Two-start pitchers can be one of your key weapons to win your leagues, especially when they have favorable matchups. April 13—18 provides a parade of ace pitchers for fantasy managers. It won’t always be this good, so take advantage wherever possible. The pitchers below are ranked according to their expected fantasy production. Wherever stats are mentioned it is the rate of the batting team against the handedness of the pitcher unless otherwise noted.
2026 Fantasy Baseball 2-Start Pitchers: Full Rankings
Top 2-Start Options and Matchup Plays: Week 3
Garrett Crochet (BOS) @ MIN; vs. DET — Against LHP the Twins have a 24.3% strikeout rate, while the Tigers have just a .243 wOBA. Two solid matchups for the Red Sox ace.
Cristopher Sanchez (PHI) vs. CHC; vs. ATL — The southpaw has been dominant thus far and should continue to rack up strikeouts against the Cubs with their 28.4% K%. Atlanta has a 111 RC+ against LHP, but don’t let that deter you.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) @ MIL; @ ARI — Gausman have been utterly dominant with an overall strikeout rate of 40.6%. That’s opponent-proof.
Bryan Woo (SEA) @ SDP; v TEX — Woo has been so good that you just can’t worry about starting him against either opponent.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) vs. NYM; @ COL — Against RHP the Mets have a .875 OPS, tied for the league lead, while the Rockies have an 82 RC+.
Max Fried (NYY) vs. LAA; vs. KCR — Two solid matchups for Fried. The Angels (34.5%) and Royals (26.5%) are both in the bottom 10 of MLB in strikeout rate vs. LHP.
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs. WSH; vs. TBR — The Nationals have actually been one of the best teams in MLB against righties with a .347 wOBA and 119 RC+, and the Rays have been nearly as good at .341 and 120. You’re still not sitting Skenes.
Framber Valdez (DET) vs. KCR; @ BOS — The Red Sox 105 RC+ vs. lefties and the Royals strikeout tendencies shouldn’t scare you into benching Valdez.
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) vs. TOR; @ MIA — The righty seemed to right the ship against the Red Sox, so I’m not worried about either start here.
George Kirby (SEA) vs. HOU; vs. TEX — Kirby has been solid over three starts with a .350 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. The Astros at a 156 RC+ and Rangers at a 103 RC+ may pose a challenge.
Michael King (SDP) vs. SEA; @ LAA — I’d start King against the Mariners 28.3% strikeout rate, but sit him against the Dodgers.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) @ ATH; @ SEA — Against RHP the A’s strikeout 30% of the time and the Mariners are at 28.3%, two terrific matchups.
Trevor Rogers (BAL) vs. ARI; @ CLE — The strikeouts haven’t been there, but neither have the Diamondbacks (73 RC+) and Guardians (88 RC+) bats.
Robbie Ray (SFG) @ CIN; @ WSH — The Reds shouldn’t be a problem if Ray keeps it in the park on the road. The Nats have been tough on southpaws with 146 RC+!
Drew Rasmussen (TBR) @ CWS; @ PIT — Rasmussen should feast on the White Sox 28.2% strikeout rate. Don’t worry about the Pirates either.
Matthew Boyd (CHC) @ PHI; vs. NYM — The Phillies (52 RC+) and Mets (62 RC+) have both been soft on LHP. Oh, Boyd!!
Eury Perez (MIA) @ ATL; vs. MIL — Perez is struggling with command issues with a 14.9% walk rate. Both teams have hit righties well, so I’m recommending caution here.
Kyle Bradish (BAL) vs. ARI; @ CLE — I’m concerned about Bradish’s lack of command. His walk rate is 15.8% through his first two starts.
Gavin Williams (CLE) @ STL; vs. BAL — Williams has walked one in five batters thus far through three starts but is striking out 37.3% of them. Neither offense should pose a big threat.
Best 2-Start Pitchers for April 13-18
Must-Stream Arms with High-Upside Weeks
Ryne Nelson (ARI) @ BAL; vs. TOR — Nelson has been walking almost as many batters as he strikes out. Still, take a chance if you need two starts to stream against the O’s 27.1% strikeout rate and the Blue Jays 94 RC+.
Mike Burrows (HOU) @ SEA; vs. STL — Burrows is an OK streamer against the Mariners 28.3% strikeout rate and the Cardinals 67 RC+ against righties.
Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) @ NYY; v SDP — The Yankees 62 RC+ and Padres 72 RC+ against southpaws makes Kikuchi a decent play.
Ryan Weathers (NYY) vs. LAA; vs. KCR — The Angels strike out at a 34.5% rate and the Royals aren’t much better at 26.5% against LHP.
Mitch Keller (PIT) vs. WSH; vs. TBR — There hasn’t been much K in Keller, and these are not good matchups for him based on the Nats 119 RC+ and Rays 120 RC+.
Reid Detmers (LAA) @ NYY; vs. SDP — Another Angels lefty worth a gamble.
Brady Singer (CIN) vs. SFG; @ MIN — Luck hasn’t been on Singer’s side, but these matchups might change that.
Luis Severino (ATH) vs. TEX; vs. CWS — Nothing to fear here. Start Severino.
Jeffrey Springs (ATH) vs. TEX; vs. CWS — Against southpaws the Rangers (31.9%) and White Sox (31.1%) are two of the worst in MLB. Hope Springs eternal.
Kumar Rocker (TEX) @ ATH; @ SEA — Could the A’s (30% K%) and the Mariners (28.3%) put the K in Kumar? It’s worth a shot if you like to roll the dice.
Cade Cavalli (WSH) @ PIT; vs. SFG — The strikeouts haven’t been there for Cavalli (17.7% K rate) but he’s been effective.
Bailey Ober (MIN) vs. BOS; vs. CIN — The offense here weak with the Red Sox 86 RC+ and the Reds 67 RC+. Ober hasn’t been good but could turn it around with two home starts.
Risky 2-Start Pitchers to Avoid
© David Dermer-Imagn Images


Arms with Tough Schedules or Poor Form
Michael Wacha (KCR) @ DET; @ NYY — The Tigers 110 RC+ and Yankees 124 RC+ against righties are a red flag for Wacha, who is league average at his best and subject to terrible outings.
David Peterson (NYM) @ LAD; @ CHC — Peterson has been getting hit hard. No thanks, against these two teams.
Joey Cantillo (CLE) @ STL; vs. BAL — Both teams have a 122 RC+ against lefties.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) vs. CLE; @ HOU — The Guardians have struggled against righties with 88 RC+, while Astros have crushed them with 156 RC+. Libertore has not been striking batters out. Big gamble here.
Cristian Javier (HOU) vs. COL; vs. STL — The matchups are good, but Javier has not been good at all. Pass.
Sean Burke (CWS) vs. TBR; @ ATH — OK against the A’s, but not so much against the Rays.
Miles Mikolas (WSH) @ PIT; vs. SFG — No!!
Michael Lorenzen (COL) @ HOU; vs. LAD — Double no!!
Scheduling Game Counts
| Category | Teams |
|---|---|
|
Teams with six games |
ATL, ARI, BOS, CHC, CIN, COL, CWS, DET, KCR, LAD, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYM, PHI, SDP, SFG, STL, TBR, TOR |
|
Teams with seven games |
ATH, BAL, CLE, HOU, LAA, NYY, PIT, SEA, TEX, WSH |
How to Use These 2026 Fantasy Baseball 2-Start Pitchers
Redraft, Points, and Dynasty Streaming Strategy
If your league has waivers available before Sunday, you should grab your 2-start streamers in advance. If you have to place an FAAB bid in for any of the available streamers, don’t overspend. It’s early in the season, so there is no need to gamble on pitchers with tougher matchups or unproven arms.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Fantasy section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
