First Second Cookie Shop: May 27-June 2

The past few weeks have provided plenty of guys you’ve been wanting to get on your list. This week offers a much richer selection. It has a lot of question marks, for sure.

I’m curious to see what happens with the home run rate across the league as we head into June. So far, it’s been lower than we’ve seen in a long time. The result has been turning guys you wouldn’t have thought of years ago into viable options. I mean, Cal Quantrill and Austin Gomber are providing solid starters! Who saw that? Not me, that’s for sure. And based on their ADPs, neither did you.

You’ll see from the ratings below that I’m incredibly skeptical Gomber remains a viable fantasy option. But if baseball stays as dead as it has been until now, who knows? If you can tell me for sure what will happen, can you let me know? It will make it easier to do this job.

Anyway, here are your first two pitchers of the week.

The following are our guesses at the time of writing as to who will start two games this week, but the weather, injuries, and secret team management mean they are just that: guesses. To stay as up-to-date as possible, consult Rudy Gamble’s invaluable Streamonator.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (A Must-Start)

They are the kings of the cookie world for a reason. A warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie makes you feel good. It’s kind of like setting your rosters you know you’re getting two this week from these guys.

Sugar Cookies (Must Start)

They went well. You could certainly do a lot worse than having these guys on your list, but don’t expect it to be spectacular.

• The Braves began to fall prey to my presence. More than any team this season, there are those who plan to start two games, and end up doing one. That said, Morton is scheduled for Monday and the Braves are scheduled for seven games this week. If he doesn’t start twice, I’ll be upset.
• Like Imanaga, Lodolo is not listed on Streamonator as of this writing. However, reports indicate that he will be off work on Monday, which will make him work twice.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Can Start)

This is not for everyone. These are the jars that can be a happy surprise, or they can ruin your church. Step slowly.

• Blocking Cubs decide indeed make me look stupid, Justin Steele will take the mound and make two starts this week. But do you want these to start on your list? I’m not so sure. Since returning from injury, his performances have not been good. I think in time he will return to being a reliable arm. However, I would like to see it before I use him.
• Jakkers recently wrote a great piece looking at the long-term vision of Bryce Miller’s legend. In it, he paints an optimistic picture of the young bowler’s future. The near term, on the other hand, is not pleasant. He’s encountered a bug recently, and you may have to wait to see him transform it before adding him back to your list.
• What I just said about Steele extends to Blake Snell. It’s not clear if his struggles so far have to do with how late he signed this spring, or if he does this sometimes. You can almost guarantee that there will come a time when it is among the most chocolate chip cookies. But are you willing to bet this is the week he got the recipe right?

Fortune Cookies (Don’t Start)

Yes, they are technically cookies. Hold on, what does that little piece of paper say? “Bad times pass.” Oh. Oh well.

• The Streamonator has Kyle Hendricks down as two starts for the Cubs this week, but according to the Chicago Sun-Times, it will be Brown getting one of the week one assignments. Each of his last three starts has been less than five innings. Don’t do it.