I took last week off due to the birth of my son, Everett, but I'm back. A lot has happened in the baseball world since my last post. The trade deadline moved some keys pieces, some starters suffered serious injuries, and some players even announced retirements. Here is the complete list of probable two-start pitchers for this week...
Probable two-start pitchers:
Tyler Anderson, COL (vs. TEX, @ PHI)
Trevor Bauer, CLE (@ WAS, vs. LAA)
Tyler Chatwood, COL (vs. TEX, @ PHI)
Johnny Cueto, SF (@ MIA, vs. BAL)
Zach Davies, MIL (vs. ATL, vs. CIN)
Tyler Duffey, MIN (vs. HOU, vs. KC)
Zach Eflin, PHI (@ LAD, vs. COL)
Jose Fernandez, MIA (vs. SF, vs. CWS)
Mike Fiers, HOU (@ MIN, @ TOR)
Michael Fulmer, DET (@ SEA, @ TEX)
Kevin Gausman, BAL (@ OAK, @ SF)
Kendall Graveman, OAK (vs. BAL, vs. SEA)
Zack Greinke, ARI (@ NYM, @ BOS)
A.J. Griffin, TEX (@ COL, vs. DET)
Junior Guerra, MIL (vs. ATL, vs. CIN)
Cole Hamels, TEX (@ COL, vs. DET)
Hisashi Iwakuma, SEA (vs. DET, @ OAK)
Tyrell Jenkins, ATL (@ MIL, @ WAS)
Chad Kuhl, PIT (vs. SD, @ LAD)
John Lackey, CHC (vs. LAA, vs. STL)
Mike Leake, STL (vs. CIN, @ CHC)
Kenta Maeda, LAD (vs. PHI, vs. PIT)
Steven Matz, NYM (vs. ARI, vs. SD)
Collin McHugh, HOU (@ MIN, @ TOR)
Wade Miley, BAL (@ OAK, @ SF)
Zach Neal, OAK (vs. BAL, vs. SEA)
Jake Odorizzi, TB (@ TOR, @ NYY)
Luis Perdomo, SD (@ PIT, @ NYM)
Rick Porcello, BOS (vs. NYY, vs. ARI)
Cody Reed, CIN (@ STL, @ MIL)
Chris Sale, CWS (@ KC, @ MIA)
Hector Santiago, MIN (vs. HOU, vs. KC)
Max Scherzer, WAS (vs. CLE, vs. ATL)
Luis Severino, NYY (@ BOS, vs. TB)
Edinson Volquez, KC (vs. CWS, @ MIN)
Michael Wacha, STL (vs. CIN, @ CHC)
Jered Weaver, LAA (@ CHC, @ CLE)
Rob Whalen, ATL (@ MIL, @ WAS)
Cream of the crop:
Chris Sale, CWS (@ KC, @ MIA)
I'm already looking forward to Sunday's matchup between Sale and Fernandez. Both of SAle's starts this week are on the road. This season, he is 7-3 with a 2.16 ERA away from U.S. Cellular Field.
Jose Fernandez, MIA (vs. SF, vs. CWS)
Again, set aside some time on Sunday to watch Fernandez and Sale square off in Miami. Fernandez is 9-2 with a 2.11 ERA at home this year and he'll get two home starts this week.
Max Scherzer, WAS (vs. CLE, vs. ATL)
Mad Max has struck out at least 10 batters in two of the past three starts. Scherzer gets two turns in the rotation at home this week. He is 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA at Nationals Park in 2016.
Potential bargains:
Zach Davies, MIL (vs. ATL, vs. CIN)
He's owned in less than 40 percent of FOX Sports fantasy leagues, yet Davies has been remarkably consistent. He's allowed two earned runs or less in five straight starts and has struck out at least four batters in four consecutive outings.
Chad Kuhl, PIT (vs. SD, @ LAD)
He's only started in four games this season, but Kuhl was on fire in his last outing. He allowed only one hit in six innings of work against the Nationals and struck out five batters. This week, Kuhl will face the strikeout-prone Padres.
Avoid at all costs:
Jered Weaver, LAA (@ CHC, @ CLE)
Not only does Weaver face two teams who are currently postseason-bound, but he must do so on the road. This year, Weaver is 4-4 with a 5.03 ERA as the away pitcher. Also, the Cubs and Indians are currently third (553) and fifth (542) respectively in runs scored this season.
Rob Whalen/Tyrell Jenkins, ATL (@ MIL, @ WAS)
Both of the Braves' starters must pitch on the road twice this week. Whalen has yet to do so and Jenkins is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 15 innings away from Turner Field. Also, the Nats have scored the fourth-most runs in the past week (42 runs).
