Kuzul

It’s time to look at the potential two-start options for the upcoming fantasy week.  If I have someone rated as a three, four or five-star option, he is someone I would definitely use.  A two-star option is someone who is borderline, but I’d strongly lean against it unless I have no other options.  The one-star options are an absolutely-not scenario.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at the players available to you this week:

Five-Star Options:

• Roy Halladay – Philadelphia Phillies – vs. Atl, vs. Cin
• Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners – vs. KC, vs. NYY
• CC Sabathia – New York Yankees – @ Oak, @ Sea
• Jered Weaver – Los Angeles Angels – @ CWS, @ Oak

Four-Star Options:

• Matt Garza – Tampa Bay Rays – vs. Bos, vs. Cle
• Jeff Niemann – Tampa Bay Rays – vs. Bos, vs. Cle
• Mike Pelfrey – New York Mets – vs. Cin, vs. Atl

Three-Star Options:

• Gavin Floyd – Chicago White Sox – vs. LAA, vs. KC
• Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies – vs. Atl, vs. Cin
• Jake Peavy – Chicago White Sox – vs. LAA, vs. KC
• Clayton Richard – San Diego Padres – @ Was, @ Col
• Jonathan Sanchez – San Francisco Giants – @ Mil, @ Was
• Carlos Silva – Chicago Cubs – @ Ari, @ LAD
• Javier Vazquez – New York Yankees – @ Oak, @ Sea
• C.J. Wilson – Texas Rangers – vs. Cle, vs. Bal

Two-Star Options:

• Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants – @ Mil, @ Was
• Tom Gorzelanny – Chicago Cubs – @ Ari, @ LAD
• Aaron Harang – Cincinnati Reds – @ NYM, @ Phi
• Scott Kazmir – Los Angeles Angels – @ CWS, @ Oak
• Ian Kennedy – Arizona Diamondbacks – vs. CHC, vs. Fla
• Brad Lincoln – Pittsburgh Pirates – @ Hou, @ Mil
• Derek Lowe – Atlanta Braves – @ Phi, @ NYM
• Daisuke Matsuzaka – Boston Red Sox – @ TB, @ Tor
• Wandy Rodriguez – Houston Astros – vs. Pit, vs. Stl
• Ben Sheets – Oakland Athletics – vs. NYY, vs. LAA
• Kevin Slowey – Minnesota Twins – @ Tor, @ Det
• Randy Wolf – Milwaukee Brewers – vs. SF, vs. Pit

One-Star Options:

• Jake Arrieta – Baltimore Orioles – @ Det, @ Tex
• Brian Bannister – Kansas City Royals – @ Sea, @ CWS
• Erik Bedard – Seattle Mariners – vs. KC, vs. NYY
• Omar Beltre – Texas Rangers – vs. Cle, vs. Bal
• Dave Bush – Milwaukee Brewers – vs. SF, vs. Pit
• John Ely – Los Angeles Dodgers – vs. Fla, vs. CHC
• Barry Enright – Arizona Diamondbacks – vs. CHC, vs. Fla
• Jeff Francis – Colorado Rockies – vs. Stl, vs. SD
• Armando Galarraga – Detroit Tigers – vs. Bal, vs. Min
• Livan Herandez – Washington Nationals – vs. SD, vs. SF
• Aaron Laffey – Cleveland Indians – @ Tex, @ TB
• Jesse Litsch – Toronto Blue Jays – vs. Min, vs. Bos
• Justin Masterson – Cleveland Indians – @ Tex, @ TB
• Kevin Millwood – Baltimore Orioles – @ Det, @ Tex
• Vicente Padilla – Los Angeles Dodgers – vs. Fla, vs. CHC
• Nate Robertson – Florida Marlins – @ LAD, @ Ari
• Jeff Suppan – St. Louis Cardinals – @ Col, @ Hou
• Chris Volstad – Florida Marlins – @ LAD, @ Ari
• Travis Wood – Cincinnati Reds – @ NYM, @ Phi

Thoughts:

• While the White Sox’s two-start duo of Gavin Floyd & Jake Peavy may not have the best numbers for the entire season, they were both on fire in June.  Peavy posted a 1.75 ERA while Floyd had a 2.58 ERA.  They both may have been questionable plays earlier in the season, but have now reestablished themselves as most start options.
• Entering the year it would’ve been surprising to see Jered Weaver as a five-star option, but with three months on the books how can you not consider him among the elite?  He’s at 8-3 with a 2.82 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 124 Ks in 108.2 innings.  No matter how you describe it, that makes him one of the best around.
• Javier Vazquez has had his struggles, but he’s shown signs of turning things around and he has two of the most favorable matchups you could ask for.  That makes him a usable option for the upcoming week in my book.
• Erik Bedard returns this week, but it is impossible to trust him, especially with a matchup against the Yankees looming late in the week.  If he comes out strong he’ll have value moving forward, but for now just keep him stashed and see what happens.
• Has Wandy Rodriguez rediscovered things?  Has is luck finally turned?  He’s given up two earned runs over his last two starts and with Pittsburgh on the schedule, he could be worth the gamble.
• Madison Bumgarner may ultimately develop into a must use option, but he’s just not there yet.  He’s viable, for sure, but two road starts in Milwaukee and Washington are not the best matchups for him.  He’s young and has the potential to struggle, so depending on your other options, I certainly could see leaving him on your bench.

What are your thoughts?  Who have I ranked too high?  Who do you think will outperform my rankings?

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