You know those desperate, hitter-needy fantasy baseball owners infiltrating your inbox every day, seeking hitters for pitchers?
Keep declining those trades thanks to the two-start pitcher strategy.
I’m getting daily offers in exchange for top-tier pitchers. It’s not worth the risk, though, especially when even a mediocre week of two-start pitchers yields results. Consistent hitters are hard to find on the waiver wire.
Pitchers are not.
Here’s the best two-start pitchers available on the waiver wire in week eight of the fantasy baseball season.
Mike Foltynewicz, SP, Atlanta Braves
The Braves are allergic to giving Foltynewicz six innings of work, thus eliminating his ability to turn in quality starts.
Despite that annoying trait, Foltynewicz is primed to be a top candidate for two starts this week. He’s owned in more than 50 percent of fantasy baseball leagues, but if you can nab him, anticipate a week of limited earned runs and decent strikeout production.
Foltynewicz has allowed more than two earned runs only once this season. It’s amazing he’s still not owned in 45 percent of leagues on ESPN.com.
He boasts a 2.87 ERA and is coming off a start where he struck out 10 batters.
Other than the innings, he does have another drawback this week. The matchups aren’t rosy. He draws Philadelphia on Monday and concludes the week with Boston, one of the best offense in Major League Baseball.
This is more about the player. Forget about the matchups and trust that you’ll get limited earned run exposure.
Jason Vargas, SP, New York Mets
Full disclosure. This has a chance of blowing up in your face.
I’m rostering him this week because he’s shown ability in the past. He’s had some time off and the matchups are too sweet to pass up.
Vargas returns to the mound for only the fourth time this season, and the first since May 8 when he allowed four earned runs in four innings.
He’s been terrible this season, but the Mets gave him an extended lay-off. That should be enough for the veteran to fix whatever problems have been hindering him this year, giving him the green light to return back to form.
An 18-game winner a year ago currently has an ERA of 13.86. That’s not a great number heading into this week, but it does mean he’ll be available on the waiver wire.
What I love most about him this week is that he gets Miami (worst in runs) and Milwaukee (bottom-10 in runs).
We have enough evidence from Vargas in the past to warrant another chance, especially with a two-start slate against those offenses.
