Two-Start Pitchers for the Week of May 1

With an incredible rash of injuries and an increasingly inconsistent cast of starting pitchers, maximizing the value we get out of two-start pitchers and streamers may be the single biggest thing you can do to gain an edge over your competition this season.

Each week from here on out, we’ll sort through the projected pool of two-start pitchers and evaluate the various league sizes each pitcher should be started in. Do be aware though that pitching schedules are more fluid than ever. We’ve compared projected starters from various sites and tried to build as accurate a list as possible, but as always please keep an eye on the latest news for changes.

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Two-Start Pitchers for the Week of May 1

There aren’t a ton of ace two-start pitchers going this week. That means a lot of decisions on streaming options. I’ve grouped all the two-start pitchers by the league size that I would feel comfortable starting them in. Your decision will ultimately hinge on how comfortable you are with risk and your team’s standings within the context of the entire league.

I’ve included an overall rank for each pitcher. That rank is only within the pool of two-start pitchers this week, not the pitching population at large.

Start in All League Sizes

Zav Gallen is making a very real argument as a top-5 pitcher in all of baseball. He’s on a 28-inning scoreless streak and I’m starting him every time out.

Sandy Alcantara has not quite been himself and he had his most recent start pushed back due to biceps tendinitis. He pitched well in that start and seems to be a full go. He’s earned enough slack to ignore a few early-season bumps.

I was torn on including Hayden Wesneski, Drew Smyly, and Mason Miller in this section. Wesneski and Smyly have pitched well over their last few starts and the matchups with Washington and Miami are about as good as it gets. There’s certainly risk in starting Mason Miller but in roto leagues that strikeout upside is just too juicy for me to leave on my bench. The Royals have the worst team batting average in baseball and have scored the second-fewest runs, while also striking out the seventh-most times. Meanwhile, the Marines are in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored and have struck out the second-most times in all of baseball.

Rnk	PLAYER	Start #1	Opposing Pitcher	Start #2	Opposing Pitcher
1	Zac Gallen ARI  RHP	May 2 @  TEX	Jon Gray	May 7 vs  WAS	MacKenzie Gore
2	Sandy Alcantara MIA  RHP	May 2 vs  ATL	Kyle Wright	May 7 @  CHC	Hayden Wesneski
3	Joe Ryan MIN  RHP	May 2 @  CWS	Michael Kopech	May 7 @  CLE	Cal Quantrill
4	Logan Gilbert SEA  RHP	May 2 @  OAK	Mason Miller	May 7 vs  HOU	Luis Garcia
5	Luis Garcia HOU  RHP	May 1 vs  SF	Ross Stripling	May 7 @  SEA	Logan Gilbert
6	Kodai Senga NYM  RHP	May 1 vs  ATL	Bryce Elder	May 6 vs  COL	Austin Gomber
7	Hayden Wesneski CHC  RHP	May 2 @  WAS	Trevor Williams	May 7 vs  MIA	Sandy Alcantara
8	Drew Smyly CHC  LHP	May 1 @  WAS	MacKenzie Gore	May 6 vs  MIA	Bryan Hoeing
9	Mason Miller OAK  RHP	May 2 vs  SEA	Logan Gilbert	May 7 @  KC	Ryan Yarbrough

Start in 15-Team Mixed Leagues

There’s a ton of volatility in this grouping. Michael Kopech, Blake Snell, and MacKenzie Gore represent three high-octane arms that continue to tantalize us with potential and then drive us crazy with inconsistency. I lean toward starting them in all leagues but if you’re doing well in WHIP and ERA, the risk may not be worth it. Then again if you’re doing well in those categories, these pitchers are not likely to be on your rosters.

One pitcher I do think doesn’t get enough respect is Tyler Wells. He doesn’t have the strikeout upside of the three pitchers mentioned previously but he offers a high degree of safety and the Orioles are suddenly a winning team. Wells takes a 2.79 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP into matchups vs. Kansas City and Atlanta. That Atlanta start is a tough one but Wells has earned my trust and I think he minimizes the damage.

Rnk	PLAYER	Start #1	Opposing Pitcher	Start #2	Opposing Pitcher
10	Kyle Wright ATL  RHP	May 2 @  MIA	Sandy Alcantara	May 7 vs  BAL	Tyler Wells
11	Bryce Elder ATL  RHP	May 1 @  NYM	Kodai Senga	May 6 vs  BAL	Kyle Bradish
12	Tyler Wells BAL  RHP	May 2 @  KC	Ryan Yarbrough	May 7 @  ATL	Kyle Wright
13	Michael Kopech CHW  RHP	May 2 vs  MIN	Joe Ryan	May 7 @  CIN	Luke Weaver
14	Blake Snell SD  LHP	May 1 vs  CIN	Luke Weaver	May 7 vs  LAD	Tony Gonsolin
15	MacKenzie Gore WAS  LHP	May 1 vs  CHC	Drew Smyly	May 7 @  ARI	Zac Gallen
16	Tony Gonsolin LAD  RHP	May 1 vs  PHI	Taijuan Walker	May 7 @  SD	Blake Snell
17	Joey Lucchesi NYM  LHP	May 2 @  DET	Michael Lorenzen	May 7 vs  COL	Ryan Feltner
18	Domingo German NYY  RHP	May 1 vs  CLE	Cal Quantrill	May 7 @  TB	Josh Fleming
19	Roansy Contreras PIT  RHP	May 2 @  TB	Josh Fleming	May 7 vs  TOR	Yusei Kikuchi
20	Steven Matz STL  LHP	May 2 vs  LAA	Griffin Canning	May 7 vs  DET	Michael Lorenzen

Start in AL- and NL-Only Leagues

I list these pitchers as starts in monoleagues but I’ve got to be honest. I play in a lot of NL- and AL-Only leagues and most of the time I’d rather use middle relievers with good ERAs and WHIPs instead of these potential blow-ups waiting to happen. Please consider your team context when starting these pitchers. Chasing wins is sometimes not worth the pain to the rest of your pitching stats.

Rnk	PLAYER	Start #1	Opposing Pitcher	Start #2	Opposing Pitcher
21	Jose Berrios TOR  RHP	May 1 @  BOS	Corey Kluber	May 6 @  PIT	Johan Oviedo
22	Yusei Kikuchi TOR  LHP	May 2 @  BOS	Tanner Houck	May 7 @  PIT	Roansy Contreras
23	Taijuan Walker PHI  RHP	May 1 @  LAD	Tony Gonsolin	May 7 vs  BOS	Tanner Houck
24	Tanner Houck BOS  RHP	May 2 vs  TOR	Yusei Kikuchi	May 7 @  PHI	Taijuan Walker
25	Cal Quantrill CLE  RHP	May 1 @  NYY	Domingo German	May 7 vs  MIN	Joe Ryan

Are You Crazy?

The heading says it all. There’s just no reason to subject yourself to this kind of abuse. The matchups aren’t good and these pitchers don’t offer enough strikeout upside to offset the huge risk. Use these two-start pitchers at your own peril and don’t blame me when they blow up your ratios and set you back three weeks of solid pitching.

Rnk	PLAYER	Start #1	Opposing Pitcher	Start #2	Opposing Pitcher
26	Ryan Yarbrough KC  LHP	May 2 vs  BAL	Tyler Wells	May 7 vs  OAK	Mason Miller
27	Corey Kluber BOS  RHP	May 1 vs  TOR	Jose Berrios	May 6 @  PHI	Bailey Falter
28	Ross Stripling SF  RHP	May 1 @  HOU	Luis Garcia	May 7 vs  MIL	Eric Lauer
29	Luke Weaver CIN  RHP	May 1 @  SD	Blake Snell	May 7 vs  CWS	Michael Kopech
30	Michael Lorenzen DET  RHP	May 2 vs  NYM	Joey Lucchesi	May 7 @  STL	Steven Matz
31	Josh Fleming TB  LHP	May 2 vs  PIT	Roansy Contreras	May 7 vs  NYY	Domingo German
32	Eric Lauer MIL  LHP	May 2 @  COL	Ryan Feltner	May 7 @  SF	Ross Stripling
33	Ryan Feltner COL  RHP	May 2 vs  MIL	Eric Lauer	May 7 @  NYM	Joey Lucchesi