Rotoprofessor’s 2-Start Pitchers: Week 14

Written by Eric Stashin the Rotoprofessor 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: 5-Star Options: Josh Beckett – Boston Red Sox – vs. Oak, vs. KC 4-Star Options: CC Sabathia – New York Yankees – @ Min, @ LAA Javier Vazquez – Atlanta Braves – @ CHC, @ Col Yovani Gallardo – Milwaukee Brewers – vs. Stl, vs. LAD Josh Johnson – Florida Marlins – @ SF, @ Ari Matt Cain – San Francisco Giants – vs. Fla, vs. SD Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals – @ Mil, @ CHC Matt Garza – Tampa Bay Rays – vs. Tor, vs. Oak 3-Star Options: Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies – vs. Cin, vs. Pit Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds – @ Phi, @ NYM Kevin Millwood – Texas Rangers – @ LAA, @ Sea Jair Jurrjens – Atlanta Braves – @ CHC, @ Col Aaron Harang – Cincinnati Reds – @ Phi, @ NYM Jason Marquis – Colorado Rockies – vs. Was, vs. Atl Scott Baker – Minnesota Twins – vs. NYY, vs. CWS Jered Weaver – Los Angeles Angels – vs. Tex, vs. NYY 2-Star Options: Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers – @ NYM, @ Mil Andy Pettitte – New York Yankees – vs. Tor, @ LAA Doug Davis – Arizona Diamondbacks – vs. SD, vs. Fla J.A. Happ – Philadelphia Phillies – vs. Cin, vs. Pit John Smoltz – Boston Red Sox – vs. Oak, vs. KC Ricky Romero – Toronto Blue Jays – @ NYY, @ Bal Gil Meche – Kansas City Royals – @ Det, @ Bos Randy Wells – Chicago Cubs – vs. Atl, vs. Stl Ryan Dempster – Chicago Cubs – vs. Atl, vs. Stl Mike Pelfrey – New York Mets – vs. LAD, vs. Cin Kevin Correia – San Diego Padres – @ Ari, @ SF Jordan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals – @ Col, @ Hou Wandy Rodriguez – Houston Astros – vs. Pit, vs. Was Jarrod Washburn – Seattle Mariners – vs. Bal, vs. Tex Brad Bergesen – Baltimore Orioles – @ Sea, vs. Tor 1-Star Options: Barry Zito – San Francisco Giants – vs. Fla, vs. SD Jim Garland – Arizona Diamondbacks – vs. SD, vs. Fla Vicente Padilla – Texas Rangers – @ LAA, @ Sea Jason Hammel – Colorado Rockies – vs. Was, vs. Atl Armando Galarraga – Detroit Tigers – vs. KC, vs. Cle Sean West – Florida Marlins – @ SF, @ Ari Jose Contreras – Chicago White Sox – vs. Cle, @ Min Mike Hampton – Houston Astros – vs. Pit, vs. Was Jason Vargas – Seattle Mariners – vs. Bal, vs. Tex Walter Silva – San Diego Padres – @ Ari, @ SF Gio Gonzalez – Oakland Athletics – @ Bos, @ TB Virgil Vasquez – Pittsburgh Pirates – @ Hou, @ Phi Jeremy Sowers – Cleveland Indians – @ CWS, @ Det Craig Stammen – Washington Nationals – @ Col, @ Hou Bruce Chen – Kansas City Royals – @ Det, @ Bos Brett Cecil – Toronto Blue Jays – @ TB, @ Bal Notes: Vicente Padilla is currently scheduled to go Tuesday, but is currently suffering from soreness in his shoulder.  He’s not a good option to begin with, but throw in some injury concerns and he becomes almost unusable. Thoughts: I wasn’t go to have a 5-star option this week, but I decided that Josh Beckett was the best option available and therefore deserving of the ranking.  I know he’s coming off a poor start, but there’s no denying how good he has been this season.  You also have to factor in the match-ups, against two weaker offenses in Oakland and Kansas City, and I feel like it’s justified. I know Jered Weaver has been terrible in two of his last three outings, as well as having tough match-ups against a pair of high-powered offenses.  If you are in a shallow format with significant other options, then I could see leaving him on the bench, but outside of that, you almost have to use him.  You almost have to expect him to redeem himself against the Rangers, who got him for 7 earned runs his last time out. Should Clayton Kershaw be a 2 or 3 star option?  Well, I can tell you that I am definitely going to be using him in my keeper league, though that’s not to say that I don’t have my concerns for him.  Walks have been a significant issue, with 52 over 87.2 innings.  While that has not translated into a poor ERA (3.49) or WHIP (1.31), you have to think it’s going to catch up to him sooner or later.  He does have a BABIP of .267, so a regression is likely coming.  The issue that the walks have caused is increased pitch counts, not allowing him to go deep into games and get victories, despite how well he’s pitching.  When a pitcher barely goes past 5 innings, there certainly is an issue. I’m sure my ranking of Ricky Romero as a 2-star option is going to draw some questions.  I know how impressive he’s been, allowing 3 earned runs or less in each of his last six starts, going 7 innings or more in all but one of those starts (he went 6.1 innings).  I also must admit that the fact that he faced the Phillies twice in that stretch and was able to pitch well against them both times is very promising.  Still, I can’t get over the fact that just a year ago he posted a 4.98 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in Double-A.  You also have to factor in that his first start comes in the homer haven known as the new Yankee Stadium.  The fact that he’s a ground ball pitcher is going to help, but still, he’s never shown this type of potential in the past.  His career minor league ERA is 4.42 and WHIP is 1.47, does that sound like numbers of a pitcher who can keep up this type of streak?  I’m not going to say he’s unusable, but I certainly don’t consider him a must use option quite yet. Which 2-start pitchers do you like for next week?  Which ones are you

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Rotoprofessor’s 2-Start Pitchers: Week 14
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