Alright everyone,

Here’s the latest installment of my two-start pitcher notes for all you weekly leaguers. Remember that these are mostly geared towards 12-team mixed leagues. Be sure to check out today’s podcast as we’re joined by the one and only Ron Shandler! Cory and Ron will go over many of these two-start options in addition to answering a bunch of listener questions.

-Zach

                                                                                                                                                 Andrew Cashner  (vs. MIA, @TB)

Since making the move from the bullpen to the starting rotation a couple weeks ago, Cashner has been maddeningly inconsistent. At times, he has looked like a dominant strikeout machine, but he has also battled some control issues. His most recent outing, on the road vs. the Cubs (4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K), was by far his worst one, so it’s hard to fully trust him heading into next week. But the strikeout upside is real and the vs. MIA matchup is extremely appealing. And it’s not like the Rays (10^th in AL in runs scored and 12^th in AVG) are offensive juggernauts. Pitch.

Jarrod Parker  (@CLE, @SEA)

There’s no denying that Parker has been a colossal disappointment so far, but his latest performance (6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) was somewhat encouraging. Still, you can’t possibly like the 2.01 WHIP and 18-to-16 K/BB ratio. In mixed leagues of 12 teams or more, I’d take a chance on him next week as these matchups are far from scary. But if he fails to get the job done here, it might be time to consider cutting him in standard mixed leagues.

Bronson Arroyo  (vs. ATL, vs. MIL)

Arroyo is a guy who on any given day could either toss a gem or turn in a disaster outing, and there’s simply no way to predict which Bronson will show up. For the most part, the good Arroyo has shown up this season, as he’s posted four quality starts in six tries. These matchups aren’t particularly unfavorable but they aren’t great either and Arroyo pitched significantly better on the road than at home last season. I guess the bottom line is that he makes me too nervous and I’d rather have someone else deal with the headache. Ditch.

James McDonald  (vs. SEA, @NYM)

Another guy who frustrates his owners to no end, McDonald is sometimes nearly unhittable but sometimes has no idea where the ball is going. In 12-team mixed leagues, I’ll take the conservative route and ditch, and there’s a decent chance that he won’t even be making the @NYM start as the returns of Francisco Liriano and Charlie Morton might bump him out of the rotation. The Pirates will need to choose between McDonald and Jeff Locke for their fifth starter spot and Locke has been the far more effective pitcher so far.

Jorge De La Rosa  (vs. NYY, @STL)

I’m bullish on De La Rosa going forward and he is 4-for-6 in quality starts, but the Dodgers roughed him up pretty good on Tuesday and the reality is that he missed nearly the entire 2012 season. Let him work out the kinks first before pitching him in mixed leagues. Oh yeah, and I don’t like these matchups at all. But keep an eye on him as he could resurface on the mixed league radar fairly soon.

Nick Tepesch  (@CHC, @HOU)

Tepesch did a fine job in the Minors last year and has gotten off to an equally impressive start in his first big league season, registering a 3.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 18-to-5 K/BB ratio over his first five outings. And on paper, these matchups are very favorable. In a 12-team mixed, I’d understand if you’re a bit hesitant to pitch him due to the limited track record, unless you’re the gambling type, but in a 15-teamer and of course an AL-only, I think I’d give it a shot.

Brandon McCarthy  (@LAD, vs. PHI)

On today’s podcast, Cory and Ron said to pitch McCarthy, and while I understand their reasoning, I need to preach what I practice (I think that makes sense?) and say that if I owned McCarthy in any league (and I don’t), I would not feel at ease starting him. Zero quality starts in six tries so far and an OK but not great strikeout rate. Both the Dodgers and Phillies have been erratic offensively but both lineups have the ability to put plenty of runs on the board. I just don’t have a good feeling about this.

Zach McAllister  (vs. OAK, @DET)

I’m a fan of McAllister and he’s certainly gotten off to an exceptional start this year, but it’s been too exceptional. I think a stat correction is in order, and I think it’ll happen next week. The Tigers boast one of the more dangerous lineups in baseball and these aren’t your older brother’s Oakland A’s. They can actually hit now. I’ll follow the same approach with McAllister as with De La Rosa. Ditch but monitor closely.

CORY’S PICKS

Leake @ Villanueva

Nolasco @ Pettibone – Nolasco pitching reasonably well but hard to trust in CBP

P. Hernandez @ Masterson – hard to trust Masterson vs. any lineup with decent lefty power

Griffin @ Sabathia – hang with ‘em on Griffin

Detwiler @ Burnett

King Felix @ Romero

Marcum @ Minor – tough matchup for Marcum if he’s not at 100%

Doubront @ Holland – risk/reward to both, but Holland pitching better

Santiago @ Guthrie – blue plate special!

Fister @ Norris

S. Miller @ Lohse

Moore @ Francis

M. Gonzalez @ Vargas

Miley @ Marquis

Kershaw @ Zito

CORY’S PICKS

CORY’S PICKS

Gee @ LeBlanc – have to “Pitch” pretty much everyone vs. Stanton-less Marlins

Diamond @ An. Sanchez

J. Gomez @ Burgos

Bailey @ Lynn

Wilson @ Milone – Wilson shares MLB lead in walks allowed

Bedard @ Phelps – Phelps has sneaky-good K upside

Lee @ Bauer – don’t trust Bauer’s command issues

Buchholz @ Buehrle

Zimmermann @ Maholm

Sale @ Tepesch – Tepesch worth a gamble in deeper leagues

Cashner @ Feldman

Hellickson @ Mendoza

Lincecum @ McCarthy – hang with ‘em on McCarthy, stuff is there

W. Chen @ Harang

Nicasio @ Beckett – Dodgers can’t hit, can’t hit at home, can’t hit righties

CORY’S PICKS

Humber @ Kuroda – OTOH I am picking **against** Humber in Beat the Streak

Halladay @ McAllister – tough matchup for McAllister but I’m a fan

Lester @ Morrow

Worley @ Verlander

Hefner @ Slowey – you read that right

G. Gonzalez @ T. Hudson

Quintana @ Darvish

Volquez @ Jackson – indecisive on Jackson, but might as well

McDonald @ Estrada – indecisive on McDonald, but passing this time

Cobb @ Shields

Arroyo @ J. Garcia

Bumgarner @ Cahill

Richards @ Parker – bench but don’t cut Parker, he’s pitching for his job

Hammel @ Maurer

De La Rosa @ Ryu

CORY’S PICKS

SATURDAY

Medlen @ Porcello – never mind Porcello, stash Drew Smyly while you can

Happ @ Sabathia – Happ has been throwing well but it’s too risky

Tillman @ Griffin

Holland @ P. Hernandez

Peacock @ Doubront – good K potential, and blow-up potential, on both sides

Moore @ Floyd

Jimenez @ Guthrie

Blanton @ King Felix

Leake @ Haren – Leake much better on the road, and Nats struggling to score

Pettibone @ Marcum – tough matchup for his season debut, but take a shot

Burnett @ Westbrook – Westbrook due for some painful regression

Wood @ Sanabia

Francis @ Miley

Zito @ Stults – might as well!

W. Peralta @ Fife

SUNDAY

Dickey @ Hughes – I don’t trust Hughes in Yankee Stadium

Norris @ Lackey

Price @ Axelrod

Masterson @ Mendoza – Masterson is a mirror from which we see reflected our own wants, hopes and dreams, but sometimes our worst fears as well

Ogando @ Correia

M. Gonzalez @ Colon

Vargas @ Iwakuma

Minor @ Fister

Hamels @ Niese – Niese has to start throwing more strikes, though…

Villanueva @ Nolasco

Cingrani @ Detwiler – expect to see lots and lots of fastballs and not much else

Locke @ S. Miller

Lohse @ Kershaw

Vogelsong @ Marquis

Garland @ Corbin

MONDAY

Harrell @ Pettitte

Pelfrey @ Scherzer

Kluber @ Davis – good gamble at home vs so-so Tribe offense

Hanson @ Anderson – not trusting Hanson vs. good offenses

TBD (BAL) @ Saunders

Strasburg @ Teheran

Harvey @ J. Fernandez

Richard @ Samardzija – Cubs can’t hit lefties so Richard is a reasonable deep-league gamble

Wandy @ Gallardo – good chance for Gallardo to get straightened out

Latos @ Wainwright

Cain @ Kennedy

Chatwood @ Lilly – Lilly looked very sharp vs. the Mets

Hey everyone,

Back with more of my two-start pitcher notes! We have a very special podcast coming your way today as Rotowire’s Jeff Erickson joins us to go over many of these two-start options and answer a bunch of listener questions, so be sure to catch the podcast when it becomes available later this afternoon.

-Zach

                                                                                                                                                        Brett Anderson  (vs. LAA, @NYY)

I’m still an Anderson fan but with a combined 17 ER allowed over his last three starts (10 2/3 IP), there’s no way I’m pitching him next week, as these matchups are far from enticing. Despite all of their injuries, the Yankees still lead the AL in homers. The Angels? Well, they only lead the AL in hits. In shallower mixed leagues, I wouldn’t be opposed to dropping Anderson. But in mixed leagues with 12 or more teams, bench but don’t cut.

Jose Quintana  (@TEX, @KC)

After getting roughed up in his first outing of the season, Quintana is on a nice little run, allowing 2 ER or less in each of his last three starts while striking out 17 over 18 2/3 innings. Still, I don’t trust him enough @TEX to recommend him for next week. There are plenty of better two-start options out there.

Julio Teheran  (vs. WAS, vs. NYM)

Teheran’s only quality start this season happens to be his most recent one, as he held the Rockies to one run over seven innings, and he did it pitching at Coors. Strange stuff. At just 22 years of age and coming off a dominant spring training, there’s certainly a lot to like about Teheran. But I’d like to see a little more consistency before I can consider him a no-brainer mixed league starter. These matchups aren’t awful but they aren’t great either. If you want to take a chance on him in a deep league, that’s fine. A 12-team mixed league? I’ll pass.

Edwin Jackson  (vs. SD, vs. CIN)

A longtime 411 favorite, E-Jax has been nothing special thus far. On the bright side, he’s striking out roughly a batter per inning. On the other hand, he’s walking too many guys and his high pitch counts have prevented him from going more than six innings in any one of his first five starts. Also, his two worst outings have come at Wrigley, where he’ll be making both of his starts next week. I’m lukewarm about this one but in a 12-team mixed, I’d lean towards pitching E-Jax. At least you know you’ll get the K’s and he actually pitched well against both the Padres and Reds last season.

Garrett Richards  (@OAK, vs. BAL)

If you asked me 24 hours ago, I would’ve said that pitching Richards next week was a decent gamble. But after last night’s mediocre performance, I’m scared off. Guess which team leads the AL in runs scored so far and is tied for 2^nd in the Junior Circuit in hits? Yep, the A’s. Guess which team ranks 2^nd in the AL in runs scored and 4^th in hits? Yep, the Orioles. Pass.

Zach McAllister  (vs. PHI, vs. MIN)

McAllister struggled in his most recent start on the road vs. the White Sox but still managed to limit the damage (5 2/3 IP, 3 ER). Overall this year, he’s been solid, limiting the opposition to a .239 batting average while sporting a 20-to-8 K/BB ratio over 23 innings. The vs. PHI matchup will be somewhat challenging but I love the vs. MIN matchup. I’d give McAllister a shot. Pitch.

Ted Lilly  (vs. COL, @SF)

Quite a 2013 debut for Lilly, as the veteran lefty tossed five scoreless innings against the Mets while whiffing seven. Avoiding the DL has been Lilly’s biggest obstacle over the course of his career, but when he’s been able to pitch, he’s been very effective, particularly in the all-important K/BB department. And you have to like these matchups. Pitch.

Clayton Richard  (@CHC, vs. ARI)

The poster boy for the pitch at home but ditch on the road approach, Richard is coming off a disaster outing. And it was at home. My overall confidence in him is waning, and the fact that one of these starts will be on the road combined with the fact that he’s a low-strikeout pitcher makes him a ditch in any mixed league.

Wade Davis  (vs. CLE, vs. CWS)

Two great starts, two horrible starts. That’s been the story of Davis’ 2013 season. Inconsistent command and mounting pitch counts have been recurring issues and I’m not in love with these matchups. In a 15-team mixed league, you might want to take a chance on him, as he has shown the ability to post solid strikeout numbers. But in a 12-team mixed, I just don’t think that the reward is worth the risk.

Tommy Hanson  (@OAK, vs. BAL)

Remember when this guy was a no doubt future ace? Hanson has been a complete enigma this year. On one hand, he’s posted two quality starts in three outings. On the other, the strikeouts have been nonexistent and the hit rate sky-high. He has the same unappealing matchups as Richards and quite frankly, I’d let him be someone else’s problem. Ditch.

CORY’S PICKS

Bailey @ Zimmermann

Johnson @ Nova – your patience with Johnson should not be endless, though…

Maholm @ An. Sanchez – tough matchup for Maholm, playing it safe

Feldman @ LeBlanc – why not?

Bedard @ Dempster

Kendrick @ Gee – don’t love Kendrick on the road, but after handling CIN and STL…

Kazmir @ Big Erv

R. Hernandez @ Peavy

Grimm @ Diamond – Grimm worth a gamble in deeper leagues

J. Sanchez @ Lynn

Nicasio @ McCarthy – one more shot on McCarthy at home

W. Chen @ Milone

Wilson @ Harang – don’t really trust Wilson, but Mariners don’t score much

Burgos @ Beckett – Beckett’s peripherals are still OK

Lincecum @ Cashner

***ZACH SAYS “I’d pitch Chen. 3 ER or less in each of his first four starts and the matchup is favorable. Agree on rest.”

CORY’S PICKS

McDonald @ Lee

Shields @ Verlander

Ryu @ Hefner

Humber @ Buchholz – still not sold on Buchholz, but keep rollin’ it

Arroyo @ G. Gonzalez – don’t trust Arroyo much but he’s been dealing and Nats are scuffling

Buehrle @ Kuroda

Jackson @ Slowey – Slowey worth a gamble in deeper leagues, seriously!

Hellickson @ Sale

Tepesch @ Worley – going for it on Tepesch vs. weak Twins offense

De La Rosa @ Cahill

Hammel @ Parker – not convinced Parker is out of the woods yet but he’s worth a risk at home

Richards @ Maurer

CORY’S PICKS

Samardzija @ Latos

Morrow @ Stinson – sticking with Morrow despite poor start

J. Garcia @ Strasburg – not trusting Garcia on the road

Kluber @ Sale

Saunders @ Harrell

T. Hudson @ Chatwood

Kennedy @ Bumgarner

Anderson @ Lester – pitch Straily for the spot start if Anderson can’t go

Wandy @ Halladay

Mendoza @ Verlander

Lilly @ Harvey – Lilly worth a look in deeper/unmixed leagues

Pettitte @ Cobb

Darvish @ Williams

Estrada @ Volquez