Here are the two-start pitchers (4/18-4/24) for week 3 in fantasy baseball. For this week, I started using 2022 statistics for ERA and wRC+.Disclaimer, the 2022 numbers are very noisy because of the small sample size so keep that in mind when evaluating each pitcher’s matchup. This article was mostly produced on Friday (4/15) before the week starts so make sure to double-check teams’ rotations before you make any transactions. Here are the two-start pitchers for week 3!
Two-Start Pitchers for Week 3
Tier Description:
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. However, these pitchers are not elite and are more subject to variance in performance. Tread lightly.
Questionable: Only start these pitchers if you are in a very deep league or if you are desperate for counting stats.
Sit: Do not start these pitchers.
Must Start
| Pitcher | ERA | Start 1 | wRC+ | Start 2 | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Eovaldi | 4.50 | TOR | 113 | @ TB | 122 |
| Gerrit Cole | 5.59 | @ DET | 74 | CLE | 154 |
| Shane McClanahan (L) | 3.00 | @ CHC | 132 | BOS | 75 |
| Shane Bieber | 2.70 | CHW | 59 | @ NYY | 108 |
| Frankie Montas | 4.76 | BAL | 80 | TEX | 92 |
| Robbie Ray (L) | 4.73 | TEX | 205 | KC | 69 |
| Max Scherzer | 3.27 | SF | 124 | @ ARI | 73 |
| Aaron Nola | 6.75 | @ COL | 79 | MIL | 101 |
| Clayton Kershaw (L) | 0.00 | ATL | 133 | @ SD | 138 |
| Sean Manaea (L) | 1.38 | CIN | 101 | LAD | 65 |
| Logan Webb | 1.29 | @ NYM | 145 | @ WSN | 65 |
Clayton Kershaw started off the season by demonstrating why he is a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame pitcher. Kershaw threw seven perfect innings against the Minnesota Twins. He had 13 strikeouts on his way to inducing 20 swinging strikes and finished with a 41 percent CSW. Now he has two tough matchups against the Braves and Padres but it doesn’t matter. He is an elite two-start pitcher for week 3.
Sean Manaea has been very impressive so far this season. Over 13 innings, Manaea has a 1.38 ERA with 13 strikeouts and three walks. Manaea has slightly decreased his curveball usage and is now throwing his sinker 61 percent of the time. Overall, Manaea looks really balanced and batters are struggling to make hard contact. Currently, hitters have a .203 xBA and .143 wOBA against him. Next week Manaea faces the lowly Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Until further notice, he is a must-start pitcher in all formats.
Should Start
| Pitcher | ERA | Start 1 | wRC+ | Start 2 | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eduardo Rodriguez (L) | 5.87 | NYY | 113 | COL | 128 |
| Jesús Luzardo (L) | 1.80 | STL | 227 | @ ATL | 133 |
| Tylor Megill | 0.00 | SF | 124 | @ ARI | 73 |
Tylor Megill has come out of nowhere to be the next potential fantasy ace. Over 10.1 innings, Megill has 11 strikeouts with zero walks and a 0.00 ERA. The Mets need as many starting pitchers as possible so he is locked in the rotation. Megill goes against the veteran San Francisco Giants and the worst hitting team in baseball, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just keep riding the wave and take advantage of these two starts.
Jesus Luzardo dominated the Los Angeles Angels with a career-high 12 strikeouts to start off the season. Luzardo decreased his change-up usage from 20.4 percent in 2021, to just 2.6 percent against the Angels. Luzardo also increased his curveball usage to a career-high 50 percent. Hopefully, he can continue his success as he plays the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves next week. He should be on everyone’s radar as a possible bounce-back candidate for 2022.
Questionable
| Pitcher | ERA | Start 1 | wRC+ | Start 2 | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Hill (L) | 6.23 | MIN | 82 | @ TB | 101 |
| Yusei Kikuchi (L) | 5.40 | @ BOS | 75 | @ HOU | 83 |
| Triston McKenzie | 2.57 | CHW | 59 | @ NYY | 108 |
| Alex Cobb | 3.60 | @ NYM | 145 | @ WSN | 65 |
| Madison Bumgarner (L) | 2.25 | @ WSN | 82 | NYM | 82 |
| Dylan Bundy | 0.00 | @ BOS | 84 | CHW | 59 |
| Merrill Kelly | 0.00 | @ WSN | 65 | NYM | 145 |
| Kyle Hendricks | 7.00 | TB | 122 | PIT | 118 |
| Luis Garcia | 0.00 | LAA | 133 | TOR | 113 |
Kyle Hendricks was brilliant in his first game of the year as he wracked up seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. This week against the Pirates, he was touched up for six runs in just 3.2 innings. Which Hendricks should we expect next week? I believe a good one. The 32-year-old Hendricks has an 81 percent whiff rate so far this year and has a long track record of success outside of last season. He is a questionable two-start pitcher but he could provide some great ratios.
Merrill Kelly has pitched 9.1 innings so far this season and he has not given up a single run. Kelly has an incredible 34.2 strikeout percentage and is doing a great job of incorporating all five pitches in his arsenal to keep hitters off balance. He has improved the movement of his offspeed pitches as well. Up next, Kelly has an easy matchup against the Washington Nationals and then a tougher matchup against the Mets. I am very interested to see if he continues his success.
Sit
| Pitcher | ERA | Start 1 | wRC+ | Start 2 | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Wells (L) | n/a | @ OAK | 104 | @ LAA | 32 |
| Dallas Keuchel (L) | 5.40 | @ CLE | 194 | @ MIN | 82 |
| Jimmy Lambert | 6.00 | @ CLE | 154 | @ MIN | 73 |
| Daniel Lynch (L) | 10.80 | MIN | 82 | @ SEA | 89 |
| Cole Irvin (L) | 5.40 | BAL | 70 | TEX | 205 |
| Huascar Ynoa | 15.00 | @ LAD | 136 | MIA | 100 |
| Josiah Gray | 4.00 | ARI | 73 | SF | 124 |
| Joan Adon | 10.00 | ARI | 73 | SF | 124 |
| Justin Steele (L) | 1.93 | TB | 101 | PIT | 141 |
| Nick Lodolo (L) | 11.25 | @ SD | 138 | STL | 227 |
| Zach Thompson | 4.50 | @ MIL | 101 | @CHC | 100 |
| JT Brubaker | 9.82 | @ MIL | 101 | @ CHC | 100 |
| Chad Kuhl | 2.08 | PHI | 92 | @ DET | 74 |
Nick Lodolo made his major league debut this week and it was not pretty. The high-end Reds prospect gave up five runs against the Guardians. He walked three batters and allowed seven hits in just four innings. Lodolo enters this week with an 11.25 ERA and he faces two good teams against lefties in the Padres and Cardinals. He is a must-sit two-start pitcher for Week 3 until he shows he belongs at the major league level.