Are you living in a fantasy world? If so, you've come to the right place!
We're in the thick of the 2013 Major League Baseball season, and the competition is picking up in fantasy baseball leagues everywhere.
So, to help you gain a competitive edge over your opponents this week, here is a list of probable two-start pitchers, according to CBSSports.com, for the week starting June 17, along with their opponents and some fantasy advice. Good luck!
Aces
Justin Verlander (DET): 6/18 vs. BAL; 6/23 vs. BOS
Yu Darvish (TEX): 6/18 vs. OAK; 6/23 @STL
Adam Wainwright (STL): 6/18 vs. CHC; 6/23 vs. TEX
Mat Latos (CIN): 6/18 vs. PIT; 6/23 @ARI
Aces will be wild this week, as some of the game's best arms will be dealing. However, they are all drawing tough assignments. In most leagues, these pitchers should not be available in a free-agent pool, but in case you are trying set a weekly lineup, it's good to have an idea as to who has a two-start week.
No. 2 Starters
Max Scherzer (DET): 6/17 vs. BAL; 6/22 vs. BOS
Matt Harvey (NYM): 6/18 @ATL; 6/23 @PHI
Shelby Miller (STL): 6/17 vs. CHC; 6/22 vs. TEX
James Shields (KC): 6/17 @CLE; 6/23 vs. CHW
Matt Cain (SF): 6/18 vs. SD; 6/23 vs. MIA
Patrick Corbin (ARI): 6/17 vs. MIA; 6/23 vs. CIN
Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD): 6/18 @NYY; 6/23 @SD
Many fantasy players probably didn't draft Matt Cain as a No. 2 starter. And though he has turned things around lately, his 5.09 ERA and 4-3 record must have owners concerned.
Matt Harvey suffered his first loss of the season in his last start but still pitched brilliantly, as he has done all year. Max Scherzer recently became the first Tigers starter in 75 years to own a 9-0 record.
Other Trustworthy Arms
Francisco Liriano (PIT): 6/17 @CIN; 6/22 @LAA
Mike Leake (CIN): 6/17 vs. PIT; 6/22 @ARI
Jeff Samardzija (CHC): 6/18 @STL; 6/23 vs. PIT
Paul Maholm (ATL): 6/18 vs. NYM; 6/23 @MIL
Travis Wood (CHC): 6/17 @STL; 6/23 vs. HOU
Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
Bud Norris (HOU): 6/17 vs. CHW; 6/22 @CHC
Andrew Cashner (SD): 6/17 @SF; 6/22 vs. LAD
Tim Hudson (ATL): 6/17 vs. NYM; 6/22 @MIL
After winning seven of eight, including six in a row, the Houston Astros recently came off a six-game losing streak. But the pitching is not at fault here, and Bud Norris has been very impressive for the bleak 'Stros.
Travis Wood has been a nice surprise for the Cubs, and he will look to keep rolling with two starts this week.
Useful, but Not Recommended
Jason Vargas (LAA): 617 vs. SEA; 6/22 vs. PIT
Jeremy Hellickson (TB): 6/18 @BOS; 6/23 @NYY
Jarrod Parker (OAK): 6/18 @TEX; 6/23 @SEA
Jorge De La Rosa (COL): 6/17 @TOR; 6/22 @WAS
Phil Hughes (NYY): 6/18 vs. LAD; 6/23 vs. TB
Alfredo Figaro (MIL): 6/18 @HOU; 6/23 vs. ATL
Dan Haren (WAS): 6/17 @PHI; 6/22 vs. COL
Dan Straily (OAK): 6/17 @TEX; 6/22 @SEA
Dylan Axelrod (CHW): 6/18 @MIN; 6/23 @KC
Charlie Morton (PIT): 6/18 @CIN; 6/23 @LAA
Nick Tepesch (TEX): 6/17 vs. OAK; 6/22 @STL
Ross Detwiler (WAS): 6/18 @PHI; 6/23 vs. COL
Phil Hughes has the potential to be an ace, but he has shown mixed results so far in 2013. The same can be said about Jeremy Hellickson, and the two will square off in a showdown in the Bronx on June 23.
Charlie Morton made his first start in over a year for the Pirates on Thursday, allowing two earned runs in five innings against the Giants.
Favorable Matchups but Not Much Else
Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE): 6/17 vs. KC; 6/23 vs. MIN
Jose Quintana (CHW): 6/17 @HOU; 6/22 @KC
Barry Zito (SF): 6/17 vs. SD; 6/22 vs. MIA
Barry Zito has had some good performances in 2013, but overall he's been rather inconsistent. But taking on the light-hitting Marlins and Padres should give owners a bit of confidence in the left-handed veteran.
Hot Hands and Intriguing Options
Jacob Turner (MIA): 6/17 @ARI; 6/22 @SF
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Jordan Lyles (HOU): 6/18 vs. MIL; 6/23 @CHC
Dillon Gee (NYM): 6/17 @ATL; 6/22 @PHI
After starting the year off in bad form, Dillon Gee has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last two starts, allowing just one earned run in each game—both against two hefty lineups: the Yankees and the Nationals.
Jacob Turner has been stellar for the Marlins since returning to the big leagues on May 31, but he hasn't gotten the run support from the lackluster Miami lineup (three starts, 1-0, 1.80 ERA).
Injured Question Marks
Nate Eovaldi (MIA): 6/18 @ARI; 6/23 @SF
John Lannan (PHI): 6/17 vs. WAS; 6/23 vs. NYM
Josh Johnson (TOR): 6/17 vs. COL; 6/23 vs. BAL
Clay Buchholz (BOS): 6/18 vs. TB; 6/23 @DET
Jason Hammel (BAL): 6/17 @DET; 6/23 @TOR
Buchholz will likely not be able to make his next scheduled start on Tuesday due to a strained AC joint in his shoulder, and he is a viable DL candidate (Felix Doubront will likely take his place on Tuesday).
Eovaldi has yet to throw a pitch in the major leagues this season due to a shoulder injury, but the Marlins will be happy to have him back in the fold.
Probably Best to Avoid
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Aaron Harang (SEA): 6/17 @LAA; 6/22 vs. OAK
Mike Pelfrey (MIN): 6/18 vs. CHW; 6/22 @CLE
Jeremy Bonderman (SEA): 6/18 @SEA; 6/23 vs. OAK
Edinson Volquez (SD): 6/18 @SF; 6/23 vs. LAD
Jeff Francis (COL): 6/18 @TOR; 6/23 @WAS
Don't be fooled by Aaron Harang's last start, in which he twirled a complete-game gem against the weak-hitting Houston Astros. He only managed 2.1 innings in his previous start, allowing six earned runs to the Yankees.
Edinson Volquez has been a disaster all season and will likely not fare much better against his division rivals.
