In week four, we have some good two-start options and a good amount of middling pitchers as well. With that said, let's rank the top two-start pitchers and help you win your weekly leagues!
Tier 1
(Don’t Be Dumb. Start These Guys)
1. Tyler Glasnow (LAD) (R)
(3-0) 2.25 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
WSH
Game 2
Sun 4/21
NYM
2. Zach Eflin (TB) (R)
(1-2) 6.35 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
LAA
Game 2
Sun 4/21
@NYY
3. Aaron Nola (PHI) (R)
(2-1) 5.06 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
COL
Game 2
Sunday 4/21
CHW
4. George Kirby (SEA)
(1-2) 6.91 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
CIN
Game 2
Sunday 4/21
@COL
Aaron Nola has been hit or miss over the past few years and cannot typically be trusted to be his ace-like self. However, with two starts against Colorado (at home) and the White Sox, he should be started as a stud this week. George Kirby has struggled mightily so far this season and has a tougher matchup against the upstart Reds and he plays (at Coors field). Still, his upside is undeniable. I think he gets back on track as his xERA is in line with his previous two campaigns.
Tier 2
(Some Chance of Blow Up)
5. Joe Musgrove (SD) (R)
(1-2) 6.87 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
@MIL
Game 2
Sunday 4/21
TOR
6. Jordan Hicks (SF) (R)
(2-0) 1.00 ERA
Game 1
Tue 4/16
@MIA
Game 2
Sunday 4/21
ARI
7. Merrill Kelly (ARI) (R)
(2-0) 2.29 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
CHC
Game 2
Sat 4/20
@SF
8. Sonny Gray (STL) (R)
(1-0) 0.00 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
@OAK
Game 2
Sun 4/21
MIL
9. Kutter Crawford (BOS) (R)
(0-0) 0.57 ERA
Game 1
Tue 4/16
CLE
Game 2
Sun 4/21
@PIT
10. Chris Bassitt (TOR) (R)
(1-2) 5.06 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
NYY
Game 2
Sun 4/21
@SD
11. Jon Gray (TEX) (R)
(0-1) 3.65 ERA
Game 1
Tue 4/16
@DET
Game 2
Sun 4/21
ATL
Jordan Hicks continues to chug along as a starter who is looking like San Francisco’s newest reclamation project turned stud. He has taken a little off his fastball, throwing it at 96 instead of 100, but has shown significantly improved control and added a nasty split-finger fastball that gives him three throwable pitches as a starter. Sonny Gray is back, and with matchups including Oakland and Milwaukee, he can be expected to throw 10-12 innings of good ratios and strikeouts of around 1 per inning.
Tier 3
(You May Regret a Few of These Guys)
12. Patrick Sandoval (LAA) (L)
(1-2) 6.57 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
@TB
Game 2
Sat 4/20
@CIN
13. Kyle Harrison (SF) (L)
(1-1) 4.76 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
@MIA
Game 2
Sat 4/20
ARI
14. Seth Lugo (KC) (R)
(2-0) 1.45 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
@CHW
Game 2
Sun 4/21
BAL
15. A.J. Puk (MIA) (L)
(0-3) 5.91 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
SF
Game 2
Sat 4/20
@CHC
16. Ross Stripling (OAK) (R)
(0-3) 5.50 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
STL
Game 2
Sun 4/21
@CLE
17. Reese Olson (DET) (R)
(0-1) 5.40 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
TEX
Game 2
Sat 4/20
@MIN
None of these guys have two opponents that I am excited to see them pitch against, but Seth Lugo is interesting to me. He limits barrels, walks at above-league average, and gets to pitch against the White Sox. That Baltimore matchup could end in shambles, but as a veteran, I think he knows how to survive some of the better lineups. Reese Olson was a preseason darling but has struggled a bit so far. He’s still striking out batters at a good clip and should be able to throw some average innings with above-average strikeout stuff.
Tier 4
(Brutal Matchups and Bad Pitchers)
18. Martin Perez (PIT) (L)
(1-0) 1.89 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
@NYM
Game 2
Sun 4/21
BOS
19. Cole Irvin (BAL) (L)
(0-1) 8.10 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
MIN
Game 2
Sun 4/21
@KC
20. Adrian Houser (NYM) (R)
(0-1) 5.40 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
PIT
Game 2
Sun 4/21
@LAD
21. Spencer Arrighetti (HOU) (R)
(0-1) 21.00 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
ATL
Game 2
Sun 4/21
@WSH
22. Cal Quantrill (COL) (R)
(0-2) 7.20 ERA
Game 1
Mon 4/15
@PHI
Game 2
Sun 4/21
SEA
I really don’t love a lot of these players, but Martin Perez started off well this year. The Mets present a good matchup, but Boston has been putting up some runs. Perez is a low upside medium floor option from this bottom tier. I would avoid all other guys in this tier for now, as they have brutal matchups and/or are not very good.
