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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals found themselves in a strange and precarious position at the trade deadline: They were both buyers and sellers, interested in supplementing the club to win now while simultaneously continuing to build for the future.

In other words, they wanted to have it all.

They largely succeeded, too.

By the time manager Matt Quatraro and the Royals boarded a plane destined for a weekend series in Toronto, the roster looked a whole lot different from how it did just days ago. They had traded backup catcher Freddy Fermin and a few other assets that didn’t necessarily figure into their immediate- or long-range plans, and in return got an outfielder and three pitchers capable of starting — a haul of four players who can help their big league club immediately.

The swap with the Padres of Fermin for pitchers Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek fortified their rotation, which has been hit hard by injuries, as did the deal with Pittsburgh that sent minor leaguers Evan Sisk and Callan Moss for left-hander Bailey Falter.

Then, minutes before the deadline, the Royals upgraded their outfielder by landing right fielder Matt Yastrzemski — who particularly is good against right-handed pitching — for low-minors pitching prospect Yunior Marte.

“What we’ve done,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said, “is going to allow us to work through the year with the pitchers we have in an efficient way, in a way that’s going to be healthy for all of them, and we’re just excited to get these guys.

“It’s 14 years of club control on the starting pitching side of things.”

That last bit is important: The pitchers the Royals landed will be theirs for a while.

They headed into the series against the Blue Jays well out of the AL Central lead but only 3 1/2 games back of a wild-card spot, which they parlayed last season into a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs. They had followed up an abysmal month of June in which they went 8-18 by going 15-9 in July, clawing themselves back to within a game of .500.

So, the Royals believe they are still very much in the thick of the postseason hunt, and they needed the help to do it.

“We’re playing better right now,” Picollo acknowledged. “I like the way we’re starting to score some runs.”

Yet the Royals aren’t exactly in a position to go all-in, either, so those moves came with a certain level of judiciousness. They did not want to part with any of their prospects, because they foresee a window to win over the next several years, particularly with a young core headlined by All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. under their control through 2029 and even beyond.

“We’re still a fairly young team with a young core together, and trying to build that culture of winning is extremely important to us,” Picollo said. “I’m just really glad that we’re not in that position where we felt like we had to (sell).”

Instead, the Royals will turn their attention to the task of making up that ground in the wild-card race.

They begin with a tough three games against the Blue Jays, the surprising leaders of the AL East, before a set in Boston against a team currently holding down a wild-card spot. But then comes a tantalizing stretch of nine games — six in the friendly confines of Kauffman Stadium — against the Twins, White Sox and Nationals, all clubs with losing records.

Along the way, the Royals are hopeful that starters Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen can return from the injured list, further bolstering a staff that Picollo managed to make deeper and more talented at the trade deadline.

“You can’t be reckless about things. We have to be smart in what we do,” Picollo said. “When we talked about trying to win now and take care of the future, I think that’s what we did.”

Hello and welcome to the 17th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week. With the trade deadline, there are a few more uncertain situations than usual:

Someone will make two starts for the Red Sox next week (vs. Royals, @ Padres), it’s just unclear at the moment whether that will be Garrett Crochet or Brayan Bello. Crochet had been scheduled to pitch on Friday, but the Red Sox are moving him back to Monday or Tuesday in an attempt to manage his workload. If he goes on Monday (which seems like the most likely scenario), he would draw the appealing two-start week. Either way, he’s not leaving fantasy lineups regardless of whether he starts twice or not.

It's also likely that someone on the White Sox pitches twice (@ Mariners, vs. Guardians), though we’re not sure exactly who yet as Adrian Houser was pushed back (and could be traded) which throws the whole rotation in flux. If Aaron Civale pitches Friday on regular rest, then Jonathan Cannon would line up for the two-start week. If the White Sox go with another spot starter on Friday, that would push Davis Martin to the two-start week after he should have had one this week.

Charlie Morton had been scheduled to start twice for the Orioles before being deal to the Tigers at the trade deadline. Now someone will make those starts (@ Phillies, vs. Athletics), but at the moment it’s still unclear who that person will be. Stay tuned.

Someone will be making two starts for the Astros next week as well, but we’re still waiting to see how exactly they handle a couple of spots in their rotation. My guess is that Jason Alexander sticks around and would draw the two-start week (@ Marlins, @ Yankees), but even if he does get the assignment there’s not a whole lot to like there, even in the deepest of mixed leagues. I’d steer clear.

We’ll see a new addition to the Royals’ rotation make two starts next week (@ Red Sox, @ Twins), but once again we’re still awaiting word on who that will be. The Royals added three potential starters at the deadline – Stephen Kolek, Ryan Bergert and Bailey Falter – and two of them are likely to step into the team’s starting rotation. Whichever one goes Monday will draw that two-start assignment. Regardless of which one it is, I’d have some interest in streaming them in mixed leagues of all sizes, especially with a matchup against the Twins on tap.
There won’t be anyone on the Dodgers making two starts next week as they have adjusted their rotation to accommodate the return of Blake Snell. They’re going with a six-man rotation this time through to make sure that Shohei Ohtani still gets a start, and with only six games on the schedule that means everyone is going to pitch one time only.

It also looks like we aren’t going to get two starts from anyone on the Yankees. They’re inserting Luis Gil back into their rotation and the expectation is that Cam Schlitter will stick around to make at least one additional start. With only six games on tap, that means that no one in their rotation will make two starts next week. We’ll monitor the situation and update as necessary if anything changes.

The Twins haven’t officially announced how their rotation will shake out following the acquisition of Taj Bradley on Thursday, but it seems likely that the former Rays’ right-hander will slide in on Monday. In that case, he would draw two starts for his new club (@ Tigers, vs. Royals). We’ll wait until we receive confirmation, but I would be perfectly fine rolling him out there in both 15 and 12-team formats – especially after he dominated in his lone start at Triple-A Durham following his demotion. He’s a player who may benefit greatly from this change of scenery.

We know that Mike Burrows is going to make two starts for the Pirates next week (vs. Giants, vs. Reds), but what we don’t know is who else is going to. After trading Bailey Falter to the Royals at the deadline on Thursday, there’s now an opening in the Pirates’ rotation. Will they finally do the right thing and promote Bubba Chandler? If so, he would start on Monday and make for a terrific option for a two-start week. It’s the Pirates though, so it’ll probably end up being Carmen Mlodzinski or a bullpen game of some sort. Stay tuned.

We’re also awaiting word on what the Padres plan to do with their rotation on Monday after dealing Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert away to the Royals at the trade deadline. Could we see the return of Matt Waldron? If so, he would line up for two starts (@ Diamondbacks, vs. Red Sox). If so, I’m definitely interested in streaming him if possible.

No word yet on who will start for the Rays on Monday. That person could potentially make two starts – at Angels and at Mariners – but we’re not sure who it’ll be yet.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of August 4.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of August 1, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Bryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Rays)

Woo has pitched like a true ace for the Mariners and for fantasy managers this season, registering a 3.11 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 127/25 K/BB ratio over 133 innings of work. Look for that elite production to continue this week in what’s shaping up to be an epic two-start week with home matchups against the White Sox and Rays. He represents one of the top overall options on the board this week.

Yusei Kikuchi, Angels, LHP (vs. Rays, @ Tigers)

Kikuchi has pitched well in his first season with the Halos, posting a 3.30 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 132/54 K/BB ratio across 128 innings of work. Somehow that has only led to four victories on the season, which has to be frustrating for fantasy managers. The matchups for the upcoming week aren’t terrible and he should have no problem eclipsing double digit strikeouts. He’s an easy start in all formats.

Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers, RHP (vs. Yankees, vs. Phillies)

When healthy this season, Eovaldi has done nothing but dominate – posting a 1.49 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and a 105/20 K/BB ratio over 103 innings in 18 starts. The matchups look tough on the surface, but there’s zero reason not to trust Eovaldi at this stage of the season. He should be locked into fantasy lineups once again for this two start week.

Decent Plays

Luis Severino, Athletics, RHP (@ Nationals, @ Orioles)

Severino hasn’t quite been what the Athletics were hoping for when they inked him to a two-year, $45 million pact over the winter, going 5-11 with a 4.83 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 98/42 K/BB ratio across 130 1/3 innings through his first 23 starts. Pitching away from Sutter Health Park should help him this week though, as Severino sports a 3.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 37/16 K/BB ratio over 59 1/3 frames on the road this season. Given that information and the matchups against two uninspiring offenses, I’d be find streaming Severino in both 15 and 12-team formats for his upcoming two-start week.

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (@ Mets, @ White Sox)

Cecconi had been lined up for two starts this past week, but after the Guardians mixed in a spot starter his two-start week got pushed. While it’s frustrating for fantasy managers to lose a start against the Rockies, at least this new two-start week still includes a battle against the White Sox in Chicago that he should be able to take advantage of. He still makes for a solid streaming option in any leagues where he may be available and I’d be starting him with complete confidence.

At Your Own Risk

Casey Mize, Tigers, RHP (vs. Twins, vs. Angels)

Something has definitely been off with Casey Mize as of late. Whether it’s the knee issue that caused his last start to be pushed back a day or something else, he has not been himself over his last three starts – giving up 11 runs over 8 2/3 innings and failing to get out of the second inning his last time out. The matchups look great on paper, and he’s going to be a favorite to win in both games, just understand that there’s far more risk in these starts than Mize’s season-long line would indicate.

Eric Lauer, Blue Jays, LHP (@ Rockies, @ Dodgers)

I like Eric Lauer as much as the next person and appreciate what he has done this season. It would take a special type of arm though for me to start anyone with confidence in a two-start week that included the Rockies at Coors Field and the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Go ahead and roll the dice if you’re feeling frisky, but that’s too much ratio risk for me.

National League

Strong Plays

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (@ Cubs, @ Pirates)

The 27-year-old southpaw is having a terrific season atop the Reds’ rotation, compiling a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 123/24 K/BB ratio across 128 innings through his first 22 starts. He’s a player who has earned the trust of fantasy managers and should be in lineups each week regardless of matchup. Yes, the matchup against the Cubs in Wrigley looks tough, but fortunately it’s balanced out by a premium spot against the Pirates in Pittsburgh to finish the week. Keep riding with Lodolo and enjoy the outstanding production.

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (vs. Astros, @ Braves)

In a bit of a surprise, the Marlins did not deal right-hander Sandy Alcantara prior to Thursday’s trade deadline. They may still explore trade opportunities over the winter, but for the rest of the 2025 season he’ll remain with the Marlins. Now he gets to settle into a two-start week in which he’ll take on the Astros and the Braves. He is looking more and more like his former self the further that he gets out from Tommy John surgery and at this stage I would feel comfortable trusting him in any matchup. Start him with confidence here.

Cal Quantrill, Marlins, RHP (vs. Astros, @ Braves)

Quantrill is the type of arm that always seems to be available for streaming purposes but never quite gets any attention on the waiver wire. Despite his poor numbers overall on the season he has actually pitched to a solid 3.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 61/16 K/BB ratio over 71 innings in 15 starts since the start of May. While most fantasy managers are going to want to avoid him, Quantrill actually makes for a strong play in his upcoming two start week.

Sean Manaea, Mets, RHP (vs. Guardians, @ Brewers)

While he has spent the majority of the season on the injured list, Manaea has pitched well in his first four appearances (three starts) for the Mets, compiling a 2.08 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and a 22/4 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings. As long as he’s healthy enough to take the hill, fantasy managers are going to want to have him in their lineups. There’s nothing scary about a matchup against the Guardians though it’ll get tougher for him having to go to Milwaukee to face the Brewers to end the week. He should be started in 100 percent of leagues.

Decent Plays

Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Padres, vs. Rockies)

After an impressive stretch of starts going into and coming out of the All-Star break, Pfaadt was knocked around his last time out – giving up seven runs on 11 hits in a losing effort against the Tigers. This looks like a nice week for him to bounce back, drawing a couple of starts at home including a matchup against the bottom-feeding Rockies. We’re still concerned about his diminished strikeout rate this season, but in a two-start week that is mitigated through volume. I think with the Rockies’ matchup on tap to finish the week, Pfaadt makes for a viable option in leagues of all sizes.

Quinn Priester, Brewers, RHP (@ Braves, vs. Mets)

Priester has been an unsung hero for the Brewers this season since he was picked up in an early-season trade from the Red Sox. The right-hander has gone 10-2 with an outstanding 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and an 89/36 K/BB ratio over 107 1/3 innings. The matchups are both tough, which pushes him down into the decent category for me, but I can’t see a reason that fantasy managers should be sitting him this week.

Sonny Gray, Cardinals, RHP (@ Dodgers, vs. Cubs)

Gray has been a bit inconsistent this season and has posted higher ratios than usual, but he’s still someone that fantasy managers should be starting on a weekly basis – especially with his large strikeout totals. The matchups this week are tough – having to battle both the Dodgers and the Cubs, but I’d be hard pressed to find eight better options in both 15 and 12-team formats than a two-start week from Sonny Gray.

Zack Littell, Reds, RHP (@ Cubs, @ Pirates)

Littell was picked up from the Rays in a deadline deal on Thursday and will be thrust right into a two-start week with his new ballclub. He has pitched well this season – posting a 3.58 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 89/21 K/BB ratio across 133 1/3 innings through his first 22 starts. The matchup against the Cubs at Wrigley is tough, but if he can survive that one, he’ll be in a nice spot to earn a victory against Mike Burrows and the Pirates on Sunday. I’d be fine using him in both 15 and 12-team formats.

Colin Rea, Cubs, RHP (vs. Reds, @ Cardinals)

Rea has been a somewhat serviceable option for the Cubs and for fantasy managers this season, going 8-5 with a 4.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 75/28 K/BB ratio over 106 innings. He’s always a more intriguing option during his two-start weeks as the added volume helps to offset his limited strikeout rate. He’s always a threat to earn a victory while pitching for the Cubs and isn’t prone to major blowups. He’s an easy start in 15-team leagues and is an attractive target in 12-teamers if he’s available as well.

Jesus Luzardo, Phillies, LHP (vs. Orioles, @ Rangers)

Luzardo has been a bit of an enigma this season, alternating between stretches of dominance with inexplicable blowups at inopportune times. Even when he has struggled though, the strikeouts have been there, and you can count on double digit punchouts over his upcoming two-start week. There doesn’t appear to be much danger in starts against the Orioles and Rangers and if you have been rolling with Luzardo all season I would continue doing so this week.

Mike Burrows, Pirates, RHP (vs. Giants, @ Reds)

While he has been inconsistent, there’s actually a lot to like about what we have seen from Mike Burrows through his first 13 starts for the Pirates. He holds a 3.88 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 60/21 K/BB ratio over his first 58 innings. He has just one win on the season though, and wins are going to continue to be a problem while pitching for the Pirates. That being said, he should provide solid ratios and good strikeouts over a two start week, making him a worthwhile streaming option in any leagues where he may be available.

Justin Verlander, Giants, RHP (@ Pirates, vs. Nationals)

The veteran right-hander finally seems to be settling in with the Giants since his latest return from the injured list. He nabbed his first victory of the season two starts ago and has only surrendered one earned run while striking out 10 batters over 10 innings in his last two outings. He gets two strong matchups this week, taking on the Pirates in Pittsburgh before battling the Nationals at home.

At Your Own Risk

Erick Fedde, Braves, RHP (vs. Brewers, vs. Marlins)

As much as I’d like to trust Erick Fedde now that he’s out of St. Louis and pitching for the Braves, it’s just so hard to find upside in a guy that has registered a 3-11 record, 5.33 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and a 66/49 K/BB ratio over 106 1/3 innings through his first 21 starts on the season. It’s possible that he reverts back to his old form now that he has a change of scenery, and the matchup against the Marlins to finish the week is intriguing, but if I care about my ratios at all I’m not rolling the dice on this one.

Joey Wentz, Braves, LHP (vs. Brewers, vs. Marlins)

The Braves have had to deal with an unprecedented amount of injuries to their starting rotation this season, which is why Wentz, Erick Fedde, Carlos Carrasco and Bryce Elder currently make up 80 percent of their rotation. Not only is Wentz not fully stretched out yet, he has also shown no signs of being a viable mixed league starter at the big league level – and his results out of the bullpen weren’t great either. If you’re desperate for volume and all you’re looking for is to stream through wins and strikeouts, you can take a shot in deeper leagues, just be prepared to butcher your ratios.

Tanner Gordon, Rockies, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, @ Diamondbacks)

Never Rockies. It’s as simple as that. There’s never a reason to go here. The right-hander has actually pitched decently through his first five starts, but it’s still poor ratios and low strikeouts and very little chance of earning a victory. Not to mention he’ll have to battle the red-hot Blue Jays at Coors Field before taking on a strong Diamondbacks’ offense in Arizona. There’s just no reason to do it. Stay away.  

Hello and welcome to the 17th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week. With the trade deadline, there are a few more uncertain situations than usual:

Someone will make two starts for the Red Sox next week (vs. Royals, @ Padres), it’s just unclear at the moment whether that will be Garrett Crochet or Brayan Bello. Crochet had been scheduled to pitch on Friday, but the Red Sox are moving him back to Monday or Tuesday in an attempt to manage his workload. If he goes on Monday (which seems like the most likely scenario), he would draw the appealing two-start week. Either way, he’s not leaving fantasy lineups regardless of whether he starts twice or not.

It's also likely that someone on the White Sox pitches twice (@ Mariners, vs. Guardians), though we’re not sure exactly who yet as Adrian Houser was pushed back (and could be traded) which throws the whole rotation in flux. If Aaron Civale pitches Friday on regular rest, then Jonathan Cannon would line up for the two-start week. If the White Sox go with another spot starter on Friday, that would push Davis Martin to the two-start week after he should have had one this week.

Charlie Morton had been scheduled to start twice for the Orioles before being deal to the Tigers at the trade deadline. Now someone will make those starts (@ Phillies, vs. Athletics), but at the moment it’s still unclear who that person will be. Stay tuned.

Someone will be making two starts for the Astros next week as well, but we’re still waiting to see how exactly they handle a couple of spots in their rotation. My guess is that Jason Alexander sticks around and would draw the two-start week (@ Marlins, @ Yankees), but even if he does get the assignment there’s not a whole lot to like there, even in the deepest of mixed leagues. I’d steer clear.

We’ll see a new addition to the Royals’ rotation make two starts next week (@ Red Sox, @ Twins), but once again we’re still awaiting word on who that will be. The Royals added three potential starters at the deadline – Stephen Kolek, Ryan Bergert and Bailey Falter – and two of them are likely to step into the team’s starting rotation. Whichever one goes Monday will draw that two-start assignment. Regardless of which one it is, I’d have some interest in streaming them in mixed leagues of all sizes, especially with a matchup against the Twins on tap.
There won’t be anyone on the Dodgers making two starts next week as they have adjusted their rotation to accommodate the return of Blake Snell. They’re going with a six-man rotation this time through to make sure that Shohei Ohtani still gets a start, and with only six games on the schedule that means everyone is going to pitch one time only.

It also looks like we aren’t going to get two starts from anyone on the Yankees. They’re inserting Luis Gil back into their rotation and the expectation is that Cam Schlitter will stick around to make at least one additional start. With only six games on tap, that means that no one in their rotation will make two starts next week. We’ll monitor the situation and update as necessary if anything changes.

The Twins haven’t officially announced how their rotation will shake out following the acquisition of Taj Bradley on Thursday, but it seems likely that the former Rays’ right-hander will slide in on Monday. In that case, he would draw two starts for his new club (@ Tigers, vs. Royals). We’ll wait until we receive confirmation, but I would be perfectly fine rolling him out there in both 15 and 12-team formats – especially after he dominated in his lone start at Triple-A Durham following his demotion. He’s a player who may benefit greatly from this change of scenery.

We know that Mike Burrows is going to make two starts for the Pirates next week (vs. Giants, vs. Reds), but what we don’t know is who else is going to. After trading Bailey Falter to the Royals at the deadline on Thursday, there’s now an opening in the Pirates’ rotation. Will they finally do the right thing and promote Bubba Chandler? If so, he would start on Monday and make for a terrific option for a two-start week. It’s the Pirates though, so it’ll probably end up being Carmen Mlodzinski or a bullpen game of some sort. Stay tuned.

We’re also awaiting word on what the Padres plan to do with their rotation on Monday after dealing Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert away to the Royals at the trade deadline. Could we see the return of Matt Waldron? If so, he would line up for two starts (@ Diamondbacks, vs. Red Sox). If so, I’m definitely interested in streaming him if possible.

No word yet on who will start for the Rays on Monday. That person could potentially make two starts – at Angels and at Mariners – but we’re not sure who it’ll be yet.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of August 4.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of August 1, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Bryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Rays)

Woo has pitched like a true ace for the Mariners and for fantasy managers this season, registering a 3.11 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 127/25 K/BB ratio over 133 innings of work. Look for that elite production to continue this week in what’s shaping up to be an epic two-start week with home matchups against the White Sox and Rays. He represents one of the top overall options on the board this week.

Yusei Kikuchi, Angels, LHP (vs. Rays, @ Tigers)

Kikuchi has pitched well in his first season with the Halos, posting a 3.30 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 132/54 K/BB ratio across 128 innings of work. Somehow that has only led to four victories on the season, which has to be frustrating for fantasy managers. The matchups for the upcoming week aren’t terrible and he should have no problem eclipsing double digit strikeouts. He’s an easy start in all formats.

Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers, RHP (vs. Yankees, vs. Phillies)

When healthy this season, Eovaldi has done nothing but dominate – posting a 1.49 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and a 105/20 K/BB ratio over 103 innings in 18 starts. The matchups look tough on the surface, but there’s zero reason not to trust Eovaldi at this stage of the season. He should be locked into fantasy lineups once again for this two start week.

Decent Plays

Luis Severino, Athletics, RHP (@ Nationals, @ Orioles)

Severino hasn’t quite been what the Athletics were hoping for when they inked him to a two-year, $45 million pact over the winter, going 5-11 with a 4.83 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 98/42 K/BB ratio across 130 1/3 innings through his first 23 starts. Pitching away from Sutter Health Park should help him this week though, as Severino sports a 3.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 37/16 K/BB ratio over 59 1/3 frames on the road this season. Given that information and the matchups against two uninspiring offenses, I’d be find streaming Severino in both 15 and 12-team formats for his upcoming two-start week.

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (@ Mets, @ White Sox)

Cecconi had been lined up for two starts this past week, but after the Guardians mixed in a spot starter his two-start week got pushed. While it’s frustrating for fantasy managers to lose a start against the Rockies, at least this new two-start week still includes a battle against the White Sox in Chicago that he should be able to take advantage of. He still makes for a solid streaming option in any leagues where he may be available and I’d be starting him with complete confidence.

At Your Own Risk

Casey Mize, Tigers, RHP (vs. Twins, vs. Angels)

Something has definitely been off with Casey Mize as of late. Whether it’s the knee issue that caused his last start to be pushed back a day or something else, he has not been himself over his last three starts – giving up 11 runs over 8 2/3 innings and failing to get out of the second inning his last time out. The matchups look great on paper, and he’s going to be a favorite to win in both games, just understand that there’s far more risk in these starts than Mize’s season-long line would indicate.

Eric Lauer, Blue Jays, LHP (@ Rockies, @ Dodgers)

I like Eric Lauer as much as the next person and appreciate what he has done this season. It would take a special type of arm though for me to start anyone with confidence in a two-start week that included the Rockies at Coors Field and the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Go ahead and roll the dice if you’re feeling frisky, but that’s too much ratio risk for me.

National League

Strong Plays

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (@ Cubs, @ Pirates)

The 27-year-old southpaw is having a terrific season atop the Reds’ rotation, compiling a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 123/24 K/BB ratio across 128 innings through his first 22 starts. He’s a player who has earned the trust of fantasy managers and should be in lineups each week regardless of matchup. Yes, the matchup against the Cubs in Wrigley looks tough, but fortunately it’s balanced out by a premium spot against the Pirates in Pittsburgh to finish the week. Keep riding with Lodolo and enjoy the outstanding production.

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (vs. Astros, @ Braves)

In a bit of a surprise, the Marlins did not deal right-hander Sandy Alcantara prior to Thursday’s trade deadline. They may still explore trade opportunities over the winter, but for the rest of the 2025 season he’ll remain with the Marlins. Now he gets to settle into a two-start week in which he’ll take on the Astros and the Braves. He is looking more and more like his former self the further that he gets out from Tommy John surgery and at this stage I would feel comfortable trusting him in any matchup. Start him with confidence here.

Cal Quantrill, Marlins, RHP (vs. Astros, @ Braves)

Quantrill is the type of arm that always seems to be available for streaming purposes but never quite gets any attention on the waiver wire. Despite his poor numbers overall on the season he has actually pitched to a solid 3.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 61/16 K/BB ratio over 71 innings in 15 starts since the start of May. While most fantasy managers are going to want to avoid him, Quantrill actually makes for a strong play in his upcoming two start week.

Sean Manaea, Mets, RHP (vs. Guardians, @ Brewers)

While he has spent the majority of the season on the injured list, Manaea has pitched well in his first four appearances (three starts) for the Mets, compiling a 2.08 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and a 22/4 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings. As long as he’s healthy enough to take the hill, fantasy managers are going to want to have him in their lineups. There’s nothing scary about a matchup against the Guardians though it’ll get tougher for him having to go to Milwaukee to face the Brewers to end the week. He should be started in 100 percent of leagues.

Decent Plays

Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Padres, vs. Rockies)

After an impressive stretch of starts going into and coming out of the All-Star break, Pfaadt was knocked around his last time out – giving up seven runs on 11 hits in a losing effort against the Tigers. This looks like a nice week for him to bounce back, drawing a couple of starts at home including a matchup against the bottom-feeding Rockies. We’re still concerned about his diminished strikeout rate this season, but in a two-start week that is mitigated through volume. I think with the Rockies’ matchup on tap to finish the week, Pfaadt makes for a viable option in leagues of all sizes.

Quinn Priester, Brewers, RHP (@ Braves, vs. Mets)

Priester has been an unsung hero for the Brewers this season since he was picked up in an early-season trade from the Red Sox. The right-hander has gone 10-2 with an outstanding 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and an 89/36 K/BB ratio over 107 1/3 innings. The matchups are both tough, which pushes him down into the decent category for me, but I can’t see a reason that fantasy managers should be sitting him this week.

Sonny Gray, Cardinals, RHP (@ Dodgers, vs. Cubs)

Gray has been a bit inconsistent this season and has posted higher ratios than usual, but he’s still someone that fantasy managers should be starting on a weekly basis – especially with his large strikeout totals. The matchups this week are tough – having to battle both the Dodgers and the Cubs, but I’d be hard pressed to find eight better options in both 15 and 12-team formats than a two-start week from Sonny Gray.

Zack Littell, Reds, RHP (@ Cubs, @ Pirates)

Littell was picked up from the Rays in a deadline deal on Thursday and will be thrust right into a two-start week with his new ballclub. He has pitched well this season – posting a 3.58 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 89/21 K/BB ratio across 133 1/3 innings through his first 22 starts. The matchup against the Cubs at Wrigley is tough, but if he can survive that one, he’ll be in a nice spot to earn a victory against Mike Burrows and the Pirates on Sunday. I’d be fine using him in both 15 and 12-team formats.

Colin Rea, Cubs, RHP (vs. Reds, @ Cardinals)

Rea has been a somewhat serviceable option for the Cubs and for fantasy managers this season, going 8-5 with a 4.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 75/28 K/BB ratio over 106 innings. He’s always a more intriguing option during his two-start weeks as the added volume helps to offset his limited strikeout rate. He’s always a threat to earn a victory while pitching for the Cubs and isn’t prone to major blowups. He’s an easy start in 15-team leagues and is an attractive target in 12-teamers if he’s available as well.

Jesus Luzardo, Phillies, LHP (vs. Orioles, @ Rangers)

Luzardo has been a bit of an enigma this season, alternating between stretches of dominance with inexplicable blowups at inopportune times. Even when he has struggled though, the strikeouts have been there, and you can count on double digit punchouts over his upcoming two-start week. There doesn’t appear to be much danger in starts against the Orioles and Rangers and if you have been rolling with Luzardo all season I would continue doing so this week.

Mike Burrows, Pirates, RHP (vs. Giants, @ Reds)

While he has been inconsistent, there’s actually a lot to like about what we have seen from Mike Burrows through his first 13 starts for the Pirates. He holds a 3.88 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 60/21 K/BB ratio over his first 58 innings. He has just one win on the season though, and wins are going to continue to be a problem while pitching for the Pirates. That being said, he should provide solid ratios and good strikeouts over a two start week, making him a worthwhile streaming option in any leagues where he may be available.

Justin Verlander, Giants, RHP (@ Pirates, vs. Nationals)

The veteran right-hander finally seems to be settling in with the Giants since his latest return from the injured list. He nabbed his first victory of the season two starts ago and has only surrendered one earned run while striking out 10 batters over 10 innings in his last two outings. He gets two strong matchups this week, taking on the Pirates in Pittsburgh before battling the Nationals at home.

At Your Own Risk

Erick Fedde, Braves, RHP (vs. Brewers, vs. Marlins)

As much as I’d like to trust Erick Fedde now that he’s out of St. Louis and pitching for the Braves, it’s just so hard to find upside in a guy that has registered a 3-11 record, 5.33 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and a 66/49 K/BB ratio over 106 1/3 innings through his first 21 starts on the season. It’s possible that he reverts back to his old form now that he has a change of scenery, and the matchup against the Marlins to finish the week is intriguing, but if I care about my ratios at all I’m not rolling the dice on this one.

Joey Wentz, Braves, LHP (vs. Brewers, vs. Marlins)

The Braves have had to deal with an unprecedented amount of injuries to their starting rotation this season, which is why Wentz, Erick Fedde, Carlos Carrasco and Bryce Elder currently make up 80 percent of their rotation. Not only is Wentz not fully stretched out yet, he has also shown no signs of being a viable mixed league starter at the big league level – and his results out of the bullpen weren’t great either. If you’re desperate for volume and all you’re looking for is to stream through wins and strikeouts, you can take a shot in deeper leagues, just be prepared to butcher your ratios.

Tanner Gordon, Rockies, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, @ Diamondbacks)

Never Rockies. It’s as simple as that. There’s never a reason to go here. The right-hander has actually pitched decently through his first five starts, but it’s still poor ratios and low strikeouts and very little chance of earning a victory. Not to mention he’ll have to battle the red-hot Blue Jays at Coors Field before taking on a strong Diamondbacks’ offense in Arizona. There’s just no reason to do it. Stay away.  

The franchise in Minnesota has been for sale since last fall.

This week, the Twins sold the roster.

With nine trades, including seven over the final five hours before the deadline, the Twins stunningly jettisoned nearly 40% of their team — including Carlos Correa and four high-leverage relievers who all were at least two years from free agency.

“It’s hard, but it’s about making sure that you’re constantly trying to find a way to not just sit on your heels, hope that it all goes better, and keep you fingers crossed,” president Derek Falvey said. “It’s a way to actually go invest in the future of the team, hopefully the short-term and the long-term.”

Starting pitcher Chris Paddack, one of six impending free agents, was the first to go. He was sent with right-hander Randy Dobnak, who has spent the majority of the last four seasons in Triple-A, to the Detroit Tigers for rookie league catcher Enrique Jimenez.

Closer Jhoan Duran, who had a .216 opponent batting average and a 2.47 ERA with 292 strikeouts over 233 2/3 innings in four seasons, was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies in the first sign that the Twins were serious about selling. Duran fetched Triple-A starting pitcher Mick Abel and High-A catcher Eduardo Tait.

Then came the dizzying parade of trades all across the major leagues, with the Twins uncharacteristically at the heart of the activity.

Outfielder Harrison Bader followed Duran to the Phillies for Double-A outfielder Hendry Mendez and rookie league starting pitcher Geremy Villoria. Reliever Brock Stewart was sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder James Outman, who’d been in Triple-A most of this season but has logged 230 major league games. Reliever Danny Coulombe went to the Texas Rangers for Low-A starting pitcher Garrett Horn.

First baseman Ty France and reliever Louis Varland were packaged to the Toronto Blue Jays for Triple-A outfielder Alan Roden and Triple-A starting pitcher Kendry Rojas. Popular multiposition player Willi Castro went to the Chicago Cubs for Double-A starting pitchers Sam Armstrong and Ryan Gallagher. Reliever Griffin Jax was sent to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Taj Bradley, who recently been sent to Triple-A but has shown flashes of dominance over 67 major league starts.

Then came the headliner. Correa went back to his original team, the Houston Astros, in what amounted to a salary dump while also bringing back High-A starting pitcher Matt Mikulski.

Whew.

“While painful and difficult at times to trade away players who have been with us for a while, we felt we added a lot of talent to our group and our organization that will continue to build out the next great core of players coming up and contributing at the major league level,” Falvey said. “I think we felt like we added players that not only are great prospects, and guys who are maybe part of a longer term future, but we were able to actually access a lot of players who are going to find their ways up to help this team really soon.”

After languishing in the standings all summer, following a 12-27 collapse down the stretch last year that kept them out of the postseason, Twins players found themselves in an increasingly uncomfortable clubhouse after the All-Star break as trade speculation intensified.

Their most recent home game grew tense, even chaotic, when manager Rocco Baldelli removed the popular Castro in the ninth inning of a 13-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox to recognize his effort, a move that ignited immediate speculation he’d been dealt. Turned out he was, just not then. Jax also was upset by his removal from the game, leading to an apology to Baldelli afterward.

Less than 22 months ago, the Twins were celebrating at a packed Target Field after Duran closed out a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays in the wild-card round for their first series win in 21 years and the end of their record 18-game postseason losing streak.

Since then, they’ve been in ownership-ordered payroll purgatory in light of the hefty hit they took in regional television revenue after the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy that affected several other clubs from midsized and small markets.

The front office, Falvey said, was not directed to make such a deep spending cut by executive chair Joe Pohlad and his family that has seeking a buyer for the club his grandfather, Carl Pohlad, purchased in 1984.

Paddack, Bader, Coulombe, France and Castro were impending free agents unlikely to be re-signed. Though Duran and Jax made a frequently dominant late-inning duo, Stewart had been solid, and Varland won’t be eligible for free agency for five more years, hard-throwing relievers were in high demand across the game and fetching high prices with so many clubs in contention for wild-card spots if not division titles.

“It’s pretty well-established historically in baseball that the deadline premium so to speak that you get by trading when there’s a known playoff cycle for teams, compared to the offseason, is different,” Falvey said. “In many cases I didn’t think that we were going to be able to access the same level of talent that we did this cycle for those guys.”

Even the most aggressive scenarios the Twins envisioned prior to the deadline didn’t include Correa, who signed the richest contract in club history as a free agent after the 2022 season. But the Astros wanted him back and were willing to eat most of the roughly $103 million remaining on his deal through 2028, and Correa was willing to waive his no-trade clause to return to the team that drafted him. The Twins agreed to cover $33 million, due in four installments each Dec. 15.

“I’ll always be a Carlos Correa fan at heart,” Falvey said. “He’s made a significant impact in this organization that will last beyond him leaving.”

Falvey was adamant that the Twins aren’t trying to bottom out with this rebuild like some other clubs have done with varying degrees of success. They kept both of their All-Stars, center fielder Byron Buxton and starting pitcher Joe Ryan, who had plenty of suitors. They’re still confident in third baseman Royce Lewis, who has followed a series of injuries with inconsistency at the plate this season. Starting pitcher Pablo López, whose shoulder injury preceded a skid in June the Twins never corrected, will be back sooner than later.

They also fetched quite a haul. Tait and Abel are top-100 prospects, per MLB’s most recent rankings. Outman was a regular for the Dodgers in 2023. Bradley has 378 strikeouts in 354 career innings.

“We just got deals we felt we had to say yes to,” Falvey said, “for part of the future.”

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Jesús Sánchez (OF Astros): Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues

Since it’s been only four weeks since I last featured Sánchez, I typically wouldn’t do it again so soon already. However, with Thursday’s trade from Miami to Houston and Sánchez still being only six-percent rostered in Yahoo leagues, I simply couldn’t resist. This is an outfielder well worth adding.

Sánchez has already made impressive gains this season, even if it hasn’t really showed up in his OPS. His strikeout rate, never before below 26 percent, is sitting at just 21 percent right now, and he hasn’t sacrificed any power to get there; his bat speed ranks in the 93rd percentile of major league hitters, while his average exit velocity is in the 87th percentile. In Houston, he’ll be in a better home run park for left-handers. Plus, the Astros have a history of getting improved results from new acquisitions (first basemen excepted). It doesn’t always work that way, of course, but if they could get Sánchez to hit the ball in the air more often, it could pay big dividends.

The negative with Sánchez is that he’s been putrid against left-handers and ought to be platooned at this point. Maybe the Astros will figure out something there, too, but let’s not expect miracles. Even while playing only against righties, Sánchez should be solid enough in all five categories to contribute.

Dennis Santana (RP Pirates): Rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues

It was pretty shocking to see the Pirates fail to cash in on Santana’s successful first four months (1.36 ERA, 38/10 K/BB in 46 1/3 IP) at Thursday’s deadline, but they stood pat, knowing he’ll be plenty affordable in arbitration again next year. As a result, he’s No. 2 on my list of relievers to pick up post-deadline.

1. Randy Rodríguez (Giants)
2. Santana
3. Yennier Cano (Orioles)
(gap)
4. Cole Sands (Twins)
5. Phil Maton (Rangers)
6. Kyle Leahy (Cardinals)
7. Riley O’Brien (Cardinals)
8. Jose A. Ferrer (Nationals)
9. Jack Perkins (Athletics)
10. JoJo Romero (Cardinals)

Cleveland’s Cade Smith, who has stepped in for Emmanuel Clase, would be first on the list, but he should be gone everywhere now. Rodriguez, Santana and Cano, though he isn’t a lock in Baltimore, will also be included in Monday’s updated top 300. I’m not sure about the rest. Sands hasn’t been nearly as impressive this season as he was a year ago, but given that he’s essentially the last man standing in Minnesota, he might get squeezed in at the bottom of the list. I could see either Leahy or O’Brien doing a nice job in St. Louis, but it’s probably fine to wait and see who gets the first save chance before grabbing either.

Nestor Cortes (SP Padres): Rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues

Cortes, out since April 6 with a strained flexor tendon, is ready to return, but the Brewers found themselves with no room for him. As a result, he was traded to the Padres for outfielder Brandon Lockridge on Thursday, setting him up to join the San Diego rotation next week..

Cortes had a 3.77 ERA and a 162/39 K/BB in 174 1/3 innings for the Yankees last year before being sent to Milwaukee in the Devin Williams trade. His most recent rehab start saw him strike out nine and allow one earned runs over 5 2/3 innings for the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate. His velocity is down a bit from last year, and he’s probably not going to get back to striking out 26-28% of the batters he faces, like he did for the Yankees in 2021 and ’22. However, San Diego should be a great environment for him and his flyball tendencies, and with the way the Padres bullpen is stacked now, getting through five with a lead is going to produce a win most of the time.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- I thought I was going to feature Carlos Correa (26% rostered) this week following his surprising return to Houston, but when it came down to it, there’s just not much basis for the switch helping him. I suspect it might anyway, but it’s not like it’s a better ballpark for hitters in general or for him personally (he has career OPSs of .833 in Daikin and .830 at Target). It’s probably a better offensive team, but still hardly a great one at the moment. Correa has been unlucky this season, according to Statcast, and maybe that will begin to fix itself, but he still seems rather fringy with no standout category and zero steal potential.

- Tyler Locklear should get a chance to be an everyday player for the D-backs after arriving in the Eugenio Suárez trade and is worth considering in deeper leagues. I’m skeptical he’ll post a solid enough batting average to be of value in 10- or 12-team leagues, but he should offer decent power numbers.

- After parting with Sánchez, the Marlins are promoting speedy outfielder Jakob Marsee, who already has 47 steals this year after finishing with 51 last season. Unfortunately, he’s just a career .239 hitter in the minors, and while his power production has ticked up this year -- he has 14 homers in 429 plate appearances -- his exit velocity numbers are still well below average. He’s also probably going to sit against lefties. Those desperate for steals could give him a try, but I expect him to struggle.

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Jesús Sánchez (OF Astros): Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues

Since it’s been only four weeks since I last featured Sánchez, I typically wouldn’t do it again so soon already. However, with Thursday’s trade from Miami to Houston and Sánchez still being only six-percent rostered in Yahoo leagues, I simply couldn’t resist. This is an outfielder well worth adding.

Sánchez has already made impressive gains this season, even if it hasn’t really showed up in his OPS. His strikeout rate, never before below 26 percent, is sitting at just 21 percent right now, and he hasn’t sacrificed any power to get there; his bat speed ranks in the 93rd percentile of major league hitters, while his average exit velocity is in the 87th percentile. In Houston, he’ll be in a better home run park for left-handers. Plus, the Astros have a history of getting improved results from new acquisitions (first basemen excepted). It doesn’t always work that way, of course, but if they could get Sánchez to hit the ball in the air more often, it could pay big dividends.

The negative with Sánchez is that he’s been putrid against left-handers and ought to be platooned at this point. Maybe the Astros will figure out something there, too, but let’s not expect miracles. Even while playing only against righties, Sánchez should be solid enough in all five categories to contribute.

Dennis Santana (RP Pirates): Rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues

It was pretty shocking to see the Pirates fail to cash in on Santana’s successful first four months (1.36 ERA, 38/10 K/BB in 46 1/3 IP) at Thursday’s deadline, but they stood pat, knowing he’ll be plenty affordable in arbitration again next year. As a result, he’s No. 2 on my list of relievers to pick up post-deadline.

1. Randy Rodríguez (Giants)
2. Santana
3. Yennier Cano (Orioles)
(gap)
4. Cole Sands (Twins)
5. Phil Maton (Rangers)
6. Kyle Leahy (Cardinals)
7. Riley O’Brien (Cardinals)
8. Jose A. Ferrer (Nationals)
9. Jack Perkins (Athletics)
10. JoJo Romero (Cardinals)

Cleveland’s Cade Smith, who has stepped in for Emmanuel Clase, would be first on the list, but he should be gone everywhere now. Rodriguez, Santana and Cano, though he isn’t a lock in Baltimore, will also be included in Monday’s updated top 300. I’m not sure about the rest. Sands hasn’t been nearly as impressive this season as he was a year ago, but given that he’s essentially the last man standing in Minnesota, he might get squeezed in at the bottom of the list. I could see either Leahy or O’Brien doing a nice job in St. Louis, but it’s probably fine to wait and see who gets the first save chance before grabbing either.

Nestor Cortes (SP Padres): Rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues

Cortes, out since April 6 with a strained flexor tendon, is ready to return, but the Brewers found themselves with no room for him. As a result, he was traded to the Padres for outfielder Brandon Lockridge on Thursday, setting him up to join the San Diego rotation next week..

Cortes had a 3.77 ERA and a 162/39 K/BB in 174 1/3 innings for the Yankees last year before being sent to Milwaukee in the Devin Williams trade. His most recent rehab start saw him strike out nine and allow one earned runs over 5 2/3 innings for the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate. His velocity is down a bit from last year, and he’s probably not going to get back to striking out 26-28% of the batters he faces, like he did for the Yankees in 2021 and ’22. However, San Diego should be a great environment for him and his flyball tendencies, and with the way the Padres bullpen is stacked now, getting through five with a lead is going to produce a win most of the time.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- I thought I was going to feature Carlos Correa (26% rostered) this week following his surprising return to Houston, but when it came down to it, there’s just not much basis for the switch helping him. I suspect it might anyway, but it’s not like it’s a better ballpark for hitters in general or for him personally (he has career OPSs of .833 in Daikin and .830 at Target). It’s probably a better offensive team, but still hardly a great one at the moment. Correa has been unlucky this season, according to Statcast, and maybe that will begin to fix itself, but he still seems rather fringy with no standout category and zero steal potential.

- Tyler Locklear should get a chance to be an everyday player for the D-backs after arriving in the Eugenio Suárez trade and is worth considering in deeper leagues. I’m skeptical he’ll post a solid enough batting average to be of value in 10- or 12-team leagues, but he should offer decent power numbers.

- After parting with Sánchez, the Marlins are promoting speedy outfielder Jakob Marsee, who already has 47 steals this year after finishing with 51 last season. Unfortunately, he’s just a career .239 hitter in the minors, and while his power production has ticked up this year -- he has 14 homers in 429 plate appearances -- his exit velocity numbers are still well below average. He’s also probably going to sit against lefties. Those desperate for steals could give him a try, but I expect him to struggle.