Two to Tango

August 22, 2008 2:40pm CDT

Each week, we'll profile the projected two-start pitchers for the upcoming fantasy week. Keep in mind that these are subject to change as managers adjust their rotations over the weekend.

Safe Bets

Roy Halladay: @ TB (Shields); @ NYY (Pettitte) - It's hard to not be impressed with Halladay. He posted a 2.71 ERA in 20 games before the break, and that mark is nearly identical in his seven second-half starts (2.61 ERA). Simply put, he's one of the most reliable fantasy hurlers in the game. His 2.53 road ERA doesn't hurt, either.

Chad Billingsley: @ PHI (Myers); @ ARI (Davis) - Aside from a 5.20 ERA in April, Billingsley has posted a sub-4.00 ERA every month this season, including a 3.38 mark over his last four starts. He's also second in the National League in strikeouts behind Tim Lincecum with 168. Billingsley is scheduled to throw in two of the league's most hitter-friendly parks, but he's still a top-tier option this week.

Francisco Liriano: @ SEA (Dickey); @ OAK (Braden) - Liriano has been lights out since re-joining the Twins rotation. In his last four starts, he's 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. On top of that, he gets to face two of the worst offense in the American League. It just doesn't get much better than this.

Jake Peavy: vs ARI (Haren); vs COL (Francis) - He was hit for five runs in five innings in his last start against Arizona, but it's hard to keep a guy like Peavy down for long. The right-hander makes both of his starts this week at PETCO Park, where he holds a 1.42 ERA and 0.91 WHIP this season. That's all you really need to know.

John Lackey: vs OAK (Smith); vs TEX (Millwood) - Lackey offers a bit of a mixed bag this week. On one hand, he posted a 1.29 ERA in his lone start against the A's this season. On the other, he boasts a 9.53 mark in his start against the Rangers this year. Still, while the Texas matchup might make you a bit nervous, Lackey has been too good this season to look too much into one bad outing.

Carlos Zambrano: @ PIT (Davis); vs PHI (Moyer) - Like several others on this list, Zambrano has struggled since the All-Star break, holding a 4.53 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in seven starts (2.84 ERA; 1.23 WHIP in the first half). He did, however, look solid in his last outing, holding the Reds to one run over seven innings, so hopefully his struggles are behind him. Plus, the Cubs have the most potent offense in the NL, so he always has a good chance of picking up wins.

James Shields: vs TOR (Halladay); vs BAL (Waters) - Shields home/road inconsistency this year has been frustrating, but that just means we expect good returns this week at Tropicana Field, where he's 8-1 with a 2.21 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 14 starts (5.84 ERA; 1.44 WHIP on the road).

Matt Cain: vs COL (Francis); @ CIN (Arroyo) - He has just eight wins this season, but Cain has been one of the top hurlers in the National League. If only he received more run support. Cain holds a 1.67 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over his last four starts, and there's no reason he shouldn't be in your lineup this week.

Gil Meche: vs TEX (Feldman); @ DET (Galarraga) - Meche continues to enjoy a fruitful second half. After posting a 4.71 ERA and 1.40 WHIP prior to the All-Star break, the right-hander is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in seven second-half starts. The Rangers and their league-best offense is a significant threat, but Meche held them to one run in six innings earlier this season.

Next Best Things

Brett Myers: vs LAD (Billingsley); @ CHC (Lilly) - It's taken him a lot longer than expected, but Myers is finally pitching the like the ace the Phillies envisioned him being early in the season. After a 5.84 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in the first half, he's posted 1.94 and 0.96 marks since the break. The only real concern here is that Myers holds a 6.35 road ERA this season (3.04 at home), so his matchup at Wrigley Field late next week could pose some problems.

Ted Lilly: @ PIT (Snell); vs PHI (Myers) - Lilly holds a 3.15 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in seven starts since the All-Star break. However, he holds a 5.63 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in three starts against the Pirates this year, and the Phillies hit him for five runs in 4.1 innings of work in his lone start against them, so we have some concerns about his upcoming slate.

Josh Beckett: @ NYY (Pettitte); vs CWS (Richard) - Beckett entered his August 17th start against the Blue Jays with a 3.92 ERA. He left that start with a 4.34 ERA. That's what happens when you allow eight earned runs in 2.1 innings of work. We really shouldn't give too much weight to one start, but that one is difficult to ignore. Beckett is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts at Yankee Stadium this year, so hopefully he can get back on track quickly.

Armando Galarraga: vs CLE (Jackson); vs KC (Meche) - In his seven post All-Star game starts, Galarraga is 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, including a 3-0 record with a 2.36 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in his last four starts. Against two offenses that rank in the bottom half of the American League, Galarraga should continue to roll.

Jair Jurrjens: vs FLA (Olsen); @ WAS (Balester) - Jurrjens has been one of this year's most pleasant surprises, but he's been very hittable of late. Over his last four starts, he's 1-3 and has allowed 30 hits in 24 innings. Thus far, his 4.50 August ERA is his worst monthly mark of this season. The Marlins could pose problems, but Jurrjens should be able to get on track against the Nats and their major-league worst offense later in the week.

Mike Pelfrey: vs HOU (Moehler); @ FLA (Olsen) - Pelfrey has given the Mets a big boost this year, winning 12 games and holding a solid 3.86 ERA. And in his last four outings, he's 3-1 with a 3.62 ERA.

At Your Own Risk

Scott Olsen: @ ATL (Jurrjens); vs NYM (Pelfrey) - The second half has not treated Olsen well. After holding a 3.77 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in the first half, those numbers have skyrocketed to 5.09 and 1.52 in the second. He has pitched well against the Braves this season (2.08 ERA in two starts), but that's not enough to make him a safe option this week.

Greg Smith: @ LAA (Lackey); vs MIN (Baker) - Smith may hold an impressive 2.08 ERA over his last four starts, but he also holds a 1.52 WHIP over that timeframe, which could eventually spell disaster. The main culprit is a 5.8 BB/9 rate over those last four outings. As long as his control troubles continue, he'll be a risky investment.

Andy Pettitte: vs BOS (Beckett); vs TOR (Halladay) - The Yankees left-hander has been somewhat hit or miss this season. However, he's been pitching well of late, holding a 3.00 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over his last three appearances. That said, in two starts against Boston this year, he sports an unimpressive 5.06 ERA and 1.88 WHIP.

Derek Lowe: @ WAS (Balester); @ ARI (Haren) - Lowe has looked good over his last three starts, holding a 2.29 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. The trouble is, all three of those starts came at home. His two outings this week come on the road, where he sports a 5.88 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 12 starts this year.

Jered Weaver: vs OAK (Braden); vs MIN (Liriano) - Since the break, Weaver holds a 6.10 ERA and 1.45 WHIP (4.03 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in the first half). He's gone through some decent stretches, including a 3.97 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in his last two starts, but he's been largely ineffective. A start against Oakland and their league-worst offense should help, though.

Pick of the Week

Scott Baker: @ SEA (Rowland-Smith); @ OAK (Smith) - Baker holds a 4.70 ERA and 1.54 WHIP since the All-Star break (3.43 ERA; 1.25 WHIP in the first half). He has looked better of late, however, sporting a 3.10 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over his last three starts. And we like his chances of continued success against Seattle and Oakland, two of the three worst offenses in the American League.

Hedge Your Bets

Dan Haren: @ SD (Peavy); vs LAD (Lowe) - Haren has been one of the National League's top hurlers this season, holding a 14-6 record with a 3.12 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. However, those numbers mask his recent struggles. In four August starts, he holds a 6.04 ERA and 1.62 WHIP (albeit with three wins). It's possible he's simply encountered some bad luck, but 36 hits allowed in the last 25.1 innings is hard to explain away. Exercise caution in the short term.

Others

Zach Jackson: @ DET (Galarraga); vs SEA (Dickey)
R.A. Dickey: vs MIN (Liriano); @ CLE (Jackson)
Bronson Arroyo: @ HOU (Rodriguez); vs SF (Cain)
Clayton Richard: @ BAL (Waters); @ BOS (Beckett)
Collin Balester: vs LAD (Lowe); vs ATL (Jurrjens)
Ian Snell: vs CHC (Lilly); vs MLW (Suppan)
Chris Waters: vs CWS (Richard); @ TB (Shields)
Wandy Rodriguez: vs CIN (Arroyo); vs STL (Lohse)
Jamie Moyer: vs NYM (Martinez); @ CHC (Zambrano)
Kevin Millwood: @ KC (Greinke); @ LAA (Lackey)
Brian Moehler: @ NYM (Pelfrey); vs STL (Looper)
Scott Feldman: @ KC (Meche); @ LAA (Weaver)
Dallas Braden: @ LAA (Weaver); vs TEX (Feldman)
Jeff Francis: @ SF (Cain); @ SD (Peavy)

Two-Start Notes

If the Brewers opt to keep Ben Sheets on his regular rest, he would receive two starts.

Zack Greinke would start twice if the Royals decide to skip Brandon Duckworth.

The Mariners could move Brendan Morrow to the starting rotation this week. If this happens, R.A. Dickey would likely be moved to the bullpen.

Cliff Lee could receive two starts this week if the Indians skip Zach Jackson.

Brandon Webb could receive two starts if the D'Backs skip Yusmeiro Petit.