Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers Report (Week 2): Waiver Wire Pickups, Streamers, Injury Updates & More

Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers Report (Week 2): Waiver Wire Pickups, Streamers, Injury Updates & More article feature image
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Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images. Pictured: Steven Matz.

We are entering the first traditional week of fantasy baseball season and the pitching landscape is changing like we are in the middle of the season.

Each week this season I will be looking at the week ahead for pitchers. Waiver options, streamers, pitchers making two starts, injury updates and more can be found within.

Waiver Adds/Streamers

Steven Matz – Toronto Blue Jays (Rostered in 55% of Yahoo and 50% of ESPN leagues)

I literally bet against Matz yesterday and was burned. It has not been a huge increase, but Matz is throwing his slider more and with more efficiency. He is also throwing it at the lowest velocity since 2016, the year he logged a 2.5 WAR. Matz will have the opportunity to slow down the Kansas City Royals' offense Thursday.

Trevor Rogers – Miami Marlins (56%, 23%)

Death. Taxes. The Mets failing to give Jacob deGrom run support. That theme continued Saturday as Trevor Rogers rebounded from his shaky first start of 2021 with a gem. The strikeouts will be there, it just depends on if the walks are under wraps. I think Rogers does enough against Atlanta this week to roster and hold for a two-start week beginning April 19.

Matthew Boyd – Detroit Tigers (55%, 49%)

The Tigers are not a good team, and while wins matter in majority of fantasy leagues, Matthew Boyd has been pitching like it is 2019. Boyd gets two starts this week – at Houston and Oakland. I understand adding him to sit against the Astros, but I like Boyd against one of the worst offenses (-11.6 Offensive WAR) in baseball.

Wade Miley – Cincinnati Reds (6%, 7%)

Miley also gets two starts this week, but I prefer him against the San Francisco Giants over the Cleveland Indians. The Giants strike out 26% of the time heading into Sunday’s action and are one of four teams with a batting average below .200.

Injuries

Zac Gallen could return as early as Tuesday. He has been dealing with forearm tightness.

Mariners SP James Paxton is seeking a second opinion after being recommended for Tommy John surgery. He pitched less than two innings into his first start of 2021 before having to be replaced.

Chris Archer left his start Saturday with forearm tightness and was placed on the 10-day IL.

The Detroit Tigers placed Julio Teheran on the 10-day Il with a strained right shoulder. Michael Fulmer is replacing Teheran in the rotation.

Sonny Gray could make his season debut for the Reds this week.

Shohei Ohtani will not be allowed to pitch again until he can throw without wearing a band-aid on his reoccurring blister.

The Blue Jays hope lefty Robbie Ray can return to the rotation this week after throwing a simulated game this past week.

Astros RHP Framber Valdez is throwing on flat ground, but there is no timetable from his return from a broken finger on his throwing hand.

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Two-Start Pitchers

This is a projected list. Starts subject to change and not all starters have been named.

  • Matthew Boyd and Casey Mize (DET) – at HOU, at OAK
  • Wade Miley (CIN) – at SF, vs CLE
  • Martin Perez and Nate Eovaldi (BOS) – at MIN, vs CHW
  • J.A. Happ and Kenta Maeda (MIN) – vs BOS, at LAA
  • Yu Darvish and Blake Snell (SD) – at PIT, vs LAD
  • Gerrit Cole (NYY) – at TOR, vs TB
  • Dane Dunning and Kyle Gibson (TEX) – at TB, vs BAL
  • Ryan Yarbrough and Tyler Glasnow (TB) – vs TEX, at NYY
  • Chase Anderson and Aaron Nola (PHI) – at NYM, vs STL
  • Drew Peterson (NYM) – vs PHI, at COL
  • Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez (MIA) – at ATL, vs SF
  • Adbert Alzolay (CHC) – at MIL, vs ATL
  • Freddy Peralta (MIL) – vs CHC, vs PIT
  • John Gant (STL) – vs WSH, at PHI
  • Zack Grienke (HOU) – vs DET, at SEA
  • Dylan Bundy (LAA) – at KC, vs MIN
  • Brady Singer and Danny Duffy (KC) – vs LAA, vs TOR
  • Tristan McKenzie (CLE) – at CHW, at CIN
  • Carlos Rodon and Lucas Giolito (CHW) – vs CLE, at BOS
  • Chris Bassitt (OAK) – at ARI, vs DET
  • Madison Bumgarner (ARI) – vs OAK, at WSH
  • Trevor Cahill and Chad Kuhl (PIT) – vs SD, at MIL

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