Two-Start Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball Week 18 (8/1-8/7)

Another week, another round of Two Start Pitchers! With the MLB trade deadline looming, rosters and pitching rotations are going to change a lot over the next few days. Therefore, make sure you consistently check the Fangraphs Starting Pitchers Grid before you make any moves or transactions. Here are the two start pitchers for Week 18 (8/1-8/7).

Must-Start: These pitchers should be started regardless of match-up. They are a must-start in all leagues until further notice.

Should-Start: These pitchers should start in most leagues. This is based on the pedigree of the pitcher and/or favorable matchups.

Questionable: Only start these pitchers if you are in a deep roto or points league, desperate for counting stats, or feeling lucky.

Sit: Do not start these pitchers.

Week 18 Two Start Pitchers

Must Start

Yu Darvish, the 35-year-old San Diego Padre, is 9-4 with a 3.49 SIERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 120 strikeouts in 122.1 innings. Darvish is showcasing elite command right now with a 4.9 walk percentage (91st percentile). June 7 was the last time he gave up more than three earned runs in a game. His 15 quality starts are tied for 3rd in baseball. Next week Darvish stays in San Diego to face the Rockies (86 wRC+) then he travels north a few hours to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (121 wRC+).

Should Start

For years we asked ourselves “How good would Jon Gray be if his home park wasn’t Coors Field?” Well, looks like we got our answer. Jon Gray is 7-5, with a career-low 3.49 xERA,  .227 xBA against, and a 1.14 WHIP. Gray’s strikeout numbers have held up as well as he has 113 strikeouts in 102 innings. His career-high 27.1 strikeout percentage is in the 77th percentile in baseball. Next week he stays home to take on the Baltimore Orioles (95 wRC+) and the Chicago White Sox (93 wRC+).

Tarik Skubal looks to be back on track after a brutal May and June. Since July 8th, Skubal holds a 2.25 ERA with 23 strikeouts and six walks in 24.0 innings. On the year, Skubal has a 3.25 xERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 113 punchouts in 112.2 innings. Next week the 25-year-old left-hander travels to Minnesota to take on the Twins (106 wRC+) and then goes back home to Detroit to face the Tampa Bay Rays (106 wRC+).

Over the last 30 days, Brady Singer has impressed with a 2.05 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, with 42 strikeouts across 30.2 innings. He also has pitched four straight quality starts with the most recent being a seven-inning shutout with ten strikeouts against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Call him butter because he’s on a roll. Next week Singer travels to the south side of Chicago to face the White Sox (93 wRC+) and then he goes back home to battle the imploding Boston Red Sox (97 wRC+).

Questionable

Lucas Giolito cannot be trusted right now in most fantasy leagues and it’s a shame since he is probably your SP1. With that said, he is not a pure “sit” because there is still some upside, especially in point leagues. Right now he has 108 strikeouts in 96.1 innings. Another sign of brighter days is that his 3.76 SIERA is drastically lower than his current 5.14 ERA. So if you are less worried about your ratios, and you want to roll the dice, Giolito is your guy. But tread lightly.

Must Sit