Eovaldi has been lights out

There are several big names set to make two starts each during Week 21. There are also some pitchers who are facing two difficult matchups that might hurt them in fantasy. Let’s discuss what to do with the following five two-start pitchers.

Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves: @NYM, @CLE

Strider was hammered by the Brewers in his last start, allowing five runs over 4 2/3 innings. He allowed 11 hits, which is rare for him. In 82 1/3 innings this season, he has only allowed a total of 74 hits. His 4.04 ERA and 4.01 xERA aren’t ideal for a fantasy ace, but he is still missing a lot of bats with his 28.0% strikeout rate.

Strider has already faced the Mets two times this season, allowing a total of four runs and recording 16 strikeouts over 11 innings. The Guardians have had plenty of problems at the plate, scoring the fifth-fewest runs in baseball. Despite Strider not being as dominant with his ratios this season, he could still be a fantasy star for Week 21.

Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers: vs. ARI, at TOR

Eovaldi couldn’t have pitched much better in his last start, throwing eight shutout innings against the Yankees. He allowed just one hit, did not walk a batter and recorded six strikeouts. That marked his sixth straight start in which he allowed one or no runs. His 1.38 ERA probably isn’t sustainable, but his xERA is still excellent at 3.04. Even his 26.4% strikeout rate is on pace to be his highest mark of his career.

Facing the Diamondbacks in Texas is a plus for Eovaldi. While the Diamondbacks have a .786 OPS at home, they have a .735 OPS on the road. The Blue Jays are a dangerous opponent, especially with their .789 OPS at home. These might not be two stellar matchups, but with how well Eovaldi is pitching right now, he can still be a difference-maker for his fantasy managers.

Andrew Abbott, Cincinnati Reds: vs. PHI, vs. MIL

Abbott isn’t missing many bats with his 21.0% strikeout rate this season. However, he has a 2.34 ERA and a 3.49 xERA. A major improvement for him has been allowing just 1.0 HR/9. Last season, he allowed 1.6 HR/9. He has also shown improved control, lowering his walk rate from 8.9% last season to 7.4% this year.

The Phillies will be a difficult matchup for Abbott to begin Week 21. The last time he faced them, he allowed four runs and nine hits over 3 1/3 innings. He also had problems the last time he faced the Brewers, allowing five runs over six innings. If there is a silver lining for Abbott, it’s that he will face a Brewers team that is currently without Jackson Chourio (hamstring). Still, with his limited strikeout upside and two tough matchups, it might not be a crazy idea to bench Abbott in 10-team leagues. In 12-team or deeper formats, he is probably still worth the risk.

Jack Flaherty, Detroit Tigers: @CWS, @MIN

It looked like Flaherty had recently turned a corner, posting a seven-start stretch in which he had a 3.38 ERA. However, his 1.34 WHIP during that span was even higher than his season WHIP of 1.28. In his last start, the Twins brought him back to reality by scoring six runs (five earned) over 4 2/3 innings against him. Flaherty’s 11.3% barrel rate allowed this season is a red flag, although his 28.9% strikeout rate has been an asset to fantasy managers.

The White Sox have scored the fourth-fewest runs in baseball, so Flaherty has the potential to begin Week 21 with a great stat line. While the Twins roughed up Flaherty in his last start, they have scored the 11th-fewest runs in baseball and just traded away one of their best hitters in Carlos Correa. Flaherty isn’t someone to shy away from with these two matchups.

Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Angels: vs. LAD, @ATH

Soriano gave up seven runs over four innings against the Rays in his last start. His 4.01 ERA this season doesn’t look terrible, and his xERA of 4.01 backs it up. However, his 1.40 WHIP is a problem. His walk rate is 10.4% and he only has a 20.3% strikeout rate. If he’s not missing a lot of bats and is posting a high WHIP, there isn’t much to like about him for fantasy purposes.

These two upcoming matchups likely won’t help Soriano. The Dodgers have the second-highest OPS and have scored the most runs in baseball. The Athletics have recorded a .762 OPS in their hitter-friendly home park. Soriano allowed three runs over six innings the last time he faced them there, but things could have been much worse as he gave up six hits and four walks in the outing. This is a week to avoid Soriano in most fantasy formats.

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.