Messick can keep it rolling

Every team is scheduled to play at least six games next week. That leaves us with a lot of two-start pitchers to consider in fantasy. Let’s highlight five of them and discuss what their matchups could mean for their production.

Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs: vs. MIL, vs. HOU

Imanaga had a difficult matchup against the Braves in Atlanta on Wednesday. He still put together another great outing, allowing two runs and recording six strikeouts over seven innings. In nine starts, he has given up two or fewer runs seven times. One of the keys to his success has been his 0.90 WHIP, which follows his 0.99 WHIP from last season. Another big plus has been him increasing his strikeout rate from 20.6% last season to 28.0% this year.

The Brewers and Astros are two more difficult matchups for Imanaga. They both rank inside the top 10 in baseball in runs scored, while the Astros have hit the sixth-most home runs. Still, with how well Imanaga is pitching and his increased strikeout upside, he’s not someone to consider benching in fantasy.

Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays: vs. BAL, at NYY

With McClanahan having not pitched in the majors since 2023, the Rays are expected to be cautious with his workload. Although he has already made eight starts, he didn’t throw more than 90 pitches in any of them. In five of his starts, he threw 80 or fewer pitches. Still, the results have been great with him recording a 2.27 ERA and a 3.28 xERA. He is missing plenty of bats with his 25.8% strikeout rate, and his WHIP checks in at 0.98.

McClanahan is likely to stay under 100 pitches for the foreseeable future. He could also be shut down at some point, although the Rays being in first place means they could be playing games that matter down the stretch. As things currently stand, he comes with plenty of upside for these two matchups. The Orioles have stuck out the fifth-most time in baseball, while the Yankees have struck out the ninth-most times.

Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians: at DET, at PHI

Messick has been a valuable member of the Guardians starting rotation, recording a 2.35 ERA and a 3.05 xERA through nine starts. His 6.8% walk rate has helped him record a 0.99 WHIP. He also has a 28.3% strikeout rate to go along with his meager 31.1% hard-hit rate allowed. Despite making only seven starts in the majors last year, he also induced weak contact, allowing a 29.8% hard-hit rate.

The Tigers and Phillies have underwhelmed at the plate, with both teams ranking inside the bottom-10 in baseball in runs scored. Left-handed pitchers have also held the Phillies to a .661 OPS, despite the big sluggers in their lineup. Even though both of his starts will be on the road, Messick can still be a valuable fantasy option during Week 9.

Ryne Nelson, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. SF, vs. COL

Looking at Nelson’s 5.40 ERA and 5.06 xERA, he doesn’t exactly scream exciting fantasy option. However, a lot of the damage done against him came in an outing against the Blue Jays in which he recorded just one out and gave up eight runs. In his nine starts, he has allowed three or fewer earned runs six times. One big area of concern, though, has been him allowing 1.8 HR/9. He gave up just 1.0 HR/9 last season on his way to a 3.39 ERA and 3.03 xERA.

Nelson’s propensity for giving up home runs might not be an issue in these two matchups. The Giants have hit just 31 home runs on their way to scoring the fewest runs in baseball. He’ll face the Rockies in Arizona, avoiding the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field. Overlook his season ERA and start him in 12-team and deeper leagues.

Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals: vs. BOS, vs. SEA

Lugo has hit a rough patch. He gave up five runs to the White Sox in his last start, marking the third time over his last four outings that he allowed at least four runs. However, he gave up two or fewer earned runs in each of his first five outings. If he doesn’t improve his 1.42 WHIP, he could continue to provide inconsistent production. His strikeout rate is only 20.8%, which also doesn’t help his fantasy upside. At this point, he might not be much more than a viable streaming option for when he has a favorable matchup.

Two offensively challenged teams await Lugo next week. The Red Sox are tied for the second-fewest runs in baseball, which is one of the main reasons for their disappointing start. The Mariners lineup suffered a big blow Thursday when Cal Raleigh (oblique) was placed on the IL. They also have the third-most strikeouts. If there was ever a week to feel good about rolling with Lugo, this is it.

Mike Barner has been covering fantasy sports since 2007. His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Yahoo, SportsLine and RotoWire. Mike was also a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.