Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Options: Week Four

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.

Five-Star Options

• Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers: @ SF, vs. SD
• CC Sabathia, New York Yankees: @ Det, vs. LAA
• Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. CHC, @ Mil

Four-Star Options

• Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs: @ Ari, vs. Fla
• James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays: @ Min, vs. Bos
• John Danks, Chicago White Sox: vs. Sea, @ Tex
• Roy Oswalt, Houston Astros: @ Cin, @ Atl

Three-Star Options

• Ted Lilly, Chicago Cubs: @ Ari, vs. Fla
• Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians: vs. Bos, @ Det
• Ricky Nolasco, Florida Marlins: @ NYM, @ CHC
• Gil Meche, Kansas City Royals: vs. Tor, @ Min
• Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta Braves: vs. Stl, vs. Hou
• Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers: vs. NYY, vs. Cle
• Chris Young, San Diego Padres: @ Col, @ LAD
• Kyle Lohse, St. Louis Cardinals: @ Atl, @ Was
• Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds: vs. Hou, @ Pit
• Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels: @ Bal, @ NYY
• Anibal Sanchez, Florida Marlins: @ NYM, @ CHC

Two-Star Options

• Kevin Millwood, Texas Rangers: vs. Oak, vs. CWS
• John Maine, New York Mets: vs. Fla, @ Phi
• Randy Wolf, Los Angeles Dodgers: @ SF, vs. SD
• Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies: vs. Was, vs. NYM
• Brad Penny, Boston Red Sox: @ Cle, @ TB
• Scott Baker, Minnesota Twins: vs. TB, vs. KC
• Jeremy Guthrie, Baltimore Orioles: vs. Tex, @ Tor
• Tim Wakefield, Boston Red Sox: @ Cle, @ TB
• Chien-Ming Wang, New York Yankees: @ Det, vs. LAA
• David Purcey, Toronto Blue Jays: @ KC, vs. Bal
• Dave Bush, Milwaukee Brewers: vs. Pit, vs. Ari
• Braden Looper, Milwaukee Brewers: vs. Pit, vs. Ari
• Joel Pineiro, St. Louis Cardinals: @ Atl, @ Was
• John Lannan, Washington Nationals: @ Phi, vs. Stl
• Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics: @ Tex, @ Sea

One-Star Options

• Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants: vs. LAD, vs. Col
• Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay Rays: @ Min, vs. Bos
• Shairon Martis, Washington Nationals: @ Phi, vs. Stl
• Brian Bannister, Kansas City Royals: vs. Tor, @ Min
• Scott Richmond, Toronto Blue Jays: @ KC, vs. Bal
• Jeff Karstens, Pittsburgh Pirates: @ Mil, vs. Cin
• Chris Jakubauskas, Seattle Mariners: @ CWS, vs. Oak
• Matt Harrison, Texas Rangers: @ Bal, vs. CWS
• Jason Hammel, Colorado Rockies: vs. SD, @ SF

Scheduling Notes

• Brandon Webb could come off the DL and make two starts this week, against the Cubs and Brewers. While I usually do not recommend using a pitcher in his first start back, I think this is obviously one situation where I would make an exception. If he doesn’t take the ball, it will be Yusmeiro Petit, who likely would be a two-star option.
• It’s unannounced at this point as to who will get the ball for the Padres on Monday. Since Jake Peavy is starting on Sunday, whatever option they use is likely unusable anyways.

Thoughts

• That’s a long list of two-star options, many of whom I never would have imagined including there. John Maine, Chien-Ming Wang, and Scott Baker? Wang I wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole at this point, until he shows me something. Maine I’m a little more optimistic about, but a start in Philadelphia right now scares me. Of the three, Baker is the one I’d use first, especially with the Royals on the schedule, but that’s not really saying much at this point.
• David Purcey has struggled thus far this season, but he goes into the week with two seemingly favorable matchups. Sometimes in fantasy baseball you have to take a leap of faith, and with Purcey on my roster, I’m leaning towards take one this week.
• Does Chad Billingsley really belong as a five-star option? Well, at 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 26 Ks over 26.1 innings, it is hard for me to find many better options in 2009.
• Kyle Lohse would be an easy must use this week if he is healthy. Monitor the situation and hope he can take the ball on Tuesday.
• Cliff Lee is pitching better, but he has a brutal schedule with the Red Sox and Tigers. I could understand owners being hesitant to throw him out there if they have safer alternatives.

So what do you think? Which options would you use? Which would you avoid?

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