This week’s AL two-starters features the reigning Cy Young/MVP as well as Detroit’s other ace.
Here are the AL two-start pitchers and other favorable matchups for Week 9:
Two-Start Pitchers
No-Brainers
Justin Verlander: 5/29 @ BOS; 6/3 vs NYY – Verlander is a must-start in all leagues, even when facing these guys
Jered Weaver: 5/28 vs NYY; 6/3 vs TEX – had one bad start after his no-hitter and that was against Texas
Doug Fister: 5/28 @ BOS; 6/2 vs NYY – still looking for his first win despite a 1.84 ERA
Results
Week 6 – 6 GS, 4 QS, 2 W, 38.2 IP, 54 H+BB, 36 K’s, 17 ER, 3.96 ERA, 1.40 whip
YTD – 43 GS, 31 QS, 24 W, 289.0 IP, 349 H+BB, 243 K’s, 101 ER, 3.15 ERA, 1.21 whip
Not Too Shabby
Matt Moore: 5/28 vs CHW; 6/3 vs BAL – hasn’t lived up to the hype, but has only given up more than 3 ER twice
Phil Hughes: 5/28 vs LAA; 6/3 @ DET – seems to have turned things around in May (3.45 ERA)
Matt Harrison: 5/28 vs SEA; 6/3 @ LAA – pitched well last time out versus Mariners
Chris Sale: 5/28 @ TB; 6/3 vs SEA – on a roll (1.85 ERA in May) and gets to face the Mariners
Daniel Bard: 5/29 vs DET; 6/3 @ TOR – walks are hurting him lately (5.96 BB/9 in May), so be careful
Felix Doubront: 5/28 vs DET; 6/2 @ TOR – has been pretty consistent so far (4.09 ERA in April, 3.86 in May)
Jake Arrieta: 5/28 @ TOR; 6/3 @ TB – has an excellent 3.31 K/BB ratio, needs to cut down on HR’s allowed
Kevin Millwood: 5/28 @ TEX; 6/3 @ CHW – 3 straight quality starts for the 37 year old
Scott Diamond: 5/28 vs OAK; 6/3 @ CLE – has been a pleasant surprise so far, with a 17/3 K/BB ratio
Results
Week 6 – 36 GS, 18 QS, 15 W, 219.1 IP, 284 H+BB, 169 K’s, 91 ER, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 whip
YTD – 115 GS, 65 QS, 48 W, 708.1 IP, 924 H+BB, 522 K’s, 310 ER, 3.94 ERA, 1.30 whip
Risky at Best
Drew Hutchison: 5/28 vs BAL; 6/3 vs BOS – got knocked around last time out and faces two good hitting teams
Nathan Adcock: 5/28 @ CLE; 6/3 vs OAK – minor league numbers don’t foretell sucess
Josh Tomlin: 5/28 vs KC; 6/3 vs MIN – coming off wrist injury, needs to prove he’s healthy
Graham Godfrey: 5/28 @ MIN; 6/3 @ KC – there haven’t been very many positives so far in his major league career
Results
Week 6 – 5 GS, 3 QS, 1 W, 28.2 IP, 40 H+BB, 20 K’s, 16 ER, 5.02 ERA, 1.40 whip
YTD – 61 GS, 24 QS, 16 W, 329.0 IP, 499 H+BB, 228 K’s, 199 ER, 5.44 ERA, 1.52 whip
Other Favorable Matchups
As with the NL, I am going to be focusing on AL pitchers owned less than 50% in CBS leagues with favorable matchup for the week (for those of you who utilize “streaming”).
Jeanmar Gomez (14% owned): 5/30 vs KC
He’s 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA against the Royals in his career and 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in his last 3.
Blake Beavan (7% owned): 5/30 @ TEX
Beavan has a career 1.71 ERA against his home state team
Henderson Alvarez (49% owned): 6/1 vs BOS
Just under the threshold at 49%, Alvarez has given up only 1 ER in 12 IP against the Red Sox
P.J. Walters (10% owned): 6/1 @ CLE
Has never faced the Indians, which may work to his advantage. Is a surprising 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA on the season.
Tommy Milone (49% owned): 6/1 @ KC
Milone shut the Royals out over 8 IP the last time he faced them and is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA on the season.
Results
Week 6 – 2 GS, 0 QS, 0 W, 8.2 IP, 17 H+BB, 9 K’s, 6 ER, 6.23 ERA, 1.96 whip
YTD – 19 GS, 10 QS, 6 W, 125.2 IP, 158 H+BB, 111 K’s, 48 ER, 3.44 ERA, 1.26 whip
See ya next week.
