Hello and welcome to the 23rd installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.
I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.
We’re no longer pacing ourselves through the marathon that is the fantasy baseball season, we’re getting ready to sprint to the finish line. Every decision that you make from here on out is going to impact your ability to finish near the top of the standings in your league. If you have ground to make up in wins and strikeouts, now could be the time to be streaming as many extra quality two-start options as you can find, as one win could be the difference between a league title and a second place finish when all is said and done.
This is a living document, so we’ll update the options below as the weekend moves along.
Before we get into it, we’ll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week.
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For the first time in a long time, it’s possible that the Dodgers may not roll with a six-man rotation this trip through, which could mean that Yoshinobu Yamamoto draws a two-start week (vs. Reds, at Marlins). There’s no actionable takeaway though, as he should be locked into all fantasy lineups regardless of whether he pitches once or twice. If anything changes or if Dave Roberts confirms things at some point over the weekend, we’ll update here.
The Brewers continue to operate with a six-man rotation, and with six games on tap for next week that means that none of their hurlers will line up for two starts. Robert Gasser is set to start on Monday and he would draw a two-start week (vs. Cubs, vs. Reds) if anyone else happens to get skipped for any reason, though that seems very unlikely.
It’s possible that someone could wind up making two starts for the Cardinals next week (at Giants, vs. White Sox), but as of now there’s no clear indication on who that may be. The club has yet to replace the injured Andre Pallante in their rotation and last time the spot came up they went with a bullpen game. It’s possible they do the same on Monday, which would mean no two-start week from the Cardinals. We’ll update here if anything changes.
The Rays are also employing a six-man rotation at the moment, so with six games on their docket, none of their starters are going to pitch twice this week. Freddy Peralta gets the ball on Monday and would be the surprise beneficiary (at Braves, vs. Astros) if anything were to change.
Going Twice…
Note: Probable pitchers as of September 4 and are subject to change.
American League
▶ Strong Plays
Cam Schlittler, Yankees, RHP (vs. Rockies, vs. Mets)
The Yankees have adjusted their rotation due to Monday’s off-day by having Will Warren piggyback with Max Fried on Friday. That sets up Schlittler for a glorious two-start week next week, getting to battle the Rockies and Mets at home. Already the front-runner for the American League Cy Young award, Schlittler has the opportunity to really put some distance between himself and Dylan Cease with a strong showing this week. He’s the top overall play on the board.
Dylan Cease, Blue Jays, RHP (at Athletics, vs. Orioles)
The Dylan Cease signing couldn’t have possibly gone any better for the Blue Jays in his first season. The 30-year-old right-hander is in the thick of the running for the American League Cy Young award as he has gone 10-5 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 221/65 K/BB ratio over 156 1/3 innings in what has been perhaps the finest season of his career. It’s always tough having to travel to West Sacramento to play the Athletics, but Cease is locked into fantasy lineups every week regardless of matchup, so there’s no decision point here. With both he and Cam Schlittler toeing the slab twice this week, we could get more clarity on how that Cy Young race will ultimately play out by the time this week is through.
Troy Melton, Tigers, RHP (vs. Twins, vs. Rockies)
There was no way that Melton was going to continue with a sub-2.00 ERA for the duration of the season, so his recent struggles are certainly understandable. That being said, even after a couple of rough outings he still sports a 2.20 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and an 84/29 K/BB ratio over 102 1/3 innings through his first 17 starts on the season. He gets to make a pair of starts at Comerica Park this week with the second one coming against the Rockies. Don’t be dissuaded by the recent struggles, Melton still makes for a very strong option for this two-start week and needs to be started in all leagues.
Trevor Rogers, Orioles, LHP (vs. Guardians, at Blue Jays)
While it has been a very frustrating season for fantasy managers rostering Trevor Rogers, the overall numbers have been decent – we have just gotten here through extreme swings. He’s pitching well right now though, which is really all that matters. The Guardians and Blue Jays aren’t offenses that we need to fear against left-handed pitching, which makes the 28-year-old southpaw a very strong option for the upcoming week. Expect double digit strikeouts, solid ratios and a decent shot at a victory, making him a strong play in all league sizes.
Hayden Wesneski, Astros, RHP (at Phillies, at Rays)
So far, so good for Wesneski in his return from the injured list. Through his first seven starts, the 28-year-old right-hander holds a terrific 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 33/14 K/BB ratio over 39 2/3 innings of work. He has always been a viable mixed league option when healthy, so there’s no reason to anticipate that his performance is going to drop off. The matchups aren’t easy this week, having to battle a pair of strong offenses on the road, but that doesn’t mean Wesneski isn’t a strong option in his own right. I’d be comfortable throwing him out there in all league sizes.
Noah Cameron, Royals, LHP (vs. Diamondbacks, at Red Sox)
For those who may not be watching the Royals very closely, Cameron has really turned his season around over the past couple of months, registering a scintillating 1.84 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and a 46/15 K/BB ratio over 53 2/3 innings over his last eight starts. With the way that he’s throwing the ball right now, we aren’t shying away from him in any matchup. He’s a strong option in all leagues and needs to be treated as such.
▶ Decent Plays
Brandon Young, Orioles, RHP (vs. Guardians, at Blue Jays)
Young has been a solidifying force in the middle of the Orioles’ rotation this season, going 9-3 with a solid 3.42 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 110/48 K/BB ratio over 137 innings through his first 24 starts. He has also been remarkably consistent all season, allowing four runs or fewer in every start, making him a very trustworthy and reliable streaming option. He’s not a huge strikeout guy, but that deficiency is masked from the additional volume of a second start. He doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but the high floor means that Young should be started in all leagues for this two-start week.
Davis Martin, White Sox, RHP (vs. Pirates, at Cardinals)
Martin looked sharp in his return from the injured list last week, firing 5 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball in a no-decision against the Astros in Houston. The matchups look strong for the upcoming week, getting to battle a struggling Pirates’ offense at home before taking on the Cardinals in St. Louis to finish off the week. Martin could be lingering on some waiver wires after his stay on the injured list and he makes for a strong streaming option in all leagues.
Joey Cantillo, Guardians, LHP (at Orioles, at Twins)
Cantillo has done a decent job for the Guardians through his first 29 starts on the season, compiling a 3.81 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 151/72 K/BB ratio over 141 2/3 innings. The elevated strikeout rate has helped to offset the ratio damage that he has inflicted due to his sky-high walk rate. The matchups are middle of the road this week, as the Orioles have done a nice job against southpaws recently while the Twins have been a bit worse against opposing left-handers. He has been an asset in everything except WHIP for most of the season, which makes him a viable streaming target for those that need to make up ground elsewhere.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Connor Prielipp, Twins, LHP (at Tigers, vs. Guardians)
After a strong start to the season, we have seen Preilipp’s production fall off drastically as the scouting report has gotten around on him. The Twins mixed it up his last time out though, using an opener ahead of him and the 25-year-old southpaw responded with five scoreless innings in a victory over the Tigers. Expect them to employ the same arrangement in a rematch against the Tigers on Monday, which could make him worth a look as a streaming option with the Tigers’ offense struggling so much against left-handers at the moment. I don’t feel great about the play, but I like it more than some of the options below him on the list.
Jacob Lopez, Athletics, LHP (vs. Blue Jays, vs. Mariners)
We have seen a high degree of inconsistency from Lopez on the season, leading to a middling 4.71 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 103/52 K/BB ratio over 105 innings in his 23 appearances (20 starts). Like most A’s pitchers, he has worse at Sutter Health Park – where he’s 0-3 with a 5.11 ERA on the season. Both starts this week will come at home, to the detriment of fantasy managers. If you’re only concerned with strikeouts, he should be able to deliver in that department this week, but he’s unlikely to secure a victory and the ratios aren’t likely to be helpful.
Bryce Miller, Mariners, RHP (vs. Rangers, at Athletics)
For the time being, it seems like with Emerson Hancock on the injured list, the M’s will revert to a traditional five-man rotation. That means that Miller will get the luxury of making two starts this week. I’m not sure that’s a good thing though. After dominating for the first half of the season, Miller has fallen on hard times since, struggling to a miserable 6.65 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP across 46 innings in his last nine starts, going 0-6 during that stretch. Now he has to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes with the second start coming at Sutter Health Park. Fantasy managers want to trust him based on the overall body of work, but I’d have a lot of apprehension of using him in his current form.
Cody Bradford, Rangers, LHP (at Mariners, at Diamondbacks)
Cody Bradford’s return from Tommy John surgery hasn’t gone very smoothly so far. Through his first six starts he sits at 0-4 with a 4.45 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 16/7 K/BB ratio over 30 1/3 innings. He’ll continue to take the ball every fifth day as the Rangers want him to round back into form and be ready for 2027, but it’s hard to envision him being helpful for fantasy purposes this season – especially if he’s not striking anyone out. I’d stay away from this one.
Patrick Sandoval, Red Sox, LHP (vs. Angels, vs. Royals)
As you would expect from any pitcher coming back from such a long injury layoff, Sandoval has shown some rust through his first 10 starts with the Red Sox. He holds a 4.41 ERA and a cringe-inducing 1.74 WHIP while posting a 50/25 K/BB ratio over his first 49 innings. He has pitched a bit better recently, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his last three starts, but that elevated walk rate is just asking for trouble. The matchups fall in his favor, getting to battle the Angels and Royals at home, so I understand why fantasy managers may want to take the plunge. Just be prepared for your ratios to take a good WHIPping.
Grayson Rodriguez, Angels, RHP (at Red Sox, at Nationals)
While he has shown flashes of figuring things out over his last couple of starts, Rodriguez still sports a horrifying 6.03 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 72/33 K/BB ratio across 77 2/3 innings through his first 16 starts for the Angels on the season. I’d ultimately expect the talent to win out here in the end, but I simply can’t trust Rodriguez in his current form. He should deliver strikeouts, but it’s likely to be at the expense of your ratios. You have been warned.
National League
▶ Strong Plays
Jesús Luzardo, Phillies, LHP (vs. Braves, at Braves)
He has mixed in a couple of absolutely disastrous outings throughout the season, but the overall results for Luzardo have been as good as anticipated for fantasy managers. He holds a 13-5 record, 3.02 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 209/51 K/BB ratio across 169 2/3 innings through 28 starts. He has allowed more than two earned runs just once in his last 15 starts. It’s a tough draw this week though having to battle a tough Braves’ offense twice in a row. If anyone can run that gauntlet without failing though, it’s Luzardo. He should be locked into all fantasy lineups.
Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (at Royals, vs. Rangers)
We’re so far past the point where Rodriguez has just had a strong start to the season or is on a nice little run. The 33-year-old southpaw has had an outstanding resurgence in his age-33 season and everything that he has done looks completely legit. He sits at 14-5 with a 2.59 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 122/55 K/BB ratio across 167 innings through his first 28 starts. From a fantasy perspective, everything except the strikeouts has been exceptional. Look for the fun to continue this week with soft matchups against the Royals and Rangers. He deserves to be started in all leagues without hesitation.
Chase Burns, Reds, RHP (at Dodgers, at Brewers)
Burns is having a phenomenal year and has been one of the breakout stars of the 2026 campaign. He sits at 15-3 with a 2.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 171/50 K/BB ratio over 145 1/3 innings through his first 26 starts. In most weeks, he’d be considered the top overall play on the board, or at least close to it. This isn’t most weeks though. He gets perhaps the most difficult draw possible, having to take on the Dodgers and Brewers, both on the road. The tough matchups aren’t enough to dissuade us from using Burns for a two-start week, the expectations just need to be lowered slightly. Also keep in mind that the Reds are expected to limit his innings down the stretch.
▶ Decent Plays
Andrew Painter, Phillies, LHP (vs. Astros, at Braves)
It took a while, but the Phillies’ patience with Andrew Painter appears to finally be paying off. He has been terrific over his last three starts and is coming off the best start of his career – with six strikeouts over seven shutout innings against the Diamondbacks his last time out. Talent has never been the issue with Painter, it has always been consistency, and he looks to be blossoming late in the season here. Fantasy managers should absolutely ride the hot hand heading into a two-start week and he has the potential to be a major difference maker in September.
Eury Pérez, Marlins, RHP (vs. Mets, vs. Dodgers)
Up until his last two starts, the 23-year-old right-hander had been doing some really nice work for the Marlins and for fantasy managers. Perhaps he’s hitting a bit of a wall though as he has already thrown 135 1/3 innings in his second season back from Tommy John surgery. Giving up 11 runs over 7 2/3 innings against the Royals and Nationals definitely has me concerned about starting Pérez for a two-start week that includes the Dodgers. If you want to continue rolling with him, go ahead and do so, I’d err on the side of caution though if you’re trying to protect your ratios.
Randy Vásquez, Padres, RHP (vs. Nationals, at Giants)
Despite his lack of strikeouts, Vásquez has actually done a decent job for the Padres this season, compiling a 4.02 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 79/35 K/BB ratio across 127 2/3 innings in 27 appearances (22 starts). He’s not the type of pitcher that I’m normally trying to stream, but the matchups this week are difficult to resist, getting to battle the Nationals at home and the Giants in San Francisco. You’re likely to get decent ratios, a shot at a victory and a handful of strikeouts, which is more than enough to trot him out there in both 15 and 12-team formats.
Bubba Chandler, Pirates, RHP (at White Sox, at Cubs)
Chandler has been a major disappointment in his first full season in the Pirates’ rotation, posting a 4.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 121/71 K/BB ratio across 136 innings in his first 27 starts. While he hasn’t been great though, he has at least been consistent, allowing four earned runs or fewer in all but two starts on the year, so the risk of a blowup isn’t very high. He should approach double digit strikeouts in a two-start week and even if he serves up a couple of home runs, he’ll have a shot at a victory and is probably worth a look as a deeper league streaming play.
Landen Roupp, Giants, RHP (vs. Cardinals, vs. Padres)
Roupp has been a stable contributor to the Giants’ rotation this season, going 8-13 with a 4.17 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 137/68 K/BB ratio over 144 2/3 innings on the season. He has pitched well over his last two starts, giving up just one run in each while going five innings in both of them. The matchups aren’t terribly imposing either, which lends credence to using him as a streaming option this week. What he has lacked this season is consistency, so when it goes wrong, it usually goes really wrong, which is something to at least keep in mind if deciding to trot him out there.
Will Dion, Nationals, LHP (at Padres, vs. Angels)
Dion has pitched well over 37 1/3 innings (primarily out of the bullpen) between the Nationals and Guardians this season, registering a 3.38 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 42/10 K/BB ratio. He’s just starting to get stretched out though, which limits his overall upside and appeal from a fantasy perspective. He went three scoreless innings his last time out and will probably go four or five against the Padres to start the week. It’s hard to see him going deep enough to earn a victory unless he works behind an opener, though he still may be able to deliver some quality ratios and strikeout numbers for someone that can easily be plucked off of waivers in most formats.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Bryce Elder, Braves, RHP (at Phillies, vs. Phillies)
Elder has had some severe ups and downs throughout the 2026 season, combining to form a middle of the road 8-8 record, 4.11 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 121/49 K/BB ratio across his 149 innings of work. He was roughed up by the Giants his last time out and now gets the difficult task of having to battle the same team twice in a week. It also doesn’t help that it’s a strong offense that crushes right-handers. In most weeks I’d recommend Elder as a streaming option, especially if looking for volume to attack wins and strikeouts, but I don’t have a good feeling about him this week. Use at your own risk.
David Peterson, Cubs, LHP (at Brewers, vs. Pirates)
While the version of Peterson that we have seen with the Cubs has been better than what we saw with the Mets, it still hasn’t been helpful from a fantasy perspective with a 4.58 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 50/26 K/BB ratio across 59 innings. He could be worth a look in weeks where the matchups line up well for him, but having to battle the Brewers in Milwaukee is far from a favorable draw. If you don’t care about ratios and are only looking for volume at this stage of the season, fire away, otherwise it would probably be best to sit this one out.
Robert Stock, Mets, RHP (at Marlins, at Yankees)
Stock saved his spot in the rotation for at least one turn with a strong outing against the Rays his last time out, but with Jonah Tong knocking at the door, it’s only a matter of time before a change is made. If he struggles against the Marlins on Monday, that could come before the weekend, leaving Stock with just a one-start week. There’s not enough upside here to justify taking on the ratio risk, making him nothing more than a fringe option in the deepest of leagues.
Gabriel Hughes, Rockies, RHP (at Yankees, at Tigers)
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, and we won’t be fooled again. Never Rockies. We tried to chance it and recommend Hughes the last time that he was set for a road two-step and it blew up in our faces in epic proportions. Don’t make that same mistake again. He hasn’t been pitching well and even away from Coors Field there’s not enough meat on the bone here to chance him for a two-start week. Now he’ll probably go out and spin a couple of gems with 12 strikeouts and a pair of wins.
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