One last week before the All-Star break, and it’s a good one. We’ve got both high-end options and depth in offerings. Even down into the Fortune Cookies, there are guys who have been interesting this season. Weeks like this one are good. We like them.
As a scheduling note, be aware that the Cookie Shop will be closed for the next two weeks. Next week is obvious, as no one will be making two starts in a short week. The week after, however, I will be away from both home and laptop, so it’s just not going to be able to happen. If you’re someone who plays in a league that will be an extra-long scoring period, it actually makes things pretty easy for you. Coming out of the break, all your good pitchers should line up for two starts in that period. Use them, and do not use your bad ones who only start once. If you have a bunch of bad ones and need to decide between them to fill a starting slot that week, streamers are The Real Joey Bart’s gig. I’m sure he’ll take excellent care of you.
So, for the last time before a couple weeks off, let’s get to it!
(Fun quirk for this week: Every team either plays entirely on the road or entirely at home.)
What follows are our projections at time of writing as to who will be making two-starts this week, but weather, injuries, and secretive team management mean they are just that: projections. To stay as up-to-date as possible, consult Rudy Gamble’s invaluable Streamonator.
Chocolate Chip Cookies (Must Start)
They are kings of the cookie world for a reason. A warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie just makes you feel happy. Sort of like getting to set your rosters knowing you get two starts this week from these guys.
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob deGrom, Tex | @LAA | @HOU |
| Hunter Brown, Hou | CLE | TEX |
| Christopher Sanchez, Phi | @SF | @SD |
| Logan Gilbert, Sea | @NYY | @DET |
| Nathan Eovaldi, Tex | @LAA | @HOU |
Sugar Cookies (Should Start)
They’re fine. You could certainly do worse than having these guys in your lineup, but don’t expect it to be remarkable.
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Dylan Cease, SD | ARI | PHI |
| Nick Pivetta, SD | ARI | PHI |
| Jose Berrios, Tor | @CHW | @ATH |
| Tanner Bibee, Cle | @HOU | @CHW |
| Ryan Pepiot, TB | @DET | @BOS |
| Yusei Kikuchi, LAA | TEX | ARI |
| Brayan Bello, Bos | COL | TB |
| Jose Soriano, LAA | TEX | ARI |
| Brady Singer, Cin | MIA | COL |
| Shota Imanaga, ChC | @MIN | @NYY |
| Clay Holmes, NYM | @BAL | @KC |
| Merrill Kelly, Ari | @SD | @LAA |
- Cease is one of those guys that matchups do not matter. If he’s on, he looks like one of the best couple pitchers in baseball. If he’s not, you wonder how he’s even in the bigs. You just start him and trust that, at the end of the year, it’ll have been worth it. Makes some weeks rough, though.
- Singer has significantly better stats than his underlying metrics say he deserves. But this week he gets the juiciest matchups out there. You have to.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Could Start)
These aren’t for everyone. These are the pitchers that may be a pleasant surprise, or they could ruin your week. Tread lightly.
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Zac Gallen, Ari | @SD | @LAA |
| Shane Baz, TB | @DET | @BOS |
| Jack Flaherty, Det | TB | SEA |
| Nick Martinez, Cin | MIA | COL |
| Jeffrey Springs, Ath | ATL | TOR |
| Andre Pallante, StL | WSH | ATL |
| Noah Cameron, KC | PIN | NYM |
| Will Warren, NYY | SEA | CHC |
| Sean Burke, ChW | TOR | CLE |
- Gallen leads off a trio of arms who you want to believe in, but can’t. At least Gallen looked more like vintage Gallen last time out, while Baz has back-to-back highly encouraging outings. Flaherty should get you Ks, and you hope the ERA is at least adequate.
- Martinez is in this tier because he has those matchups. That’s it.
Fortune Cookies (Do Not Start)
Yeah, they’re technically cookies. Hold on, what does that little slip of paper say? “Bad times are heading your way.” Oh. Okay, then.
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Janson Junk, Mia | @CIN | @BAL |
| Andrew Heaney, Pit | @KC | @MIN |
| Landen Roupp, SF | PHI | LAD |
| Aaron Civale, ChW | TOR | CLE |
| Simeon Woods Richardson, Min | CHC | PIT |
| Joey Cantillo, Cle | @HOU | @CHW |
| Richard Fitts, Bos | COL | TB |
| Austin Gomber, Col | @BOS | @CIN |
| Didier Fuentes, Atl | @ATH | @STL |
| Brandon Young, Bal | NYM | MIA |
- Junk’s surface level numbers would seem to say he deserves to be in a higher tier than this. The numbers under the hood make Streamonator say he’s the second-worst option of the week. Full disclosure: I’ll be using him in a 24-team points league this week. If you’re in a standard roto league…you probably don’t want to be like me.
- I sometimes overlook other pitchers with bad metrics because they’ve been pitching well despite them. Then there’s Andrew Heaney, who I will simply never trust. Yes, he’s gotten decent results this season as a whole and was dealing last time out. He had back-to-back outings of 4 IP, 7ER immediately before it. Start him if you want, I can’t stop you. But I’m not going to recommend it.
