This week lacks in star quality for two-start pitchers, but guys like Dallas Keuchel, Matt Harvey, Francisco Liriano, and Jake Arrieta are some honorable mentions. If you viewed last week’s article, you would of grabbed Chris Heston, who ended up with a no-hitter and 11 strikeouts against the Mets. Another Chris, with the last name Sale, had another dominating week, with 26 strikeouts combined. He now has six double-digit strikeouts games in the last seven starts.
| Trevor Bauer, CLE (@ CHC, vs. TB) | |||
| Shaun Marcum, CLE (@ CHC, vs. TB) | |||
| Carlos Martinez, STL (vs. MIN, @ PHI) | |||
| Mark Buehrle, TOR (@ NYM, vs. BAL) | |||
| Andrew Cashner, SD (vs. OAK, @ ARI) | |||
| Tim Lincecum, SF (vs. SEA, @ LAD) | |||
| Alex Colome, TB (vs. WAS, @ CLE) | |||
| Nathan Eovaldi, NYY (@ MIA, vs. DET) | |||
| Brett Anderson, LAD (@ TEX, vs. SF) | |||
| Jake Arrieta, CHC (vs. CLE, @ MIN) | |||
| Matt Garza, MIL (vs. KC, @ COL) | |||
| Kyle Gibson, MIN (@ STL, vs. CHC) | |||
| Chi Chi Gonzalez, TEX (vs. LAD, @ CWS) | |||
| Gio Gonzalez, WAS (@ TB, vs. PIT) | |||
| Jesse Hahn, OAK (@ SD, vs. LAA) | |||
| Carlos Frias, LAD (@ TEX, vs. SF) | |||
| Yovani Gallardo, TEX (vs. LAD, @ CWS) | |||
| Matt Harvey, NYM (vs. TOR, @ ATL) | |||
| Jeremy Hellickson, ARI (@ LAA, vs. SD) | |||
| Tim Hudson, SF (vs. SEA, @ LAD) | |||
| Scott Kazmir, OAK (@ SD, vs. LAA) | |||
| Dallas Keuchel, HOU (vs. COL, @ SEA) | |||
| Tom Koehler, MIA (vs. NYY, @ CIN) | |||
| Chris Tillman, BAL (vs. PHI, @ TOR) | |||
| Francisco Liriano, PIT (vs. CWS, @ WAS) | |||
| J.A. Happ, SEA (@ SF, vs. HOU) | |||
| Aaron Harang, PHI (@ BAL, vs. STL) | |||
| Michael Lorenzen, CIN (@ DET, vs. MIA) | |||
| Vincent Velasquez, HOU (vs. COL, @ SEA) | |||
| Trevor May, MIN (@ STL, vs. CHC) | |||
| Wade Miley, BOS (vs. ATL, @ KC) | |||
| Charlie Morton, PIT (vs. CWS, @ WAS) | |||
| Taijuan Walker, SEA (@ SF, vs. HOU) | |||
| Jered Weaver, LAA (vs. ARI, @ OAK) | |||
| David Phelps, MIA (vs. NYY, @ CIN) | |||
| Rick Porcello, BOS (vs. ATL, @ KC) | |||
| Jose Quintana, CWS (@ PIT, vs. TEX) | |||
| Erasmo Ramirez, TB (vs. WAS, @ CLE) | |||
| Robbie Ray, ARI (@ LAA, vs. SD) | |||
| Garrett Richards, LAA (vs. ARI, @ OAK) | |||
| Tanner Roark, WAS (@ TB, vs. PIT) | |||
| Carlos Rodon, CWS (@ PIT, vs. TEX) | |||
| Tyson Ross, SD (vs. OAK, @ ARI) | |||
| Michael Wacha, STL (vs. MIN, @ PHI) | |||
| Tsuyoshi Wada, CHC (vs. CLE, @ MIN) | |||
| Aaron Sanchez, TOR (@ NYM, vs. BAL) | |||
| Anibal Sanchez, DET (vs. CIN, @ NYY) | |||
| Noah Syndergaard, NYM (vs. TOR, @ ATL) | |||
| Masahiro Tanaka, NYY (@ MIA, vs. DET) | |||
| Kyle Lohse, MIL (vs. KC, @ COL) | |||
| Edinson Volquez, KC (@ MIL, vs. BOS) | |||
| Julio Teheran, ATL (@ BOS, vs. NYM) | |||
Tier 1
Your tier one starters are listed in the intros, and it seems Dallas Keuchel is the best bet for a big week out of the few. He will take on Colorado at home, which if you get them out of Coors, they are a different team. He will then move to Seattle, which is an excellent start for him. Franicsco Liriano has two upside starts this week, Chicago has been less than average against left-handed pitching this season, while the Nats bats aren’t scaring anyone. Well, just that guy named Bryce Harper, but thats it. Matt Harvey has been not so Dark Knight like over the last few starts, allowing eight home runs in the last four games. His groundball rate is down 6% from 2013, which is a big deal given he still strikes out 25% of the hitters he faces. I believe some of his struggles have been due to pitch calling, he is getting plenty of hitters down in the count, and not throwing off-speed to put them away. Batters are hitting his fastball 40 points higher than in 2013. Tyson Ross and Garrett Richards have not been very tier one like, but both face the same opponents this week, Arizona-Oakland. Richards will have the benefit of facing Arizona at home, while Ross will head into the desert to face them. They are dangerously close to just being matchup pitchers, instead of being disappointed by them in average matchups. Carlos Martinez and Michael Wacha are my favorite two-start guys this week, they faces Minnesota and Philadelphia.
Tier 2
A few tier two guys will faces the Red Sox this week, who have been average to less than average this season. Their bats woke up somewhat this past series against the Blue Jays, but I am starting guys against them anyway. Julio Teheran is rather boom or bust, given his monster flyball rate, and his struggles against left-handed bats. He will face the Mets in his second start, and the Sox in his first, start at your own risk. I am not his biggest fan, and I am not surprised when he has bad starts. Edinson Volquez bounced back quite well this past week, and he will make two starts, at Milwaukee and home against Boston. You can fire him up for both starts, Milwaukee has been awful this season, while the home start helps him against Boston who have breakout games once in a blue moon. Masahiro Tanaka looked very good in his first start off the DL, he will take on Miami, which I expect a ton of strikeouts, and Detroit in his second start. I would start him for both games, even against the dangerous Tigers’ offense. Some one and done starters this week, Noah Syndergaard against Toronto, Anibal Sanchez against New York, Chris Tillman against Toronto, and Andrew Cashner against Arizona. Those are all not very suitable matchups for guys struggling right now, or facing red hot offenses.
Tier 3
This is all gambling here, but there are a few guys that can make two starts. Nathan Eovaldi heading back to Miami to make a start is in play this week, and will face a Detroit offense without many lefty bats which can hurt him. Still risky, but it is one worth taking. Yovani Gallardo has been fairly average this season, but flashed some brilliance against Oakland this past week. He will take on the Dodgers and the White Sox, he can make his start against the White Sox, but the Dodgers lefties will likely give him trouble. Jesse Hahn faces two less than average offenses this week, both in pitcher’s parks. He is only a pitcher to trot out at home, or in certain matchups on the road. In this case you can slot him in for both starts. The hot start of Tim Lincecum has dwindled, and now he is a start at your own risk from here on out. He has two decent matchups, and has been really tough on lefties, which both Seattle and L.A. have plenty of.
