Here are the pitchers slated for two starts for the week beginning Monday, April 1. Keep in mind these are subject to change.
TOTAL GAMES
American League
5: CHW, KC, MIN, SEA
6: BAL, CLE, DET, HOU, LAA, NYY, TB
7: BOS, OAK, TEX, TOR
National League
5: PHI, STL, WAS
6: ARI, ATL, CHC, COL, LAD, MIA, MIL, NYM, PIT, SD, SF
7: CIN
ACES
- Mike Clevinger (Indians) vs. CWS, vs. TOR
- David Price (Red Sox) @OAK, @ARI
- Jose Berrios (Twins) @KC, @PHI
- Chris Sale (Red Sox) @OAK, @ARI
GREEN LIGHT
Chris Archer (Pirates) vs. STL, vs. CIN
Archer constantly underperforms his peripherals but gets a lot of strikeouts. He doesn’t get easy matchups, but if you drafted him, you aren’t sitting him out of the gate.
Anthony DeSclafani (Reds) vs. MIL, @PIT
He’s not a must-start, but in deeper formats, he’s in play. The Brewers will be tough, but the Pirates are a good matchup. DeSclafani had a 22.3 percent strikeout rate and 6.2 percent walk rate last season, but a 1.88 HR/9 was the problem
Domingo German (Yankees) vs. DET, @BAL
German pitched in 21 games, including 14 starts for the Yankees last season and was erratic. He has a good arm and couldn’t ask for two better matchups.
Kyle Hendricks (Cubs) @ATL, @MIL
A mechanical flaw was discovered on video last season after Hendricks struggled to begin the season. He had a 2.84 ERA over his final 88.2 innings. The matchups aren’t ideal, but he’s in most lineups.
Brad Keller (Royals) vs. MIN, @DET
Keller pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed two hits, one walk and struck out five in the opener against the White Sox in a win. The wins will be difficult for Keller, but a matchup in Detroit is favorable.
Steven Matz (Mets) @MIA, vs. WAS
Matz made 30 starts last season and was solid. Health is the biggest issue for Matz, and he’s healthy now. A matchup in Miami helps.
Brad Peacock (Astros) @TEX, vs. OAK
Peacock is back as a starter after pitching out of the bullpen last season. He’s shown he can succeed as a starter back in 2017 when he went 10-2 with a 3.22 ERA and a 10.9 K/9 in 111.2 innings.
Anibal Sanchez (Nationals) vs. PHI, @NYM
Sanchez added a cutter last season and was one of the biggest surprises. He had a 2.83 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 136.2 innings and will make his debut with the Nationals.
Caleb Smith (Marlins) vs. NYM, @ATL
The Marlins are a bad team, but they have some solid starting pitchers, including Smith. He has a good changeup and slider and had a 27 percent strikeout rate last season.
Matt Strahm (Padres) vs. ARI, @STL
I drafted Strahm in many leagues and will roll with him this week. The Cardinals will be tough, but Strahm looked great in the spring with a 25:5 K:BB ratio in 20 innings while allowing five runs in the spring.
Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays) vs. BAL, @CLE
Stroman threw seven scoreless innings in the opener, although it was against the Tigers. He walked four and struck out seven. He has two great matchups.
Julio Urias (Dodgers) vs. SF, @COL
Talk about a stark contrast with a great matchup against the weak-hitting Giants and then a start at Coors Field. Urias threw four perfect innings with four strikeouts in his final spring start. He struck out 15 in 15.2 innings with a 1.72 ERA in the spring.
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RED LIGHT
Chad Bettis (Rockies) @TB, vs. LAD
Aaron Brooks (Athletics) vs. BOS, @HOU
Andrew Cashner (Orioles) @TOR, vs. NYY
Zach Davies (Brewers) @CIN, vs. CHC
Mike Fiers (Athletics) vs. BOS, @HOU
Merrill Kelly (Diamondbacks) @SD, vs. BOS
Tyler Mahle (Reds) vs. MIL, @PIT
Shelby Miller (Rangers) vs. HOU, @LAA
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Sean Newcomb (Braves) vs. CHC, vs. MIA
While the Marlins are a favorable matchup, it is difficult to back a pitcher with an 11.6 percent walk rate last season, and it was a problem in the minors, too.
Ivan Nova (White Sox) @CLE, vs. SEA
Drew Pomeranz (Giants) @LAD, vs. TB
Pomeranz is someone to monitor. He has pitched well in the past and moves to an excellent environment for pitchers. He wasn’t healthy last season, and the velocity was down, but he struck out 15 in 16 spring innings.
Clayton Richard (Blue Jays) vs. BAL, @CLE
Tyson Ross (Tigers) @NYY, vs. KC
Drew Smyly (Rangers) vs. HOU, @LAA
Chris Stratton (Angels) @SEA, vs. TEX
