Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers: Week 6 (May 10-16)

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 an option.

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

Five-Star Options:

• None

Four-Star Options:

• Matt Garza - Tampa Bay Rays - @ LAA, vs. Sea
• Tommy Hanson - Atlanta Braves - @ Mil, vs. Ari
• Cliff Lee - Seattle Mariners - @ Bal, @ TB

Three-Star Options:

• Chad Billingsley - Los Angeles Dodgers - @ Ari, @ SD
• John Lackey - Boston Red Sox - vs. Tor, @ Det
• Colby Lewis - Texas Rangers - vs. Oak, @ Tor
• Ted Lilly - Chicago Cubs - vs. Fla, vs. Pit
• Ricky Nolasco - Florida Marlins - @ CHC, vs. NYM
• Brad Penny - St. Louis Cardinals - vs. Hou, @ Cin
• Barry Zito - San Francisco Giants - vs. SD, vs. Hou

Two-Star Options:

• Bronson Arroyo - Cincinnati Reds - @ Pit, vs. Stl
• Brian Bannister - Kansas City Royals - vs. Cle, vs. CWS
• Wade LeBlanc - San Diego Padres - @ SF, vs. LAD
• John Maine - New York Mets - vs. Was, @ Fla
• Brandon Morrow - Toronto Blue Jays - @ Bos, vs. Tex
• Brett Myers - Houston Astros - @ Stl, @ SF
• Jonathan Niese - New York Mets - vs. Was, @ Fla
• Scott Olsen - Washington Nationals - @ NYM, @ Col
• Joel Pineiro - Los Angeles Angels - vs. TB, vs. Oak
• Javier Vazquez - New York Yankees - @ Det, vs. Min

One-Star Options:

• Luis Atilano - Washington Nationals - @ NYM, @ Col
• Trevor Cahill - Oakland Athletics - @ Tex, @ LAA
• Aaron Cook - Colorado Rockies - vs. Phi, vs. Was
• Doug Davis - Milwaukee Brewers - vs. Atl, vs. Phi
• David Hernandez - Baltimore Orioles - vs. Sea, vs. Cle
• Kyle Kendrick - Philadelphia Phillies - @ Col, @ Mil
• Rodrigo Lopez - Arizona Diamondbacks - vs. LAD, @ Atl
• Ross Ohlendorf - Pittsburgh Pirates - vs. Cin, @ CHC
• Rick Porcello - Detroit Tigers - vs. NYY, vs. Bos
• Nate Robertson - Florida Marlins - @ CHC, vs. NYM
• Greg Smith - Colorado Rockies - vs. Phi, vs. Was
• Dontrelle Willis - Detroit Tigers - vs. NYY, vs. Bos
• Jake Westbrook - Cleveland Indians - @ KC, @ Bal

Rotation Notes:

• The Yankees could have a second two-start option, depending on if Andy Pettitte goes on the DL or is just skipped for a start.  Monitor this situation because, pitching for the Yankees, whoever steps in could have value.

Thoughts:

• Does anyone trust Javier Vazquez at this point?  Despite the two-starts, it’s impossible to classify him as a must use option in any format.  It really is amazing how far he’s fallen compared to 2009, isn’t it?
• I know that Chad Billingsley hasn’t been overly effective in 2009, but with a start against the Padres next week, how could you not start him?  For his career he’s 8-4 with a 2.71 ERA against them, so it’s worth the risk against the Diamondbacks.
• While Arroyo’s start against the Pirates is enticing, I can’t make him a three-star option due to that start against the Cardinals at the end of the week.  For his career, Albert Pujols is hitting .308 with 3 HR against Arroyo, so playing in Great American Ballpark could get ugly.
• Of the two Mets starters listed as two-star options, at this point I have more faith in Jonathan Niese.  Prior to some struggles in Cincinnati (4 ER over 6.0 IP), he had allowed two earned runs in 18 innings to go along with 20 Ks.  With his first start coming at home, where he has a 2.12 ERA, he’s definitely worth taking the gamble on.
• Dontrelle Willis has pitched well enough to potentially be usable, but with starts against the Yankees and Red Sox?  No thank you, no matter what the numbers say.
• Ross Ohlendorf has the potential to be usable, but these are his first starts off the DL.  That makes him too big of a risk to trust.

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

To view the previous article, click here .

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