2014 Fantasy BaseballAndrew Miller

2014 Fantasy Baseball: Week 21 Two-Start Pitchers and Streamers

This is an abbreviated version of the Two-start pitcher guide as life has been a little busy lately and there are only a handful of useful two-start pitchers this week. As always, if you have any questions about these pitchers or other fantasy baseball questions hit me up on Twitter.

Must-starts

  1. Max Scherzer – Tue at TB, Sun at MIN
  2. Chris Sale – Mon vs. BAL, Sun at NYY
  3. Stephen Strasburg – Tue vs. ARI, Sun vs. SF
  4. Jordan Zimmermann – Mon vs. ARI, Sat vs. SF
  5. Chris Archer – Tue vs. DET, Sun at TOR
  6. Ervin Santana – Mon at PIT, Sat at CIN

Start in 12-teamers

  1. Ian Kennedy – Tue at LAD, Sun at ARI
  2. Ryan Vogelsong – Tue at CHC, Sun at WSH
  3. Jered Weaver – Tue at BOS, Sun at OAK
  4. Bartolo Colon – Mon vs. CHC, Sun at LAD

Vogelsong has been under-owned all season. He’s been consistent throughout, as evidenced by his 3.71 ERA. But since June 26, in nine starts, he has a 3.07 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP with more than five strikeouts for every walk.

Deep-league starts

  1. Jason Vargas – Mon at MIN, Sun at TEX
  2. Chase Anderson – Tue at WSH, Sun vs. SD
  3. Chris Capuano – Tue vs. HOU, Sun vs. CWS
  4. Roberto Hernandez – Tue vs. SD, Sun vs. NYM
  5. Kyle Hendricks – Mon at NYM, Sat vs. BAL
  6. Tsuyoshi Wada – Tue vs. SF, Sun vs. BAL

In four starts with the Yankees Capuano‘s pitched at least six innings in each start with a 3.60 ERA and 1.16 WHP. He’s struck out 24 to only five walks in 25 innings. The Astros hit lefties well, but I’m willing to run Capuano out there at home as Yankee Stadium favors left-handed batters more than righties. Chicago is a below-average team against lefties.

AL-/NL-only starts

  1. Aaron Harang – Tue at PIT, Sun at CIN
  2. Roenis Elias – Mon at PHI, Sun at BOS
  3. Vance Worley – Mon vs. ATL, Sun at MIL
  4. Mike Leake – Mon at STL, Sat vs. ATL
  5. Brett Oberholtzer – Tue at NYY, Sun at CLE
  6. Justin Masterson – Mon vs. CIN, Sun at PHI
  7. Trevor Bauer – Tue at MIN, Sun vs. HOU
  8. Nathan Eovaldi – Tue vs. TEX, Sun at COL

Harang has really only been roughed up once – in his most recent start – in the past two months. In seven of his last 10 starts he’s pitched at least six innings allowing no more than two earned runs. The Pirates are a top-four team in wOBA against righties, but the Reds struggle against them. Harang is clearly a good deep-league play this week.

Pitchers to avoid

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James Paxton – Wednesday at Philadelphia – Paxton has done just fine since coming off the DL August 2. He’s 16.2 innings in three starts, striking out 11 and walking four – but just one in his last two starts. The Phillies are just 23rd in wOBA against lefties.

Jake Odorizzi – Wednesday vs. Detroit – Odorizzi has 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings on the season, and since May 9 that number has been 10.5. He has a 3.00 ERA since then, too, with a 4 to 1 K:BB rate.

Wade Miley – Thursday at Washington – The Nationals have a good wOBA against lefties, but they rank just 22nd in Isolated Power against them. Miley’s seen a huge bump in strikeouts this year (he has 17 in his last two starts) while keeping his walk rate steady.

Collin McHugh – Saturday at Cleveland – The Indians are very good against righties, but McHugh has been a stud for most of the season. In five starts since coming back from the DL McHugh has 25 strikeouts in 25.2 innings, and he’s allowed just one earned run in each of his last four starts.

David Buchanan – Saturday vs. St. Louis – The Cardinals own the worst Isolated Power mark against righties in the Majors, and Buchanan has only allowed two home runs in his last eight starts. He has five straight quality starts with 22 strikeouts and just four walks in 32 innings.

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