Fantasy Baseball 2-Start Pitcher Rankings: Rough week, rough decisions to make

Pitcher rankings for fantasy baseball this week reveal a challenging selection process. Zac Thornton, the Mets' 20% option, has established himself as a reliable rotation member with a 3.04 ERA and 1.13 WHIP after nine starts. His recent performance against the Padres, where he struck out seven, indicates his continued effectiveness.

Andrew Alvarez, ranked 7% by the Nationals, has had a better stretch in August but his advanced stats and inconsistency suggest he is a low-floor, low-ceiling option for deep formats. Max Scherzer, ranked 6% by the Blue Jays, has struggled recently after a faltering outing against the Royals. However, his recent success warrants consideration for two home starts against the Royals and Mariners, both of which rank low in runs scored.

Seth Lugo, ranked 24% by the Royals, showed improvement in the second half with a 2.37 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. However, his recent performance has been concerning with a 7.48 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in his past four starts. Despite favorable matchups against the Blue Jays and Guardians, most managers will likely choose someone else over Lugo.

Jose Urquidy, ranked 4% by the White Sox, had a breakout performance on August 19 against the White Sox, striking out eight over six shutout innings. However, his recent ERA and WHIP suggest he may not sustain this success. Merrill Kelly, ranked 34% by the Diamondbacks, has had fluctuating results this season, with a 5.37 ERA. Only desperate managers chasing wins should consider him.

Kumar Rocker, ranked 10% by the Rangers, has been an innings eater this season, struggling to post a winning record. Facing division leaders the Cubs and Milwaukee, it does not seem like the week Rocker will turn things around. Chris Bassitt, ranked 6% by the Orioles, has made two starts since returning from injury, logging a 9:4 K:BB ratio, 4.09 ERA, and 1.55 WHIP. However, his struggling WHIP and inability to keep the bases clean make him a risky pick for this week's starts.

The one-start streamers for the week include pitchers such as Peter Lambert, Shane Bieber, Grayson Rodriguez, Brady Singer, Dustin May, and Robert Gasser. Considering the light schedule this week and the poor pitching performances, fantasy managers may find some success streaming these pitchers.