With the MLB season now in full swing, it’s time to look at some two start pitchers that are free agents who can help win you this week!
After a week off last week, we’re back in full swing and I promise you – you didn’t want any of the Two Start Pitchers options last week. This week brings some much better options that we’ll divide into three categories – Risky, Middle of the Road and Safe. Those names are fairly self-explanatory and it will depend what type of league you’re in as to who you target. Let’s dip into who’s on the radar this week!
Two Start Pitchers – Risky
Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners – 20% on Yahoo
vs Cleveland Indians, at Los Angeles Angels
Leake might be the most boring pitcher in fantasy baseball. He’s been pretty much the same guy for a long time but this year has seen a little bit of a shift. Early on, his fly balls are elevated but the strikeout rate is over 20% when the career is closer to 17%. Cleveland carries the fourth highest strikeout percentage in baseball against righty pitching and the Angels just aren’t very good outside of Mike Trout. Leake really isn’t talented, but you could get 12-14 innings, maybe 10 strikeouts and only 3-5 runs given up.
Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays – 26% on Yahoo
at Minnesota Twins, at Oakland A’s
Through three starts, Sanchez has beaten up on the Tigers and Indians while surviving a trip to Fenway and has a 1.69 ERA to show for it. Now, the FIP is up over 3.00 and the SIERA is 4.88, but he’s in the risky portion for a reason. The matchups aren’t spectacular but Sanchez is a talented pitcher who has flashed talent before. His wOBA to each side of the plate is under .290 and even though his fly balls are a touch higher, in Oakland should help keep those in the park. The A’s can mash with the best of them but that doesn’t mean Sanchez can’t handle them. The range of outcomes is wider, and I do think Leake is safer but Sanchez has more upside.
Two Start Pitchers – Middle of the Road
Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins – 36% on Yahoo
vs Chicago Cubs, vs Washington Nationals
One of the best kept secrets of the majors is the changeup that Richards has in Miami. According to the FanGraphs ratings, it’s the best in baseball by a long shot. Nobody can hit it, as the average against it is under .100. Why isn’t Richards an ace? Well, his fastball really stinks. He’s a fly baller who gets two home games, helping keep the ball in the park. The Cubs are the fourth worst team against the change, but they are fourth against the fastball. The Nationals are average against both, so they present a better matchup. The change could lead you to glory or the fastball could have you rage dropping him on Tuesday.
Matt Boyd, Detroit Tigers – 73% on Yahoo
vs Pittsburgh Pirates, vs Chicago White Sox
The ownership is higher than I would like to go, but Boyd should be almost universally owned right now until he proves otherwise. In his start to the season, he’s racked up a strikeout percentage of 40.3 percent. Only Mike Clevinger and Blake Snell have a higher rate among starting pitchers with at least 10 innings. The swinging strike is up to 16.8 percent, a whopping 6.6 percent uptick. He’s been throwing the slider more and the velocity is down, making it have something different that hitters haven’t figured out yet. My Buccos and the White Sox are both striking out over 26 percent against lefty pitching, and Boyd gets two cushy home starts. It’s hard to not love that.
Two Start Pitchers – Safe
Collin McHugh, Houston Astros – 73% on Yahoo
at Oakland A’s, at Texas Rangers
Another example of someone who’s ownership is higher than normal, but my goodness. What does this man have to do to be owned everywhere? He may stumble a little bit this upcoming week against some tougher matchups. Oakland is top five in strikeout rate and even thought the Rangers have strikeouts, they have power too. It doesn’t matter because McHugh is in the rotation to stay and has been incredible so far.
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He’s throwing the slider 42 percent of the time and it’s been utterly unhittable. It’s accounted for 18 of his 22 strikeouts so far and is giving up a .059 average and ISO. With a strikeout rate of 33.3 percent, McHugh needs to be owned by everyone. Don’t sweat it if the results are a little average this week. McHugh and his new slider are the real deal.
Max Fried, Atlanta Braves – 59% on Yahoo
vs Arizona Diamondbacks, at Cleveland Indians
The strikeout rate isn’t impressive at this point for Fried at under 24 percent. Just keep in mind who he’s faced so far – the Cubs and the Rockies(In Coors). The Rockies only strikeout about 13 percent at home against lefties and the Cubs are above league average overall. Fried has yet to give up an earned run and has all the talent in the world. Arizona has been tougher on lefties than I thought but comes with a 25 percent strikeout rate. The Indians are spiked over 34 percent as we stand right now and has no end in sight.
* He’s not a two start, but Touki Toussaint is worth a pickup. After he pitched out of the bullpen for six innings, striking out seven in a win against the Mets he earned a spot in the rotation. Sean Newcomb has been demoted and Toussaint has a pedigree, talent and showed off in his six innings so far.
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