In poker a pair of aces is nowhere near the best hand, but on the diamond a pair of aces can lead a team to the promise land. The old adage is pitching and defense wins championships and good pitching always beats good hitting. The one thing better then having an ace of a staff is having two.

In the 90’s the Atlanta Braves were well known for having two and sometimes three aces in Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. The trio led Atlanta to yearly division titles, personal accolades, and a world championship. The 2001 season saw the Arizona Diamondbacks enjoy a season headlined by one of the most dominant duos ever in Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. The two only combined for 52 wins regular season and post season, a CY Young, co Sportsman of the Year, and co World Series MVP’s. In short, that is not too shabby.

Currently, the top ten pitching duos are:

#10 – Atlanta Tim Hudson and Mike Minor. Hudson is the elder ace who is still getting the job done. He will eat up innings and touch that 15 win mark. Minor is up and coming and seems to be finding his stride toward the end of last year and starting off this season. They also have a third wheel in Paul Maholm whose 2013 is on a good start.

#9 – Chicago White Sox Chris Sale and Jake Peavy. They are another duo featuring a veteran and youngster. Both are capable of racking up strikeouts and dominant starts. However, there is the occasional DL stint or rough outing.

#8 – Los Angeles Angels Jered Weaver and CJ Wilson. Both have been very consistent and productive. However, walk rates are subpar and strikeout rates are middle of the road.

#7 – Tampa Bay David Price and Matt Moore. Together they are two young guns with great out pitches that throw from the left side. Price is a yearly CY Young contender and Moore has yet to allow a run in 2013.

#6 – Boston Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. Both have high potential that is waiting to be tapped. Injuries have held back both at times but 2013 could finally be the year. They both had excellent springs and are a combined 4-0 thus far this season.

#5 – Detroit Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. If you are a hitter, close your eyes and swing early. Both have well above average fastballs and dominate the strikeout leader board. They both also collect a ton of innings and can save a bullpen.

#4 – Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Both are CY Young winners that do not lose on their home mound. Each is capable of building long winning streaks and carrying the team for the night.

#3 – Philadelphia Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. Suddenly this duo is seemingly under the radar within the division. They are two left hand pitchers with the x factor of pitching well in the post season. They are two trustworthy guys come late in the season and in October.

#2 – San Francisco Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. The Giants earn the 1990’s Atlanta Brave award as it is not just a duo. These two are also complimented with Ryan Vogelsong, Tim Lincecum, and a resurgent Barry Zito. The offense does not need to score a ton of runs when any of them take the mound as they are all capable of winning 1-0 games. They all can be stoppers in their own way and it is the most balanced rotation top to bottom.

#1 – Washington Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg. This is the duo that could most rival the 2001 Diamondbacks. This season each is likely to be in the CY Young running and at the top of all major pitching categories. The one question remains, can they pitch in October?

The pitching duo most likely to be next on this list comes out of New York. Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler are young and ready to help the Mets contend. Harvey is off to a blistering start in 2013 looking like an up and coming ace. Wheeler is the pitcher that was apart of the Carlos Beltran trade a few seasons ago. He is likely to join the big club sometime this year and is one of the top prospects in all of baseball.

Each of these teams has the ability to avoid long losing streaks and stay in contention thanks to these duos. Aces are wild. Shuffle up and deal.

This week’s AL two-start hurlers feature a pair of lefty aces, a handful of decent options and not much else.

Here are the AL two-start pitchers and other favorable matchups for Week 12:

Two-Start Pitchers

No-Brainers

C.C. Sabathia:  6/18 vs ATL; 6/24 @ NYM – His numbers aren’t as strong as last year, but still one of the best in the AL

David Price: 6/19 @ WAS; 6/24 @ PHI – gave up 7 ER in just 5 IP last time out, but still a must start

Results

Week 10 -4 GS, 2 QS, 2 W, 22.1 IP, 35 H+BB, 12 K’s, 12 ER, 4.84 ERA, 1.57 whip

YTD – 56 GS, 36 QS, 30 W, 365.2 IP, 468 H+BB, 302 K’s, 141 ER, 3.47 ERA, 1.28 whip

Not Too Shabby

Clay Buchholz: 6/19 vs MIA; 6/24 vs ATL – seems to be rolling with 4 straight starts of 7+ IP and 2 or fewer ER

Matt Harrison: 6/18 @ SD; 6/24 vs COL – 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA in last 5 starts and gets two favorable matchups to boot

Jake Peavy: 6/18 vs CHC; 6/24 vs MIL – has given up more than 3 ER only twice in his 13 starts

Tommy Milone: 6/19 vs LAD; 6/24 vs SF – a couple rough outings hasn’t scared me off, yet

Jerome Williams: 6/18 vs SF; 6/24 vs LAD – 3.84 ERA as a starter this year (11 starts)

Scott Diamond: 6/19 @ PIT; 6/24 @ CIN – has an excellent 29/6 K/BB ratio to go along with 2.13 ERA

Results

Week 10 – 17 GS, 5 QS, 5 W, 93.0 IP, 145 H+BB, 89 K’s, 66 ER, 6.39 ERA, 1.56 whip

YTD – 166 GS, 91 QS, 69 W, 1006.0 IP, 1353 H+BB, 771 K’s, 473 ER, 4.23 ERA, 1.34 whip

Risky at Best

Rick Porcello: 6/19 vs STL; 6/24 @ PIT – has a 5.18 ERA and won’t give you wins (just 4) or K’s (only 44)

Jonathan Sanchez: 6/18 @ HOU; 6/24 vs STL – occasional flashes of brilliance are overshadowed by poor outings

Jake Arrieta: 6/18 @ NYM; 6/24 vs WAS – could be good someday, just not there yet

Hector Noesi: 6/18 vs ARI; 6/24 @ SD – maybe Petco can help him keep the ball in the park (15 HR’s allowed), but I wouldn’t bet on it

Results

Week 10 – 6 GS, 2 QS, 2 W, 32.2 IP, 47 H+BB, 25 K’s, 21 ER, 5.79 ERA, 1.44 whip

YTD – 81 GS, 32 QS, 22 W, 438.1 IP, 659 H+BB, 300 K’s, 268 ER, 5.50 ERA, 1.50 whip

Other Favorable Matchups (<50% owned)

Vin Mazzaro (3% owned):  6/20 @ HOU

Has a 1.80 ERA in last 3 starts (2.57 on the season) and faces the Astros and Jordan Lyles

Kevin Millwood (18% owned): 6/21 @ SD

Has a 1.98 ERA on the season and gets to pitch in Petco

Jose Quintana (6% owned): 6/22 vs MIL

Also has a 1.98 ERA on the season and a strong minor league track record

Results

Week 10 -4 GS, 0 QS, 0 W, 20.2 IP, 38 H+BB, 14 K’s, 23 ER, 10.02 ERA, 1.84 whip

YTD -30 GS, 13 QS, 7 W, 188.2 IP, 258 H+BB, 149 K’s, 96 ER, 4.58 ERA, 1.37 whip

See ya next week.

Like their NL counterparts, the AL also has a full slate of games for all its teams, giving you numerous two-start choices for the week.

Here are the Week 7 two-start pitchers and favorable matchups:

Two-Start Pitchers

No-Brainers

C.C. Sabathia: 5/15 @ BAL; 5/20 vs CIN – he’s 16-2 with a 2.86 ERA against the Orioles and 4-1 and 2.33 against the Reds.  Oh, and he’s an ace.

David Price: 5/15 @ TOR; 5/20 vs ATL – Tampa ace is pitching well, despite hiccup against the Yankees

Jake Peavy: 5/15 vs DET; 5/20 @ CHC – starting to remind many of the Peavy of old

No-brainers results

Week 5 – 6 GS, 6 QS, 4 W, 44.1 IP, 43 H+BB, 51 K’s, 10 ER, 2.03 ERA, 0.97 whip

YTD – 29 GS, 22 QS, 18 W, 204.1 IP, 227 H+BB, 173 K’s, 58 ER, 2.56 ERA, 1.11 whip

Not Too Shabby

Jon Lester: 5/14 vs SEA; 5/19 @ PHI – Phillies are struggling without Chase Utley & Ryan Howard, Mariners still can’t hit

Dan Haren: 5/14 vs OAK; 5/19 @ SD – back troubles may push back his 5/14 start, but has two good matchups if he goes

Brandon Morrow: 5/14 vs TB; 5/19 vs NYM – has won 4 straight

Ervin Santana: 5/15 vs OAK; 5/20 @ SD – two weak teams against a good starter

Josh Beckett: 5/15 vs SEA; 5/20 @ PHI – only two good matchups keep him from being dropped a level

Max Scherzer: 5/15 @ CHW; 5/20 vs PIT – two straight quality starts and two favorable matchups

Colby Lewis: 5/15 vs KC; 5/20 @ HOU – amazing 43/6 K/BB ratio

John Danks: 5/14 vs DET; 5/19 @ CHC – pitched well last time out and has a favorable matchup against the Cubs

Ivan Nova: 5/14 @ BAL; 5/19 vs CIN – has been inconsistent so far this year, but has strong offense behind him

Henderson Alvarez:  5/15 vs TB; 5/20 vs NYM – 2.61 ERA despite just 14 K’s in 48.1 IP

Jason Vargas: 5/15 @ BOS; 5/20 @ COL – tough matchups including a trip to Coors, but only 2 ER in last two starts

Jeff Niemann: 5/14 @ TOR; 5/19 vs ATL – pitching well, just needs some more run support

Wei-Yin Chen: 5/15 vs NYY; 5/20 @ WAS – 3-0 with a 2.68 ERA so far this year

Derek Lowe: 5/15 @ MIN; 5/20 vs MIA – 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA despite an unsightly 1.51 whip–sinker must be working

Bartolo Colon: 5/15 @ LAA; 5/20 @ SF – old man river just keeps on rolling

Jeanmar Gomez: 5/14 @ MIN; 5/19 vs MIA – only one bad start this year, unfortunately it was his last one

Jason Hammel:  5/14 vs NYY; 5/19 @ WAS – is this the year he finally puts it all together?

Drew Smyly: 5/14 @ CHW; 5/19 vs PIT – only 1 win despite a 1.59 ERA

Not too shabby results:

Week 5 – 15 GS, 6 QS, 7 W, 82.0 IP, 124 H+BB; 63 K’s, 47 ER, 5.16 ERA, 1.51 whip

YTD – 63 GS, 38 QS, 28 W, 391.0 IP, 497 H+BB, 282 K’s, 161 ER, 3.71 ERA, 1.27 whip

Risky at Best

Carl Pavano: 5/14 vs CLE; 5/19 @ MIL – they don’t call them the decline years for nothing

Bruce Chen: 5/15 @ TEX; 5/20 vs ARI – how many times are you allowed to intentionally walk Josh Hamilton?

Kevin Millwood: 5/14 @ BOS; 5/19 @ COL – 37 year pitcher in decline with two bad matchups, stay away

Jason Marquis: 5/15 vs CLE; 5/20 @ MIL – unless you want to obliterate your ERA and whip, stay away

Risky at best results

Week 5 – 14 GS, 5 QS, 4 W, 76.1 IP, 115 H+BB, 56 K’s, 53 ER, 6.25 ERA, 1.51 whip

YTD – 49 GS, 19 QS, 12 W, 266.1 IP, 403 H+BB, 184 K’s, 159 ER, 5.37 ERA, 1.51 whip

Other Favorable Matchups

Rick Porcello: 5/16 vs MIN

6-4 with a 2.86 ERA in his career against the Twins

Derek Holland: 5/16 vs OAK

3-1 with a 1.91 ERA against the A’s and they are even worse this year

C.J. Wilson: 5/17 vs CHW

3-0 with a 2.92 ERA against the White Sox

Joe Saunders: 5/18 @ KC

4-0 with a 2.57 ERA against the Royals

Cole Hamels: 5/18 vs BOS

3-0 with a 1.44 ERA against the Red Sox

Other favorable matchups results

Week 5 – 4 GS, 2 QS, 2 W, 27.2 IP, 33 H+BB, 20 K’s, 13 ER, 4.23 ERA, 1.19 whip

YTD – 13 GS, 8 QS, 5 W, 90.1 IP, 106 H+BB, 79 K’s, 33 ER, 3.29 ERA, 1.17 whip

That’s all for this week.  Until next week, let the pitching Gods be with you.

April 23, 2012: Jake Peavy pitched a three-hit shutout in leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victroy over the Oakland Athletics. He struck out five, walked two and extended his scoreless innings streak to 14 innings. It was the sixth shutout performance of his career.

Line: 9 IP | 3 H | 0 ER | 2 BB | 5 K; W (3-0) | QS | CG | SHO

My fantasy perspective: Peavy is turning out to be a major fantasy baseball bargain through the early part of the 2012 season. Check out these ADP (Average Draft Position) numbers for him in the “big three” of fantasy baseball leagues: ESPN (224.6); Yahoo! (240.1); CBS (210.66). He’s currently the top-rated starting pitcher according to ESPN’s Player Rater tool.

In four starts, Peavy has put up these great numbers in 28.2 innings pitches: 3-0 record; 1.88 ERA; 0.73 WHIP; .172 BAA; 8.16 K/9; 6.50 K/BB; 4-f0r-4 Quality Starts. If (BIG IF) he continues to stay healthy in 2012, there’s no reason to doubt these numbers are for real and savvy fantasy owners who used a late round draft pick or were quick to pick him up off waivers should continue to reap the rewards.

Agree with my pick? Disagree? Check out ESPN’s formula for determining the best daily performances and nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section below and/or hitting me up on Twitter @DJAubain.

With 3 weeks in the books, we are starting to get a feel for which teams have good offenses (Texas, Yankees, Cleveland and Toronto) and which do not (Oakland, Kansas City, Seattle and Minnesota). So, for those of you playing the matchups by team, take note.

Here’s the rundown of the AL 2 start pitchers and those with favorable matchups:

Two Start Pitchers

No-Brainers

David Price:  4/24 vs LAA; 4/29 @ TEX – tough matchup against Texas, but he’s still an ace

Derek Holland: 4/23 vs NYY; 4/29 vs TB – quietly becoming one of the best pitchers in the AL

Jon Lester:  4/23 @ MIN; 4/28 @ CHW – quality pitcher against two weak teams

Not too shabby

Josh Beckett: 4/24 @ MIN; 4/29 @ CHW – like Lester, Beckett benefits from facing two weak teams

Jake Peavy: 4/23 @ OAK; 4/28 vs BOS – is he really back?  How he does against Boston could provide some answers

Gavin Floyd: 4/24 @ OAK; 4/29 vs BOS – maddingly inconsistent pitcher has good matchup against Oakland

Derek Lowe: 4/24 vs KC; 4/29 vs LAA – benefits from favorable matchup against KC

Max Scherzer: 4/24 vs SEA; 4/29 @ NYY – faces one of the worst and one of the best offenses

Bruce Chen: 4/23 vs TOR; 4/28 @ MIN – has started the season strong and faces a weak Minnesota team

Ervin Santana: 4/24 @ TB; 4/29 @ CLE – a couple tough matchups, but keep the faith

Hiroki Kuroda: 4/23 @ TEX; 4/29 vs DET – he’s better than he’s shown, but has two formidable foes

Bartolo Colon: 4/23 vs CHW; 4/29 @ BAL – it may be all smoke and mirrors, but ride him while you can

Jason Vargas: 4/24 @ DET; 4/29 @ TOR – has pitched well, but has tough matchups

Brandon Morrow: 4/23 @ KC; 4/28 vs SEA – should fare well against light hitting Royals and Mariners

Henderson Alvarez: 4/24 @ BAL; 4/29 vs SEA – Orioles lead AL in strikeouts, Mariners are 13th in average

Risky at best

Jason Marquis: 4/23 vs BOS; 4/29 vs KC – he has a career 4.56 ERA in the (weaker) NL

Tommy Hunter: 4/24 vs TOR; 4/29 vs OAK – unproven and has to face a tough Toronto team

Other Favorable Matchups

C.J. Wilson: 4/25 @ TB

The $77.5 million man is 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in career against Tampa

Felix Hernandez: 4/25 vs DET

Detroit can hit, but Felix is 8-2 with a 2.79 career ERA against Detroit