ SD (Latos), PIT (Correia)
Tim Lincecum (SF) ~ ARI (Kennedy), @CHC (Zambrano)

Roll the Dice:

Ian Kennedy (ARI) ~ @SF (Lincecum), @LAD (Lilly)
Carlos Zambrano (CHC) ~ STL (Carpenter), SF (Lincecum)
Jason Hammel (COL) ~ NYM (Pelfrey), SD (Latos)
Jhoulys Chacin (COL) ~ NYM (Capuano), SD (Harang)
Ted Lilly (LAD) ~ @PIT (Correia), ARI (Kennedy)
Kevin Correia (PIT) ~ LAD (Lilly), @MIL (Greinke)
Mat Latos (SD) ~ @MIL (Greinke), @COL (Hammel)
Chris Carpenter (STL) ~ @CHC (Zambrano), @CIN (Wood)
Jason Marquis (WAS) ~ @ATL (Hanson), FLA (Vazquez)

Carpenter is winless on the season through seven starts and has not been as good on the road where he has two starts next week and has a 5.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in three starts in 2011. It is tough to recommend rolling the dice on a guy that opponents are hitting close to .300 against but if Marquis can keep his walk rate in place, he should continue to manage skating by. Lilly has alternated good and bad starts his last four outings and his strikeout rate per nine is down almost two per game from last season making him a fringe candidate to bench. As well as Hammel has been pitching, he gets two starts at Coors Field next week where he has a 4.00 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP vs. 1.37 and 1.12 on the road.

Sit Them:

Travis Wood (CIN) ~ @HOU (Rodriguez), STL (Carpenter)
Javier Vazquez (FLA) ~ PHI (Blanton), @WAS (Marquis)
Aneury Rodriguez (HOU) ~ CIN (Wood), NYM (Capuano)
Chris Capuano (NYM) ~ @COL (Chacin), @HOU (Rodriguez)
Joe Blanton (PHI) ~ @FLA (Vazquez), @ATL (Hanson)
Jeff Karstens (PIT) ~ LAD (Billingsley), @MIL (Gallardo)

Blanton is just going to be returning from a stint on the disabled list so I would leave him reserved in mixed league suntil we see a few starts from him. Wood has pitched decent every other start, so with two starts next week, expect one good and one bad. The problem is his bad starts kill your team’s ERA with three outings where he has allowed 6, 6, and 7 runs. Vazquez has a .289 batting average against and more walks (21) than strikeouts (16).

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 6

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 29th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week five of the major league baseball season, covering May 2 – May 8. Lots of top players in the American League next week with Jon Lester, CC Sabathia, and Justin Verlander all throwing.

2 start pitchers week 6: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Jon Lester (BOS) ~ LAA (Haren), MIN (Pavano)
Clay Buchholz (BOS) ~ LAA (Weaver), MIN (Duensing)
Justin Verlander (DET) ~ NYY (Colon), @TOR (Litsch)
Dan Haren (LAA) ~ @BOS (Lester), CLE (Tomlin)
Jered Weaver (LAA) ~ @BOS (Buchholz), CLE (Masterson)
CC Sabathia (NYY) ~ @DET (Penny), @TEX (Ogando)
Alexi Ogando (TEX) ~ @SEA (Bedard), NYY (Sabathia)

Roll the Dice:

Jeremy Guthrie (BAL) ~ @CWS (Buehrle), TB (Shields)
Clay Buchholz (BOS) ~ LAA (Weaver), MIN (Duensing)
Mark Buehrle (CHW) ~ BAL (Guthrie), @SEA (Bedard)
Josh Tomlin (CLE) ~ @OAK (Ross), @LAA (Haren)
Bartolo Colon (NYY) ~ @DET (Verlander), @TEX (Holland)
Tyson Ross (OAK) ~ CLE (Tomlin), @KC (Francis)
Brandon McCarthy (OAK) ~ TEX (Holland), @KC (Hochevar)
Wade Davis (TB) ~ TOR (Reyes), @BAL (bergesen)

Buehrle has lost three in a row though he pitched better in his last outing allowing three runs in seven innings. It is feast or famine with Ross depending if his control his own. It was in his last start when he walked only one in seven innings against the Angels. For the season, he has nine walks and nine strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings. McCarthy faces his old team, the Texas Rangers in his first start. Control has been impeccable so far with only four walks allowed in 35 1/3 innings which offsets his .297 batting average against. Guthrie is another guy that has improved his walk rate in 2011 with only four allowed in 32 innings of work so far. Overall Davis’ numbers look okay, but it is of some concern that strikeouts are down and home run rate has been supressed so far with only one allowed in 33 innings, so expect the ERA to start to rise.

Sit Them:

Brad Bergesen (BAL) ~ @KC (Francis), TB (Davis)
Brad Penny (DET) ~ NYY (Sabathia), @TOR (Reyes)
Jeff Francis (KC) ~ BAL (Bergesen), OAK (Ross)
Tyler Chatwood (LAA) ~ @BOS (Beckett), CLE (Masterson)
Erik Bedard (SEA) ~ TEX (Ogando), CWS (Buehrle)
Derek Holland (TEX) ~ @OAK (McCarthy), NYY (Colon)
Jo-Jo Reyes (TOR) ~ @TB (Davis), DET (Penny)

Francis has been teed off on in his last two starts with 1o runs allowed in seven innings. For the season, batters are hitting .324 against him. Holland has a lot of promise but has not been able to translate his minor league success to the major leagues yet. Bedard has been too homer prone in the early going with seven long balls allowed in 25 2/3 innings.
Penny’s last two starts have been okay, but he has two tough matchups next week.

National League:

Start them:

Tommy Hanson (ATL) ~ MIL (Gallardo), @PHI (Oswalt)
Jair Jurrjens (ATL) ~ MIL (Estrada), @PHI (Lee)
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) ~ CHC (Russell), @NYM (Dickey)
Cole Hamels (PHI) ~ WAS (Hernandez), ATL (Hanson)

Roll the Dice:

Mike Leake (CIN) ~ HOU (Happ), @CHC (Coleman)
Anibal Sanchez (FLA) ~ @STL (McClellan), WAS (Hernandez)
Marco Estrada (MIL) ~ @ATL (Jurrjens), @STL (McClellan)
Yovani Gallardo (MIL) ~ @ATL (Hanson), @STL (McClellan)
Aaron Harang (SD) ~ PIT (McDonald), ARI (Saunders)
Ryan Vogelsong (SF) ~ @NYM (Dickey), COL (Rogers)
Kyle McClellan (STL) ~ FLA (Sanchez), MIL (Gallardo)
Kyle Lohse (STL) ~ FLA (Volstad), MIL (Narveson)
Tom Gorzelanny (WAS) ~ SF (Bumgarner), @FLA (Volstad)
Livan Hernandez (WAS) ~ @PHI (Oswalt), @FLA (Sanchez)

Harang has actually been worse at home than on the road, with a 5.00 ERA at PETCO Park vs. 2.25 on the road. Gorzelanny is winless on the season but has had three straight solid outings allowing five runs in 17 1/3 innings.
Back in the major leagues for the first time since 2006, Vogelsong has looked good in limited action filling in for Barry Zito in the Giants rotation. Who needs Zack Greinke when you have Marco Estrada? Estrada has a 3.00 ERA through 21 innings and a 1.00 WHIP. Gallardo is a borderline bench with his numbers so far this season. On the plus side, he has faced Atlanta already once this season and tossed nine shutout innings against them.

Sit Them:

Joe Saunders (ARI) ~ (Rogers), @SD (Harang)
Esmil Rogers (COL) ~ @ARI (Saunders), @SF (Vogelsong)
Chris Volstad (FLA) ~ @STL (Lohse), WAS (Gorzelanny)
J.A. Happ (HOU) ~ @CIN (Leake), @PIT (McDonald)
R.A. Dickey (NYM) ~ SF (Vogelsong), LAD (Kershaw)
James McDonald (PIT) ~ @SD (Harang), HOU (Happ)
Madison Bumgarner (SF) ~ @WAS (Gorzelanny), COL (Jimenez)

Bumgarner is 0-4 on the season, thanks to bad pitching and a lack of offensive support as the Giants have scored only 8 runs for him in five starts. Dickey’s WHIP is a killer over a two start week at 1.55 due to a combination of walks and a .286 batting average against

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 5

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 23rd, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week five of the major league baseball season, covering April 25 – May 1. With several rainouts on Friday, multiple teams have juggled their pitching rotation for next week which means pitchers that had two starts earlier this week are now one start pitchers. Be sure to check back here tonight and tomorrow for any updates

2 start pitchers week 5: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Jered Weaver (LAA) ~ OAK (Gonzalez), @TB (Davis)
Gio Gonzalez (OAK) ~ @LAA (Weaver), TEX (Harrison)
Felix Hernandez (SEA) ~ @DET (Coke), @BOS (Buchholz)

Roll the Dice:

Zach Britton (BAL) ~ BOS (Buchholz), @CWS (Floyd)
Clay Buchholz (BOS) ~ @BAL (Britton), SEA (Hernandez)
Gavin Floyd (CHW) ~ @NYY (Nova), BAL (Britton)
Justin Masterson (CLE) ~ KC (Hochevar), DET (Coke)
Phil Coke (DET) ~ SEA (Hernandez), @CLE (Masterson)
Luke Hochevar (KC) ~ @CLE (Masterson), MIN (Blackburn)
Nick Blackburn (MIN) ~ TB (Davis), @KC (Hochevar)
A.J. Burnett (NYY) ~ CWS (Humber), TOR (Drabek)
Wade Davis (TB) ~ @MIN (Blackburn), LAA (Weaver)
Matt Harrison (TEX) ~ TOR (TBD), @OAK (Gonzalez)
Colby Lewis (TEX) ~ TOR (Drabek), @OAK (Anderson)
Kyle Drabek (TOR) ~ @TEX (Lewis), @NYY (Burnett)

Coke’s walk to strikeout ratio at 10 to 9 is not what you want to see from your starting pitcher, but he has been able to limit the damage so far because batters are hitting only .208 against him. Buchholz is another pitcher struggling with his walk to strikeout ration in the early going at 14 to 10. Hopefully two starts against lesser offenses in the American League will get him back on track after facing New York and Texas in earlier outings. Hochevar is a contradiction in numbers with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Six home runs allowed in 31 2/3 innings has spiked the first number.  Lewis has been homer prone as well in his three starts with five dingers allowed in 17 innings. That should normalize over his next few starts.

Sit Them:

Phil Humber (CHW) ~ @NYY (Nova), BAL (Arrietta)
Ivan Nova (NYY) ~ CHW (Floyd), TOR (TBD)

Humber has dropped his last two starts although he has not pitched too bad. He has a tough start in his first outing next week at New York. Nova has been unable to translate his success from spring training into his starts in 2011 and should remain benched for now.

National League:

Start them:

Ricky Nolasco (FLA) ~ LAD (Garland), @CIN (Arroyo)
Cliff Lee (PHI) ~ @ARI (Kennedy), NYM (Young)
Jaime Garcia (STL) ~ @HOU (Norris), @ATL (Lowe)
Matt Cain (SF) ~ @PIT (Morton), @WAS (TBD)

Roll the Dice:

Derek Lowe (ATL) ~ @SD (Moseley), STL (Garcia)
Ian Kennedy (AZ) ~ PHI (Lee), CHC (Russell)
Daniel Hudson (AZ) ~ PHI (Oswalt), CHC (Garza)
Matt Garza (CHC) ~ COL (Rogers), @ARI (Hudson)
Bronson Arroyo (CIN) ~ @MIL (Estrada), FLA (Nolasco)
Bud Norris (HOU) ~ STL (Garcia), MIL (Estrada)
Jon Garland (LAD) ~ @FLA (Nolasco), SD (Moseley)
Marco Estrada (MIL) ~ CIN (Arroyo), @HOU (Norris)
Chris Young (NYM) ~ @WAS (Zimmermann), @PHI (Lee)
Dustin Moseley (SD) ~ ATL (Lowe), @LAD (Garland)
Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) ~ NYM (Young), SF (Cain)
John Lannan (WAS) ~ @PIT (Maholm), SF (Sanchez)

Hudson’s control has been off so far in 2011 with 12 walks in 24 1/3 innings compared to only 16 walks in 79 2/3 innings with Arizona last season. Lannan has also been struggling with is control with nine walks in 21 innings. He has two starts against average offenses next week. Dickey  has shown the problem with owning knuckleball pitchers is their lack of control with so much movement on the pitch. His 14 walks in 26 1/3 innings is a big reason his WHIP is 1.59.

Sit Them:

James Russell (CHC) ~ COL (De La Rosa), @ARI (Kennedy)
Esmil Rogers (COL) ~ @CHI (Garza), PIT (Morton)
Paul Maholm (PIT) ~ WAS (Lannan), @COL (Jimenez)
Charlie Morton (PIT) ~ SF (Cain), @COL (Rogers)

Yes, the overall numbers look good so far from Morton at a high level, but with a suppressed home run rate and more walks than strikeouts, some bad outings lie ahead. Having his second start at Colorado will not help matters. Rogers has been good in his two road starts but was blown up in his start at Coors Field earlier this season.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 4

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 16th, 2011

Here is a look at the options for two start pitchers in week four of the major league baseball season, covering April 18 – April 24th. Because of the rain out in Philadelphia, Joe Blanton becomes a two start pitcher next week getting the start on Monday.

2 start pitchers week 4: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

John Danks (CHW) ~ @TB (Shields), @DET (Scherzer)
Edwin Jackson (CHW) ~ @TB (Price), @DET (Penny)
Brett Anderson (OAK) ~ BOS (Lackey), @SEA (Fister)
David Price (TB) ~ CWS (Jackson), @TOR (Litsch)
C.J. Wilson (TEX) ~ LAA (Santana), KC (Chen)
Ricky Romero (TOR) ~ @BOS (Matsuzaka), TB (Shields)

Roll the Dice:

Carlos Carrasco (CLE) ~ @KC (Davies), @MIN (Pavano)
Mitch Talbot (CLE) ~ @KC (Chen), @MIN (Pavano)
Max Scherzer (DET) ~ @SEA (Vargas), CWS (Danks)
Bruce Chen (KC) ~ CLE (Talbot), @TEX (Wilson)
Ervin Santana (LAA) ~ @TEX (Wilson), BOS (Matsuzaka)
Carl Pavano (MIN) ~ @BAL (Arrieta), CLE (Talbot)
Francisco Liriano (MIN) ~ @BAL (Tillman), CLE (Carrasco)
Jason Vargas (SEA) ~ DET (Scherzer), OAK (Cahill)
Doug Fister (SEA) ~ DET (Coke), OAK (Anderson)
James Shields (TB) ~ CWS (Danks), @TOR (Romero)

Liriano is a tough call with three straight losses to star the season and his control has not been as good with nine walks in 14 1/3 innings so far this season. I think it is still too early to bench your top tier pitcher pitchers that you took in the top half of your fantasy baseball draft unless there has been new of an injury. Chen has been sharp so far with a 2.37 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP through three starts, though he won’t pile up a ton of strikeouts. Fister’s numbers aren’t great, but he has always been a much better pitcher at home and he gets two starts at Safeco Field next week.

Sit Them:

Chris Tillman (BAL) ~ MIN (Liriano), NYY (Nova)
Jake Arrieta (BAL) ~ MIN (Pavano), NYY (Garcia)
John Lackey (BOS) ~ @OAK (Anderson), @LAA (Palmer)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) ~ TOR (Romero, @LAA (Santana)
Kyle Davies (KC) ~ CLE (Carrasco), @TEX (Ogando)
Matt Palmer (LAA) ~ @TEX (Lewis), BOS (Lackey)

Lackey had his last start skipped due to a rain day but was pounded in his first two starts against the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. While they are two of the better offenses in the American League, his fastball has also been down a couple of miles per hour from 2010 as well.

National League:

Start them:

Tim Hudson (ATL) ~ @LAD (Lilly), @SF (Bumgarner)
Travis Wood (CIN) ~ ARI (Galarraga), @STL (Westbrook)
Josh Johnson (FLA) ~ PIT (Maholm), COL (Rogers)
Shaun Marcum (MIL) ~ @PHI (Blanton), HOU (Rodriguez)
Roy Halladay (PHI) ~ MIL (Wolf), @SD (Moseley)
Tim Lincecum (SF) ~ @COL (Rogers), ATL (Beachy)

Halladay will go on Tuesday instead of Monday but will still get two starts because the Phillies has seven games in week 4.

Roll the Dice:

Brandon Beachy (ATL) ~ @LAD (Kuroda), @SF (Lincecum)
Sam LeCure (CIN) ~ PIT (Correia), @STL (Carpenter)
Wandy Rodriguez (HOU) ~ NYM (Niese), @MIL (Marcum)
Hiroki Kuroda (LAD) ~ ATL (Beachy), @CHC (Russell)
Ted Lilly (LAD) ~ ATL (Hudson), @CHC (Dempster)
Jon Niese (NYM) ~ @HOU (Rodriguez), ARI (Galarraga)
Joe Blanton (PHI) ~ MIL (Marcum), @SD (Stauffer)
Kevin Correia (PIT) ~ @CIN (LeCure), WAS (Hernandez)
Tim Stauffer (SD) ~ @CHC (Russell), PHI (Blanton)
John Lannan (WAS) ~ @STL (Westbrook), @PIT (Maholm)

LeCure has been one of the surprises of the National League, with more than a strikeout per inning and holding hitters to a .105 average through 12 innings. Stauffer was brilliant last season but has not made it to the fifth inning in his past two starts. I would be okay with keeping him benched next week if you have other options. Correia has seen a huge drop in his strikeout rate but his other numbers have been better as he has a 2.70 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP through 20 innings.

Sit Them:

Armando Galarraga (AZ) ~ @CIN (Wood), @NYM (TBD)
James Russell (CHC) ~ SD (Stauffer), LAD (Kuroda)
Esmil Rogers (COL) ~ SF (Lincecum), @FLA (Johnson)
Paul Maholm (PIT) ~ @FLA (Johnson), WAS (Lannan)
Dustin Moseley (SD) ~ @CHC (Zambrano), PHI (Halladay)
Jake Westbrook (STL) ~ WAS (Lannan), CIN (Wood)

Yes, Moseley has pitched well this season, but has had zero runs scored for him in all three starts, has more walks than strikeouts on the season and has a tough matchup with Roy Halladay in his second start. Westbrook has had goo control in the past, but with 11 walks in 15 1/3 innings, he needs to be reserved until he can get that turned around.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 3

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 9th, 2011

Several interesting decisions to make in week three for two start pitchers. Mat Latos returns from the disabled list to get two starts for the San Diego Padres. Assuming you are in a semi deep mixed fantasy baseball league, you are likely not going to have a better option on your bench so I would start him.

2 start pitchers week 3: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Justin Verlander (DET) ~ TEX (Ogando), @OAK (Braden)
Dan Haren (LAA) ~ CLE (Talbot), @CWS (Buehrle)
Trevor Cahill (OAK) ~ @CWS (Jackson), DET (Penny)
Felix Hernandez (SEA) ~ TOR (Litsch), @KC (Francis)
David Price (TB) ~ @BOS (Lester), MIN (Pavano)

Roll the Dice:

Mark Buehrle (CHW) ~ OAK (Braden), LAA (Haren)
Jeff Francis (KC) ~ @MIN (Pavano), SEA (Hernandez)
A.J. Burnett (NYY) ~ BAL (Tillman), TEX (Ogando)
Carl Pavano (MIN) ~ KC (Francis), @TB (Price)
Dallas Braden (OAK) ~ @CWS (Buehrle), DET (Verlander)
Michael Pineda (SEA) ~ TOR (Romero), @KC (Mazzaro)
Jeremy Hellickson (TB) ~ @BOS (Matsuzaka), MIN (Duensing)
Alexi Ogando (TEX) ~ @DET (Verlander), @NYY (Burnett)

I think that Buehrle is the biggest risk in this group. Batters are hitting .340 against him after two starts and he doesn’t strike out enough hitters, but he has always been good for wins in the past and he faces an Oakland offense that is in the bottom six teams for runs scored in 2011. Francis has been good for two starts in Kansas City with a 1.98 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.

Sit Them:

Chris Tillman (BAL) ~ @NYY (Burnett), @CLE (Talbot)
Brad Penny (DET) ~ TEX (WIlson), @OAK (Cahill)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) ~ TB (Hellickson), TOR (Litsch)
Mitch Talbot (CLE) ~ @LAA (Haren), BAL (Tillman)
Jesse Litsch (TOR) ~ @SEA (Pineda), @BOS (Matsuzaka)

Penny has struggled in two starts this season and faces a powerful offense in his first start. Litsch was good in his first start of the season but faces two tough road starts.

National League:

Start them:

Tommy Hanson (ATL) ~ FLA (Volstad), NYM (Pelfrey)
Chad Billingsley (LAD) ~ @SF (Bumgarner), STL (McClellan)
Shaun Marcum (MIL) ~ @PIT (Correia), @WAS (Hernandez)
Roy Halladay (PHI) ~ @WAS (Hernandez), FLA (Volstad)
Mat Latos (SD) ~ CIN (Volquez), @HOU (Figueroa)
Chris Carpenter (STL) ~ @ARI (Galarraga), @LAD (TBD)

Roll the Dice:

Ryan Dempster (CHC) ~ @HOU (Figueroa), @COL (Rogers)
Esmil Rogers (COL) ~ @ NYM (Niese), CHC (Dempster)
Jason Hammel (COL) ~ @NYM (Pelfrey), CHC (Coleman)
Brett Myers (HOU) ~ CHC (Russell), SD (Richard)
Jonathon Niese (NYM) ~ COL (Rogers), @ATL (Lowe)
Kevin Correia (PIT) ~ MIL (Marcum), @CIN (Volquez)
Clayton Richard (SD) ~ CIN (LeCure), @HOU (Myers)
Madison Bumgarner (SF) ~ LAD (Billingsley), @ARI (Enright)
Kyle McClellan (STL) ~ @ARI (Enright), @LAD (Billingsley)
Livan Hernandez (WAS) ~ PHI (Halladay), MIL (Marcum)

Sit Them:

Barry Enright (AZ) ~ STL (McClellan), SF (Bumgarner)
Edinson Volquez (CIN) ~ @SD (Latos), PIT (Correia)
Chris Volstad (FLA) ~ @ATL (Hanson), @PHI (Halladay)
Nelson Figueroa (HOU) ~ CHC (Dempster), SD (Latos)
Mike Pelfrey (NYM) ~ COL (Hammel), @ATL (Hanson)

Volquez has struggled with his control early in the season, and has a 7.36 ERA and 1.73 WHIP after two starts. Pelfrey has had trouble duplicating his success from last season in the early going, and has a 15.63 ERA with a 2.68 WHIP and more walks that strikeouts.

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2011 Two Start Pitchers – Week 2

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 3rd, 2011

Depending on how your fantasy baseball league was set up whether the first week only runs Thursday – until today or whether your first week of the season runs Thursday until the following week Sunday, you may be looking to make changes to your starting rotation for week two. With that in mind, here is the look at the fantasy baseball 2011 two start pitchers for week two.

2 start pitchers week 2: the list below is focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

CC Sabathia (NYY) ~ MIN (Duensing), @ BOS (Beckett)

Roll the Dice:

Josh Beckett (BOS) ~ @ CLE (Tomlin), NYY (Sabathia)
Gavin Floyd (CWS) ~ @ KC (Hochevar), TB (Niemann)
Rick Porcello (DET) ~ @ BAL (Arrieta), KC (Hochevar)
Scott Baker (MIN) ~ @ NYY (Nova), OAK (Gonzalez)
Brian Duensing (MIN) ~ @ NYY (Sabathia), OAK (Braden)
Ivan Nova (NYY) ~ MIN (Baker), @ BOS (Buchholz)
Dallas Braden (OAK) ~ @ TOR (Reyes), @ MIN (Duensing)
Erik Bedard (SEA) ~ @ TEX (Holland), CLE (Tomlin)
Jeff Niemann (TB) ~ LAA (Weaver), @ CWS (Floyd)
Derek Holland (TEX) ~ SEA (Bedard), @ BAL (TBD)

Early on in the season if you drafted or bought the above players, I think you have to roll with them in the early going until you see how they perform.

Sit Them:

Jake Arrieta (BAL) ~ DET (Porcello), TEX (Harrison)
Josh Tomlin (CLE) ~ BOS (Beckett), @ SEA (Beckett)
Luke Hochevar (KC) ~ CWS (Floyd), @ DET    (Porcello)
Alexi Ogando (TEX) ~ SEA (Bedard), @ BAL (TBD)
Jo-Jo Reyes (TOR) ~ OAK (Braden), @ LAA    (TBD)

National League:

Start them:

Yovani Gallardo (MIL) ~ ATL (Lowe), CHC (Wells)
Cole Hamels (PHI) ~ NYM (C. Young), @ ATL (Lowe)

Roll the Dice:

Derek Lowe (ATL) ~ @ MIL (Gallardo), PHI (Hamels)
Brandon Beachy (ATL) ~ @ MIL (Narveson), PHI (Oswalt)
Randy Wells (CHC) ~ ARI (Enright), @ MIL (Gallardo)
Jason Hammel (COL) ~ LAD (Kershaw), @ PIT (McDonald)
Anibal Sanchez (FLA) ~ WAS (Marquis), @ HOU (Happ)
J.A. Happ (HOU) ~ @ CIN (Leake), FLA (Sanchez)
Chris Narveson (MIL) ~ vs ATL (Beachy), CHC (Garza)
Chris Young (NYM) ~ @ PHI (Hamels), WAS (Marquis)
James McDonald (PIT) ~ @ STL (McClellan), COL (Hammel)
Aaron Harang (SD) ~ SF (Bumgarner), LAD (TBD)
Kyle Lohse (STL) ~ PIT (Morton), @ SF (Zito)

Sit Them:

Mike Leake (CIN) ~ HOU (Happ), @ ARI (Enright)
Charlie Morton (PIT) ~ @ STL (Lohse), COL (Chacin)
Jason Marquis (WAS) ~ @ FLA (Sanchez), @ NYM (Young)

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2010 Two Start Pitchers – Week 26

Posted by Todd Lammi on September 24th, 2010

Well we are down to the last week of the season, who you start next week could win or lose you your fantasy baseball league in week 26, good luck to all of you.

2 start pitchers week 26: remember again that the list below is more focused on mixed leagues since in AL or NL only leagues in most cases you do not have the option to rotate too many starting pitchers with the smaller player pool. The pitchers below are listed in alphabetical order by team name per category.

American League:

Start them:

Clay Buchholz (BOS) ~ @CWS (Buehrle), NYY (Hughes)
Max Scherzer (DET) ~ @CLE (Talbot), @BAL (Matusz)
Ervin Santana (LAA) ~ OAK (Anderson), @TEX (Wilson)
Dan Haren (LAA) ~ OAK (Braden), @TEX (Lee)
Brett Anderson (OAK) ~ @LAA (Santana), @SEA (Pauley)
Dallas Braden (OAK) ~ @LAA (Haren), @SEA (Hernandez)
Felix Hernandez (SEA) ~ @TEX (Lee), OAK (Braden)
David Price (TB) ~ BAL (Bergesen), @KC (O’Sullivan)
C.J. Wilson (TEX) ~ SEA (Pauley), LAA (Santana)
Cliff Lee (TEX) ~ SEA (Hernandez), LAA (Haren)

Roll the Dice:

Brian Matusz (BAL) ~ @TB (Davis), DET (Galarraga)
John Lackey (BOS) ~ @CWS (Jackson), NYY (Burnett)
Mark Buehrle (CHW) ~ BOS (Buchholz), CLE (Carmona)
Edwin Jackson (CHW) ~ BOS (Lackey), CLE (Carrasco)
Carlos Carrasco (CLE) ~ DET (Galarraga), @CWS (Jackson)
Armando Galarraga (DET) ~ @CLE (Carrasco), @BAL (Matusz)
Scott Baker (MIN) ~ @KC (Davies), TOR (Rzepcynski)
Nick Blackburn (MIN) ~ @KC (O’Sullivan), TOR (Drabek)
David Pauley (SEA) ~ @TEX (Wilson), OAK (Anderson)
Wade Davis (TOR) ~ BAL (Matusz), @KC (Davies)

Lackey has picked up his strikeout rate the second half of the season and his numbers have improved with a 4.18 ERA and 1.26 WHIP since the All-Star break. Buehrle has gone winless in his last six starts and recently faced both Boston and Cleveland, allowing seven runs in 13 innings. Outside of a six-run shelling at the hands of the Royals three starts ago Jackson has pitched well back in the American League with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Carrasco has allowed three runs or less in all five of his starts since being promoted from Triple-A although he is going to need to improve hims home run rate for continued success in 2011. Galarrage has gone 1-4 in his last 10 starts, thanks to a lethargic Detroit offense that scored three runs or less in six of those starts for him. Pauley has been better at home with a 3.46 ERA and 1.22 WHIP than on the road with at 4.75 and 1.44. If you have the chance to sub him in and out, it would be best to stick with only his home start. Blackburn has turned it around the second half with a 3.08 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, aided by only two home runs allowed in 52 2/3 innings. Davis has not lost since June 27th, sporting a 3.26 ERA and 1.27 WHIP since the break. Matusz has picked it up the second half, going 5-1 in his last 10 starts and had a 2.443 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in August. Baker has gone 5-1 in his last 10 starts and has posted an ERA a full run lower the second half of the season.

Sit Them:

Kyle Davies (KC) ~ MIN (Baker), TB (Davis)
Sean O’Sullivan (KC) ~ MIN (Blackburn), TB (Price)
A.J. Burnett (NYY) ~ @TOR (Rzepczynski), @BOS (Lackey)
Marc Rzepcynski (TOR) ~ NYY (Burnett), @MIN (Baker)
Kyle Drabek (TOR) ~ NYY (Sabathia), @MIN (Blackburn)

Making the jump from Double-A and facing two good hitting teams is not the time to put Drabek into your rotation. Burnett is 1-6 in his last 10 starts and allowed eight runs in 4 2/3 innings in his last start against Toronto.

National League:

Start them:

Ubaldo Jimenez (COL) ~ LAD (Lilly), @STL (Lohse)
Wandy Rodriguez (HOU) ~ @CIN (Volquez), CHC (Zambrano)
Mat Latos (SD) ~ CHC (Wells), @SF (Sanchez)
Jonathan Sanchez (SF) ~ ARI (Lopez), SD (Latos)

Roll the Dice:

Carlos Zambrano (CHC) ~ @SD (Stauffer), @HOU (Rodriguez)
Edinson Volquez (CIN) ~ HOU (Rodriguez), MIL (Bush)
Alejandro Sanabia (FLA) ~ @ATL (Minor), PIT (Morton)
Anibal Sanchez (FLA) ~ @ATL (Hanson), PIT (Burres)
Ted Lilly (CHC) ~ @COL (Jimenez), ARI (Lopez)
Jon Niese (NYM) ~ MIL (Bush), WAS (Maya)
Tim Stauffer (SD) ~ CHC (Zambrano), @SF (Cain)
John Lannan (WAS) ~ PHI (Halladay), @NYM (TBD)

Zambrano has been one of the hottest pitchers since the All-Star break going 6-0 with a 1.63 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Volquez has bounced back in September with a 1.66 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in three starts with more than a strikeout per inning. Sanabia is on the fence whether to start or not, struggling in two starts against Atlanta earlier and with a good start at Pittsburgh, allowing one run in 7 2/3 innings. Sanchez has run hot or cold in his last few starts with four runs allowed or more in three of his last six outings. After rolling off five straight wins to start August, Lilly has gone 0-4 over his last five appearances, in part to getting a total of 14 runs of support. Niese rolled through August with four consecutive starts of one run allowed per outing before the wheels came off, going 1-5 in his last six outings. His control has deteriorated, walking three or more in four of those appearances. Stauffer just recently moved back to the rotation where he has performed well enough to keep active for next week in your rotation. Lannan suddenly discovered out to strike hitters out the second half of the season which has helped him to a 3.16 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.

Sit Them:

Mike Minor (ATL) ~ FLA (Sanabia), PHI (Kendrick)
Rodrigo Lopez (ARI) ~ @SF (Sanchez), @LAD (Lilly)
Jeff Francis (COL) ~ LAD (Kuroda), @STL (Suppan)
Dave Bush (MIL) ~ @NYM (Niese), @CIN (Volquez)
Charlie Morton (PIT) ~ @STL (Lohse), @FLA (Sanabia)
Brian Burres (PIT) ~ @STL (Suppan), @FLA (Sanchez)
Kyle Lohse (STL) ~ PIT (Morton), COL (Jimenez)
Jeff Suppan (STL) ~ PIT (Burres), COL (Francis)

The only way you start Lopez is if you are playing a hunch based on his September stats of a 3.70 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Minor started out strong but has tailed off the last five starts, going 0-2 with five home runs allowed. Francis has gone 2-4 in his last 10 starts and has not made it to five innings in four of them. Until Morton’s last start, the Pirates had lost eight starts in a row from him. Burres is much like Lopez if you want to go just off September numbers, 3.22 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

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