Two-start pitchers: Sonny Gray headlines an uneven group of options as we roll into the middle of August
Hello and welcome to the 19th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.With each passing week, Im getting more emotional thinking about the fact that there may not be a full season in 2026 due to the uncertainty surrounding the labor dispute between Major League Baseball and the Players Association. Im really trying to take time to appreciate each day that we have baseball and the joy that its able to bring me.As fantasy managers have turned their full attention to football, there are opportunities to creep up in the standings where others arent giving their teams the full attention that they still deserve. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and youll reap rewards at the end of this season.This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week. With teams still trying to get their rotations lined up for the second half, theres more uncertainty than usual for a Friday afternoon: Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, Opening Day and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.As things currently stand, with the additions of Clay Holmes and Kevin Gausman to their starting rotation, the Cubs appear to be rolling with a six-man alignment for the time being. Its possible that David Peterson or Javier Assad get bumped to the bullpen, but that has yet to be confirmed. That means with six games on tap for next week, none of their hurlers are currently lined up to make two starts. Assad is set to pitch on Tuesday and he would go twice (at Nationals, vs. Cardinals) if Peterson were to be shifted to the bullpen, and would make for a solid streaming option. If Assad gets pushed to the bullpen, it would be Shota Imanaga getting the two-start assignment. Well update here if we gain any additional clarity throughout the weekend.The Giants have yet to announce a starter for Monday, so we dont know who (if anyone) will make two starts for them next week (vs. Astros, vs. Rockies). Blake Tidwell got the call last time and went five strong innings against the Rangers. If he gets another opportunity, he could be worth a look as a deep league streaming option, especially for the home tilt against the Rockies over the weekend. If we get clarification or if anything changes over the weekend, well update here.Someone on the Blue Jays is likely to make two starts next week in place of the injured Trey Yesavage, we just arent sure exactly who that will be just yet. Whoever gets the assignment will face a very tough draw with matchups against the red hot Red Sox and the Yankees. Once we get clarity on the situation well provide an update here, but its unlikely that any of them will relevant for fantasy purposes.Going TwiceNote: Probable pitchers as of August 7 and are subject to change.American League Strong PlaysSonny Gray, Red Sox, RHP (at Blue Jays, at Pirates)Gray has been absolutely incredible in his first season with the Red Sox, posting a 14-2 record, 2.78 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 106/32 K/BB ratio across 119 2/3 innings through his first 21 starts. He has been the ace atop the pitching staff that has helped to fuel the clubs ridiculous 31-5 run over their last 36 games. Gray hasnt allowed more than five runs in a start this season and has allowed more than three runs just three times. He should be locked into fantasy lineups each and every week, so theres no inflection point or decision to make here. Just sit back and enjoy double the production from one of the best pitchers in baseball.Trevor Rogers, Orioles, LHP (at Twins, at Rays)Rogers has had a very polarizing season for the Orioles and for fantasy managers. He started strong, with a 1.89 ERA across his first three starts. Then he went through a terrible stretch where he held a cringe-inducing 10.01 ERA (6.30 xFIP) across 29 2/3 innings over his next seven starts. Most fantasy managers completely wrote him off at that point. Since then? Hes back to dominating with a 2.28 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 60/14 K/BB ratio over 67 innings since the start of June. Continue to ride the hot hand here. Rogers makes for an excellent play in all league formats for this two-start week.Sean Burke, White Sox, RHP (vs. Reds, at Tigers)Burke has been fantastic through his first 23 appearances (19 starts) for the White Sox this season, registering a 3.08 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 144/39 K/BB ratio across 128 2/3 innings of work. He has also pitched extremely well recently, as he hasnt given up more than two earned runs in a start since June 13. The Reds and Tigers offenses have both been swinging the bat well lately, but thats not enough to sway us from using Burke in a two-start week. He should be started in all leagues without question.Tanner Bibee, Guardians, RHP (at Tigers, vs. Padres)Despite tallying just four victories on the season, Bibee has actually pitched pretty well for the Guardians, compiling a 3.85 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 110/38 K/BB ratio over 138 innings. Theyre in the thick of the Wild Card race in the American league and hell have to battle a pair of other contending teams this week, which should lead to increased focus and positive results for the 27-year-old right-hander. He looks like an easy start in all league sizes this week.Reid Detmers, Angels, LHP (vs. Rangers, vs. Royals)Detmers continues to find success and pile up strikeouts as a full-time member of the Angels rotation this season. He holds a 4.12 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 150/39 K/BB ratio over 129 innings in his first 23 starts. He now draws a terrific pair of matchups against the Rangers and Royals and gets the added benefit of making both of those starts at home. That makes Detmers a terrific option in all leagues this week.Ryan Weathers, Yankees, LHP (vs. Mariners, at Blue Jays)Weathers has been a key cog in the Yankees rotation this season, posting a strong 3.79 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 132/34 K/BB ratio over 121 innings through his first 22 starts. He enters his two-start week in terrific form allowing just one run over 18 2/3 innings in his last three starts while compiling a 17/5 K/BB ratio. He now gets to take on a struggling Mariners offense before finishing the week with a neutral matchup against the Jays in Toronto. Hes an easy start in all leagues this week. Decent PlaysBryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (at Yankees, at Astros)While he has still been good this season, we havent quite seen the elite results that we have come to expect from Woo through his first 22 starts in 2026 posting a 4.31 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 127/27 K/BB ratio over his 127 1/3 innings of work. He now gets a particularly rough draw in matchups, having to battle the Yankees in New York before taking on the surging Astros in Houston. Even in the shallowest of leagues, its impossible to bench Woo for a two-start week. Just understand that hes much more likely to deliver middling ratios than he is to dominate the way that we have seen over the previous two seasons.Ranger Suarez, Red Sox, LHP (at Blue Jays, at Pirates)Normally Id be starting Suarez in a two-start week without any hesitation at all, but he hasnt quite been the same since returning from the injured list. He has yet to make it through five innings in any of his three starts since returning while allowing six runs over 11 2/3 innings. Hopefully hes just shaking off the rust and theres nothing more to it. You probably still have to roll with him in a two-start week against mediocre competition, just understand that he carries more risk than youd typically expect from the 30-year-old southpaw.Noah Cameron, Royals, LHP (at Dodgers, at Angels)While Camerons overall numbers on the season are a bit underwhelming, he has been weighed down by a couple of absolutely disastrous outings. He seems to have turned the corner after his last dud though, allowing just one run in total over 25 innings in his last three starts, going at least seven innings and striking out at least seven batters in each of them. Thats pretty impressive. Its hard to stream anyone in a two-start week that includes a matchup against the Dodgers, but with the way that Cameron is throwing the ball right now, Im be comfortable using him against any lineup. He then gets to balance that out a bit with a softer matchup against the Angels to finish the week. Theres enough to like here that Cameron should be utilized in both 15 and 12-team formats this week.Dean Kremer, Twins, RHP (vs. Orioles, vs. Phillies)Historically, Kremer has usually made for a strong option in two-start weeks as long as he isnt facing elite competition. He gets the added fun this time around of starting the week with a revenge game against the Orioles after they shipped him off to the Twins at the trade deadline. Kremer looked great in his first start with the Twins, allowing just one run over five innings against the Royals. I anticipate him pitching well in that first start this week before a tough matchup against the Phillies over the weekend that could really go either way. In 15-teamers Id definitely be willing to use him, in 12s it would depend on what my other options were or how desperate I was to add volume in wins and strikeouts.Freddy Peralta, Rays, RHP (at Athletics, vs. Orioles)You can cut him some slack because it was at Coors Field, but Peraltas first start with the Rays was a complete disaster giving up seven runs on nine hits while failing to make it through four innings. The venue isnt going to get any easier his next time out, as hell tangle with the Athletics in West Sacramento. An impending free agent at the end of the year, Peralta needs to finish the season strong if hes going to cash in on the open market. Fantasy managers who have absorbed his ratio damage to this point probably need to keep rolling with him and simply hope for the best.Jacob Lopez, Athletics, LHP (vs. Rays, vs. Rangers)Lopez had been written up as a two-start option this past week, but as the As shuffled their rotation he got pushed back a day, moving his two-start assignment to this week instead. While his overall numbers on the season look terrible at a glance, Lopez appears to have figured something out recently, registering a 1.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 21/7 K/BB ratio over 15 1/3 innings over his last three starts. Having to make both of his starts this week at Sutter Health Park is a bit terrifying, but Im willing to trust his recent form enough to use him as a streaming option in deeper mixed leagues.MacKenzie Gore, Rangers, LHP (at Angels, at Athletics)Gores overall line on the season has been underwhelming at best, but we have at least seen stretches from him over the course of his career where he has been a viable mixed league option. Hes coming off of perhaps his best start of the year after firing six shutout innings against the Giants and now gets a solid matchup against the Angels in Los Angeles to start the week. Id actually like it better if that was it and he didnt have to travel to West Sacramento to give up a few homers over the weekend. Its fine in deeper leagues if you need an extra arm, but dont get carried away here.Cristian Javier, Astros, RHP (at Giants, vs. Mariners)Javier has struggled since his return from the injured list, posting a 6.59 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and a 23/15 K/BB ratio across 27 1/3 innings in his first nine appearances (five starts). The matchups fall in his favor this week, giving at least some credence to attempting to use him as a streaming option especially since he has looked better in each of his last two starts. Ive gone back and forth on this one, but Im leaning toward rolling the dice and hoping that he lands on the good side of variance. In 15-teamers Id be willing to take the shot. At Your Own RiskCal Quantrill, Rangers, RHP (at Angels, at Athletics)Is Cal Quantrill a good pitcher? Despite his performance so far with the Rangers, history tells us that he is not. The matchups also dont fall in his favor this week, especially that scary tilt over the weekend against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. If you want to think that he can avoid the ratio correction thats surely coming, then go ahead and roll him out there. Ive been burned by Quantrill too many times in the past to put myself in that position again.Drew Anderson, Tigers, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. White Sox)If Anderson were fully stretched out or the team was committed to him staying in the rotation for the remainder of the season, then I would admittedly have more interest in him than I currently do. As it stands though, hes merely keeping the seat warm until Jack Flaherty returns from the injured list. He threw just 42 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in his first start against the Mariners and I have a hard time seeing him getting through five against the Guardians to start the week. If youre trying to pile up strikeouts and want to use him instead of a fringe starter or an extra reliever this week, that could make some sense. Just dont expect a victory unless the Tigers use an opener in front of him.Ryan Johnson, Angels, RHP (vs. Rangers, vs. Royals)While he has shown glimpses of the elite upside that he possesses, Johnson has really struggled through his first 13 outings (10 starts) on the season, posting a miserable 7.11 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and a 38/25 K/BB ratio over his first 50 2/3 innings on the season. Even with a pair of decent matchups on the docket, theres far too much ratio risk here to trust Johnson as anything more than a desperation volume play. Id avoid this one if possible.National League Strong PlaysLogan Henderson, Brewers, RHP (at Padres, at Dodgers)The Brewers are leaning on their tremendous rotation depth to utilize a six-man rotation through a very tough part of their schedule. That means that even during a seven-game week, only one of their hurlers will toe the slab twice. Henderson has been incredible when he has been healthy enough to take the mound this season, going 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 62/10 K/BB ratio across 50 innings in 10 starts. Thats absolutely elite-level production. The matchups are admittedly difficult this week, having to battle the Padres and Dodgers both on the road. Henderson has shown the ability to dominate any opponent in front of him though and we shouldnt let the schedule scare us away from what should still be a very strong two-start week.Christian Scott, Mets, RHP (at Braves, vs. Nationals)While many things have gone wrong for the Mets yet again this season, Christian Scott has been a shining beacon of hope. Over his first 16 starts, he holds a 3.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 92/32 K/BB ratio across his 74 1/3 innings of work. He has also been remarkably consistent, as he has allowed more than three runs just once on the year and that was only four runs against the Cardinals on June 11. He should be started in all leagues every week and makes for a particularly strong option in a two-start week that includes a home tilt against the Nationals.Eury Prez, Marlins, RHP (vs. Pirates, at Reds)The prized 23-year-old right-hander has shown plenty of inconsistency this season, but the overall results have been very solid with a 3.61 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 121/42 K/BB ratio across 109 2/3 innings. Hes a player that should be in all fantasy lineups on a weekly basis unless its a brutal one-start matchup. Fortunately, he gets two starts this week and one of them is at home against the Pirates, which makes him one of the better all-around options on the entire board this week. He should be deployed with complete confidence.Paul Skenes, Pirates, RHP (at Marlins, vs. Red Sox)One thing that hasnt quite received the attention that it deserves this season, is the unexpected falloff in the performance of Paul Skenes. He entered the season as the consensus number two overall starting pitcher behind only Tarik Skubal, but his overall performance has fallen well short of that. Through his first 24 starts he sits at 9-10 with a pedestrian 3.98 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 162/36 K/BB ratio. Fantasy managers that called his name in the first round have undoubtedly been frustrated and disappointed with the way that his season has played out. He should still be started each and every week for fantasy purposes, but hes no longer going to find himself in the top two rounds of drafts next season unless things turn around over the final two months.Bryce Elder, Braves, RHP (vs. Mets, vs. Diamondbacks)Elders 2026 campaign has been an absolute rollercoaster. He came out of the gate strong before floundering miserably over a seven-start stretch from late May to early July. Since then though, he has somehow righted the ship. Over his last four starts, the 27-year-old hurler holds a sparkling 1.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and an 18/10 K/BB ratio over 24 innings. With the way the Braves are playing right now, hes in a terrific position to earn a victory every time he takes the hill and now gets to make a pair of starts at home against middling competition. I know it can be hard to trust Elder if you have been burned by him this season, but he makes for a strong play in all league sizes this week. Decent PlaysJustin Wrobleski, Dodgers, LHP (vs. Royals, vs. Brewers)Since they have been rolling with a full six-man rotation for the duration of the season, its a rare occurrence when a Dodgers starter actually gets a two-start week. Things could change depending on when they want to slot Blake Snell back into the rotation, but as things currently stand it looks like Wrobleski will go on Monday and get the two-start assignment. He has been fantastic overall on the season, but has run into some very hard times his last two times out giving up a combined 12 runs over 10 1/3 innings against the Mariners and Cubs. A matchup against the Royals should be just what the doctor ordered to get him back on track before a tough matchup against the Brewers over the weekend. He has earned enough trust this season that fantasy managers should continue to roll with him even after the struggles in his recent starts.Casey Mize, Padres, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Guardians)Change isnt always easy. After being dealt away from the only organization that he has ever known, Mize struggled in his first start with the Padres, giving up eight runs on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. Yikes. Mize is still a quality pitcher though and should continue to be a mixed league asset over the final two months of the season. A matchup against a familiar foe in the Guardians to finish the week should help him to settle in. I understand the apprehension, but unless theres an injury concern that the Padres announce, Id roll with him in all leagues if hes still taking the ball on Monday.Hunter Dobbins, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Phillies, at Cubs)Dobbins has done a nice job so far in his limited chances with the Cardinals, compiling a 3.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 36/14 K/BB ratio over 40 innings in his first eight appearances (five starts). We also saw him post similarly strong results over 61 innings for the Red Sox in 2025. The matchups are both on the tougher side this week, but I feel like theres something to be had here. Id be willing to roll the dice with Dobbins as a streaming option for this week and I also feel like he may end up having mixed league value over the remainder of the season.Gabriel Hughes, Rockies, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Giants)I knew that this day could come eventually. The first time all season that we have had any Rockies pitcher ranked as anything more than at your own risk. The best pitcher in the teams rotation is making two starts away from Coors Field and one of them is against the Giants in San Francisco. Thats about as good of a draw as you can get. I love what we have seen from Hughes through his first six starts, putting together a 4.25 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 28/9 K/BB ratio over 29 2/3 innings. Im going out on a limb and saying that he makes for a solid streaming option this week and should pick up his first MLB victory. If he gets bombed here, I only have myself to blame.Rhett Lowder, Reds, RHP (at White Sox, vs. Marlins)This one is interesting to me. Lowder hasnt pitched well this season. He holds a 5.26 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 73/39 K/BB ratio over 89 frames through his first 20 appearances (17 starts). So wheres the reason to even consider him here? I like what we have seen from him recently. Small sample size caveat, but over his last three starts he has registered a 3.18 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and a 12/4 K/BB ratio over 17 innings. Can that trend continue this week? Thats up to you to decide. I think theres enough here though that Id risk using him in 15-teamers as a streaming option and may even consider it in some 12s if I needed to volume or was struggling to find another strong option.Mitch Bratt, Diamondbacks, LHP (vs. Rockies, at Braves)Bratt has done a decent job overall through his first six starts with the Diamondbacks, registering a 3.90 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 21/18 K/BB ratio over 27 2/3 innings. Its going to be hard to sustain success at this level though if he cant cut back on the walks. The matchups are a mixed bag, starting the week with a strong matchup at home against the Rockies before having to battle the red-hot Braves in Atlanta to close out the week. If youre not worried about your ratios and are looking to gain ground in wins and strikeouts for the stretch run, you could give Bratt a try this week, just understand the ratio risks that youre taking on by doing so. At Your Own RiskJake Irvin, Nationals, RHP (vs. Cubs, at Mets)At this stage of his career, we have a pretty good idea of who Jake Irvin is. He holds a troublesome 5.37 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 62 innings in his 13 starts this season, winning two games and striking out 62 batters in 62 innings. If youre only chasing strikeouts and can handle the inevitable ratio hit, he can be worth a look here. Otherwise, its probably best to steer clear.Andrew Painter, Phillies, RHP (at Cardinals, at Twins)While his long-term outlook still remains strong, Painter has been a major disappointment in his first season in the Phillies rotation. Through 16 appearances (14 starts), Painter holds a grotesque 6.48 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and a 63/28 K/BB ratio over 75 innings. Until he shows significant signs of putting everything together at the games highest level, theres no reason at all that fantasy managers should trust him at all. Dont be swayed by the prospect pedigree, there are smarter risks to take.
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