MLB Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers: Week Eight (May 24-30)

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

Jon Lester - Boston Red Sox - @ TB, vs. KC
Adam Wainwright - St. Louis Cardinals - @ SD, @ CHC

Four-Star Options

Clay Buchholz - Boston Red Sox - @ TB, vs. KC
John Danks - Chicago White Sox - @ Cle, @ TB
Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers - @ CHC, @ Col
Mike Leake - Cincinnati Reds - vs. Pit, vs. Hou
James Shields - Tampa Bay Rays - vs. Bos, vs. CWS

Three-Star Options

Dallas Braden - Oakland Athletics - @ Bal, @ Det
A.J. Burnett - New York Yankees - @ Min, vs. Cle
Wade Davis - Tampa Bay Rays - vs. Bos, vs. CWS
Jon Garland - San Diego Padres - vs. Stl, vs. Was
Livan Hernandez - Washington Nationals - @ SF, @ SD
Ian Kennedy - Arizona Diamondbacks - @ Col, @ SF
Randy Wolf - Milwaukee Brewers - vs. Hou, vs. NYM

Two-Star Options

Scott Baker - Minnesota Twins - vs. NYY, vs. Tex
Brett Cecil - Toronto Blue Jays - @ LAA, vs. Bal
Jhoulys Chacin - Colorado Rockies - vs. Ari, vs. LAD
Tom Gorzelanny - Chicago Cubs - vs. LAD, vs. Stl
Aaron Harang - Cincinnati Reds - vs. Pit, vs. Hou
Kenshin Kawakami - Atlanta Braves - @ Fla, vs. Pit
Jamie Moyer - Philadelphia Phillies - @ NYM, @ Fla
Jake Peavy - Chicago White Sox - @ Cle, @ TB
Anibal Sanchez - Florida Marlins - vs. Atl, vs. Phi
Joe Saunders - Los Angeles Angels - vs. Tor, vs. Sea

One-Star Options

Brian Burres - Pittsburgh Pirates - @ Cin, @ Atl
R.A. Dickey - New York Mets - vs. Phi, @ Mil
Jeremy Guthrie - Baltimore Orioles - vs. Oak, @ Tor
Paul Maholm - Pittsburgh Pirates - @ Cin. @ Atl
Justin Masterson - Cleveland Indians - vs. CWS, @ NYY
Gil Meche - Kansas City Royals - vs. Tex, @ Bos
Felipe Paulino - Houston Astros - @ Mil, @ Cin
Todd Wellemeyer - San Francisco Giants - vs. Was, vs. Ari

Thoughts

I know Randy Wolf has been bad, but look at the matchups.  It justifies rolling the dice with him this week.

Kenshin Kawakami has not been good this season, an 0-6 record with a 4.98 ERA tells us that.  Still, he’s coming off his best start of the season and doesn’t have matchups that scare you, especially the Pirates.  I wouldn’t necessarily recommend him, but if you need/want to take a gamble, he’s an option.

Would anyone have ever expected Mike Leake, without a day of minor league experience, to be a four-star option at any point of 2010?  Well, here we are, with Leake sporting a 2.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and having allowed more then three earned runs in a start just once.  Throw in two great matchups and you get one of the better options this week.

I know what you are going to say…Livan Hernandez has been fantastic, and he has, but he’s still Livan Hernandez.  I just can’t trust him, though he is usable.

I’m a fan of Scott Baker, despite his early season struggles.  Generally, when he has two-starts I’d call him a must start option, no matter how he’s been performing.  Unfortunately, starts against the Yankees and Rangers, coupled with his 4.88 ERA makes it impossible to put him in that class.  Still, depending on your situation, I would still consider using him.

What are your thoughts?  Who have I ranked too high?  Who do you think will outperform my rankings?

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