Here are how I see the two-start pitchers for Week 2. Green light obviously means I like them and red light means I don’t like them this week.
GREEN LIGHT
Chase Anderson (Brewers) vs. STL, vs. CHC
Anderson threw six scoreless innings on Opening Day, allowing one hit, three walks and struck out six against the Padres. He had a 2.74 ERA with a 23.4 percent strikeout rate. The matchup against the Cubs is tough, but he’s in play.
Matt Boyd (Tigers) vs. KC, @CWS
Boyd made some adjustments late in the season and finished with a 2.95 ERA and a 30:11 K:BB ratio in 36.2 innings in the final month. The matchups are appealing, and Boyd is a solid streamer.
Dylan Bundy (Orioles) @HOU, @NYY
Bundy looked excellent in his season debut, striking out seven in seven scoreless innings against the Twins. He has two of the worst matchups this week, so I could understand those that have trepidation.
Tyler Chatwood (Cubs) @CIN, @MIL
Mike Clevinger (Indians) @LAA, vs. KC
Clevinger had a 2.84 ERA with a 126:54 K:BB ratio in 114 innings as a starter last season. He’s an arm I targeted in my drafts.
Matt Harvey (Mets) vs. PHI, @WAS
Harvey showed more velocity in the spring and did get some strikeouts. The second matchup against the Nationals is daunting, so if you’re conservative, it’s not the worst thing to see him perform before getting him in lineups, especially in shallow formats.
Jakob Junis (Royals) @DET, @CLE
Junis had a strong spring, and after a bad first half in 2017, Junis had a 3.55 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 52:9 K:BB ratio in 63.1 innings in the second half. He has one good matchup and a tough one.
Lance Lynn (Twins) @PIT, vs. SEA
Lynn looked sharp in the spring and got a start in the National League in which he gets to face the pitcher.
Miles Mikolas (Cardinals) @MIL, vs. ARI
It’s difficult to know what to expect from Mikolas early on. After a difficult start in the spring, he ended pitching well.
Jordan Montgomery (Yankees) vs. TB, vs. BAL
Montgomery had a solid rookie season last year with a 3.88 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He’s going to get a lot of run support and doesn’t need to do much to win games.
Charlie Morton (Astros) vs. BAL, vs. SD
Morton put things together last season, and when he’s healthy, he will be a good Fantasy pitcher. He had 14 wins, a 3.62 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and a 26.4 percent strikeout rate. He has two good matchups.
Tanner Roark (Nationals) @ATL, vs. NYM
Hyun-Jin Ryu (Dodgers) @ARI, @SF
Ryu is solid when he’s healthy, and he is for now and has a favorable matchup on the road against the Giants.
Jameson Taillon (Pirates) vs. MIN, vs. CIN
Taillon has been slowed by injuries and then had testicular cancer last season. Give him a lot of credit for making it back last season. He has a good arm, and I expect a good season.
Taijuan Walker (Diamondbacks) vs. LAD, @STL
Walker had a 3.49 ERA last season and was better on the road with a 2.92 ERA. If the humidor does decrease the offense, Walker will benefit since he had a 4.18 ERA at home and allowed 11 home runs in 71 innings.
RED LIGHT
Chad Bettis (Rockies) @SD, vs. ATL
Ty Blach (Giants) vs. SEA, vs. LAD
Blach had a good first start against the Dodgers with five scoreless innings, but he allows way too much contact. He has a 4.17 K/9 in 185.2 innings in the majors.
Zach Davies (Brewers) vs. STL, vs. CHC
Kyle Freeland (Rockies) @SD, vs. ATL
Jaime Garcia (Blue Jays) vs. CWS, @TEX
Marco Gonzales (Mariners) @SF, @MIN
Gonzales had a good spring, and I am tempted to use him in 15-team leagues.
Miguel Gonzalez (White Sox) @TOR, vs. DET
Daniel Gossett (A’s) vs. TEX, @LAA
Kendall Graveman (A’s) vs. TEX, @LAA
Cole Hamels (Rangers) @OAK, vs. TOR
Hamels is coming off a terrible season and struggled in his first start. While it was against the Astros, one of the best offenses in baseball, Hamels allowed four walks, three runs, and two home runs, while striking out seven. It’s tough to trust Hamels.
Brian Johnson (Red Sox) @MIA, vs. TB
Ben Lively (Phillies) @NYM, vs. MIA
Tyler Mahle (Reds) vs. CHC, @PIT
Mahle is an arm to watch, but he has a tough matchup to start against the Cubs.
Bryan Mitchell (Padres) vs. COL, @HOU
Sean Newcomb (Braves) vs. WAS, @COL
Newcomb is a good young arm with upside. In 100 innings last season, he had a 23.7 percent strikeout rate, an 11.1 percent swinging strike rate, but a 12.5 percent walk rate. He’s someone to roster in deeper formats, but matchups against the Nationals and in Coors Field means he’s on the bench.
J.C. Ramirez (Angels) vs. CLE, vs. OAK
Clayton Richard (Padres) vs. COL, @HOU
Julio Teheran (Braves) vs. WAS, @COL
He has two difficult matchups.
Chris Tillman (Orioles) @HOU, @NYY
