We are back with another edition of Two Start pitchers! After some deep thought and consideration, I have decided to move the two start pitching article to Thursday instead of its original release day of` Wednesday. I have found that my lists tend to contain about 5 players that do not actually two start, so I am hoping that moving the release date up a day will result in more accurate predictions.
Well, now that we have cleared everything up, Here are the upcoming two start pitchers for next week!
*These are based off of current rotations as of August 17th. These are subject to change and will be updated accordingly*
*Park rating: Green = Pitcher friendly, Red = Hitter Friendly, No color = Neutral*
Must Start pitchers
| Pitcher Name – Team | Start One (Team – Date) | Start Two (Team – Date) |
| Marcus Stroman, TOR | @TB – Aug 22 | vs.MIN – Aug 27 |
| Yu Darvish, LAD | @PIT – Aug 22 | vs.MIL – Aug 27 |
| Alex Wood, LAD | @PIT – Aug 21 | vs.MIL – Aug 26 |
| Lance Lynn, StL | vs.SD – Aug 22 | vs.TB – Aug 27 |
Upper Tier
| Pitcher Name – Team | Start one (Team – Date) | Start two (Team – Date) |
| Jimmy Nelson, MIL | @SF – Aug 21 | @LAD – Aug 27 |
| Carlos Carrasco, CLE | vs.BOS – Aug 21 | vs.KC – Aug 26 |
| Gerrit Cole, PIT | vs.LAD – Aug 21 | @CIN – Aug 26 |
| Aaron Nola, PHI | vs.MIA – Aug 22 | vs.ChC – Aug 27 |
| Dan Straily, MIA | @PHI – Aug 22 | vs.SD – Aug 27 |
| Rick Porcello, BOS | @CLE – Aug 21 | vs.BAL – Aug 26 |
| John Lackey, ChC | @CIN – Aug 22 | @PHI – Aug 27 |
| Cole Hamels, TEX | @LAA – Aug 21 | @OAK – Aug 26 |
| Carlos Rodon, CWS | vs.MIN – Aug 21 | vs.DET – Aug 26 |
| Madison Bumgarner, SF | vs.MIl – Aug 21 | @ARI – Aug 27 |
If you must
| Pitcher Name – Team | Start one (Team – Date) | Start two (Team – Date) |
| Mike Foltynewicz, ATL | vs.SEA – Aug 21 | vs.COL – Aug 27 |
| Tanner Roark, WSH | @HOU – Aug 22 | vs.NYM – Aug 27 |
| Charlie Morton, HOU | vs.WSH – Aug 22 | @LAA – Aug 27 |
| Jamie Garcia, NYY | @DET – Aug 22 | vs.SEA – Aug 27 |
| Taijuan Walker, ARI | @NYM – Aug 21 | vs.SF – Aug 26 |
| Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS | @CLE – Aug 22 | vs.BAL – Aug 27 |
| Mike Clevinger, CLE | vs.BOS – Aug 22 | vs.KC – Aug 27 |
| Jameson Taillon, PIT | vs.LAD – Aug 22 | @CIN – Aug 27 |
| Zach Davies, MIL | @SF – Aug 21 | @LAD – Aug 27 |
| Danny Duffy, KC | vs.COL – Aug 22 | @CLE – Aug 27 |
| Reynaldo Lopez, CWS | vs.MIN – Aug 22 | vs.DET – Aug 27 |
Rest of the pack
| Pitcher Name – Team | Start one (Team – Date) | Start two (Team – Date) |
| Jason Hammel, KC | vs.COL – Aug 22 | @CLE – Aug 27 |
| Clayton Richard, SD | @StL – Aug 21 | @MIA – Aug 27 |
| Jacob Faria, TB | vs.TOR – Aug 22 | @StL – Aug 27 |
| Ricky Nolasco, LAA | vs.TEX – Aug 22 | vs.HOU – Aug 27 |
| Ubaldo Jimenez, BAL | vs.OAK – Aug 21 | vs.BOS – Aug 27 |
| Robert Gsellman, NYM | vs.ARI – Aug 21 | @WSH – Aug 26 |
| Jon Gray, COL | @KC – Aug 22 | @ATL – Aug 27 |
| Steven Matz, NYM | vs.ARI – Aug 22 | @WSH – Aug 27 |
| Kyle Gibson, MIN | @CWS – Aug 21 | @TOR – Aug 26 |
| Tyler Skaggs, LAA | vs.TEX – Aug 22 | vs.HOU – Aug 27 |
| Tyson Ross, TEX | @LAA – Aug 22 | @OAK – Aug 27 |
| Homer Bailey, CIN | vs.ChC – Aug 22 | vs.PIT – Aug 27 |
| Chris Flexen, NYM | vs.ARI – Aug 22 | @WSH – Aug 27 |
| Chris Smith, OAK | @BAL – Aug 21 | vs.TEX – Aug 27 |
| Andrew Albers, SEA | @ATL – Aug 21 | @NYY – Aug 27 |
Aaron Nola, PHI – 3.02 ERA – 1.15 WHIP – 125 Ks
Nola faces off against a lackluster Giants team this Thursday night, and with that will look to continue his climb to ace status. In the month of July, Aaron had a immaculate 1.32 ERA , 0.94 WHIP with a 43:8 K:BB over 5 starts and 34.0 innings. Those numbers have transferred over nicely to August (2.25 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 18 Ks) and have put Nola among some of the better pitchers in the league. I think this guy is about to break out in a big way. The only reason he is not a must start is because of his matchups (Marlins and Cubs at home). Either way, roll the dice and play him this week. If he comes out on the plus in both starts, he cements his ace status.
Zach Davies, MIL – 4.26 ERA – 1.39 WHIP – 93 Ks
This kid is 14-6 on the season and rocks only 5.83 K/9 … How in the world is this even possible? Well Davies has been fantastic at generating ground balls (48.4%) which has given him the chance to work out of tough situations. He has been able to pitch into the 6th or 7th inning in majority of his starts, so he does have fantasy upside. I still don’t trust him, but if you’re desperate throw him in the line up
Carlos Rodon, CWS – 4.00 ERA – 1.39 WHIP – 59 Ks
In the month of August, Rodon has a 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 19:4 K:BB in 23.0 innings. May I add that those matchups were all against Division leaders (BOS,HOU, LAD)? The biggest knock against Rodon is that he plays for the dog shit White Soxs, who are going to struggle to put up runs (he has gone almost 8 innings in those 3 starts and still got a no decision in them all). His game against the Red Sox was a major stand out for me. Carlos pitched 7.2 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs with 11 Ks and 0 walks. That is a hell of a stat line against a great team. Rodon has always been touted as a strong pitcher who lacked some control, but things look to be rounding out for him. Take the risk and start him next week against the Twins and Tigers at home.
Well there we go! Our newly titled Two Start Thursdays is officially here and ready to rock. My two starters next week are Aaron Nola, Carlos Rodon, and Mike Clevinger (Don’t rip on me for spotlighting two of my own guys) – and I might look to add a fourth if the match ups are right. Tune in next Thursday for the latest instalment of Two Start pitchers!
