Hello and welcome to the 20th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.
I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.
With each passing week, I’m getting more emotional thinking about the fact that there may not be a full season in 2026 due to the uncertainty surrounding the labor dispute between Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association. I’m really trying to take time to appreciate each day that we have baseball and the joy that it’s able to bring me.
I’m also basking in the joy that if the season ended today, the Tigers would be in a playoff spot, having rallied from 16 games under .500 to pull back to within a game of the breakeven mark and within 2.5 games of the White Sox in the Central division. It’s an important weekend for my Motor City Kitties.
As fantasy managers have turned their full attention to football, there are opportunities to creep up in the standings where others aren’t giving their teams the full attention that they still deserve. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.
This is a living document, so we’ll update the options below as the weekend moves along.
Before we get into it, we’ll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week. With teams still trying to get their rotations lined up for the second half, there’s more uncertainty than usual for a Friday afternoon:
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We know that Shane Baz is going to make two starts for the Orioles next week, but we don’t know which other hurler is going to get that assignment yet (vs. Yankees, vs. Rays). The expectation is that it’ll be Cade Povich, though that has yet to be confirmed. If he does, it’s a tough draw having to take on the Rays and Yankees, though he’s still probably a better option than some of the strikeout-only plays at the bottom of the list. I’ll update here if we gain any additional clarity throughout the weekend.
Luis Castillo will make two starts for the White Sox next week, but it’s unclear who else is going to after Davis Martin landed on the injured list on Friday with a blister issue. It’s possible that Erick Fedde is the next man up once again after losing his spot in the rotation following Castillo’s arrival from the Mariners. If so, he’ll go twice (at Cubs, vs. Mets) and could make for a decent gamble as a deep league streaming option.
The Dodgers continue to roll with a full six-man rotation, making it so none of their starters will pitch twice in a six-game week. If anything were to change, or if anyone were to be skipped for any reason, that would set up Blake Snell to have a two-start week (at Rockies, vs. Pirates).
Like the Dodgers, the Brewers are also utilizing a six-man rotation at the moment, and wish six games on tap for next week that means no one will get the added benefits of pitching twice. Kyle Harrison goes on Monday and would fall into two starts (vs. Mariners, vs. Braves) if anyone (Robert Gasser maybe?) were to be skipped this time through.
Someone is going to make two starts for the Nationals next week (at Rangers, at Marlins), but as of now we aren’t sure who that will be. There have been some rumblings that Zak Kent could get the call to do so, but even if so he doesn’t make for a particularly intriguing streaming option. We’ll update here if anything changes throughout the weekend.
Going Twice…
Note: Probable pitchers as of August 14 and are subject to change.
American League
▶ Strong Plays
Drew Rasmussen, Rays, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Orioles)
I don’t know what it’s going to take for Rasmussen to get the respect that he deserves and to be routinely considered among the top starting pitchers in all of baseball. He has been absolutely elite again this season, posting a 12-5 record, 2.78 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and a 133/23 K/BB ratio over 129 1/3 innings. Simply incredible. Now he’ll battle a pair of divisional foes that he should have no issues handling yet again. He may be the top overall play on the board this week and one that should be started in every single league without hesitation.
Bryce Miller, Mariners, RHP (at Brewers, vs. Cubs)
Miller has been terrific through his first 15 appearances on the season, registering a 3.39 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and an 84/16 K/BB ratio over 85 innings of work. As long as he’s healthy enough to take the mound, he should be started in all leagues each and every week. The matchups are tough this week, but that shouldn’t be enough to dissuade us from deploying him in our lineups, it just means that the ratio risk is higher than we’d normally expect. When Miller is on though, he can dominate any lineup.
Foster Griffin, Guardians, LHP (vs. Giants, at Rockies)
Foster Griffin has been one of baseball’s breakout stars during the 2026 season, going 13-4 with a 3.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 125/33 K/BB ratio over 138 1/3 innings. He has been an absolute gold mine for fantasy managers who scooped him up early in the season. He has struggled through his first two starts with the Guardians, but his overall track record is strong enough that we’re going to continue trusting him, especially with a home tilt against the Giants to open the week. Having to pitch at Coors Field over the weekend is never ideal, but once again Griffin gets the benefit of the doubt. He should be started in all leagues.
Ranger Suarez, Red Sox, LHP (vs. Diamondbacks, vs. Giants)
Suarez showed a bit of rust as he was building his strength back up coming off of the injured list, but he looked sharp his last time out, allowing just one run over five innings against the Twins. He gets to make a pair of starts at home this week, one of those against the bottom-feeding Giants, which should be a great spot to earn a victory. Suarez should already be locked into most lineups on a weekly basis, and he should be started in all leagues in what looks to be a terrific two-start week on paper.
Luis Castillo, White Sox, RHP (at Cubs, vs. Mets)
After getting clobbered in his first outing with the White Sox, Castillo showed that he still has something left in the tank in his last start, racking up 10 strikeouts over seven innings of one-hit baseball against a tough Reds’ offense. This week’s matchups are a mixed bag, as it’s never fun to pitch at Wrigley Field during the summer, but he gets to finish the week with a home tilt against the Mets. I still have enough trust in Castillo that I’d be using him in all leagues for this two-start week without hesitation.
Framber Valdez, Tigers, LHP (vs. Diamondbacks, vs. Giants)
Valdez has been a bit of a disappointment in his first season away from the Astros, posting a 4.26 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 106/50 K/BB ratio over 133 innings in his first 24 starts with the Tigers. This week should be a terrific chance for him to get back on track, taking on the Diamondbacks and Giants both in the spacious confines of Comerica Park. I know that you’ve absorbed a ton of ratio damage by having him in there for most of the season, but if there’s any week to start him and start getting those back in line, this is definitely it, especially with how well the Tigers are playing right now. He’s one of the better options on the board this week.
Michael Wacha, Royals, RHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Tigers)
The 35-year-old right-hander is having another outstanding season for the Royals, posting a 3.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 117/41 K/BB ratio over a league-leading 150 2/3 innings through his first 24 starts. The strikeouts are lower than you’d like in a single-start week, as are the five victories that he has tallied on the season, which makes him a strong option in most two-start weeks. He gets the added benefits of having both starts come at home this week and the first one he draws a premium spot against the struggling Athletics. That makes him a strong option in all formats.
Nick Martinez, Rays, RHP (vs. Orioles, at Orioles)
Due to a strange scheduling quirk with the wraparound series against the Orioles to start the week, Martinez will battle the same team (and Shane Baz) in both of his starts this week. While he has been great over the course of the season – with a 2.74 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 138 innings – he has been hit harder than usual recently, with a six-run debacle against the White Sox on July 31 before giving up four runs in a complete game against the A’s his last time out. It’s tough to face the same team twice in a week, but it’s not enough to keep us from using Martinez in a two-start week. Fire away.
▶ Decent Plays
José Soriano, Blue Jays, RHP (at Rays, at Yankees)
Soriano has looked sharp since joining the Blue Jays, posting a 1.69 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 7/5 K/BB ratio over 10 2/3 innings in his first two starts. The matchups are tough this week with a pair of road tilts against the Rays and Yankees, but Soriano has proven that he can shut down any team in the league when he’s able to locate the baseball. I’d trust his recent form and roll him out there in all league sizes for this two-start week.
Shane Baz, Orioles, RHP (at Rays, vs. Rays)
This one is super interesting, as it’s the first time that I can recall seeing a pitcher have a two-start week where he squares off against the same opponent in both starts. That’s wild. It’s even more complicated by the fact that it’s a pair of revenge games for Baz. Prior to a disastrous start against the Twins his last time out, Baz had been rolling, so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt here. He makes for a decent streaming option in all formats.
Cal Quantrill, Rangers, RHP (vs. Nationals, vs. Angels)
Once again, Quantrill lines up for a two-start week with both starts coming at home in what has been an extreme pitcher’s park. The matchups also aren’t anything to seriously worry about, so the only question is how much longer do you think he can get by on smoke and mirrors before his ratios finally correct themselves. At this point, I’m tired of betting against him and may just roll with him and hope that his magical run can continue for another week.
George Klassen, Angels, RHP (at Astros, at Rangers)
After the Angels’ flurry of moves at the trade deadline, Klassen was added back to the team’s rotation and he should have the runway to stick there for the remainder of the season. So far, so good since his return, posting a 2.70 ERA and 8/5 K/BB ratio over 10 innings in his first two starts, including a victory over the Rangers his last time out. He’ll make both of his starts on the road against familiar divisional foes this week and after taming the Rangers last week, I like his chances against them again this time around. There’s risk to be had for sure, but as far as calculated risks go, I like his chances better than most of the names below him on this list.
Daniel Lynch IV, Royals, LHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Tigers)
Lynch has pitched well for the Royals this season, though most of it has come out of the bullpen. As he’s getting stretched back out as a starter, he has only worked four innings in total through his first two outings. That means he isn’t going to go deep enough into either of these starts to earn a victory. You can expect six or seven solid innings for the week with around seven strikeouts and solid ratios. If that’s enough to interest you, you could roll with his two start week, otherwise there may be better options.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Cristian Javier, Astros, RHP (vs. Angels, vs. Athletics)
The version of Javier that we have seen in his first 10 appearances (six starts) since returning from the injured list has not been good. He holds an uninspiring 6.68 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and a 25/16 K/BB ratio over 32 1/3 innings of work. Normally I would completely stay away from him in a two-start week given his current form, the only thing that’s moderately appealing is the matchups – getting to battle the Angels and A’s at home is about as good as it gets. As long as you understand the ratio risk going in, he could be worth a look in the deepest of formats or for those getting to a desperate spot in wins and strikeouts.
Will Warren, Yankees, RHP (at Orioles, vs. Blue Jays)
After a very strong start to the season, Warren has really fallen on hard times recently. Over his last nine starts he has been blasted to the tune of a 6.35 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 39 2/3 innings. Oof. Given those recent struggles, it’s very difficult to trust him against a pair of familiar divisional foes this week. The strikeouts should still be there if you’re lacking the category, but the ratio risk that you would be incurring likely wouldn’t be worth the extra punchouts. You can try it if you need to, but I don’t feel good about it.
Bailey Ober, Twins, RHP (vs. Braves, at Padres)
Ober has failed to impress through his first 18 starts on the season, putting together a disappointing 4.64 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 67/25 K/BB ratio across 99 innings of work. It’s not going to get any easier for him this week, having to battle a pair of potent National League offenses. His limited strikeout upside makes him a tough start in all but the deepest of mixed or AL-only leagues.
Mason Barnett, Athletics, RHP (at Royals, at Astros)
Barnett has been obliterated in 17 appearances (three starts) for the A’s this season, registering a 6.16 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 36/20 K/BB ratio across 38 innings of work. There’s just no good reason to expect it’s going to get better for him this week, especially when he has to battle the Astros in West Sacramento to finish the week. Unless you’ve given up on ratios and are just looking to stockpile strikeouts, stay away from this one.
Jack Perkins, Athletics, RHP (at Royals, at Astros)
Like most members of the Athletics’ rotation this season, Perkins has been an unmitigated disaster. He holds a cringe-inducing 7.27 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 94/32 K/BB ratio over 81 2/3 innings on the season. With only two victories to his name, his only redeeming quality this season has been the punchouts, and you’ve had to absorb massive ratio damage to get those. If that appeals to you, go ahead and roll the dice here. I’ll be staying away personally.
National League
▶ Strong Plays
Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies, LHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Cardinals)
While he has been a bit overshadowed by the dominant season that Jacob Misiorowski is having, Sánchez is putting in some incredible work as well as he competes for the National League Cy Young award. Through 25 starts on the year he sits at 15-4 with a minuscule 2.54 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 181/35 K/BB ratio over 155 2/3 innings. He gets to take on a pair of middling opponents this week, with both starts coming at home, making him one of the top overall options on the board for his two-start week. He should be locked into all lineups every week regardless of matchups, so it goes without saying that he needs to be started in all formats for this one.
Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, RHP (at Reds, at Phillies)
The Cardinals were always convinced that Leahy had a future in their rotation, but it wasn’t until this season that he really took the next step. After stumbling out of the gate, Leahy started to put things together in the first half of the season and since June 23 he has taken his game to another level. During that nine-start stretch, he holds a 1.52 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 46/9 K/BB ratio over 47 1/3 innings. That’s absolutely elite. He needs to be started in all leagues every week until further notice.
Martín Pérez, Braves, LHP (at Twins, at Brewers)
I’m not really sure how he keeps doing it, but he has done it for long enough that we should just trust that Martín Pérez is actually a decent big league pitcher. The 35-year-old southpaw holds a stellar 2.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and an 80/43 K/BB ratio over 106 1/3 innings on the season and with the powerful Braves’ offense backing him, he’s a threat to earn a victory each and every time he takes the hill. That makes him a very solid streaming option in all formats for this upcoming two-start week.
▶ Decent Plays
Tyler Mahle, Braves, RHP (at Twins, at Brewers)
While the overall results on his season have been disappointing, Mahle has always had the talent to be a viable mixed league option for fantasy purposes. Something seems to have clicked since being acquired by the Braves, as he has surrendered just one run over 12 innings with an absurd 16/2 K/BB ratio since the move from the Giants. It’s a small sample size for sure, but it’s one that I’m buying into heading into a two-start week. He’s also far more likely to earn victories with the Braves than he was with the Giants. I’d be comfortable throwing him out there in all formats this week and would actively be looking to snag him if he’s out there on waivers.
Andrew Abbott, Reds, LHP (vs. Cardinals, at Diamondbacks)
Prior to a tough outing against the White Sox his last time out, Abbott had put together a stretch of 18 starts where he compiled a 3.15 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and an 80/48 K/BB ratio across 100 innings. That’s enough of a sample that I’m willing to overlook the tough start his last time and continue to trust the Reds’ southpaw. The matchups aren’t overly imposing either, so while there’s always a small chance of a blow up, I’d be comfortable rolling him out there in both 15 and 12-team formats.
Andre Pallante, Cardinals, RHP (at Reds, at Phillies)
It’s hard for me to admit, but Pallante has actually been a viable fantasy option for the majority of the 2026 season. He holds a respectable 3.46 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 92/40 K/BB ratio over 130 innings and has amassed 12 victories – those are numbers that any fantasy manager would be thrilled to have, even with the diminished strikeouts. He has to tangle with a couple of tough offenses this week and both matchups come in hitter’s parks, which is the only reason he’s listed as a decent option instead of a strong one. I’d still trust him enough to use him in both 15 and 12-team leagues.
David Peterson, Mets, LHP (vs. White Sox, at Mariners)
While it still hasn’t been elite production, Peterson has been much better since joining the Cubs. In eight starts there, he has gone 4-1 with a 4.19 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 31/16 K/BB ratio over 43 innings of work. The matchups fall in his favor this week as well, getting to battle a pair of offenses that have been slumping as of late, especially against southpaws. While it’s always difficult to trust Peterson for a two-start week, we like this spot much better than we would have if he was still with the Mets.
Walker Buehler, Padres, RHP (at Mets, vs. Twins)
Aside from a couple of miserable blowup starts, Buehler has actually done a decent job overall for the Padres this season. He’s the type of option that can generally be streamed in fantasy leagues in weeks where the matchups are favorable, and that’s exactly the situation that we find ourselves in this week. He gets to tangle with a depleted Mets’ offense in New York before heading home to take on the Twins in the spacious confines of Petco Park. We have probably all been burned by him in the past, but I like Buehler’s chances of finding success this week and I’d be happy to use him in 15 and 12-team formats.
Carmen Mlodzinski, Pirates, RHP (vs. Tigers, at Dodgers)
Mlodzinski has done a nice job overall for the Pirates this season, posting a 3.79 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 78/35 K/BB ratio across 99 2/3 innings in 27 appearances (11 starts). The matchups don’t do him any favors in his two-start week though, having to battle the red-hot Tigers at home before traveling to Los Angeles to battle the vaunted Dodgers’ offense. He’s better than some of the sketchier options below, but the overall upside is probably lower than you’re looking for in a two-start streaming option.
Rhett Lowder, Reds, RHP (vs. Cardinals, at Diamondbacks)
Overall, the 2026 season hasn’t been kind to Lowder, as he sports a 5.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 77/40 K/BB ratio over 94 1/3 innings in 21 appearances (18 starts). If you look a bit closer though, he has actually pitched better recently, with a 3.22 ERA and a 16/5 K/BB ratio across 22 1/3 innings in his last four starts. One of those matchups was against the Cardinals in St. Louis, and now he’ll get to take them on at home before battling the Diamondbacks in Arizona. I don’t have a high degree of confidence in it, but if I was looking to add volume in deeper leagues, I’d actually be fine giving Lowder a look this week.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Janson Junk, Marlins, RHP (at Phililes, vs. Nationals)
Junk has functioned as a solid middle of the rotation option and innings eater for the Marlins this season, posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 64/24 K/BB ratio across 87 2/3 innings through his first 17 starts. The matchups fall on the tougher side this week as both the Phillies and Nationals have been crushing it against right-handed pitching and he may not be a favorite to earn a victory in either one of those starts. The juice really doesn’t appear to be worth the squeeze here for the limited upside that Junk provides.
Carson Whisenhunt, Giants, LHP (at Guardians, at Red Sox)
While Whisenhunt has the runway to finish out the season in the Giants’ rotation following the departure of Robbie Ray, that doesn’t mean he’s going to make for a viable fantasy option. The 25-year-old southpaw has struggled to a miserable 6.11 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and a 22/18 K/BB ratio over 28 innings through six starts on the season. He’s also battling a pair of solid offenses that are competing for playoff berths in the American League and is unlikely to earn a victory in either. This one should be easy to avoid.
Mitch Bratt, Diamondbacks, LHP (at Red Sox, vs. Reds)
The 23-year-old southpaw has done a decent job through his first seven starts for the Diamondbacks, posting a 3.74 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 25/19 K/BB ratio over 33 2/3 innings. It’s hard to see him having success in the long run though if he can’t get that walk rate down. The matchup also aren’t doing him any favors this week, having to battle the surging Red Sox in Boston before finishing the week with a tough tilt at home against the Reds. If you’re desperate for volume in deeper leagues and aren’t worried about ratios, you could take a shot here. Otherwise, it’s probably best to just stay away.
Tomoyuki Sugano, Rockies, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Guardians)
Never Rockies. Never Rockies. I went against my own rule last week with Gabriel Hughes set to pitch twice on the road and it blew up in my face. Just don’t do it. Not only has Sugano been terrible for most of the season, he makes both of these starts at Coors Field and one of them is against the Dodgers. There’s simply no reason at all to do this. Stay far, far away.
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