Probable 2-start SPs:
Cream of the crop:
Corey Kluber, CLE (@ CWS, vs. CIN) – He’s baaack. The Klubot terminated 18 batters in his last start. Next, Kluber will be sent to the mound to exterminate the White Sox, a team that has scored the second-fewest runs in baseball (125 runs) this season.
Cole Hamels, PHI (@ COL, @ WAS) – It seems as though every outing for Hamels is an audition. In four of the past five starts, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer with at least five strikeouts. In the past week, the Rockies have struck out 74 times (second-most) while scoring only 24 runs (tied for second-worst).
Sonny Gray, OAK (@ HOU, @ TB) – The AL’s ERA leader (1.61 ERA) gets two turns in the rotation for Week 7. Gray has shined in three-straight outings. During that span, he has struck out at least nine batters and allowed no more than one earned run.
Potential bargains:
Nate Karns, TB (@ ATL, vs. OAK) – For those who stream pitchers, Karns has been the option you are afraid to toss back into the free agent pool. He has now recorded four-straight starts where Karns has allowed no more than two earned runs, while also striking out at least four batters.
Dan Haren, MIA (vs. ARI, vs. BAL) – He was roughed up in his last appearance, but Haren is excelling at home. This season, Haren is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA at Marlins Park. Both of his starts are at home this week. One of those teams is Baltimore. The Orioles are batting .208 as a team in the past week and will be without the DH for this series.
Lance McCullers Jr., HOU (vs. OAK, @ DET) – Though he isn't guaranteed two starts, McCullers is scheduled to pitch on Monday for Brett Oberholtzer (blister). McCullers is simply destroying the minors this year. In 2015, McCullers has pitched in 29 innings at AA and has a 0.62 ERA...with 43 strikeouts! He was promoted to AAA and was boosted to the majors before even making that first AAA start. Again, a second start in Week 7 isn't set in stone, but there is a chance.
I’ll pass:
Aaron Harang, PHI (@ COL, @ WAS) – The Harang-utan has been pitching well this season. However, he has a tough schedule ahead. First, his Phillies travel to Colorado. In his last four trips to the Rockies, Harang has allowed 17 earned runs in 18.1 innings of work. Then, he pitches in D.C. where the Nationals are scorching hot. Washington leads all of baseball with 56 runs scored in the past week.
