For owners in weekly leagues, two-start pitchers are a key to maximizing wins and strikeouts. And oftentimes -- perhaps more often than you'd think -- they can be found on waivers or even your bench.
Mike Leake (vs. PIT, @MIL)
Coming off a disappointing first season with the Cardinals in 2016, Leake has opened '17 in dominant fashion, allowing just one run on 10 hits over his first two starts, spanning 15 innings. Wednesday's stellar outing versus the Nationals -- in which he tossed seven shutout innings -- was especially impressive being that Washington ranks first in the Majors in OPS. As for next week, Leake makes for an appealing option in all league formats, as the Pirates rank last in the National League in runs scored and OPS, while the Brewers rank in the bottom half of the Senior Circuit in both of those categories.
Tom Koehler (@SEA, @SD)
Although Koehler should not be viewed as an every-week starter in standard 12-team mixed leagues, the Marlins righty can be a useful short-term asset depending upon the matchup. Sporting a solid 3.27 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through two starts this season, the 30-year-old deserves serious starting consideration for next week, as his schedule features a pair of favorable matchups. The Padres and Mariners rank 22nd and 28th, respectively, in the Majors in OPS.
Brandon McCarthy (vs. ARI, @ARI)
After winning a Spring Training competition with Alex Wood for the final spot in the Dodgers' rotation, McCarthy has strung together two straight quality starts, including Wednesday's outing in which he held a dangerous Cubs lineup scoreless over six innings. Heading into Thursday's games, the D-backs lead the Majors in runs scored, so starting McCarthy next week is risky. But taking into account his strong performance so far, it could be a risk worth taking for owners in deeper mixed formats.
Chase Anderson (@CHC, vs. STL)
Following an exceptional second half last season in which he went 5-1 with a 3.02 ERA across 14 appearances (13 starts), Anderson has picked up right where he left off, tossing 13 innings of one-run ball over his first two starts in 2017. His matchups for next week are far from favorable, making the Brewers righty more of a deep-league option. Still, despite ranking among the top five teams in the Majors in both runs scored and OPS last year, the Cubs and Cardinals are off to slow starts offensively this season. Entering Thursday, Chicago and St. Louis place in the bottom third of the NL in those two departments.
Jesse Hahn (vs. TEX, vs. SEA)
Looking to erase memories of an injury-marred and ineffective 2016 campaign, Hahn is certainly on the right track after allowing only two runs across six innings in a tough road matchup against the Rangers. He gets to face Texas again next week, but most importantly, both of next week's starts will come at home in Oakland, where Hahn boasts a career 3.06 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Despite his rough season last year, Hahn did post a combined 3.23 ERA and 1.19 WHIP from '14-15 with the Padres and the A's, so he is surely capable of rebounding this year.