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:

  • Cliff Lee – Texas Rangers – @ TB, @ Bal
  • CC Sabathia – Cleveland Indians – vs. Det, vs. Sea
  • Jered Weaver – Los Angeles Angels – @ Bos, @ Min

Four-Star Options:

  • Clay Buchholz – Boston Red Sox – vs. LAA, vs. Tor
  • John Danks – Chicago White Sox – @ Min, @ KC
  • Zack Greinke – Kansas City Royals – vs. Cle, vs. CWS
  • Tommy Hanson – Atlanta Braves – vs. LAD, @ CHC
  • Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers – vs. Col, vs. Cin
  • Ricky Nolasco – Florida Marlins – @ Pit, vs. Hou
  • Roy Oswalt – Philadelphia Phillies – vs. SF, vs. Was
  • David Price – Tampa Bay Rays – vs. Tex, @ Oak
  • Johan Santana – New York Mets – @ Hou, @ Pit
  • Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers – @ NYY, vs. Cle

Three-Star Options:

  • Brett Anderson – Oakland Athletics – vs. Tor, vs. TB
  • Chad Billingsley – Los Angeles Dodgers – @ Atl, vs. Cin
  • Matt Garza – Tampa Bay Rays – vs. Tex, @ Oak
  • Wandy Rodriguez – Houston Astros – vs. NYM, @ Fla
  • Max Scherzer – Detroit Tigers – @ NYY, vs. Cle

 

Two-Star Options:

  • Bronson Arroyo – Cincinnati Reds – @ Ari, @ LAD
  • Scott Baker – Minnesota Twins – vs. CWS, vs. LAA
  • Dallas Braden – Oakland Athletics – vs. Tor, vs. TB
  • Jon Garland – San Diego Padres – @ CHC, @ Mil
  • Rich Harden – Texas Rangers – @ TB, @ Bal
  • Daniel Hudson – Arizona Diamondbacks – vs. Cin, vs. Col
  • Shaun Marcum – Toronto Blue Jays – @ Oak, @ Bos
  • Mike Minor – Atlanta Braves – vs. Was, @ CHC
  • Jonathan Niese – New York Mets – @ Hou, @ Pit
  • Javier Vazquez – New York Yankees – vs. Det, vs. Sea
  • Barry Zito – San Francisco Giants – @ Phi, @ Stl

One-Star Options:

  • Brad Bergesen – Baltimore Orioles – vs. Sea, vs. Tex
  • Kevin Correia – San Diego Padres – @ CHC, @ Mil
  • Zach Duke – Pittsburgh Pirates – vs. Fla, vs. NYM
  • Nelson Figueroa – Houston Astros – vs. NYM, @ Fla
  • Doug Fister – Seattle Mariners – @ Bal, @ NYY
  • Jeff Francis – Colorado Rockies – @ LAD, @ Ari
  • Tom Gorzelanny – Chicago Cubs – vs. SD, vs. Atl
  • James McDonald – Pittsburgh Pirates – vs. Fla, vs. NYM
  • Kevin Millwood – Baltimore Orioles – vs. Sea, vs. Tex
  • Scott Olsen – Washington Nationals – @ Atl, @ Phi
  • Josh Tomlin – Cleveland Indians – @ KC, @ Det
  • Chris Volstad – Florida Marlins – @ Pit, vs. Hou
  • Randy Wells – Chicago Cubs – vs. SD, vs. Atl

Thoughts:

  • Barry Zito has been great this season, but has two extremely difficult matchups, both of which come on the road.  He has a 2.76 ERA at home, versus a 4.30 ERA on the road.  Depending on your other options, leaving him on the bench may be your best bet this week.
  • How about the turn around for Wandy Rodriguez?  In his last four starts, he’s allowed two earned runs over 28.1 innings.  In his last nine starts, he has allowed more then three earned runs just once.  On June 19 he was sporting a 6.09 ERA; now it is down to 4.18.  The matchups are positive as well, so I would have him active in all formats.
  • Daniel Hudson has been great since coming over from the White Sox, going 3-0 while allowing four earned runs over 22.2 innings.  The strikeouts were there in his last outing as well, striking out nine Brewers in seven innings.  He draws the Reds and Rockies, so they aren’t easy matchups, but he is certainly usable depending on your other options.
  • You may like Shaun Marcum’s matchup with the A’s to open the week, but going against the Red Sox later on is a little worrisome.  He has a 4.50 ERA in three starts against them this season.  He’s also struggled of late, allowing 13 ER over 10 innings.
  • Ricky Nolasco’s overall numbers may not look great, but his WHIP is solis (1.24) as it always is, and he gets two weaker lineups this week.  I would certainly use him in all formats.
  • Max Scherzer has been pitching well of late, allowing three earned runs or less in each of his last five starts.  The matchup with the Yankees is concerning, but he’s worth rolling the dice with given the strikeout potential and the way he’s been pitching.

 

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

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