Fantasy 2-Start Pitcher Rankings: Week 11

(Photo by: Nick Laham/Getty Images)

It’s time to look at the potential two-start options for the upcoming fantasy week. If I have someone rated as a three, four or five-star option, they are someone I would definitely use. 

A two-star option is someone who is borderline, but I’d strongly lean against it unless I have no other options. The one-star options are an absolutely not scenario.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at the players available to you this week:

5-Star Options:

• Justin Verlander - Detroit Tigers - @ Stl, vs. Mil

4-Star Options:

• Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners - @ SD, vs. Ari
• Cole Hamels - Philadelphia Phillies - vs. Tor, vs. Bal
• Carlos Zambrano - Chicago Cubs - vs. CWS, vs. Cle
• Adam Wainwright - St. Louis Cardinals - vs. Det, @ KC

3-Star Options:

• Jair Jurrjens - Atlanta Braves - @ Cin, @ Bos
• Aaron Harang - Cincinnati Reds - vs. Atl, vs. CWS
• Gil Meche - Kansas City Royals - vs. Ari, vs. Stl

2-Star Options:

• Wandy Rodriguez - Houston Astros - @ Tex, @ Min
• Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers - vs. Oak, @ LAA
• John Lackey - Los Angeles Angels - @ SF, vs. LAD
• Francisco Liriano - Minnesota Twins - vs. Pit, vs. Hou
• Dallas Braden - Oakland Athletics - @ LAD, @ SD
• Chris Volstad - Florida Marlins - @ Bos, vs. NYY
• Doug Davis - Arizona Diamondbacks - @ KC, @ Sea
• John Danks - Chicago White Sox - @ CHC, @ Cin
• Mike Pelfrey - New York Mets - @ Bal, vs. TB
• Tim Wakefield - Boston Red Sox - vs. Fla, vs. Atl
• Jorge De La Rosa - Colorado Rockies - vs. TB, vs. Pit

1-Star Options:

• Carl Pavano - Cleveland Indians - vs. Mil, @ CHC
• Scott Richmond - Toronto Blue Jays - @ Phi, @ Was
• Chien-Ming Wang - New York Yankees - vs. Was, @ Fla
• Barry Zito - San Francisco Giants - vs. LAA, vs. Tex
• Dave Bush - Milwaukee Brewers - @ Cle, @ Det
• Jeff Niemann - Tampa Bay Rays - @ Col, @ NYM
• Jeremy Guthrie - Baltimore Orioles - vs. NYM, @ Phi
• Shairon Martis - Washington Nationals - @ NYY, vs. Tor
• Kevin Correia - San Diego Padres - vs. Sea, vs. Oak
• Charlie Morton - Pittsburgh Pirates - @ Min, @ Col

Scheduling Notes:

• I’m not sure who the Rangers two-start option will be.  It is likely to be Doug Mathis, but Matt Harrison is also potentially coming off the DL. Either way, I wouldn’t use either pitcher this week.
• I believe it will be Scott Richmond in line for two-starts, thanks to the rain out causing him to be pushed back.  He’s been terrible lately and is not advisable at all.

Thoughts:

• On some weeks Chris Volstad is likely to be listed among the 3-star options. Coming off a rough start against the Cardinals and with the Red Sox and Yankees on the schedule, there is absolutely no way.  He’s even a borderline 2-star choice and really would be a last resort option for me.
• I’ve wavered on what to do with Wandy Rodriguez.  First I thought 2-star, given his recent struggles and a pair of starts against tough road opponents. Then I thought to myself that he was strong in his last start and was good overall and bumped him up to the 3-star category. I would use him if I had him, but you have to keep in mind that his ERA at home is 2.15 and on the road is 3.74. He’s notoriously worse on the road, so in the end, I had to place him in the 2-star category, but I would understand the decision to use him.
• John Lackey & Francisco Liriano just don’t look right as 2-star options, do they? Still, with the way they’ve pitched can you really justify pushing them up higher? I sure couldn’t.
• As a Kershaw owner, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that I am going to use him this week. So why is he a 2-star option then?  Well, first of all he is coming off a terrible start, as well as having the tough Angels on the schedule. He’s young and inconsistent, which makes it tough to call him a must start, but he is a high-level 2-star option for sure.

Which 2-start pitchers do you like for next week?  Which ones are you trying to avoid?

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