Sport: MLB<\/p>\n
With three weeks remaining in the fantasy baseball season, it\u2019s all about attacking categories. Utilizing two-start pitchers can be a great way to boost our strikeout and win columns. However, we need to be selective about which two-steppers we choose, as they can also sink our ratios. As the season winds down, team context becomes even more critical in determining which two-start pitcher we roll with. If you\u2019re chasing strikeouts, but need to be conservative with ERA or WHIP, now is not the time to mess around with mediocre starters who can rock your ratios. Conversely, if you don\u2019t need to protect your ratios, you may be more willing to take a chance on dicier arms in a grab for strikeouts or wins.<\/p>\n
This weekly write-up<\/a> helps determine the best two-start pitchers of the week. Some two-starters are easy calls, while others require more thought. To help you decide, I rank the two-steppers into tiers, along with brief notes on each player.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that starting rotations often aren\u2019t finalized until late in the weekend. As this write-up gets submitted on Saturday, you\u2019ll want to check the league\u2019s latest schedule of probable pitchers to make sure you\u2019re up to date with the correct starters. With that, let\u2019s look at the two-start pitchers for Week 25.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t Overthink These Two-Start Pitchers<\/p>\n These are your set-it-and-forget-it arms for the week. Most are elite starting pitchers with strong matchups.<\/p>\n Garrett Crochet (SP \u2014 BOS)<\/p>\n First Start: @ ATH Logan Webb (SP \u2014 SFG)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. ARI Nick Lodolo (SP \u2014 CIN)<\/p>\n First Start: @ SDP Bryan Woo (SP \u2014 SEA)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. STL Shota Imanaga (SP \u2014 CHC)<\/p>\n First Start: @ ATL Roll With These Two-Start Pitchers<\/p>\n These are solid two-starters for the week. While they come with more risk than the arms above, you\u2019re likely rolling with these two-steppers in Week 25.<\/p>\n George Kirby (SP \u2014 SEA)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. STL Luis Morales (SP \u2014 ATH)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. BOS Ryan Bergert (SP \u2014 KCR)<\/p>\n First Start: @ CLE Yu Darvish (SP \u2014 SDP)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. CIN How Lucky Do You Feel About These Two-Start Pitchers?<\/p>\n This is the tier of tough decisions, with most of these two-start options best suited for 15-team leagues. These are primarily riskier starters who could bloat your ratios if things go south. Tread carefully.<\/p>\n Cade Cavalli (SP \u2014 WAS)<\/p>\n First Start: @ MIA Jose Quintana (SP \u2014 MIL)<\/p>\n First Start: @ TEX Sean Manaea (SP \u2014 NYM)<\/p>\n First Start: @ PHI Jose Berrios (SP \u2014 TOR)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. HOU Yoendrys Gomez (SP \u2014 CWS)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. TBR Nabil Crismatt (SP \u2014 ARI)<\/p>\n First Start: @ SFG Forget About These Two-Start Pitchers<\/p>\n This tier is pretty straightforward. If you roll with these two-start pitchers, you\u2019re playing with fire. Fuhgeddaboudit!<\/p>\n Eury Perez (SP \u2014 MIA)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. WAS Joey Wentz (SP \u2014 ATL)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. CHC Will Warren (SP \u2014 NYY)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. DET Aaron Nola (SP \u2014 PHI)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. NYM Noah Cameron (SP \u2014 KCR)<\/p>\n First Start: @ CLE Adrian Houser (SP \u2014 TBR)<\/p>\n First Start: @ CWS Slade Cecconi (SP \u2014 CLE)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. KCR Kyle Hendricks (SP \u2014 LAA)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. MIN Simeon Woods Richardson (SP \u2014 MIN)<\/p>\n First Start: @ LAA Janson Junk (SP \u2014 MIA)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. WAS Miles Mikolas (SP \u2014 STL)<\/p>\n First Start: @ SEA German Marquez (SP \u2014 COL)<\/p>\n First Start: @ LAD Mitchell Parker (SP \u2014 WAS)<\/p>\n First Start: @ MIA Caden Dana (SP \u2014 LAA)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. MIN Jacob Latz (SP \u2014 TEX)<\/p>\n First Start: vs. MIL Sawyer Gipson-Long (SP \u2014 DET)<\/p>\n First Start: @ NYY Chase Dollander (SP \u2014 COL)<\/p>\n First Start: @ LAD Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we\u2019re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn\u2019t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sport: MLB With three weeks remaining in the fantasy baseball season, it\u2019s all about attacking categories. Utilizing two-start…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":125415,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[558],"tags":[87932,64,63,591,85],"class_list":["post-125414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-2025-two-start-pitchers","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125414"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125414\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Second Start: vs. NYY
Garrett Crochet is coming off his worst start of the season, surrendering a whopping four long balls and seven earned runs against the Guardians. Consider this an outlier start, and move on. Crochet will look to rebound against the Athletics, and while his two-step isn\u2019t the easiest, he\u2019s still a must-start ace.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. LAD
Logan Weeb had a bumpy July, but it\u2019s been smooth sailing since August. He\u2019s flexing a 2.65 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in his last six starts (37.1 IP) with 39 punchouts and a 62.1% ground ball rate. It\u2019s all systems go for Webb this week.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ ATH
Nick Lodolo is rocking a 2.60 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in five second-half starts. He\u2019s also mowing down batters with a 13.2% swinging-strike rate. Lodolo is an easy set-it-and-forget-it arm.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. LAA
Bryan Woo is coming off a down start, but has a prime opportunity to bounce back this week. He gets a favorable two-step, as both the Cardinals and Angels are bottom-three in OPS against righties since August. Start Woo with confidence in shallow formats.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. TBR
Shota Imanaga has looked sharp of late. Since the beginning of August, he\u2019s limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in all of his last six starts. He\u2019s sporting a 2.93 ERA (3.88 SIERA) and 0.76 WHIP in that 40-inning stretch with 34 strikeouts. The Ks are on the lighter side, but Imanaga is a nice start if you\u2019re chasing WHIP and wins, and is a strong bet to pick up a quality start or two.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. LAA
The Rays pummeled George Kirby in his latest start to the tune of seven earned runs across two innings. Surprisingly, it was the second seven-run game that Kirby allowed in his last four starts. Yeesh. However, he\u2019s too good of an arm to leave on the bench for a two-step \u2014 especially when both matchups are at home and against mediocre offenses. Fire up Kirby as usual.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. CIN
Luis Morales has killed it since entering the rotation. In five starts, he\u2019s sporting a 1.37 ERA (3.63 SIERA) and 0.91 WHIP with a more than healthy 29.4% strikeout rate. Luck has played a part, as Morales stranded 94% of runners and posted a .200 BABIP in this stretch. However, Morales still makes a solid play in shallow formats if you\u2019re chasing Ks, despite a tough matchup against the Red Sox.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ PHI
Ryan Bergert has been nothing short of impressive this season. He\u2019s limited opponents to three runs or fewer in all of his 13 starts, while fanning a batter per inning. His 10.9% walk rate isn\u2019t ideal, but Bergert has been great at curbing hits, sporting a 1.14 WHIP as a result. Bergert\u2019s start against the Phillies could be tricky, but he\u2019s become a weekly must-start at this point.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. COL
Yu Darvish has been dealing the Ks recently. He boosted his strikeout rate from 17.5% in his first five starts to 27% in his last six starts. He\u2019s also rocking a 1.04 WHIP in that 28-inning stretch. Darvish\u2019s 5.14 ERA is less than ideal, but it comes with a much more palatable 3.67 SIERA. Darvish gets an appealing two-step this week with two home starts against mediocre-at-best offenses. He\u2019s a solid play in all formats in Week 25.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. PIT
Cade Cavalli is coming off a nice bounce-back game against the Marlins, firing off five innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts. A rematch is on tap this week, along with a friendly matchup against the Pirates. There\u2019s some ratio risk with Cavalli, but he\u2019s a solid option if you\u2019re chasing strikeouts (8.49 K\/9) in 15-teamers.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. STL
If you\u2019re chasing wins, Jose Quintana isn\u2019t a bad option. He\u2019s limited opponents to three earned runs or less in seven of his nine second-half starts, posting a 4.35 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 49.2 innings with 35 Ks. The strikeouts aren\u2019t there, but the opposing matchups this week aren\u2019t too scary, and Quintana shouldn\u2019t torpedo the ratios.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. TEX
If you need strikeouts and don\u2019t care about your ratios, Sean Manaea is your man. He\u2019s rocking a 28.5% strikeout rate over his last six starts (27.2 IP) to go with a 7.81 ERA (3.05 SIERA) and 1.48 WHIP. Team context is key here.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. BAL
We know who Jose Berrios is at this point \u2014 a 4.00 ERA and 1.30 talent who strikes out batters at a 20% clip. And while he\u2019s typically an innings eater, it\u2019s worth noting that Berrios has only made it to the sixth inning twice in eight of his second-half starts. But the win opportunity is there, making Berrios a decent two-start option in 15-teamers this week.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ CLE
Yoendrys Gomez has been solid in his five starts this year, posting a 3.42 ERA (4.24 SIERA) and 1.31 WHIP across 23.2 frames. We also can\u2019t complain about a 25.5% strikeout rate in that stretch. While Gomez doesn\u2019t pitch deep into games, he\u2019s a decent option in deeper formats if you\u2019re in the market for Ks. His two-start is more favorable than not, and he shouldn\u2019t kill your ratios. You may even walk away with a win.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ MIN
In deeper leagues, Nabil Crismatt could prove helpful. Over four appearances (three starts), he\u2019s sporting a 2.14 ERA (4.57 SIERA) and 1.33 WHIP with 14 strikeouts over 21 frames. The Ks aren\u2019t there, but if you\u2019re in the hunt for wins, Crismatt could do you a solid without killing your ratios.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. DET
It\u2019s tough to recommend Eury Perez this week. He\u2019s coming off two brutal starts where he allowed a combined 12 earned runs and four homers across 4.2 innings with a 2:3 K:BB. One of those starts was against the Nationals, who Perez faces again this week. He then finishes the week with a matchup against a tricky Tigers team. It\u2019s best to exercise caution with Perez, as he could submarine your ratios.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. HOU
In nine starts since moving to the rotation, Joey Wentz maintains 4.14 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 41 strikeouts across 45.2 innings. While that plays, Wentz struggles against formidable opponents, which is what he faces with the Cubs and Astros in Week 25. Wentz is a decent-ish option if you\u2019re hunting Ks. But it\u2019s a risky move, as both starts could go sideways.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ BOS
Since August, Will Warren has posted a 2.97 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across six starts (30.1 IP) with a 25:9 K:BB. However, a 4.55 xFIP and 4.44 SIERA indicate he\u2019s been lucky. With a tough two-step on deck, regression could hit this week \u2014 especially since Warren allowed at least four earned runs in both of his previous starts against the Red Sox this year. There\u2019s some win upside here, but I\u2019d tread carefully here if you can\u2019t afford a ratio hit.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. KCR
Aaron Nola has surrendered at least four earned runs in three of his four starts since returning from the IL. While he still struck out a batter per inning in that 19.1-inning stretch, he also posted an elevated 8.38 ERA (4.15 SIERA) and 1.50 WHIP. Both the Mets and Royals have been top-eight in OPS against righties since August. Nola is a risky play this week.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ PHI
It looks like Noah Cameron has hit a wall. His strikeouts are down and his walks are up, which is not what we want to see. In his last five starts, Cameron registered an unappealing 14.2% strikeout rate and 10.6% walk rate, as well as a 4.21 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. While his ERA may not seem like a deal-breaker, it comes with a 5.27 xFIP and 5.54 SIERA. Cameron\u2019s matchup against the Guardians could be fine, but the Phillies could be another story. I don\u2019t see much reward here, especially if Cameron is fading down the stretch.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ CHC
Adrian Houser has been pretty underwhelming since his trade to Tampa Bay. He\u2019s allowed at least four earned runs in four of six starts with the Rays to go with a 27:10 K:BB across 33 innings. Houser\u2019s 18.5% strikeout rate in that stretch doesn\u2019t move the needle, either. He\u2019s best left on the bench for his Chicago two-step.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. CWS
Slade Cecconi has coughed up 5+ earned runs in three of his last five starts. One of those poor starts came against the White Sox, which Cecconi will face this week. There\u2019s not a lot of warm and fuzzies here.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ SEA
Elevated ratios and low strikeouts aren\u2019t what we want from our two-steppers. But if you\u2019re in the market for wins, Kyle Hendricks could snag one this week. Just make sure you don\u2019t need to protect your ratios.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. ARI
Control issues have plagued Simeon Woods Richardson of late. He issued 12 walks over his last four starts (16 IP), fueling a 1.71 WHIP and 7.16 ERA (5.59 SIERA). While Woods Richardson still fanned a batter per inning, the risk outweighs the reward here. Woods Richardson should be on the bench this week.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. DET
Jansen Junk will be activated following a 15-day stint on the IL with an elbow injury, which is reason enough to avoid him this week. But if that doesn\u2019t sway you, his 5.97 ERA (4.72 SIERA), 1.30 WHIP and 14.6% strikeout rate over seven second-half starts should do the trick.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ MIL
Miles Mikolas offers little fantasy juice with a 14.7% strikeout rate. Plus, the Mariners and Brewers aren\u2019t ideal teams to stream against.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ SDP
German Marquez offers bloated ratios to go with a 6.27 K\/9 and 3.43 BB\/9. That\u2019s not gonna cut it against the Dodgers and Padres this week. Plus, we don\u2019t start Rockies pitchers in two-steps.<\/p>\n
Second Start: vs. PIT
On paper, Mitchell Parker\u2019s two-step is appealing. But we can\u2019t trust Parker in our lineups. He holds a 9.28 ERA (4.99 SIERA) and 1.72 WHIP over his last seven starts (32 IP) with a 7.9% K-BB. Blegh. Ugly stats and little win opportunity? No, thank you.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ SEA
I\u2019m not wild about rolling with a pitcher who has only one big-league start under his belt this season. Plus, a 5.05 BB\/9 across 18 starts in Triple-A this year doesn\u2019t help Caden Dana\u2019s case.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ NYM
Jacob Latz is an easy fade this week. He\u2019s a bullpen arm with an 11% walk rate on the year (68.2 IP). Not to mention, he gets a brutal two-step against the Brewers and Mets this week.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ MIA
You don\u2019t want to mess around by putting Sawyer Gipson-Long into your lineup. He\u2019s still being stretched out and faces the Yankees at the start of the week. There are better two-start options.<\/p>\n
Second Start: @ SDP
Chase Dollander struggles with control (4.55 BB\/9) and brings elevated ratios to the fantasy table. He\u2019s an easy no-go in Week 25.<\/p>\n