Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Options: Week 24 (September 13-19)

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:

• None

Four-Star Options:

• Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers - @ SF, vs. Col
• Jon Lester - Boston Red Sox - @ Sea, vs. Tor
• Francisco Liriano - Minnesota Twins - @ CWS, vs. Oak
• David Price - Tampa Bay Rays - vs. NYY, vs. LAA
• CC Sabathia - New York Yankees - @ TB, @ Bal
• Adam Wainwright - St. Louis Cardinals - vs. CHC, vs. SD

Three-Star Options:

• Bronson Arroyo - Cincinnati Reds - vs. Ari, @ Hou
• John Danks - Chicago White Sox - vs. Min, vs. Det
• R.A. Dickey - New York Mets - vs. Pit, vs. Atl
• Jaime Garcia - St. Louis Cardinals - vs. CHC, vs. SD
• Daniel Hudson - Arizona Diamondbacks - @ Cin, @ Pit
• Brett Myers - Houston Astros - vs. Mil, vs. Cin

Two-Star Options:

• Joe Blanton - Philadelphia Phillies - @ Fla, vs. Was
• Barry Enright - Arizona Diamondbacks - @ Cin, @ Pit
• Jon Garland - San Diego Padres - @ Col, @ Stl
• Derek Lowe - Atlanta Braves - vs. Was, @ NYM
• Barry Zito - San Francisco Giants - vs. LAD, vs. Mil

One-Star Options:

• Jake Arrieta - Baltimore Orioles - vs. Tor, vs. NYY
• Brian Bannister - Kansas City Royals - vs. Oak, vs. Cle
• Trevor Bell - Los Angeles Angels - @ Cle, @ TB
• Zach Duke - Pittsburgh Pirates - @ NYM, vs. Ari
• Doug Fister - Seattle Mariners - vs. Bos, vs. Tex
• Jeff Francis - Colorado Rockies - vs. SD, @ LAD
• Dillon Gee - New York Mets - vs. Pit, vs. Atl
• Cory Luebke - San Diego Padres - @ Col, @ Stl
• Yunesky Maya - Washington Nationals - @ Atl, @ Phi
• James McDonald - Pittsburgh Pirates - @ NYM, vs. Ari
• Andrew Miller - Florida Marlins - vs. Phi, vs. CHC
• Chris Narveson - Milwaukee Brewers - @ Hou, @ SF
• Marc Rzepczynski - Toronto Blue Jays - @ Bal, @ Bos
• Carlos Silva - Chicago Cubs - @ Stl, @ Fla
• Travis Wood - Cincinnati Reds - vs. Ari, @ Hou

Scheduling Thoughts:

• According to mlb.com, the A’s Bobby Cramer will make his Major League debut on Monday.  The 30-year old went 2-2 with a 1.94 ERA in 41.2 innings at Triple-A after opening the year in the Mexican League (2.95 ERA over 128.0 innings).  It is not known if he is going to make a second start or not, however, and he is clearly not trustworthy enough to use at this point in the season.
• The Orioles are using a six-man rotation and therefore do not have a two-start option this week.

Thoughts:

• Justin Masterson had been scheduled to be a two-start option for the Indians, but has been pulled from the rotation to limit his innings. There is no word as to who will replace him, but whoever it is will likely not be usable.
• You can consider CC Sabathia a borderline five-star option, but he is significantly worse on the road (8-5, 3.75 ERA) then at home (11-1, 2.56 ERA). With both starts on the road this week, he gets downgraded to a four-star option.
• Is there any stopping Daniel Hudson? Since being traded to Arizona he has gone 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 51 K over 56.2 innings. He has benefited from a .251 BABIP over that time, but he’s shown strikeout potential (8.2 K/9) and good control (1.8 BB/9). At this point, he’s worth using in all formats, though the start against the Reds is worrisome. Hopefully his luck doesn’t run out.
• Bronson Arroyo is inconsistent, we all know that, but coming off a terrible start against the Rockies (7 ER over 4.1 innings), you have to like his chances for a bounce back. He’s pitched well against the Diamondbacks (2.45 ERA over 7.1 innings) and Astros (2.70 ERA over 6.2 innings) and while it’s small sample sizes, I’d use him this week.
• Jon Garland has been struggling as of late, allowing eight earned runs on 15 hits and six walks over his last two starts (9.2 innings). Couple that with a date against the red-hot Rockies, and it’s impossible to consider him a must start option. He’s usable, depending on your other options, but not a lock.
• While Jaime Garcia got knocked around against the Brewers in his last start (7 ER over 4.0 IP), we can’t just ignore everything else he has done this season.  Couple that with two favorable matchups and he should stay in your starting lineup in all formats.

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

Make sure to check out our Fantasy Baseball Minor League Player of the Year Awards:

• Atlanta Braves
• Kansas City Royals

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