Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers: Week Six

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

• Johan Santana - New York Mets - vs. Atl, @ SF
• Roy Halladay - Toronto Blue Jays - vs. NYY, vs. CWS

Four-Star Options

• Jake Peavy - San Diego Padres - @ CHC, vs. Cin
• Derek Lowe - Atlanta Braves - @ NYM, vs. Ari
• Rich Harden - Chicago Cubs - vs. SD, vs. Hou

Three-Star Options

• A.J. Burnett - New York Yankees - @ Tor, vs. Min
• Matt Cain - San Francisco Giants - vs. Was, vs. NYM
• Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers - @ Phi, @ Fla
• Zach Duke - Pittsburgh Pirates - vs. Stl, vs. Col
• Armando Galarraga - Detroit Tigers - @ Min, vs. Oak

Two-Star Options

• Gavin Floyd - Chicago White Sox - @ Cle, @ Tor
• Jon Garland - Arizona Diamondbacks - vs. Cin, @ Atl
• Randy Johnson - San Francisco Giants - vs. Was, vs. NYM
• Kevin Slowey - Minnesota Twins - vs. Det, @ NYY
• Ubaldo Jimenez - Colorado Rockies - vs. Hou, @ Pit
• Bronson Arroyo - Cincinnati Reds - @ Ari, @ SD
• Mike Pelfrey - New York Mets - vs. Atl, @ SF
• Justin Masterson - Boston Red Sox - @ LAA, @ Sea
• Jordan Zimmerman - Washington Nationals - @ SF, vs. Phi
• Manny Parra - Milwaukee Brewers - vs. Fla, @ Stl
• Andy Sonnanstine - Tampa Bay Rays - @ Bal, vs. Cle

One-Star Options

• Mike Hampton - Houston Astros - @ Col, @ CHC
• Hayden Penn - Florida Marlins - @ Mil, vs. LAD
• Carl Pavano - Cleveland Indians - vs. CWS, @ TB
• Scott Feldman - Texas Rangers - vs. Sea, vs. LAA
• Chan Ho Park - Philadelphia Phillies - vs. LAD, @ Was
• Daniel Cabrera - Washington Nationals - @ SF, vs. Phi
• Carlos Silva - Seattle Mariners - @ Tex, vs. Bos
• Sidney Ponson - Kansas City Royals - @ Oak, vs. Bal
• Mark Hendrickson - Baltimore Orioles - vs. TB, @ KC
• Anthony Ortega - Los Angeles Angels - vs. Bos, @ Tex

Scheduling Notes

• It looks like the Indians will have either Aaron Laffey or Jeremy Sowers going vs. the White Sox and Rays.  No matter who gets the starts, I wouldn’t use them.
• The Cardinals are between Mitchell Boggs or Todd Wellemeyer for starts against the Pirates and Brewers.  Either one would fall into the two-star category.
• There’s a chance that Justin Masterson gets bumped out of the rotation all together, with Daisuke Matsuzaka closing in on a return, so I’d be weary of taking the gamble on him.  If he starts he’s got good match-ups, but right now that is no sure thing.

Thoughts

• Mike Pelfrey has been pitching well lately, but he just cannot register a strikeout.  That hurts his fantasy appeal, knocking him down to a two-star option.  Have you ever seen a pitcher sporting a K/9 of 1.93?
• Ubaldo Jimenez has the talent and he has the match-ups, but the guy is just so unstable.  Is he going to walk one or is he going to walk six?  You really never know, which makes him tough to use in my opinion.
• Could Bronson Arroyo possibly be any worse then he was his last time out?  The match-ups could make him a decent gamble in the upcoming week. 
  
  Remember, last season after giving up 10 runs in one inning on 6/24 came back to allow one earned run over his next two starts (12 innings).
• Should Jon Garland be a three-star option?  Over the past two weeks he’s posted a 2.61 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, making him a pitcher worth considering.  His biggest negative is the strikeouts (3.79 K/9), as well as his early struggles that have to make you uncertain that he can continue his strong two weeks.  He’s one I probably would gamble on.

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

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