This may be the best week for two-start pitchers to this point in the 2025 fantasy baseball season. There are three men atop the list who have plenty of long-term potential. And that trio is followed by several starters who have at least one appealing matchup. Things are less exciting on the hitting side, as 28 teams have six games this week, which makes for a balanced schedule across the league.
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Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference)
Ryan Weathers, Padres, 30% (@SD, vs. SF)
Weathers has looked great in two starts since returning from a season-opening IL stint, allowing two runs over 10 innings and posting a 9:1 K:BB ratio. Even more impressive, both outings came against the Cubs, who lead MLB in runs scored. There is a real chance that the left-hander will be rostered in most leagues by the middle of June, which makes him an exciting streamer for a week with midlevel matchups.
Hayden Birdsong, Giants, 37% (@DET, @MIA)
Birdsong fared well in his first start since transitioning from the bullpen, allowing five hits and one unearned run across five innings. Even more impressive, the right-hander who sometimes has control issues did not issue a walk. Birdsong’s strikeout skills give him plenty of upside, and he has more long-term potential than most of the pitchers on this list.
Taj Bradley, Rays, 47% (vs. MIN, @HOU)
Normally a high-strikeout hurler, Bradley has emerged from a month-long dip in his strikeout rate by collecting 18 whiffs across his past three starts. Now that the strikeouts are back, the right-hander can be considered in most leagues for a two-start week with average matchups. He could wind up remaining on rosters for the long haul.
Jameson Taillon, Cubs, 47% (vs. COL, vs. CIN)
Taillon sometimes surrenders long balls, but his struggles reached an extreme level when he allowed eight homers across his past three starts. To make matters worse, the homers can’t be blamed on park effects and two of the starts came against a below average Marlins lineup. I would normally recommend benching the veteran until he gets back on track, but his home start against the 9-44 Rockies is so appealing that I would roll him out in 12-team leagues.
Randy Vasquez, Padres, 11% (vs. MIA, vs. PIT)
By mostly keeping the ball in the yard (5 HR), Vasquez has managed to minimize the damage (3.49 ERA) that comes with an inability to dominate the strike zone (27:26 K:BB ratio)…