Hello and welcome to the 13th 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.
The fantasy baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. As we creep toward the All-Star break, it’s easy to fall into bad habits and not spend as much time on teams that have struggled out of the gate, but now is not the time to panic or give up. 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:
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As has been the case nearly every week this season, the Dodgers continue to roll with a six-man rotation and with only six games on tap, none of their hurlers are lined up to make two starts. Eric Lauer is taking the ball on Monday, so if anyone gets scratched, he would be the one to get the two-start week (at Twins, at Padres). Also, if things stay on track and they don’t add a spot starter the following week, Lauer would line up for two then (at Athletics, vs. Padres), though it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the other six stay on turn and then have River Ryan make a start. Either way, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to stash Lauer in shallower leagues for that potential two-start week.
No word yet from the Blue Jays on who will take the ball on Monday. If it’s a starter and not another bullpen game, that lucky arm will get a two-start week (vs. Astros, vs. Rangers). We’ll update here throughout the weekend when/if we get any additional information.
Going Twice…
Note: Probable pitchers as of June 19 and are subject to change.
American League
▶ Strong Plays
Hunter Brown, Astros, RHP (at Blue Jays, at Tigers)
We have only seen Hunter Brown make three starts this season, but he has been exceptional in all of them, posting a 1.10 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 24/9 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings. Now he gets double the volume to finally start to give fantasy managers the production that they were hoping for when calling his name in the first few rounds of drafts back in March. There’s no decisions to be made here, he’s an automatic start in all leagues every week and is perhaps the top overall play in the league this week.
Kyle Bradish, Orioles, RHP (at Angels, vs. Nationals)
After a rough start to the season, Bradish has finally started to round into the form that fantasy managers anticipated, posting a 3.26 ERA and 50/20 K/BB ratio over 47 innings in his last eight starts. He’s coming off his finest outing of the year, a 12-strikeout gem in a victory over the Mariners and looks poised to deliver another strong week with a pair of solid matchups on tap. He represents one of the top overall options on the board for this week.
Gavin Williams, Guardians, RHP (at White Sox, vs. Mariners)
For the majority of the season, Gavin Williams has pitched like an ace for the Guardians, boasting a 3.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 103/30 K/BB ratio across his 91 2/3 innings of work. There have been struggles recently though, as he was blasted for seven runs against the Brewers his last time out after giving up three runs in each of his previous two outings against the Yankees. The track record is long enough and the matchups are weak enough that we should consider last week’s disaster nothing more than a blip on the radar. Williams should be locked into all lineups this week.
Drew Rasmussen, Rays, RHP (vs. Royals, vs. Diamondbacks)
Whenever Rasmussen takes the mound, he posts elite results. It’s as simple as that. He has been outstanding once again this season, posting a minuscule 2.59 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and an 84/13 K/BB ratio over 80 innings. Look for the good times to continue this week with a pair of home starts against the Royals and Diamondbacks. He’s an easy start in all leagues every week.
Casey Mize, Tigers, RHP (vs. Yankees, vs. Astros)
Whenever Mize has been healthy enough to take the mound this season, the results have been excellent. Through 10 starts scattered around two trips to the injured list, Mize has registered a 2.58 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 52/13 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings. That’s excellent work. It’s a shame he only has two victories to show for it. The matchups are tough this week, but nothing that Mize can’t handle. As long as he’s healthy and taking the ball, he should be an every week starter in all leagues.
Carlos Rodon, Yankees, LHP (at Tigers, at Red Sox)
Rodon has looked very sharp since returning from the injured list, posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 41/20 K/BB ratio over 36 innings through his first seven starts on the season. The Tigers have really struggled against southpaws this season, which gives the 33-year-old southpaw a terrific matchup at Comerica Park to open the week. Expect double digit strikeouts, solid ratios and a terrific shot at earning at least one victory – if not two. He’s an easy start in all leagues.
George Kirby, Mariners, RHP (at Pirates, at Guardians)
With the Mariners moving back to a piggyback six-man rotation, that means that even with only six games on tap, Kirby will toe the slab twice for the M’s. The right-hander has been solid this season, posting a 4.10 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 79/21 K/BB ratio across his 90 innings of work. He draws a terrific set of matchups this week, getting to battle the Pirates and Guardians, even if both games are on the road. He’s easily one of the top plays on the board for the week.
Shane McClanahan, Rays, LHP (vs. Royals, vs. Diamondbacks)
While some doubted that McClanahan would be able to hold up to the wear and tear of a grueling MLB season, so far, so good. He holds a strong 3.33 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 69/27 K/BB ratio across 67 2/3 innings through his first 14 starts. He has stumbled a bit recently – giving up 10 runs over 12 2/3 innings in his last three starts – but all of those starts were on the road including a tough spot against the Dodgers. He should return to elite ratios and quality strikeouts while back at home for two starts this week, making him a strong play in all formats.
Michael Wacha, Royals, RHP (at Rays, at White Sox)
Even with his recent struggles, Wacha has been a fantasy asset for most of the season, compiling a 3.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 72/28 K/BB ratio over 94 innings. His limited strikeout rate is offset by the added volume of an extra start this week and Wacha has surrendered four earned runs or fewer in all but two of his 15 starts on the season, making it very unlikely that he would sabotage your ratios. He’s an easy start in all league sizes.
▶ Decent Plays
Framber Valdez, Tigers, LHP (vs. Yankees, vs. Astros)
The move away from the Astros has been a struggle for Framber Valdez, who sits at just 3-5 with a disappointing 4.09 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 67/32 K/BB ratio over 83 2/3 innings in his first 15 starts with the Tigers. If they’re going to stage a massive comeback to make a playoff run, Valdez is going to have to pitch better. He was sharp his last time out against the Astros, allowing just one unearned run while striking out six over six innings. The matchups are tough this week, but I think you have to keep rolling Valdez out there in all leagues and hope that he can get his ratios back in line with expectations before the end of the season.
Ryan Weathers, Yankees, LHP (at Tigers, at Red Sox)
Weathers had a very rough three-start stretch from the end of May through the beginning of June where he surrendered 16 runs over 17 innings and watched his ERA climb from 3.14 to 4.36. He appears to have gotten back on track his last time out though, firing 6 1/3 innings of one-run baseball with eight strikeouts against the White Sox on Thursday. The Tigers can’t hit the broad side of a barn against southpaws and the Red Sox are struggling to beat anyone these days, making the matchups very favorable for Weathers. I’d be comfortable starting him in all league sizes.
Aaron Civale, Athletics, RHP (at Giants, at Angels)
Civale has posted pretty miserable numbers overall this season, but like most Athletics’ hurlers, he has been punished by pitching half of his games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. On the road, he boasts a downright impressive 3.19 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 25/11 K/BB ratio over 31 innings in his six starts. He gets to make both starts on the road this week and gets the added benefit of battling the Giants in his first one. Civale makes for a sneaky good option in all league sizes this week and can probably be picked up via FAAB or waivers for virtually no cost.
Sonny Gray, Red Sox, RHP (at Rockies, vs. Yankees)
You’d like to be able to trust Sonny Gray in a two-start week, but yeesh those matchups are brutal. Gray has been a shining light on an otherwise disappointing Red Sox’ squad, going 8-1 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 51/16 K/BB ratio across his 62 1/3 frames through his first 12 starts. While there are ratio concerns with the matchups, I think you have to trust Gray given how good he has been this season. He’s an easy start in 15 teamers and I’d be confident using him in 12’s also.
Anthony Kay, White Sox, LHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Royals)
Kay has been very inconsistent through his first 15 outings (13 starts) on the season, leading to a middling 4.61 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 55/28 K/BB ratio over 70 1/3 innings including a league-leading 13 hit batsmen. What he does have working for him this week is that the Guardians and Royals are both in the bottom half of the league against left-handed pitching and the Guardians are without their superstar third baseman in Jose Ramirez. There’s enough meat on the bone here that I’d be fine using him as a streaming option in 15-teamers. In 12’s it would depend on my alternative options.
Luinder Avila, Royals, RHP (at Rays, at White Sox)
Aside from one complete disaster against the Astros where he didn’t make it out of the first inning, Avila has pitched well in his transition, going at least five frames and giving up just one run in each of his other three starts. The risk of a blowup is always present given his command issues, but Avila actually looks like a decent streaming option that’s probably available on most waiver wires. For sure I’d roll him out there in 15-teamers and I may even ride the wave in 12’s depending on what alternative options I had.
Zebby Matthews, Twins, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Rockies)
It has been pretty much all or nothing for Matthews through his first seven starts with the Twins this season. He has posted five quality starts in those seven outings, while getting blasted for seven runs each in those other two. If anyone is going to knock him around the yard, the Dodgers have a good shot of doing so on Monday. If he can get through that though, he finishes the week with a home tilt against the Rockies. My gut says that as scary as the Dodgers are, Matthews finds a way to make it through and winds up delivering quality results this week.
Jack Leiter, Rangers, RHP (at Marlins, at Blue Jays)
Leiter started the season off strong, but has really fallen on hard times, giving up 15 runs over 13 2/3 innings in his last three starts, causing his ERA to swell from 4.34 to 5.29. The matchups this week indicate that this could be the time for him to get back on track, but I get that fantasy managers would be gunshy to throw him back to the wolves after the damage that he has caused the past three weeks. On the plus side, you know the strikeouts will be there.
Kumar Rocker, Rangers, RHP (at Marlins, at Blue Jays)
Rocker has actually done a decent job for the Rangers through his first 14 starts, though his 1.41 WHIP and just two victories leave a lot to be desired. If you’re looking to pile up strikeouts, he should be able to contribute there this week, though his WHIP is always going to be a major risk. He’s not the worst streaming option on the board this week, but he’s also far from the best.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Jake Bennett, Red Sox, LHP (at Rockies, vs. Yankees)
It has been a struggle for Bennett through his first four starts with the Red Sox, registering a 4.79 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 13/5 K/BB ratio over his 20 2/3 innings of work. It’s going to get much worse for him this week, having to battle the Rockies in Colorado and the Yankees at home. The Red Sox aren’t winning games right now, Bennett isn’t striking people out and he’s likely to do serious damage to your ratios. There’s really no good reason to go there this week.
Sam Aldegheri, Angels, LHP (vs. Orioles, vs. Athletics)
There’s nothing that we have seen from Aldegheri this season, or in his minor league history, that suggests he’s ready to have consistent success at the major league level. Throw in the fact that the Orioles and Athletics both hit well against left-handed pitching, and you have a recipe for disaster here. The strikeout rate isn’t even high enough to chase him as a volume play and the Angels are likely to be underdogs in both road starts so he’s unlikely to win either. It’s an awful lot of ratio risk for very low potential reward.
National League
▶ Strong Plays
Nolan McLean, Mets, RHP (vs. Cubs, vs. Phillies)
Aside from a disastrous two-start stretch in mid-May, McLean has been outstanding for the Mets this season. He has rebounded nicely since then, posting a 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 22/13 K/BB ratio over 22 innings across his last four starts. That includes seven innings with no earned runs and nine punchouts against the Reds in Cincinnati his last time out. There shouldn’t be any decision points here, as McLean is an easy every week start in all formats. Just sit back and enjoy double the production this time around.
Eduardo Rodríguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (at Cardinals, at Rays)
The 33-year-old southpaw continues his career renaissance in his age-33 season, posting a brilliant 2.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 65/35 K/BB ratio over 88 1/3 innings through his first 15 starts. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last 10 starts and hasn’t given up more than four runs in any start this season. That’s about as safe as you can get right now. The added volume from the two-start week makes up for his underwhelming strikeout rate and there’s a decent chance that he snags his seventh victory of the season this week. He’s an easy start in all formats.
Jesús Luzardo, Phillies, LHP (at Nationals, at Mets)
The 28-year-old southpaw has really turned things around after a rough start to the season, posting a 2.86 ERA and a 67/22 K/BB ratio over 63 innings over his last 11 starts dating back to April 21. Now he gets to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes on the road where he should be able to add to his win total while piling up strikeouts. He’s a slam dunk type of play this week and one that should be used across the board.
Foster Griffin, Nationals, LHP (vs. Phillies, at Orioles)
Griffin has been a bright spot in an otherwise abysmal Nationals’ rotation this season, going 7-2 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and an 80/23 K/BB ratio across 84 innings of work. The Phillies are much better against right-handed pitching and they’re a familiar divisional foe and the Orioles aren’t anything to be afraid of at this point of the season. Look for the good times to continue for Griffin next week, making him an easy start in all leagues.
Grant Holmes, Braves, RHP (at Padres, at Giants)
In terms of matchups, it doesn’t get a whole lot better than pitching at the Padres and at the Giants. The worry here is that Holmes has really struggled his last two times out, giving up three runs over 3 2/3 innings against the White Sox before allowing three runs over two innings against the Giants before rain cut his last start short. I think you trust the track record and the matchups here, making Holmes a strong option in all league sizes.
▶ Decent Plays
Javier Assad, Cubs, RHP (at Mets, at Brewers)
Since rejoining the Cubs’ rotation on June 7, Assad is pitching like he doesn’t want to be relegated back to the bullpen. In three starts, he holds a scintillating 1.00 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and an 11/2 K/BB ratio over 18 innings of work. Could it be a flash in the pan? Sure, but we have seen Assad have mixed league relevance before so it’s not completely out of nowhere. The matchups are neutral this week, making Assad an attractive streaming option in all formats.
Andre Pallante, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, vs. Marlins)
Pallante continues to post solid results overall this season, compiling a 3.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 62/25 K/BB ratio over 76 2/3 innings. While a correction may be coming at some point, there’s no reason to expect that it’s going to be this week and he has a pair of strong matchups on tap with both of them coming at home. I know he has burned a lot of fantasy managers trying to stream him in the past, but he really does make for a solid option for his two-start week. Dare I even say, start him with full confidence.
Tyler Phillips, Marlins, RHP (vs. Rangers, at Cardinals)
The transition of Tyler Phillips from the Marlins’ bullpen to the rotation had been going beautifully, until he was rocked for eight runs over four innings against the Phillies in Philadelphia his last time out. The Rangers and Cardinals both rank in the bottom half of the league against right-handed pitching, so it could be worth it to give him another shot. Even in the worst case scenario, he should approach double digit strikeouts on the week with a shot at earning a victory. That’s more than enough for me to take the plunge in 15-teamers.
Adrian Houser, Giants, RHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Braves)
Houser had been lined up to make two starts last week, but Thursday’s rain out threw a wrench into those plans. He is what he is at this stage of his career, a decent enough innings eater who has some mixed league viability when the matchups line up correctly. He gets to make both of these starts in the friendly confines in San Francisco and gets to battle the Athletics during the first matchup. That’s good enough for me to take the plunge in 15-teamers.
Mitch Keller, Pirates, RHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Reds)
Normally a reliable streaming option in two-start weeks, Keller has fallen on hard times over his last four starts, posting an 11.00 ERA and a 2.28 WHIP across 18 innings of work. During that stretch his ERA ballooned from 3.64 to 5.25. The matchups are decent this week, but it’s very hard to trust Keller right now in his current form. If you believe in the track record and think he can turn things back around, go ahead in deeper leagues. If you’re worried about your ratios though, you may want to sit this one out.
Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, vs. Marlins)
While talented, Leahy continues to struggle to put everything together in his transition to the Cardinals’ rotation. He was good his last time out though, striking out seven batters over six innings of three-run baseball against the Padres and now gets a pair of home starts against mediocre offenses this week. There’s always the threat of him blowing up your ratios, but in 15-teamers you could do a lot worse than Leahy this week.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Edward Cabrera, Cubs, RHP (at Mets, at Brewers)
Cabrera hasn’t quite been the impact addition to the Cubs’ rotation that they were hoping for this season, compiling a 5.21 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 61/25 K/BB ratio over 67 1/3 innings in his first 13 starts. It has been even worse for him recently, with an 8.31 ERA over 26 innings in his last six starts. Combine that with the uncertainty of exiting his last start with a hand injury, and there are very real reasons to keep the 28-year-old hurler on benches for fantasy purposes this week. If you want to roll the dice for the strikeout upside or hope that he’s going to turn things back around, be my guest. I’d look elsewhere if possible.
Michael King, Padres, RHP (vs. Braves, vs. Dodgers)
After a strong start to the season, King has been knocked around a bit recently, registering a 6.41 ERA and a 14/11 K/BB ratio over 26 2/3 innings in his last five starts. The lack of strikeouts is particularly worrisome. Now he has to tangle with perhaps the two most fearsome offenses in the National League. You’d like to be able to trust King for a two-start week given his track record, but this also has the potential to be very ugly and isn’t for the risk averse. I’d probably still go there in 15’s, just be prepared for the potential downside.
Brandon Sproat, Brewers, RHP (at Reds, vs. Cubs)
While we have seen flashes of brilliance from Sproat with the Brewers this season, they have been few and far between. Overall he sports a cringe-inducing 5.94 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 63/32 K/BB ratio across 63 2/3 innings over his first 14 appearances (12 starts). It’s not going to get any easier for him this week, having to battle the Reds in Cincinnati before taking on the Cubs at home. The upside is hidden in there and at any time he could deliver a strong start, but expecting him to string two together in the row right now seems like a bit of a stretch. I’d only consider in deeper leagues where you’re looking to gain ground in strikeouts.
Kodai Senga, Mets, RHP (vs. Cubs, vs. Phillies)
I was as high on Senga as anyone coming into the season, but until we see him show any signs of consistent success he should be relegated to benches in all mixed leagues. Between stints on the injured list, the right-hander sits at 0-5 with a horrifying 9.00 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and a 28/17 K/BB ratio across 24 innings. He didn’t look any better in his first start back off of the injured list and the matchups don’t do him any favors either. You’ve been warned.
Brady Singer, Reds, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Pirates)
In years past, without even looking at the matchups, I would have told you that Brady Singer is always a strong streaming option in two-start weeks. That couldn’t be farther from the truth this season though. Through his first 14 starts, he holds a miserable 5.32 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and a 52/23 K/BB ratio over 66 innings. If you’re into small samples, he has been a bit better of late, giving up just four earned runs over 15 innings in his last three starts. That’s not enough for me to latch onto though to trust him in a two-start week. He’s nothing more than a highly volatile volume play in deeper leagues.
Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks, RHP (at Cardinals, at Rays)
Kelly has been a major disappointment for both the Diamondbacks and for fantasy managers this season, registering an uninspiring 5.81 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and a 42/28 K/BB ratio over 69 2/3 innings. That’s just not going to get it done. He has also been bombed for six or more runs twice in his last three starts. If he had a higher strikeout rate, maybe you could try him in deeper leagues as a value play. I just don’t see a whole lot of upside here and there’s plenty of ratio risk to go around.
Ryan Feltner, Rockies, RHP (vs. Red Sox, at Twins)
Once again, repeat after me, Never Rockies. Feltner has actually done a decent job overall this season, compiling a 5.05 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 33/16 K/BB ratio across 41 innings. Decent for the Rockies at least. It’s still not anything that you would want to go near for fantasy purposes. The Red Sox have struggled against right-handed pitching this season, but you don’t want to take them on at Coors Field. The Twins have clobbered right-handers this season. If your ratios are already too far gone and you only care about making up ground in wins and strikeouts, sure, go ahead. Otherwise, steer clear.
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