Justin's Two Start Pitcher Ranks - Week 2

Reviewing and ranking every two start pitching option for this week.

By Justin May · April 3, 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026

{"template":"baseball-two-start-ranks","subtitle":"Reviewing and ranking every two start pitching option for this week.","readTime":"","intro":"Reviewing and ranking every two start pitching option for this week. The tiers and explanations are below: JUST-INcredible: Aces that should be in your lineup every week JUST-INdulge: Easy starts in most leagues - don't overthink it JUST…one for me, thanks: Pitchers who I'd start for one of their games, but bench for the other start JUST-INsanity: Don't start these guys unless it's an extreme deep league desperation stream *An asterisk next to the opponent means that the pitcher is at risk of losing that start due to possible rotation adjustments, weather, etc. based on my research, so tread lightly for those. As always, starts are subject to change after the article gets posted - sadly managers don't ask me before making rotation changes. ","tiers":[{"id":"tier-1","label":"JUST-INcredible","players":[{"name":"Tarik Skubal","team":"DET","starts":"@MIN, MIA","writeup":"Tarik Skubal is the best in the game - lock it in "},{"name":"Chris Sale","team":"ATL","starts":"@LAA, CLE","writeup":"Sale is gonna feast against these lineups "},{"name":"Cole Ragans","team":"KC","starts":"@CLE, CHW*","writeup":"Two divisional matchups for Cole Ragans and he should destroy both. Only uncertainty is where they slot Wacha back into the rotation after his illness - hopefully Ragans gets both starts this week "},{"name":"Hunter Brown","team":"HOU","starts":"@COL, @SEA*","writeup":"Hate to put an asterisk on a pitcher in the article graphic, but there's a chance that the Astros move to a six-man rotation next week, pushing Hunter Brown's start back. I'm going to guess with Thursday's off day that they won't just yet, but it's coming… "},{"name":"Cam Schlittler","team":"NYY","starts":"ATH, @TB","writeup":"Schlittler has been amazing - don't think about sitting him "},{"name":"Sandy Alcantara","team":"MIA","starts":"CIN, @DET","writeup":"Ditto for Sandy - 16 scoreless innings to start the year? He's so back "},{"name":"Jacob deGrom","team":"TEX","starts":"SEA, @LAD","writeup":"Even with a matchup at Dodger Stadium looming, you're starting Jacob deGrom "},{"name":"Logan Gilbert","team":"SEA","starts":"@TEX, HOU","writeup":"Despite the rough start, Gilbert needs to be in lineups. Trust the track record "},{"name":"Joe Ryan","team":"MIN","starts":"DET, @TOR","writeup":"Not thinking twice about starting Joe Ryan, even if his last start was poor "},{"name":"Freddy Peralta","team":"NYM","starts":"ARI, ATH","writeup":"Difficult opponents for Peralta here but both at home, and a lot of whiff potential especially against the A's "},{"name":"Nick Pivetta","team":"SD","starts":"@PIT, COL","writeup":"Pivetta earns a spot in the top tier for those matchups - he should shove and rack up plenty of Ks "}]},{"id":"tier-2","label":"JUST-INdulge","players":[{"name":"Andrew Abbott","team":"CIN","starts":"@MIA, LAA*","writeup":"Abbott gets a couple of favorable matchups - small asterisk here as they could realign the rotation, but Lodolo leaving his rehab start with a blister makes it pretty likely that Abbott gets both of these starts "},{"name":"Brandon Woodruff","team":"MIL","starts":"@BOS, WSH","writeup":"Woodruff probably belongs in the ace tier. I don't really have anything to say to that aside from just start him anyway "},{"name":"Andrew Painter","team":"PHI","starts":"@SF, ARI","writeup":"Andrew Painter had a stellar debut - I loved his breaking ball command and I'm all in - gotta start for both of these matchups "},{"name":"Taj Bradley","team":"MIN","starts":"DET, @TOR","writeup":"Taj still makes me nervous despite his hot start - especially that Toronto game. I'm choosing to ignore that and ride the hot hand here "},{"name":"Jose Soriano","team":"LAA","starts":"ATL, @CIN","writeup":"A little nervous for the Braves matchup but Soriano has such a high floor because he keeps the ball on the ground - I would just roll with it "},{"name":"Ryan Pepiot","team":"TB","starts":"CHC*, NYY","writeup":"An asterisk here for Pepiot as he's not confirmed to return and start Monday's game yet - it's just speculation here. I normally avoid pitchers for their first start off IL but he hasn't been injured for long. I'd start him - It's nice that both starts are at the Trop "},{"name":"Dean Kremer","team":"BAL","starts":"@CHW*, SF*","writeup":"Kremer gets an asterisk here as he's not confirmed yet to be called up to take Zach Eflin's place in the rotation. They could go with Cade Povich instead, who would find himself in the tier below, or they could start Trevor Rogers on Monday (giving him 2 starts instead) and he would be in the ace tier if that happens. I'm thinking Kremer is the more trusted option for the O's, and they also don't want to keep him rested for too long since he was originally scheduled for Friday's start in AAA - so waiting past Monday would be pushing it. Assuming he gets these starts, Kremer is a solid innings eater so he could easily produce 2 QS in these favorable matchups "},{"name":"Casey Mize","team":"DET","starts":"@MIN, MIA","writeup":"The Marlins have been tough customers at the plate so far, and I still don't fully trust Mize - but he did shove against the Dbacks last time out, as his splitter dominated for 9 whiffs and 39% CSW. I'll just keep starting him until he gives a reason not to "},{"name":"Janson Junk","team":"MIA","starts":"CIN, @DET","writeup":"A bit of a surprise to see Janson Junk here but he showed improved stuff in his last outing and these are some decent matchups. A nice two start streamer "},{"name":"Noah Cameron","team":"KC","starts":"@CLE, CHW*","writeup":"I like these matchups for Cameron - another solid streamer as he's available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues. They could slot Wacha back in Monday and mess with his week a little bit, but that's up in the air and he still feels safe for 2 starts even if it ends up being Tuesday/Sunday instead "}]},{"id":"tier-3","label":"JUST…one for me, thanks","players":[{"name":"Tanner Bibee","team":"CLE","starts":"KC, @ATL","writeup":"I feel like Bibee doesn't belong in this tier but I just have a bad feeling about that Braves start. Maybe it's because their offense finally erupted for 17 runs as I'm writing this - but it's just a bad matchup if Bibee doesn't have pinpoint command "},{"name":"Shane Smith","team":"CHW","starts":"BAL, @KC","writeup":"Smith had an ugly start the other day - he really needs to improve his slider execution to take that next step in year two - for now, I don't want to risk it against Baltimore, but I can see rolling him out for KC after "},{"name":"Brayan Bello","team":"BOS","starts":"MIL, @STL","writeup":"The Brewers are a pesky lineup that can get to Bello and his lack of swing and miss stuff (13th percentile whiff rate last year). I'm avoiding that start but I'll throw him out there for the Cardinals in a pitcher-friendly park "},{"name":"Zac Gallen","team":"ARI","starts":"@NYM, @PHI","writeup":"I really want us to get the old Gallen back, but it just hasn't happened yet. I feel like he'll be good in one of these games and awful in the other, as is tradition. I'll take a chance that the Mets start is the good one "},{"name":"Bubba Chandler","team":"PIT","starts":"SD, @CHC","writeup":"I'm hoping we see a more consistent Bubba Chandler, but the Cubs are a patient lineup and might give him fits. That's a bad matchup. I'd start him against the Padres though "},{"name":"Max Scherzer","team":"TOR","starts":"LAD, MIN*","writeup":"The Jays rotation is pretty up in the air this week - it looks like Scherzer might get two starts, so I'm avoiding the Dodgers and starting against the Twins. It's possible that Kevin Gausman gets two starts as well so he'd be in the ace tier and a clear start for both games - but it really depends what they do on Sunday this week for Cody Ponce's spot "},{"name":"Jameson Taillon","team":"CHC","starts":"@TB, PIT","writeup":"Taillon has a solid track record but I'm worried about the start against Tampa Bay - definitely in for the Pirates after that though "},{"name":"Brandon Williamson","team":"CIN","starts":"@MIA, LAA","writeup":"Williamson had a nice spring and I'm tempted to give it a whirl for both of these matchups, but with him struggling in his first start I think I'll wait to see how he looks against Miami first, then give him a shot against the Angels after. "},{"name":"Zack Littell","team":"WSH","starts":"STL, @MIL","writeup":"I don't mind taking a shot on that Cardinals matchup for Littell. I'm avoiding that Brewers start, though. "},{"name":"German Marquez","team":"SD","starts":"@PIT, COL","writeup":"Marquez was awful in his first start - I really don't want to start him, but there's some appeal to that revenge game against the Rockies in Petco "},{"name":"Kyle Freeland","team":"COL","starts":"HOU, @SD","writeup":"I normally avoid Rockies but Freeland has some random brilliant games - I can see taking a shot on that weekend start at Petco if you need it "}]},{"id":"tier-4","label":"JUST-INsanity","players":[{"name":"Adrian Houser","team":"SF","starts":"PHI, @BAL","writeup":"Houser was unsustainably good for the White Sox last year. The Rays paid for it after acquiring him at the deadline, as his 4.79 ERA in 10 starts with the Rays was more in line with his career norms. Not a fan of his matchups this week so I'll sit this one out "},{"name":"Andre Pallante","team":"STL","starts":"@WSH, BOS","writeup":"I'm just not a believer in Pallante - being an extreme groundball guy raises his floor, but the risk isn't worth the reward with each start "},{"name":"Erick Fedde","team":"CHW","starts":"BAL, @KC","writeup":"We're good, not risking it "},{"name":"Aaron Civale","team":"ATH","starts":"@NYY, @NYM","writeup":"Please don't "},{"name":"Ryan Feltner","team":"COL","starts":"HOU, @SD","writeup":"Never Rockies (except Kyle Freeland) "}]}]}