2-Start Chart for the Week of August 19th

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

I had some extra time this Sunday evening so I got the 2-start board done early!

Kikuchi has 24 Ks in 3 strong starts w/HOU (2.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP in 16.7 IP) and this’ll be a huge test for talented lefty, but I’m running him everywhere.

Lack of offensive support for Woo is why he’s just 2-0 in his L5 despite a blistering 1.48 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 30.3 IP; even if I’m Ws chasing, I’d still start him.

Bradley suffering a fatigue-induced wear down or just 3 off-kilter starts (9.64 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 13% K-BB in 14 IP)? Can’t say for sure, but I’m gonna run the 2-start and then reassess.

While Houck only allowed 3 ER in his last 2 starts v. HOU and TEX, he still had just 4 Ks and 5 BB in the 12.7 IP of work. With the previous 3 duds, he’s at 4.85 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and 1% K-BB in 29.7 IP over his L5. I realize he’s been excellent on the whole this year, but this is a brutal slate at HOU and v. ARI so I think there are some sits to be found out there. The sweeper ain’t sweepin’! Meanwhile the sinker and splitter have come in and out, too, leaving him nothing to rely on right now. He does setup

Gil’s pitches per PA has jumped from 4.2 in his F20 starts which is already bottom 5 among qual’d SPs to 4.6 in his L3 which would easily be MLB’s worst.

ReyLo has been confirmed for Tuesday which puts him in line for a 2-step, but of course we know how it’s gone w/ReyLo and 2-steps this year! I’m not too worried about slotting him in even for a 1-start so I’m starting him if you’re OK running guys right off the IL.

Harrison’s fantastic matchups are the driving start here: 3.44 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 55 IP v. sub-.500 clubs; 4.82/1.52 v. =>.500 clubs.

Boyd and Zebby were two of the hot pickups in deeper leagues this weekend. I like both, but they carry plenty of risk. We know Boyd’s range, he can be great when the ball is staying in the park and of course that’ll be tested right away with a trip to the Bronx. Matthews is a rookie with 1 MLB start so his risk is obvious, plus he opens the week with a trip to San Diego, which is normally a major positive unless you have to face their lineup!

If you have questions about anyone else, leave me a comment!

2-Start Board for Wk of August 19th
RANK TYPE PITCHER MATCHUPS IP ERA WHIP K-BB Pitch+
1 1 Zack Wheeler at ATL/at KCR 148.2 2.72 0.98 20% 104
2 1 Michael King MIN/NYM 135.1 3.19 1.17 20% 102
3 1 Seth Lugo LAA/PHI 159.2 3.04 1.09 15% 100
4 2 Yusei Kikuchi BOS/at BAL 132.1 4.49 1.29 21% 102
5 2 Bryan Woo at LAD/SFG 74.1 2.06 0.85 17% 108
6 2 Taj Bradley at OAK/at LAD 95.1 3.49 1.14 20% 97
7 2 Brandon Pfaadt at MIA/at BOS 144.2 3.98 1.11 18% 106
8 3 Tanner Houck at HOU/ARI 146.2 3.01 1.15 14% 101
9 3 Luis Gil CLE/COL 121.2 3.25 1.15 16% 95
10 3 Kevin Gausman CIN/LAA 139.1 4.20 1.26 14% 105
11 3 Reynaldo López PHI/at WSN 104.2 2.06 1.19 15% 102
12 3 Gavin Stone SEA/TBR 121.1 3.63 1.28 12% 103
13 3 Kyle Harrison CHW/at SEA 111 4.14 1.31 14% 98
14 3 José Berríos CIN/LAA 149.2 3.85 1.18 12% 103
15 4 Matthew Boyd at NYY/TEX 5.1 1.69 0.56 32% 113
16 4 Zebby Matthews at SDP/STL 5 3.60 1.00 25% 105
17 4 Erick Fedde 페디 MIL/at MIN 137.2 3.40 1.15 14% 105
18 4 Martín Pérez MIN/NYM 101.1 4.62 1.49 11% 103
19 4 Joey Estes TBR/MIL 87.2 4.72 1.21 12% 107
20 4 Carson Spiers at TOR/at PIT 65.1 4.55 1.29 16% 106
21 4 DJ Herz COL/at ATL 55 4.25 1.31 20% 97
22 4 Tyler Anderson at KCR/at TOR 147.1 3.30 1.17 10% 100
23 4 Jonathan Cannon at SFG/DET 80.2 4.02 1.30 9% 102
24 4 Luis L. Ortiz at TEX/CIN 95 3.41 1.15 10% 101
25 4 Javier Assad DET/at MIA 107.1 3.19 1.37 9% 99
26 4 Shane Baz at OAK/at LAD 36.1 4.21 1.43 11% 98
27 5 Jose Quintana BAL/at SDP 129 4.26 1.29 10% 97
28 5 Carson Fulmer at KCR/at TOR 70.1 4.22 1.25 12% 101
29 5 Dean Kremer at NYM/HOU 90.1 4.48 1.28 12% 101
30 5 Trevor Rogers at NYM/HOU 119.2 4.89 1.57 7% 100
31 5 David Peterson BAL/at SDP 71 3.04 1.39 7% 96
32 5 Bryan Sammons at CHC/at CHW 18.2 3.38 0.70 13% 97
33 6 Adam Oller ARI/CHC #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A
34 6 Austin Gomber at WSN/at NYY 125 4.82 1.31 11% 103
35 6 Joe Boyle TBR/MIL 31.2 7.39 1.83 6% 89
36 6 José Ureña PIT/at CLE 89 4.15 1.35 7% 97
TYPE Key:
1 – Auto-Start | 2 – All Formats | 3 – Most Formats |
4 – Some Formats | 5 – YOLO | 6 – Hard Pass
Recommendations for Roto 5×5 Leagues

Pitch+ is the Pitching+ stat. Here’s a primer on it.





Paul is the Editor of Rotographs and Content Director for OOTP Perfect Team. Follow Paul on Twitter @sporer and on Twitch at sporer.

3 Comments
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RandMember since 2017
2 months ago

Houck should have two starts. The Baltimore starters face the Mets and Houston.

RandMember since 2017
2 months ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Thanks, was very interested to see where you had him. I also have to choose between Peterson and Quintana in a 4×4 NL only where we are 1st in ERA at 3.65 and the teams behind us are at 3.67, 3.67, 3.69, 3.69 and 3.70.