Some rotations are just a mess right now.
The Marlins will supposedly be back to playing Tuesday, but we don't even know who's healthy for them right now. The Phillies are scheduled to return Monday, but they don't have their full rotation mapped out. To a lesser degree, the same goes for the teams they were scheduled to face this weekend, the Nationals and Blue Jays. Consecutive days with nobody pitching means they don't have to stick to a prescribed turn order.
And then there's the Cardinals, who are in the midst of their own outbreak with new positive tests turning up daily. A whole week's worth of games is on the brink for them, with the Tigers' and Cubs' slates also potentially impacted.
As should be apparent by now, other cancellations are possible. You can never feel too confident that any pitcher will take the turn he's scheduled to take. This is especially noteworthy for pitchers lined up to make two starts since their two-start status is often the only reason you'd choose to use them.
Based on what I can tell right now, though, these are my 10 sleeper pitchers for Week 3 (Aug. 3-9). All are available in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
(And while you're at it, be sure check out my 10 sleeper hitters for Week 3.)
We discussed the closer carousel, early season trade targets plus Week 3 sleepers hitters and pitchers on Friday's Fantasy Baseball Today podcast. Follow all our podcasts and subscribe here.
He'll get to face the Diamondbacks, who have had a miserable time scoring runs so far, after shutting down the Dodgers in his first major-league start Wednesday, striking out eight while allowing two hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings. The second start at Oakland is just icing on the cake.
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He one-hit the Pirates in his first start and has a low-risk profile built on a healthy ground-ball rate.
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He got good press this preseason after finishing strong in the bullpen last year and has dominated in his first two starts, most recently striking out 11 against the Pirates. Seems like a safe enough play against the Royals.
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He gets the first start after a little bit of a layoff for the Blue Jays. The matchups could be better, but he'll provide length and has a stable enough profile for you to take advantage of the two-start week.
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After some elbow concerns back in spring training, the stuff has appeared intact for a pitcher who had an identical swinging-strike rate to Jack Flaherty last year, and you have to like him to take advantage of this matchup.
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He's still unproven as a starter but had optimal ground-ball and swinging-strike rates in a swingman role last year. He's a worth a shot if only for the Royals matchup.
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He's throwing 3 mph harder this year, and it certainly showed in his last start, when he struck out nine. The Rockies aren't some imposing away from their home park.
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He looked more like the pitch-to-contact guy he was billed to be in his second start Thursday after missing a bunch of bats in his debut a few days earlier. It's a stable enough profile that I'd trust in the rookie even though one of these two matchups is particularly unfavorable.
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He has been unreliable over the past few years but would turn in the occasional gem last year. He looked good first time out and has maybe the best matchups of any available two-start pitcher this week.
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The contradictory matchups might be enough to scare you away, but Holland did come within an out of a quality start against the Brewers first time out and could have a nice outing against the Tigers if he can survive the Twins. It's the kind of steam-happy maneuver a points-league participant might make.
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