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If you are looking for that one Week where every big name pitcher has two-starts for your fantasy roster, you might want to keep looking ahead.
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Week 8 of the Fantasy Baseball season certainly has some studs as two-start options, but not many, and even those who are regarded as studs have their fair share of uncertainty. Some guys are coming off of injury, while others just haven’t been playing to their full potential. So, as Week 8 rapidly approaches, here are a list of guys that I’m advertising as two-start options. You know the drill, let’s go.
Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals (@SD, @LAD): If you often read my work, you know that I absolutely love this young arm. My early favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year, Miller is a very strong two-start option this week, and will be inside my top-15 among fantasy starting pitchers in my rankings. Miller’s overpowering fastball and deadly curveball are having opposing hitters fooled, leading him to an impressive 5-2 record with 57 strikeouts. I like his matchups this week against an always favored Padres’ lineup that ranks 24th in the majors in runs scored. The Dodgers certainly have had trouble crossing home plate as well, as they rank second-to-last. That game has all the signs of a pitcher’s duel, as Miller goes toe-to-toe with one of the game’s best, Clayton Kershaw.
Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks (@COL, SD): Want to talk about impressive starts? Well, look no further than the 23-year old Corbin. Through eight starts, Corbin sports an impressive 6-0 record with a 1.52 ERA and 41 strikeouts. His first opponent of the week may be a bit frightening, as the Rockies have a powerful offense and Corbin holds a career 11.00 ERA in nine outings at Colorado. It’s a very hitter-friendly park, but Corbin hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs all season long, sports a groundball percentage of 48.3 and I believe he is safe enough to roll with this week.
Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves (MIN, @NYM): Teheran is certainly a shaky option for fantasy owners, but the fact that he is coming off of three solid outings is a sign of encouragement. He won’t help you in the strikeout department, only sitting down 26 batters on the season, but he can get the ugly, but effective out. Teheran has induced 41 groundballs over his last four starts, and is sporting a solid 46.2 groundball percentage on the season. He is putting the ball in the strike zone more efficiently and continues to give up few home runs. After a rough start to the year, Teheran has getting it together a bit and can be trusted this week. His offense behind him should help him to success, if anything else.
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Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds (@NYM, CHC): Obviously, Cueto is a guy you start week in and week out. However, some people may feel discouraged, considering Monday’s start will be his first since coming off of the disabled list. Don’t be. Cueto was absolutely dealing during his minor league rehab assignments and has seen success against the Mets. During his last three starts against them, Cueto has 21 strikeouts, an ERA of 2.00 and just four walks. And boy, how about against the Cubs? In 10 starts over the past three years, Cueto has won six outings, striking out 41 and opposing Cubs’ batters are only hitting .225 off of him. Expect that powerful fastball around 93 to blow passed batters as he makes his return the the big league mound.
Adam Pfeifer is a featured fantasy sports columnist for Rant Sports.
You can follow him on Twitter @aPfeiferRS.
