Itโs time to look at the potential two-start options for the upcoming fantasy week.ย If I have someone rated as a three, four or five-star option, they are someone I would definitely use.ย A two-star option is someone who is borderline, but Iโd strongly lean against it unless I have no other options.ย The one-star options are an absolutely not scenario.
So, with that said, letโs take a look at the players available to you this week:
Five-Star Options:
- Ubaldo Jimenez - Colorado Rockies - @ Col, @ Ari
- Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants - vs. Col, @ Pit
- Justin Verlander - Detroit Tigers - vs. Oak, @ KC
Four-Star Options:
- Chad Billinglsey - Los Angeles Dodgers - vs. Ari, vs. Atl
- Matt Garza - Tampa Bay Rays - @ Tor, @ Tex
- Tommy Hanson - Atlanta Braves - vs. Phi, @ LAD
- Tim Hudson - Atlanta Braves - vs. Phi, @ LAD
- Roy Oswalt - Houston Astros - vs. Was, vs. CHC
Three-Star Options:
- Nick Blackburn - Minnesota Twins - @ Sea, @ Oak
- Mark Buehrle - Chicago White Sox - vs. Tex, vs. Cle
- John Ely - Los Angeles Dodgers - vs. Ari, vs. Atl
- Jamie Garcia - St. Louis Cardinals - vs. Cin, vs. Mil
- John Lackey - Boston Red Sox - vs. Oak, @ Bal
- Francisco Liriano - Minnesota Twins - @ Sea, @ Oak
- Brett Myers - Houston Astros - vs. Was, vs. CHC
- Ricky Nolasco - Florida Marlins - vs. Mil, @ NYM
- Andy Pettitte - New York Yankees - vs. Cle, @ Tor
- Ervin Santana - Los Angeles Angels - @ KC, @ Sea
Two-Star Options:
- Bronson Arroyo - Cincinnati Reds - @ Stl, @ Was
- Joe Blanton - Philadelphia Phillies - @ Atl, vs. SD
- Jeremy Bonderman - Detroit Tigers - vs. Cle, @ KC
- Trevor Cahill - Oakland Athletics - @ Det, vs. Min
- Doug Fister - Seattle Mariners - vs. Min, vs. LAA
- Gio Gonzalez - Oakland Athletics - @ Bos, vs. Min
- Rich Harden - Texas Rangers - @ CWS, vs. TB
- Luke Hochevar - Kansas City Royals - vs. LAA, vs. Det
- Joel Pineiro - Los Angeles Angels - @ KC, @ Sea
- Hisanori Takahashi - New York Mets - @ SD, vs. Fla
- Jason Vargas - Seattle Mariners - vs. Min, vs. LAA
- Javier Vazquez - New York Yankees - vs. Bal, @ Tor
One-Star Options:
- Luis Atilano - Washington Nationals - @ Hou, vs. Cin
- Brian Bannister - Kansas City Royals - vs. LAA, vs. Det
- Dave Bush - Milwaukee Brewers - @ Fla, @ Stl
- Kevin Correia - San Diego Padres - vs. NYM, @ Phi
- Rodrigo Lopez - Arizona Diamondbacks - @ LAD, vs. Col
- Brian Matusz - Baltimore Orioles - @ NYY, vs. Bos
- Brandon Morrow - Toronto Blue Jays - vs. TB, vs. NYY
- Chris Narveson - Milwaukee Brewers - @ Fla, @ Stl
- Ross Ohlendorf - Pittsburgh Pirates - vs. CHC, vs. SF
- Nate Robertson - Florida Marlins - vs. Mil, @ NYM
- Craig Stammen - Washington Nationals - @ Hou, vs. Cin
- Mitch Talbot - Cleveland Indians - @ NYY, @ CWS
- Jake Westbrook - Cleveland Indians - @ Det, @ CWS
Scheduling Notes:
- Will the Mets use a Wednesday off day to avoid needing a fifth starter? If they do, that will mean two starts for Mike Pelfrey. Heโs a must use option as it is, but if he gets starts against the Padres and Marlins, heโd be a four-star option.
- It is not yet known who will start on Monday for the Cubs, with Tom Gorzelanny or Randy Wells being named options. Even with solid matchups (@ Pit, @ Hou), do you trust either right now?ย Whichever it is would be put into the two-star options.
Thoughts:
- Justin Verlander is not Tim Lincecum or Ubaldo Jimenez, but we all know the type of pitcher he is after April and he has two fantastic matchups.ย Thatโs enough to bring him up to a five-star option for this week.
- I donโt think anyone would have expected John Ely to develop into a must use option, but heโs given up two earned runs or less in each of his last five starts (3-1 over that span).ย If you can keep the Dodgers in games, you are going to get an opportunity for wins.ย The matchups arenโt the best, but heโs still worth rolling the dice on given his recent performance.
- We all know that Mark Buehrle has struggled, but he hasnโt allowed a run in his last 10.1 innings (he was ejected in his last outing after just 2.1 innings).ย We also know that heโs better then heโs shown.ย The Rangers are a tough matchup, but heโs pitched well against them over his career (11-4 with a 3.07 ERA) and then has an easier matchup with the Indians. With that in mind, heโs worth using in all formats.
- Nick Blackburn has won his last five starts, including two matchups with the Yankees.ย Over that span heโs allowed 3 ER or less in each start, while going at least seven innings. He doesnโt offer much in strikeouts, but when you are pitching that well to go along with those matchups, heโs worth using in all formats.
- Jeremy Bonderman has solid matchups, but does anyone really trust him?ย I know heโs been pitching fairly well (4 ER over his last 4 starts), but he has just one win over that time.ย Thatโs what helps to differentiate him from Blackburn.
- Brian Matusz and Brandon Morrow have a ton of upside.ย We all know it.ย However, with those matchups, it is impossible to use either of them this week.
What are your thoughts?ย Who have I ranked too high?ย Who do you think will outperform my rankings?
.jpg?w=2560 "Colts Giving Taylor $44M")
.jpg?w=2560 "Gibbs, Lions Deal Close ๐")
