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Fantasy Baseball: Two-Start Pitchers for the Week of May 22

By Jason Burke

May 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Brad Peacock (41) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Brad Peacock (41) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phillies
Apr 10, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jerad Eickhoff (48) throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Jerad Eickhoff, Philadelphia Phillies – 23.0%

There is a lot not to like about Jerad Eickhoff this week, starting with his Monday opponent. The Phillies welcome in the Colorado Rockies for a four-game set, and they have been obliterating the ball this weekend against the Reds, scoring 20 runs in their first two games. Perhaps they’ll be all tuckered out once they reach Philly on Monday?

Eickhoff has a 6.46 ERA this month, allowing 11 runs in 15 1/3 innings. He has also struck out 15 batters in that time, or just ever so slightly under one per inning. And that’s where he fits on our board. The Rockies have the fourth-worst strikeout rate on the road (25.00%) and for the season Eickhoff has a K/9 of 8.47.

For what it’s worth, his ERA is also just over 4.00 at home this season with two excellent outings and one that was a stinker. Eickhoff is definitely a risk, but he also has a start against the Reds who have one of the worst run-producing road offenses in baseball. I’m not going to say that Eickhoff is a must-add, but he is definitely an intriguing option to consider.

Brad Peacock, Houston Astros – 1.9%

This is how slim the pickings are this week. Peacock is set to make his first start of the season after appearing out of the bullpen all year, but it comes in a favorable matchup against the Detroit Tigers who rank seventh-worst in strikeout percentage at 24.1%.

For the season Peacock has made 12 appearances totaling 16 1/3 innings pitched and has struck out 22, good for a K/9 rate of 12.12.

Whether this is a one-off start or if Peacock will make his second start of the season later in the week depends upon how well Monday’s start goes. Thus far this season his high pitch total is 39, which covered all of two innings. To expect a quality start out of Peacock would be asking a bit much unless he is extremely efficient with his pitch count. My guess is that he’ll hover somewhere around a 70 pitch limit, which could be good for four or five innings. If he can keep the Tigers from pouncing on him and provide your fantasy team with five or six strikeouts, that’s a decent add.

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