Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Options: Week 17 (July 26-August 1)

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, he is 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 "absolutely not" scenarios.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at the players available for you this week:

Five-Star Options:

• Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins—@ SF, @ SD

Four-Star Options:

• Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants—vs. Fla, vs. LAD
• John Danks, Chicago White Sox—vs. Sea, vs. Oak
• Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox—vs. Sea, vs. Oak
• Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals—vs. Min, vs. Bal
• Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies—vs. Ari, @ Was
• Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves—@ Was, @ Cin
• Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks—@ Phi, @ NYM
• Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners—@ CWS, @ Min
• Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins—@ KC, vs. Sea
• Ricky Nolasco, Florida Marlins—@ SF, @ SD
• C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees—@ Cle, @ TB
• Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals—vs. Atl, vs. Phi
• Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers—@ TB, @ Bos

Three-Star Options:

• Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers—@ SD, @ SF
• Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox—@ LAA, vs. Det
• Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals—@ NYM, vs. Pit
• Colby Lewis, Texas Rangers—vs. Oak, @ LAA
• Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers—@ TB, @ Bos
• Javier Vazquez, New York Yankees—@ Cle, @ TB
• Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants—vs. Fla, vs. LAD

Two-Star Options:

• Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds—@ Mil, vs. Atl
• Jorge De La Rosa, Colorado Rockies—vs. Pit, vs. CHC
• Jon Garland, San Diego Padres—vs. LAD, vs. Fla
• Matt Garza, Tampa Bay Rays—vs. Det, vs. NYY
• Jason Hammel, Colorado Rockies—@ Phi, vs. CHC
• Brandon Morrow, Toronto Blue Jays—vs. Bal, vs. Cle
• Jonathan Niese, New York Mets—vs. Stl, vs. Ari
• Joel Pineiro, Los Angeles Angels—vs. Bos, vs. Tex
• James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays—vs. Det, vs. NYY
• Carlos Silva, Chicago Cubs—@ Hou, @ Col

One-Star Options:

• Brad Bergesen, Baltimore Orioles—@ Tor, @ KC
• Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies—vs. Col, @ Was
• Dallas Braden, Oakland Athletics—@ Tex, @ CWS
• Bruce Chen, Kansas City Royals—vs. Min, vs. Bal
• Zach Duke, Pittsburgh Pirates—@ Col, @ Stl
• Kevin Millwood, Baltimore Orioles—@ Tor, @ KC
• Ryan Rowland-Smith, Seattle Mariners—@ CWS, @ Min
• Jake Westbrook, Cleveland Indians—vs. NYY, @ Tor
• Randy Wolf, Milwaukee Brewers—vs. Cin, @ Hou
• Wesley Wright, Houston Astros—vs. CHC, vs. Mil

Scheduling Notes:

• The Indians have not yet announced their Tuesday starter, but he’s not likely to be a usable option.

Thoughts:

• You can forget about the early season struggles of Gavin Floyd, as he has proven once again that he is a second-half stud.  Over the past month (40.1 innings), he’s posted a 1.12 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.  With the Mariners and A’s on the schedule, he’s a tremendous option.
• Do we trust Matt Garza or James Shields at this point?  Both have been incredibly inconsistent and have a pair of tough matchups against the Yankees and Tigers.  Depending on your other options, they are both usable, but I wouldn’t consider either of them a must-use.
• Jaime Garcia continues to pitch well, though he’s had a little bump in the road of late (17 hits and two walks over 9.2 innings prior to his last start against the Phillies).
• While Max Scherzer has two tough starts, he’s been pitching extremely well of late.  In his last six starts, he’s allowed more then one earned run just once.  Couple that with plenty of strikeouts, and he’s clearly returned to the realm of must-start options.
• You can forget about the great start of Carlos Silva, as he’s finally hit the huge regression we’ve all been waiting for.  He’s allowed 11 earned runs over his past two starts (2.1 innings), easily removing him from the list of must-start pitchers.
• Bronson Arroyo has always been an inconsistent option.  He got beat up in his last start against the Nationals, allowing seven earned runs over 5.2 innings.  He also doesn’t strike out many, with 63 strikeouts over 133.0 innings.  Is he usable?  Absolutely.  Is he a must-use?  Not necessarily.
• You have to like the way Jonathan Niese has been pitching of late, though he has two tough matchups.  He’s usable, but it depends on your other options.

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

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