Wheeler gets two starts this week

Baseball is back from the All-Star break as teams prepare to make a run for the playoffs. The added time off has given teams a chance to reset their starting rotations, so things are still up in the air a bit for some teams. However, as things currently stand, here are five pitchers who are projected to make two starts each during Week 18.

Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies: vs. BOS, at NYY

Wheeler allowed four runs over six innings against the Padres in his last start. That broke a streak of six straight starts in which he allowed one or no earned runs. He is in the midst of another stellar campaign, posting a 2.36 ERA and a 2.37 xERA. His 33.0% strikeout rate is on pace to be the highest mark of his career and his 5.6% walk rate has helped him produce a 0.86 WHIP.

Wheeler has two difficult matchups against AL East foes in Week 18. The Red Sox have the fifth-highest OPS in baseball, while the Yankees have the highest OPS. Both teams also rank inside the top five in runs scored. However, a positive for Wheeler is that the Red Sox have struck out the third-most times, while the Yankees are tied for the seventh-most strikeouts. Despite these two opponents, Wheeler can still be a tremendous fantasy asset for Week 18.

Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. HOU, at PIT

Just when it looked like Gallen was turning things around, he was shelled in his last start. He logged five innings against the Angels, giving up six runs and recording only three strikeouts. In his 20 starts this season, Gallen has allowed at least five earned runs seven times. A major cause for concern is that Gallen has allowed 1.6 HR/9. For his career, he has given up just 1.0 HR/9.

It’s difficult to feel great about Gallen in fantasy right now, but starting him might be worth the risk in Week 18. The Astros aren’t the easiest of matchups, but they rank in the middle of baseball in most major offensive categories. The especially appealing matchup for Gallen is the Pirates, who have scored the fewest runs in baseball. Gallen’s home run issues might not be a problem against them, because the Pirates have only hit 66 home runs as a team. To put how bad that is into perspective, six teams have hit more than double the amount of home runs that the Pirates have.

Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays: vs. NYY, at DET

Gausman has a 4.19 ERA this season, which is out of character for him. He hasn’t finished with an ERA above 3.83 since 2019. He only has a 1.16 WHIP and his 23.1% strikeout rate is actually slightly higher than last season. His xERA is 3.91, so we could see his numbers improve a bit over the second half of the season.

While better days might be ahead for Gausman, it might be best to bench him for these two upcoming matchups. He has faced the Yankees two times already this season, allowing eight runs over 7.2 innings. In those two starts, he issued a combined nine walks. The Tigers don’t have the big names that the Yankees do, but they have scored the sixth-most runs in baseball as they have put a stranglehold on the AL Central.

Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds: at WAS, vs. TB

Singer finished with a 3.71 ERA for the Royals last season, but his 4.65 xERA wasn’t as encouraging. He did most of his damage at home, where he had a 3.39 xFIP and 1.13 WHIP. His home park isn’t pitcher-friendly anymore, leaving him with a 4.36 xFIP and 1.27 WHIP in Cincinnati. With his 21.4% strikeout rate also in the mix, Singer is best deployed as a streamer when he has favorable matchups.

The Nationals are not a scary matchup, but they do have some dangerous hitters in James Wood and C.J. Abrams. They have also struck out the fourth-fewest times in baseball. The Rays are more troubling, especially when factoring in that they have the sixth-highest OPS in baseball against right-handed pitchers. Given his limited strikeout upside, Singer is someone to consider benching in 10 and 12-team fantasy leagues.

Shane Baz, Tampa Bay Rays: vs. CWS, at CIN

Baz is another pitcher who is better utilized as a streaming option when he has a favorable matchup. He doesn’t stand out in any one area. He has a 4.17 ERA, although his xERA is better at 3.70. His strikeout rate is a modest 23.4%, which is right in line with his career mark of 23.8%. A bigger concern with him might be his workload. After he pitched just 79.1 innings last season, he is already up to 110 innings this season. At some point, the Rays could shorten his outings, like they recently did with Drew Rasmussen.

While there is risk with Baz, it’s tough to pass on him in Week 18. The Reds can be scary in Cincinnati, but they are tied for the seventh-most strikeouts in baseball. A matchup against the White Sox is terrific. They have scored the third-fewest runs in baseball while posting the worst OPS. Start Baz in 12-team and deeper 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.