MLB Fantasy: Pitchers to Avoid in Week Two

Apr 8, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB Fantasy: Pitchers to Avoid for Week Two

While it may be hard to swallow the fact that you have to bench one of MLB Fantasy aces that you spent a great deal of draft capital on, sometimes that is exactly what you must do in order to win a fantasy baseball match-up.

Fantasy Baseball is all about playing your match-up with your opponent with smarts and strategy. Although you may not want to sit a guy you drafted early in your league’s draft, a match-up that is historically bad for that pitcher could lead you to do that.

You must also take other pitchers that are coming off of great outings in Week One with a grain of salt. Just because a team’s No. 4 or No. 5 starter spun a gem for their ball club doesn’t mean they are the next coming of Clayton Kershaw or Madison Bumgarner. Think optimistically, but not so much that you shoot yourself in the foot by doing so.

Let’s take a look at four pitchers that you should consider benching for their outings in Week Two of the Fantasy Baseball season.

MLB Fantasy: Brandon McCarthy

Apr 6, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy (38) throws against the San Diego Padres in the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

McCarthy made his 2017 debut against the San Diego Padres and came away with the victory. He pitched six innings against the Dodgers’ National League West division foes and only gave up two earned runs, while striking out four.

Unfortunately for McCarthy, his next start will take place in Chicago against the Cubs on Wednesday against John Lackey. The Cubs are averaging 5.0 runs per game over their first seven games, and have one of the most intimidating lineups in the MLB.

With multiple arms in the Dodgers system waiting for their opportunity to nab one of the spots in the organization’s starting rotation, McCarthy will need to be on top of his game. If he gets roughed up against Chicago, which I see as very likely, it may not be too long until Julio Urias is making starts again for the Dodgers.

MLB Fantasy: Chris Archer

Apr 8, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) reacts during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Archer was a two-start pitcher in Week One of the MLB season, as he came away victorious against the Yankees, and drew a no-decision against the Blue Jays. He will make just one start in the upcoming week, once again against an American League East team in the Boston Red Sox. The game will be at Fenway Park on Friday night against Rick Porcello.

While Archer had a decent week, pitching 14.2 innings and giving up just four earned runs, his matchup in Week Two smells like trouble. The Red Sox have been roughed up with the flu, as Mookie Betts, Joe Kelly, Hanley Ramirez, among others who have missed time with the sickness. By next weekend the Red Sox have a better chance of having a healthy lineup to face Archer with.

In Archer’s career he has a 1-11 record against Boston with a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts. His ERA against the Red Sox is the second worst among all MLB teams in his career, trailing only a 5.63 ERA against the Kansas City Royals.

MLB Fantasy: Tanner Roark

Apr 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark (57) throws to the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Roark was able to handle the Miami Marlins in his Week One start, as he gave up only two earned runs and struck out six in six innings, but Week Two could be a bit more difficult for the right-hander.

He will take on the Cardinals on Monday in a matchup that makes me nervous to plug him in the starting lineup. Roark will then make his second start of the week against the Phillies, with both games taking place at home. In three career appearances against St. Louis, Roark has a 5.14 ERA, and in 12 games against Philadelphia, he is 5-5 with a 3.59 ERA.

If I were a Roark owner, I would fade him this week, especially in weekly lineup lock leagues. If you can make daily lineup switches, hold him out for his start against the Cardinals, and then roll with him against the Phillies.

MLB Fantasy: Alex Cobb

Apr 5, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb (53) throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The second Tampa Bay pitcher to land on my fade list this week is Cobb, who did come away victorious in his first start against the Yankees this week, but I’m skeptical of a repeat performance next week.

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He will take on the Yankees again in his second start of the season, but this time it will take place at the launching pad that is Yankee Stadium.

Yes, Gary Sanchez being placed on the disabled list is ideal for Cobb, but nonetheless the advantage of the Yankee backstop out of the lineup is not enough to avoid a potential blow-up on the mound.

His second start of the week will be another road contest, this time against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. Like Archer, this is another outing that I would avoid at all costs if possible. Cobb looks like a fade for both of his starts for this upcoming week and I would bench him against both New York and Boston.

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