Below is a breakdown of next week's projected two-start pitchers divided into four groups: useable SPs with a pair of decent matchups; guys you can use for one of their two projected starts (favorable starts bolded); bottom feeders to avoid; and must-start aces. An asterisk indicates a pitcher's two-start status is in question:
DOUBLE PLAY: Hiroki Kuroda (NYM, Pit); C.J. Wilson (@Tor, TB); Jesse Chavez (CWS, @Cle); Danny Salazar (@Tor, Oak); Tyler Lyons (ChC, Atl); Travis Wood (@StL, Mil); Dan Haren (Mia, @Ari); Ervin Santana (@SF, @StL); Marco Estrada (Pit, @ChC); Mike Leake (SD, @Phi); Tom Koehler (@LAD, @SF); Mark Buehrle (LAA, @Tex)
Analysis: Danny Salazar may be righting the ship, having allowed seven earned runs over his last three starts. The matchups this week aren’t easy, but with his strikeout rate and recent run, he’s worth using. … Tyler Lyons has pitched well in his three starts so far. Given the matchups are not prohibitive, he’s a good two-start guy you’ll probably see on your wire. … Mike Leake gets to face the team with the worst OPS in the majors (San Diego) along with the 10th worst (Philadelphia). Even with his low strikeout rate, Leake is a good spot two start option. … Mark Buehrle is a tough call- if you trust him against the Angels in Toronto, you may as well trust him in Texas.
ONE AND DONE: Bud Norris (Det, @KC); Bartolo Colon (@NYY, @Was); Zack Wheeler (@NYY, @Was); Andrew Cashner (@Cin, @Col); John Danks (@Oak, @Hou)
Analysis: It’s a light list of “one and done” pitchers this week. … His peripherals aren’t great but Bud Norris has pitched well enough to be spot-start worthy against the Royals. … Zack Wheeler is hit or miss, but we’d avoid him at Yankee Stadium. … John Danks is a no-start in weekly leagues, but in daily ones, he’s a decent roll of the dice against Houston. … Bartolo Colon has been terrible in two of his starts and fine or excellent in his others. Because of that, we’d keep him away from an American League lineup in Yankee Stadium but chance him against the Nationals.
NO THANKS: Rick Porcello (@Bal, @Bos); Brad Peacock (Tex, CWS); Colby Lewis (@Hou, Tor); Cesar Ramos (@Sea, @LAA); Vidal Nuno (NYM, Pit); Hector Santiago (@Phi, TB); R.A. Dickey (Cle, @Tex); Ricky Nolasco (Bos, Sea); Felix Doubront (@Min, Det); Tim Lincecum (Atl, Mia); Ryan Vogelsong (Atl, Mia); Jacob Turner (@LAD, @SF); Josh Collmenter (Was, LAD); Charlie Morton (@Mil, @NYY); Ubaldo Jimenez (Det, @KC)
Analysis: Rick Porcello has pitched well this year, but road starts in Baltimore and in Boston make it hard make him a good pick up. If you already have him though, he is worth rolling the dice with unless you’ve got a better one-start option on your bench. … Josh Collmenter and Charlie Morton are borderline calls. They’ve pitched well, but don’t have the easiest of opponents this week. We’ll err on the safe side for all three. … Tim Lincecum's peripherals just aren’t matching up with his performance. At some point, results matter so don’t start him, even against the Marlins. … Unless you are chasing strikeouts, Ubaldo Jimenez just hasn’t pitched well enough to justify starting.
MUST-STARTS: Felix Hernandez (TB, @Min); James Shields (Col, Bal); David Price (@Sea, @LAA); Jordan Zimmermann (@Ari, NYM); Adam Wainwright (ChC, Atl)