FantasyTwo-Start Pitchers: Week 10

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. Phi, @ NYY
• Cliff Lee - Cleveland Indians - vs. KC, vs. Stl

Four-Star Options:

• Mat Cain - San Francisco Giants - @ Ari, vs. Oak
• Chris Carpenter - St. Louis Cardinals - @ Fla, @ Cle
• Josh Beckett - Boston Red Sox - vs. NYY, @ Phi
• James Shields - Tampa Bay Rays - vs. LAA, vs. Was
• Josh Johnson - Florida Marlins - vs. Stl, @ Tor
• Jered Waver - Los Angeles Angels - @ TB, vs. SD
• Derek Lowe - Atlanta Braves - vs. Pit, @ Bal
• Jair Jurrjens - Atlanta Braves - vs. Pit, @ Bal
• Jake Peavy - San Diego Padres - vs. Ari, @ LAA
• Johnny Cueto - Cincinnati Reds - @ Was, @ KC

Three-Star Options:

• Andy Pettitte - New York Yankees - vs. TB, vs. NYM
• Mark Buehrle - Chicago White Sox - vs. Det, @ Mil
• Ted Lilly - Chicago Cubs - @ Hou, vs. Min

Two-Star Options:

• Jason Marquis - Colorado Rockies - @ Stl, vs. Sea
• Scott Baker - Minnesota Twins - @ Oak, @ CHC
• Josh Outman - Oakland Athletics - vs. Min, @ SF
• J.A. Happ - Philadelphia Phillies - @ NYM, vs. Bos
• Clayton Richard - Chicago White Sox - vs. Det, @ Mil
• Brian Tallet - Toronto Blue Jays - @ Tex, vs. Fla
• Chien-Ming Wang - New York Yankees - @ Bos, vs. NYM
• Scott Feldman - Texas Rangers - vs. Tor, vs. LAD
• Jordan Zimmerman - Washington Nationals - vs. Cin, @ TB

One-Star Options:

• Kyle Lohse - St. Louis Cardinals - vs. Col, @ Cle
• Billy Buckner - Arizona Diamondbacks - vs. SF, vs. Hou
• Jon Garland - Arizona Diamondbacks - @ SD, vs. Hou
• Brandon McCarthy - Texas Rangers - vs. Tor, vs. LAD
• Armando Galarraga - Detroit Tigers - @ CWS, @ Pit
• Dontrelle Willis - Detroit Tigers - @ CWS, @ Pit
• Ross Ohlendorf - Pittsburgh Pirates - @ Atl, vs. Det
• Jeff Karstens - Pittsburgh Pirates - @ Atl, vs. Det
• Brian Bannister - Kansas City Royals - @ Cle, vs. Cin
• Braden Looper - Milwaukee Brewers - vs. Col, vs. CWS
• Jeff Niemann - Tampa Bay Rays - @ NYY, vs. Was
• Jason Vargas - Seattle Mariners - @ Bal, @ Col
• David Hernandez - Baltimore Orioles - vs. Sea, vs. Atl
• Brett Anderson - Oakland Athletics - vs. Min, @ SF
• Anthony Swarzak - Minnesota Twins - @ Oak, @ CHC
• Sean West - Florida Marlins - vs. SF, @ Tor
• Casey Janssen - Toronto Blue Jays - @ Tex, vs. Fla
• Brian Moehler - Houston Astros - vs. CHC, @ Ari
• Jason Hammel - Colorado Rockies - @ Mil, vs. Sea

Scheduling Notes:

• The Giants double-header on Thursday definitely throws a wrench in their probable pitchers.  At this point it isn’t known who is going to pitch on Monday.  As for Tuesday, I’m thinking it is going to be Matt Cain over Randy Johnson, which is why he’s the one on the list.
• As of right now it is still Armando Galarraga for the Tigers, but there are rumblings that Jeremy Bonderman could take his spot in the rotation.  He would be a very difficult play if he does get bumped into the rotation, but he’s worth keeping an eye on.
• At this point I have no faith in Kyle Lohse being able to take the ball, so don’t touch him.  We’ll have to wait to find out if the injury is going to ultimately keep him from the mound or not.

Thoughts:

• Scott Feldman has been great as a starting pitcher, but does anyone really have faith in any Rangers starter right now?  I’m skeptical in trusting him at this point, but in deeper formats I certainly could see throwing him out there.
• After his lights out performance last night, Scott Baker could be seen as a very useful option considering his matchups.  He’s flirted with putting it together for a couple of weeks and even with his struggles he still has managed to post a solid WHIP.
• Is Jake Peavy healthy?  That’s certainly worth asking, but unless news comes out saying he will be unable to take the ball, he’s a pitcher that has to be in your lineup.
• With the way he started, did anyone expect Cliff Lee to get back to being a 5-star option?  He has certainly been lights out of late and is deserving of the rating.

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

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