Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Options: Week 16 (July 19-25)

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:

• Ubaldo Jimenez - Colorado Rockies - @ Fla, @ Phi

Four-Star Options:

• Chris Carpenter - St. Louis Cardinals - vs. Phi, @ CHC
• Phil Hughes - New York Yankees - vs. LAA, vs. KC
• Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers - vs. SF, vs. NYM
• Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants - @ LAD, @ Ari

Three-Star Options:

• Scott Baker - Minnesota Twins - vs. Cle, @ Bal
• Johnny Cueto - Cincinnati Reds - vs. Was, @ Hou
• R.A. Dickey - New York Mets -  Ari, @ LAD
• Tommy Hunter - Texas Rangers - @ Det, vs. LAA
• Daisuke Matsuzaka - Boston Red Sox - @ Oak, @ Sea
• Kris Medlen - Atlanta Braves - vs. SD, @ Fla
• Mike Pelfrey - New York Mets - @ Ari, @ LAD
• Wandy Rodriguez - Houston Astros - @ CHC, vs. Cin
• Ben Sheets - Oakland Athletics - vs. Bos, vs. CWS
• Carlos Silva - Chicago Cubs - vs. Hou, vs. Stl

Two-Star Options:

• Madison Bumgarner - San Francisco Giants - @ LAD, @ Ari
• Dave Bush - Milwaukee Brewers - @ Pit, vs. Was
• Brett Cecil - Toronto Blue Jays - @ KC, @ Det
• Wade Davis - Tampa Bay Rays - @ Bal, @ Cle
• Jon Garland - San Diego Padres - @ Atl, @ Pit
• Daniel Hudson - Chicago White Sox - @ Sea, @ Oak
• Ian Kennedy - Arizona Diamondbacks - vs. NYM, vs. SF
• Mike Leake - Cincinnati Reds - vs. Was, @ Hou
• Jamie Moyer - Philadelphia Phillies - @Stl, vs. Col
• Anibal Sanchez - Florida Marlins - vs. Col, vs. Atl
• Kevin Slowey - Minnesota Twins - vs. Cle, @ Bal

One-Star Options:

• Jake Arrieta - Baltimore Orioles - vs. TB, vs. Min
• Luis Atilano - Washington Nationals - @ Cin, @ Mil
• Jeremy Bonderman - Detroit Tigers - vs. Tex, vs. Tor
• Kyle Davies - Kansas City Royals - vs. Tor, @ NYY
• Doug Davis - Milwaukee Brewers - @ Pit, vs. Was
• Barry Enright - Arizona Diamondbacks - vs. NYM, vs. SF
• Scott Feldman - Texas Rangers - @ Det, @ LAA
• Doug Fister - Seattle Mariners - vs. CWS, vs. Bos
• Jeff Francis - Colorado Rockies - @ Fla, @ Phi
• Armando Galarraga - Detroit Tigers - vs. Tex, vs. Tor
• Blake Hawksworth - St. Louis Cardinals - vs. Phi, @ CHC
• Jeff Karstens - Pittsburgh Pirates - vs. Mil, vs. SD
• Scott Kazmir - Los Angeles Angels - @ NYY, @ Tex
• Kyle Kendrick - Philadelphia Phillies - @ Stl, vs. Col
• Anthony Lerew - Kansas City Royals - vs. Tor, @ NYY
• Brad Lincoln - Pittsburgh Pirates - vs. Mil, vs. SD
• Jesse Litsch - Toronto Blue Jays - @ KC, @ Det
• J.D. Martin - Washington Nationals - @ Cin, @ Mil
• James McDonald - Los Angeles Dodgers - vs. SF, vs. NYM
• David Pauley - Seattle Mariners - vs. CWS, vs. Bos
• Nate Robertson - Florida Marlins - vs. Col, vs. Atl
• Chris Tillman - Baltimore Orioles - vs. TB, vs. Min
• Tim Wakefield - Boston Red Sox - @ Oak, @ Sea

Thoughts:

• Daniel Hudson’s first start of 2010 did not go as hoped, but he has two favorable matchups this week. Oakland is 23rd in the league in runs scored, while Seattle is 29th. Depending on your other options, he’s certainly worth rolling the dice on.
• Things have certainly taken a turn for the worse for Mike Pelfrey. He’s failed to go five innings in each of his last three starts, plus had his start pushed back due to stiffness in his neck (not to mention going through a “dead arm” period). He hasn’t pitched since July 10, so the hope is that the extra rest will help him regain the form that made him a must start option for the first two months. The risk is certainly worth it.
• While it is easy to remember Mike Leake’s success early on, the recent trend has been nothing but struggles. In his last six starts he’s allowed five earned runs or more four times. Despite matchups that are favorable, it’s impossible to trust him.
• Don’t look at Ben Sheets’ overall numbers. Over his last 32.1 innings he’s posted a 3.90 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He’s been even better in his last two starts, as he appears to be rediscovering himself after missing all of 2009. At this point he is certainly worth throwing out there.
• Johnny Cueto has been pitching well, but without the benefit of many strikeouts.  He’s clearly a must use option, but nine strikeouts over his last 27.0 innings make him just a three-star option.
• Madison Bumgarner has pitched extremely well over his last two starts, but it is still hard to depend on him. That’s not to say I wouldn’t use him, but it would depend on my other options.

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

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