We go around baseball's pitching staffs and Fantasy's two-start pitcher options every Sunday of the season in the weekly Pitching Planner.
Staff reflections
Arizona Diamondbacks: Edgar G. Gonzalez will be the No. 5 starter for as long as Doug Davis (thyroid cancer) is out after April 10 surgery. Davis takes one more turn April 8 and then will be out a couple of months at least. ... Randy Johnson (back) is still hoping to be ready for April 14 or 15, which would be the next time Davis' turn comes up. ... Dan Haren is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues.
Atlanta Braves: Tom Glavine and Jair Jurrjens are advisable two-start pitchers. ... Chuck James (shoulder) is ready to assume the rotation spot of Mike Hampton (pectoral) on Wednesday. James is a sleeper in deeper leagues, especially since he could be a candidate for two starts in Fantasy Week 3 (April 14-20).
Baltimore Orioles: Daniel Cabrera and Brian Burres are two-start pitchers, albeit questionable ones you shouldn't trust outside of deep leagues. ... Adam Loewen is really the only intriguing O's starting pitcher for standard mixed leagues, but expect him to start slow this season.
Boston Red Sox: Bartolo Colon was dynamite in his Triple-A debut (one hit in five innings), while Clay Buchholz struggled Saturday. We could see Colon making one or two more minor league starts before taking over the No. 5 spot from Buchholz, who had a bad spring and might need some confidence building in the minors. ... Daisuke Matsuzaka is off to a nice start this season and will be a two-start pitcher for the second consecutive week. He could have had three starts in Week 1, but Josh Beckett (back) is returning Sunday.
Chicago Cubs: Ted Lilly is an advisable two-start pitcher. ... There is a rare day off Tuesday, but manager Lou Piniella said no Cubs starters will be skipped in the early going.
Chicago White Sox: Javier Vazquez is a must-start, two-start pitcher. Like the Cubs, despite a rare Tuesday day off, no one will be skipped in the rotation.
Cincinnati Reds: Wow, Johnny Cueto was real good in his debut. You won't see too many leagues he will be inactive in as a two-start pitcher. There is still some risk involved with a young arm like his, but his talent is unquestioned. ... Bronson Arroyo is an advisable two-start pitcher as well.
Cleveland Indians: Fausto Carmona started his season like last year's ended. While he might not strike out 200 batters, he is a must-start in all leagues with two starts. ... A day off Thursday could allow the Indians to skip Cliff Lee, so consider him an even riskier option this week. We don't see the Indians skipping him, but if they do, Jake Westbrook would pick up a second start. Westbrook is best left for deeper leagues at this point.
Colorado Rockies: Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez are two-start pitchers this week, but there aren't exactly must-start ones. Consider them in deeper formats.
Detroit Tigers: Kenny Rogers is a two-start pitcher option for deeper leagues, but he will be pitching against two top offenses in hitter parks in Boston and Chicago. ... Justin Verlander could slot ahead of Dontrelle Willis this week after a Monday day off. The Tigers might choose to keep Verlander on his regular fifth day, and they might not want lefties Robertson and Willis back-to-back in the rotation. Moving Willis won't change much, though, because then he will slot next to Rogers.
Florida Marlins: Andrew Miller is an elite talent who still isn't control of all of it, so consider him a questionable two-start pitcher. ... No. 5 starter Ricky Nolasco will finally take a turn in the rotation next weekend, likely Friday. Consider him merely an NL-only option right now. ... That Friday turn was supposed to be Rick VandenHurk's, but the Marlins cut him after two brief outings. Cut and ignore VandenHurk in all leagues now. ... Chris Volstad and/or Burke Badenhop, a piece of the Miguel Cabrera/Dontrelle Willis blockbuster are fliers in NL-only and long-term keeper formats for their potential to assume the No. 5 starter's spot. Volstad is the more intriguing option as an elite prospect, but Badenhop was the opening day starter in Double-A over Volstad and pitched slightly better in his first start.
Houston Astros: Wandy Rodriguez is a two-start pitcher, but one you should only trust in deeper leagues at this point.
Kansas City Royals: Brian Bannister was outstanding in his debut and looks like an advisable two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... The Royals notes Sunday listed a TBD for Thursday, which could be No. 5 starter John Bale or ace Gil Meche. The Royals might choose to keep Meche on regular rest and slide Bale off a Yankees start to face the Twins over the weekend. ... Meche is a solid option for deeper leagues with one start, but going against the Yankees will make him far less intriguing. Meche was just slammed by the Twins and the Royals might not want him to face the same team back-to-back. Reserve Meche if you have a viable alternative.
Los Angeles Angels: Joe Saunders was outstanding in his first outing and wound up being one of the most-added players in all of Fantasy this week. Consider him in deeper leagues, but he actually has some tough matchups.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Esteban Loaiza finally slots in the rotation Monday and he could be a two-start pitcher. He is a questionable one, though, because a day off Thursday could allow the Dodgers to move up Chad Billingsley for a two-start week. Billingsley is a solid option in deeper leagues with one start and even more intriguing will the potential to pick up a second start.
Milwaukee Brewers: Jeff Suppan is a two-start sleeper in deeper leagues. ... Carlos Villanueva and Manny Parra follow Dave Bush and one of those arms will be moved to the bullpen or Triple A for Fantasy Week 3 (April 14-20) because of Yovani Gallardo's (knee) return. The guess here is Villanueva goes to the bullpen at this point.
Minnesota Twins: Nick Blackburn made a spectacular debut and is a two-start pitcher for deeper leagues. He is a decent prospect, but you should not expect him to pitch like that again this season. He is a candidate to send back to the minors or the bullpen once Francisco Liriano returned from a few-outing stint in the minors. ... Kevin Slowey (biceps) should be reserved in all leagues. The Twins didn't place him on the DL at this point, but a day off Tuesday will allow them to skip his turn in the rotation. His next start could be April 13 at Kansas City. If Slowey needs a DL stint, Liriano could get the call for the final game of the week. Don't expect that at this point. But watch the news after Slowey throws Wednesday and Liriano makes his next minor league start.
New York Mets: Oliver Perez is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. Rain could be a factor in New York for the home opener, though. One start could be a enough for Fantasy owners anyway with the free-agent-to-be. ... Nelson Figueroa will make a spot start Friday night, giving Johan Santana an extra day of rest. ... Orlando Hernandez (foot) is eligible to come off the DL on April 13, but he will start in the minors April 8 and 13. Hernandez could then be ready to return to the Mets' rotation April 18. ... Yours truly got excited about John Maine's awesome spring and even went so far to call him a 20-game winner, comparing his stuff to Johan Santana. Well, Maine laid an egg in start No. 1. Looking past the boxscore, though, Maine was hitting 97 mph on the gun. That is indeed 20-win stuff. Santana doesn't even have that kind of juice anymore. The Mets thought Maine might have been overthrowing to establish himself in his season debut. Maine is a must-start in all leagues on a regular basis, especially against Adam Eaton.
New York Yankees: Mike Mussina and Phil Hughes are two-start pitchers, but Hughes is the more advisable one at this point. Mussina is best left for deeper leagues until he proves more consistent.
Oakland Athletics: Rich Harden, like Dice-K, is a two-start pitcher again in Fantasy Week 2 (April 7-13). The way he is pitching, you have to consider him a must-start in all leagues. ... Chad Gaudin (hip) was scheduled to return April 12, the first time the A's rotation needs a No. 5 starter, but Justin Duchscherer (biceps) is a question mark at this point, so Gaudin might return Wednesday, April 9 instead. Sit Duchscherer in all leagues and consider Gaudin only in deeper formats. ... If Duchscherer needs a couple of days, reliever Lenny DiNardo could get a spot start. ... If Duchscherer needs a DL stint, the A's leading replacement from the minors figures to be Greg Smith, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Consider taking a flier on Smith in deeper AL-only and long-term keeper formats.
Philadelphia Phillies: Cole Hamels missed the Mets series, but gets the Reds and Cubs instead. He is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all Fantasy leagues. ... Jamie Moyer is a high-risk two-start pitcher against the Mets and Cubs.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Tom Gorzelanny is a two-start pitcher who is advisable in deeper leagues. ... All of the other four starters will start in succession, despite a Tuesday day off.
San Diego Padres: Greg Maddux is a two-start pitcher who will be useful in most leagues at San Francisco and Los Angeles. ... All of the other four starters will start in succession, despite a Thursday day off.
San Francisco Giants: Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum are must-start, two-start pitchers in all leagues. ... Barry Zito's declining status and stuff will make one risky start vs. the Cardinals. Don't cut him yet, because he is notoriously a slow starter, but watch his pitch count and velocity if he is on your reserves.
Seattle Mariners: Erik Bedard needed to be moved back due to injury and is now a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 2 (April 7-13) instead of Felix Hernandez. Bedard should be fine after the rest and should be active in all leagues. ... Carlos Silva also gets two starts, but he is more of an option best left for deeper leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals: Back-end starters Todd Wellemeyer and Brad Thompson are two-start pitchers for deeper leagues. Both of them will be pitching for their rotation spots at this point. Joel Pineiro (shoulder) could be a candidate to return in the coming weeks, while Matt Clement (shoulder) might be an option to return in May.
Tampa Bay Rays: Jason Hammel and Matt Garza are both two-start pitchers, but Garza is the far less risky one. ... Scott Kazmir (elbow) is expected to finally throw live batting practice Monday, which means he could be nearly ready for a rehab start or two. Keep him reserved for Fantasy Week 2 (April 7-13), but he could get a start at the end of Fantasy Week 3 (April 14-20). ... Hammel is likely the odd man out once Kazmir is ready.
Texas Rangers: Jason Jennings is a two-start pitcher option for deeper leagues. ... Luis Mendoza (blister) will make a rehab start Monday in preparation for his first start off the DL on Saturday. Consider the mid-level prospect nothing more than a deeper AL-only option at this point.
Toronto Blue Jays: A.J. Burnett is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... All of the other four starters will go in succession.
Washington Nationals: Tim Redding is coming off an outstanding first start, but he still should be considered a questionable option in most leagues. ... Shawn Hill (elbow) is hoping to return from the DL on April 13, but John Lannan will remain in the rotation if he is not ready.
Fantasy Week 2 (April 7-13)
| This week's two-start pitchers | ||
| Must-start options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Cole Hamels | at CIN Arroyo | vs. CHC Zambrano |
| Dan Haren | vs. LAD Loaiza | vs. COL Jimenez |
| Rich Harden | at TOR Burnett | at CLE Carmona |
| Fausto Carmona | at LAA Saunders | vs. OAK Harden |
| Erik Bedard | at TB Garza | vs. LAA Saunders |
| Daisuke Matsuzaka | vs. DET Rogers | vs. NYY Hughes |
| Javier Vazquez | vs. MIN Blackburn | vs. DET Rogers |
| Matt Cain | vs. SD Maddux | vs. STL Wellemeyer |
| Tim Lincecum | vs. SD Wolf | vs. STL Thompson |
| A.J. Burnett | vs. OAK Harden | at TEX Jennings |
| Oliver Perez | vs. PHI Moyer | vs. MIL Suppan |
| Phil Hughes | at KC Bannister | at BOS Matsuzaka |
| Bronson Arroyo | vs. PHI Hamels | at PIT Snell |
| Johnny Cueto | at MIL Suppan | at PIT Gorzelanny |
| Advisable options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Ted Lilly | at PIT Gorzelanny | at PHI Moyer |
| Tom Gorzelanny | vs. CHC Lilly | vs. CIN Cueto |
| Greg Maddux | at SF Cain | at LAD Loaiza |
| Joe Saunders | vs. CLE Carmona | at SEA Bedard |
| Brian Bannister | vs. NYY Hughes | vs. MIN Slowey? |
| Ubaldo Jimenez | vs. ATL Jurrjens | at ARI Haren |
| Jair Jurrjens | at COL Jimenez | at WAS Hill |
| Matt Garza | vs. SEA Bedard | vs. BAL Burres |
| Tom Glavine | at COL Cook | at WAS Redding |
| Questionable options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Kenny Rogers | at BOS Matsuzaka | at CHW Vazquez |
| Mike Mussina | vs. TB Hammel | at BOS Buchholz |
| Carlos Silva | at BAL Cabrera | vs. LAA Garland |
| Daniel Cabrera | vs. SEA Silva | at TB Hammel |
| Andrew Miller | at WAS Redding | at HOU Backe |
| Wandy Rodriguez | vs. STL Wellemeyer | vs. FLA Nolasco |
| Jeff Suppan | vs. CIN Cueto | at NYM Perez |
| Aaron Cook | vs. ATL Glavine | at ARI Gonzalez |
| Nick Blackburn | at CHW Vazquez | at KC Tomko |
| Todd Wellemeyer | at HOU Rodriguez | at SF Cain |
| Brad Thompson | at HOU Chacon | at SF Lincecum |
| Tim Redding | vs. FLA Miller | vs. ATL Glavine |
| High-risk options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Jason Jennings | vs. BAL Burres | vs. TOR Burnett |
| Jamie Moyer | at NYM Perez | vs. CHC Lilly |
| Jason Hammel | at NYY Mussina | vs. BAL Cabrera |
| Esteban Loaiza | at ARI Haren | vs. SD Maddux |
| Brian Burres | at TEX Jennings | at TB Garza |
Pitch a question
Don Gust: Is it a wise strategy to chase the the best available two-game free-agent pitchers from week to week using my lowest value pitchers to drop?
Emack: Early in the season, you should stick with the players you drafted. Let them prove worthy of being on your roster vs. the waiver wire. After a couple of turns, you should get a better idea of the hot hands and can play the two-start game more.
Ken Keiffer, Columbus, Ohio: Would you start Tom Gorzelanny in Week 2 (two-start pitcher) over Erik Bedard, John Smoltz or Jered Weaver?
Emack: Referring to the previous answer, we would say you drafted Smoltz to be one of your aces, so keep him active, but he left Sunday's start with muscle stiffness in his neck/shoulder, which was the reason he started the year on the DL. Give Gorzelanny a shot with his two-start week.
Mark Branaman, Indianapolis: If you were going to pick up one rookie sleeper starting pitcher and you had the choice of Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto or Jair Jurrjens, who would you pick up? The league credits wins and strikeouts heavy and is not a keeper league. I'm looking for the best potential short term and year-long impact.
Emack: Cueto's amazing debut leads us to rank them: Cueto, Jurrjens and Volquez. All three are worthy of being owned in all formats.
You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball pitching questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Pitching Planner in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.
