This week in fantasy baseball features 45 pitchers with two starts that are neither top or bottom heavy.
The pitchers below rank between one and five stars with five-stars being the better of the group.
Five Star Pitchers
- Clayton Kershaw: June 18 vs SF, June 23 vs COL
- Jacob deGrom: June 18 @ ATL, June 23 @ CHC
- Justin Verlander: June 18 @ CIN, June 23 @ NYY
- Zack Greinke: June 18 vs COL, June 23 vs SF
- Brandon Woodruff: June 18 @ SD, June 23 vs CIN
- Mike Clevinger: June 17 @ TEX, June 22 vs DET
- Jose Berrios: June 17 vs BOS, June 22 @ KC
- Kenta Maeda: June 17 vs SF, June 22 vs COL
- Cole Hamels: June 18 vs CHW, June 23 vs NYM
- Luis Castillo: June 17 vs HOU, June 22 @ MIL
Some of the pitchers with two starts have some tough matchups, however, all the five-stars should be started.
These pitchers usually score at least 25 points and could reach 40 or more.
Four Star Pitchers
- Jack Flaherty: June 18 vs MIA, June 23 vs LAA
- Mike Soroka: June 17 vs NYM, June 23 @ WSH
- Lance Lynn: June 17 vs CLE, June 22 vs CHW
- Zack Wheeler: June 17 @ ATL, June 22 @ CHC
Jack Flaherty is excellent at striking batters out, however, fantasy owners could be skeptical due to his start on June 8 where he struck zero batters out. His next game was more like his average as he struck out eight batters over 5 1/3 inning. While the Marlins and Angels rarely strikeout they both don’t score that many runs either. Look for Flaherty to perform well.
Besides for his most previous performance, Mike Soroka usually goes at least six innings into games and has gone into the eighth inning on multiple occasions this season. He does have a hard set of matchups this week but has proven capable so far.
Lance Lynn has been dominant since the start of May and has the argument to be a five-star pitcher. However, his low own percentage in ESPN leagues shows that managers just don’t trust him yet. If Lynn is on waivers he should be added this week.
Zack Wheeler has put up similar numbers to Lance Lynn all year long but his own percentage sits a lot higher than Lynn. It’s possible Lynn is in for the bigger week after Wheeler is set to play two top-12 teams in runs produced.
Expect the four-star pitchers to score between 20 and 25 points.
Three Star Pitchers
- Zach Eflin: June 18 @ WSH, June 23 vs MIA
- Adrian Sampson: June 18 vs CLE, June 23 vs CHW
- Yonny Chirinos: June 17 @ NYY, June 22 @ OAK
- Joe Musgrove: June 18 vs DET, June 23 vs SD
- Miles Mikolas: June 17 vs MIA, June 22 vs LAA
- Felix Pena: June 17 @ TOR, June 22 @ STL
- Joey Lucchesi: June 17 vs MIL, June 23 @ PIT
- Marcus Stroman: June 18 vs LAA, June 23 @ BOS
- Jake Arrieta: June 17 @ WSH, June 22 vs MIA
- Zach Plesac: June 18 @ TEX, June 23 vs DET
- Michael Pineda: June 18 vs BOS, June 23 @ KC
- Rick Porcello: June 17 @ MIN, June 23 vs TOR
- Tyler Skaggs: June 18 @ TOR, June 23 @ STL
- Patrick Corbin: June 17 vs PHI, June 22 vs ATL
Zach Eflin has put up solid numbers in his previous two starts and looking ahead he can be expected to do the same. His first start this week comes against a strong Washington team but finishes the week against a weak Miami Marlins team.
Adrian Sampson fell victim to a Boston Red Sox team that ranks top 10 in almost every batting statistic. This week he gets to play against two teams that rank in the bottom 10 in almost every batting statistic. He has yet to fully prove how good he can be and fantasy owners should add him in hopes he capitalizes.
Joe Musgrove has disappointed fantasy owners all year long and could be in for the same this week. The teams he is playing aren’t particularly good but fantasy owners are losing confidence in him quickly.
Miles Mikolas has also been a major disappointment this season and to get back on track he needs to take advantage of a weak Marlins team to start the week.
Patrick Corbin finds himself on the three-star list after struggling mightily his previous starts. He has a tough schedule that could see him finish middle of the pack.
This list of three-star pitchers can expect to see between 15 and 20 points per start.
Two Star Pitchers
- J.A. Happ: June 18 vs TB, June 23 vs HOU
- Brett Anderson: June 18 vs BAL, June 23 vs TB
- Jordan Yamamoto: June 18 @ STL, June 23 @ PHI
- Ryan Yarbrough: June 18 @ NYY, June 23 @ OAK
- Yusei Kikuchi: June 18 vs KC, June 23 vs BAL
- Danny Duffy: June 17 @ SEA, June 22 vs MIN
- Anthony DeSclafini: June 18 vs HOU, June 23 @ MIL
- Jhoulys Chacin: June 17 @ SD, June 22 vs CIN
Jordan Yamamoto was brilliant in his MLB debut against the Cardinals. This week fans will see if he can repeat that performance against the same team.
Yusei Kikuchi is coming off his best start out of his last four starts. In fact, out of those four starts, it’s his only one that garnered positive points. Kikuchi would likely be a one-star pitcher this year if not for his easy matchups against two of the worst teams in baseball.
Jhoulys Chacin is back after being on the injured list since late May. He ranks low in this list due to an overall poor season but could be a rebound candidate the rest of the way.
These pitchers should score only about seven to 15 points per start.
One Star Pitchers
- Erick Fedde: June 18 vs PHI, June 23 vs ATL
- Antonio Senzatela: June 18 @ ARI, June 23 @ LAD
- Tyler Beede: June 17 @ LAD, June 22 @ ARI
- Daniel Norris: June 18 @ PIT, June 23 @ CLE
- Shaun Anderson: June 18Â @ LAD, June 23 @ ARI
- Homer Bailey: June 18 @ SEA, June 23 vs MIN
- Gabriel Ynoa: June 18 @ OAK, June 23 @ SEA
- Elieser Hernandez: June 17 @ STL, June 22 @ PHI
- Edwin Jackson: June 17 vs LAA, June 22 @ BOS
Daniel Norris is the only one-star pitcher to trust this week as he’s the only one to play against two bottom 10 offenses.
These pitchers probably won’t score more than 10 points and could even score negative points.
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