Fantasy Baseball 2-Start Pitcher Rankings: Cade Cavalli leads list of streamers, plus 2 offenses to target this week

Fred ZinkieMon, June 1, 2026 at 2:24 PM UTC

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Although this week’s list of two-start pitchers cannot match the outstanding list from last week, it is still an acceptable group with one headliner and many other useful options. On the hitting side, the Twins and Brewers are good places to start looking for short-term help.

Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference)

Cade Cavalli, Nationals, 46% (vs. MIA, @ ARI): Although we’ve been teased by Cavalli in the past, there are reasons to hope that his recent streak of success could be sustainable. The right-hander had been prone to walks throughout his career before flipping a switch on April 18 and logging an impressive 1.8 BB/9 rate across his past eight starts. The improved control hasn’t impacted his swing-and-miss abilities, as he has produced an 11.3 K/9 rate across those eight outings. Cavalli did not allow more than three runs in any of those eight starts and is a must-start pitcher for a pair of reasonable matchups this week.

Trevor McDonald, Giants, 11% (@MIL, @ CHC): If we removed one terrible inning against the White Sox, McDonald would have outstanding numbers across his five starts. He allowed a total of seven earned runs in his other four outings, and across all starts, he has logged an impressive 27:6 K:BB ratio. McDonald is facing two quality opponents but may be getting them at the right time, as the Brewers and Cubs ranked 23rd and 19th respectively in runs scored during May. He’s worth the risk in 12-team leagues.

Griffin Jax, Rays, 36% (vs. DET, @ MIA): Jax will return to the mound after leaving his last start when he was hit in the back with a line drive. The right-hander has been successful in six outings since transitioning to the rotation (1.29 ERA, 1.14 WHIP), albeit while posting a mediocre 17:8 K:BB ratio. The lack of swing-and-miss in his game as a starter is notable, since he annually posted eye-popping strikeout rates when working out of the bullpen. With a pair of appealing matchups this week, Jax should make the cut in most formats.

Randy Vásquez, Padres, 44% (@ PHI, vs. NYM): Vásquez has fallen off after a strong start to the season, logging quality starts in just one of his past five outings. A lack of swing-and-miss skills has been his primary undoing, as he registered just 17 strikeouts in those five appearances. His matchups initially appear favorable, as the Phillies and Mets are both bottom-10 teams in scoring. However, both clubs started to get back on track in May and have plenty of hitting talent. He can still be used in points leagues but is riskier in category formats than his season-long ratios (3.28 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) indicate.

Michael McGreevy, Cardinals, 38% (vs. TEX, vs. CIN): Regression has started to come for McGreevy, who had outperformed his ERA estimators for nine starts before he allowed eight runs over nine innings in his past two outings. The right-hander can often limit damage by keeping most batted balls on the ground, but his inability to record punchouts (6.4 K/9 rate) limits his potential. Managers who are content with a low-ceiling option who has a reasonable floor can deploy McGreevy in 12-team leagues.

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Joey Cantillo, Guardians, 33% (@ NYY, @ TEX): Cantillo has been fortunate to log a 3.57 ERA, as his strikeout rate (21.2%) and walk rate (12.7%) have trended in the wrong direction, and all of the popular ERA estimators have assigned him a mark over 4.00. The lefty has polarizing matchups this week, as a road start against a productive Yankees offense is among the most challenging in baseball, while facing the Rangers in Texas is an appealing matchup. Overall, he’s a fringe option in 12-team leagues.

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Mike Burrows, Astros, 15% (vs. PIT, vs. ATH): Although Burrows still is far from dominant, he is slowly improving on a poor start to the season and has logged a 4.42 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 29:12 K:BB ratio across his past six starts. The right-hander will open the week with a revenge game against the team that traded him over the winter before finishing up with a reasonable matchup with the A’s. Managers who don’t expect miracles will likely be satisfied with the results.

Jameson Taillon, Cubs, 15% (vs. ATH, vs. SF): Taillon has not shown his best form this season, as his walk rate has jumped and he leads the majors with 19 homers allowed. The right-hander should benefit from working at home twice this week, having logged a 3.36 ERA at Wrigley Field (4.84 ERA on the road) since joining the Cubs in 2023. Still, it’s hard to rationalize using a two-start pitcher who is allowing nearly two homers per outing. He’s a better option this week in points leagues.

Gage Jump, Athletics, 10% (@ CHC, @ HOU): Jump is coming off an unremarkable MLB debut when he posted a 5:1 K:BB ratio while allowing four runs on nine hits across five innings against the Mariners. The 23-year-old is a notable prospect who has shown impressive strikeout abilities throughout his time in the minors. His inconsistent control skills and lack of experience limit Jump’s usefulness to 15-team leagues during a two-start week with challenging matchups.

Sean Manaea, Mets, 12% (@ SEA, @ SD): After first, Manaea seems like an easy pitcher to reject. After all, he has produced awful ratios (5.56 ERA, 1.62 WHIP) out of the bullpen this season. But his matchups this week are incredibly favorable, as the Mariners and Padres have been two of the worst teams in baseball against left-handers. The southpaw improved in May (3.75 ERA, 15:5 K:BB ratio) and is a sneaky option in deeper formats.

Noah Cameron, Royals, 18% (@ CIN, @ MIN): Cameron rebounded from a cold stretch when he posted a 16:3 K:BB ratio while allowing five runs over 17 innings during his past three starts. The right-hander is a borderline option in 12-team leagues this week, as both of his opponents have been average against righties and when playing at home.

One-Start Streamers

In order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in brackets.

Christian Scott @ SD (Friday, 18%)

Grant Holmes vs. TOR (Thursday, 29%)

Walbert Ureña vs. COL (Wednesday, 18%)

Jared Jones @ HOU (Thursday, 44%)

Zebby Matthews vs. KC (Friday, 39%)

JT Ginn @ HOU (Friday, 28%)

Steven Matz vs. DET (Tuesday, 15%)

Jack Leiter vs. CLE (Saturday, 40%)

Stephen Kolek @ CIN (Wednesday, 21%)

Sean Burke @ PHI (Saturday, 34%)

Troy Melton @ TB (Wednesday, 21%)

Peter Lambert vs. ATH (Friday, 22%)

Kumar Rocker vs. CLE (Friday, 10%)

Brayan Bello vs. BAL (Thursday, 8%)

Keider Montero vs. SEA (Saturday, 12%)

Favorable Monday-Thursday hitting matchups

Twins vs. White Sox, Royals: The streamers are easy to find on the Twins, as the club is set to play four home games against right-handed starters over the next four days. Trevor Larnach (2%) is having an unremarkable season, which makes him easy to add in virtually every league. The lefty slugger has a long track record of success against right-handers. Switch-hitter Josh Bell (8%) is another option to consider.

Brewers vs. Giants: The Brewers are in a similar situation to the Twins, as they will play four home games against right-handed starters over the next four days. Although the list of pitchers is respectable, the fact that they all throw from the same side makes the streaming candidates obvious. That list is led by Jake Bauers (42%), who has been one of the team’s best hitters this year. Fellow left-handed hitters Garrett Mitchell (5%) and Sal Frelick (9%) are others to consider.

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Source: “AOL Sports”