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: Dan Haren is a must-start, two-start pitcher, while Brandon Webb might be as well. ... Webb starts Tuesday and might also start the following Sunday if the D-Backs stick with their plan to skip the No. 5 starter to keep their top guys on regular rest down the stretch. ... Yusmeiro Petit has been hot, but he might not get a start Friday against the Dodgers, so keep him reserved. A final decision has not been made, but since the opponent is the Dodgers, we say the D-Backs go with the best starters. "For the most part, we're going to stay with the big three and Dougie (Doug Davis)," Bob Melvin told MLB.com. "We'll take a look at it. We'll probably try to stay with our guys down the stretch, but he makes it difficult to do that." ... Randy Johnson and Doug Davis are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Atlanta Braves: Jair Jurrjens is an advisable two-start pitcher, especially because of that matchup at lowly Washington later in the week. ... Mike Hampton, Charlie Morton, Jorge Campillo and Jo-Jo Reyes follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Baltimore Orioles: Chris Waters is a high-risk, two-start pitcher. ... There is a TBD on Tuesday, which MLB.com speculates will be Brian Burres in a recall. Top prospect Chris Tillman could pitch on regular rest on that date, though, so stay tuned. ... Radhames Liz, Jeremy Guthrie and Daniel Cabrera are expected to follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Monday the Orioles play the completion of a suspended game, starting in the 11th. It won't affect the rotation, though.
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| Player | % Change | |
| 1. | Adam Wainright, SP, STL | 25 |
| 2. | Dan Wheeler, RP, TB | 25 |
| 3. | Jensen Lewis, RP, CLE | 22 |
| 4. | Jim R. Johnson, RP, BAL | 14 |
| 5. | Fernando Rodney, RP, DET | 13 |
| 6. | Matt Capps, RP, PIT | 13 |
| 7. | Carl Pavano, SP, NYY | 13 |
| 8. | Luis Ayala, RP, NYM | 11 |
| 9. | Kevin Slowey, SP, MIN | 9 |
| 10. | Greg Maddux, SP, LAD | 9 |
Boston Red Sox: Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett won't face the Yankees on Tuesday after skipping a bullpen session Saturday because of continued numbness and tingling in his pitching arm. Manager Terry Francona said Beckett has "inflammation" in his elbow and likely won't start again until next Friday, when the Red Sox return home to open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. ... Instead, Tim Wakefield (shoulder) will come off the DL for a two-start week. Consider him a bit of a risk at this point, though, expecially at the Yankees and vs. the White Sox.. ... Paul Byrd, Jon Lester, Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka are expected to follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Chicago Cubs: Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano are two-start pitchers. ... Jason Marquis, Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Chicago White Sox: Clayton Richard is a high-risk, two-start pitcher, especially since the White Sox can skip his second turn after a Thursday day off. ... Gavin Floyd would pick up a second start if Richard is skipped at Boston. ... John Danks, Javier Vazquez and Mark Buehrle are one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... The White Sox play the completion of the suspended game in the 11th against the Orioles.
Cincinnati Reds: Bronson Arroyo is their lone two-start pitcher, a sleeper at Houston and vs. San Francisco. ... Josh Fogg, Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Cleveland Indians: Zach Jackson is a high-risk, two-start pitcher. ... Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Jeremy Sowers and Anthony Reyes follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Colorado Rockies: Jeff Francis is a two-start pitcher with two very favorable matchups at San Francisco and San Diego. ... Jorge De La Rosa, Livan Hernandez, Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Detroit Tigers: Armando Galarraga is an advisable two-start pitcher vs. the Indians and Royals, two bottom feeders for the potential AL Rookie of the Year. ... Chris Lambert -- replacing Nate Robertson -- Justin Verlander, Zach Miner and Kenny Rogers follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Florida Marlins: Scott Olsen is a two-start pitcher. ... Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad and Ricky Nolasco follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Andrew Miller might come off the DL this week, but he will be nothing more than a middle reliever for the deepest of leagues that use true middle men at this point.
Houston Astros: Brian Moehler and Wandy Rodriguez are two-start pitchers. ... Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe and Randy Wolf follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Kansas City Royals: Gil Meche is a two-start pitcher, while Zack Greinke might also be if the Royals choose to skip new No. 5 starter Brandon Duckworth. There are days off Thursday and the following Monday, so a skipping of Duckworth or Kyle Davies is entirely possible. ... Greinke is assured of one start, albeit against the Rangers and might pick up the second at Detroit. Those are tough matchups for a Royals starter. ... Brian Bannister and likely Davies or Duckworth are one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Luke Hochevar (ribcage) has been ruled out for the season.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Jered Weaver and John Lackey are two-start pitchers. ... They will followed by one-start options Joe Saunders, Jon Garland and Ervin Santana in the seven-game week.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Chad Billingsley and Derek Lowe are advisable two-start pitchers. ... Greg Maddux, Clayton Kershaw and Hiroki Kuroda follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Milwaukee Brewers: They have no two-start pitchers in a rare five-game week, due to days off Monday and Thursday. Ben Sheets, Manny Parra, Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan and CC Sabathia each will see one turn this week.
Minnesota Twins: Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker are two-start pitchers. ... Glen Perkins, Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey follow as one-start options in the seven-game week.
New York Mets: The Mets are going to give their starts a little bit of a breather in the coming weeks now, namely Monday's starter Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey is a young arm past his career high in innings and the Mets say he will only start once a week here on out. ... Brian Stokes will serve as a No. 6 starter Aug. 31 at Florida. Consider Stoke a high-risk option for the deepest of NL-only leagues. ... Pedro Martinez, Johan Santana, struggling John Maine and Oliver Perez are also one-start options in the six-game, six-man rotation week. ... Prospect Jonathon Niese is a candidate to take Stokes' No. 6 rotation spot, but nothing is certain at this point.
New York Yankees: Andy Pettitte is an advisable two-start pitcher. ... Sidney Ponson, Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano and Darrell Rasner are slated to follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Phil Hughes has struggled mightily in Triple-A and Joba Chamberlain won't be ready until September at this point. ... Ian Kennedy likely won't get a rotation look until the Yankees' situation in the postseason hunt gets more dire.
Oakland Athletics: Dallas Braden and Greg Smith are two-start pitchers. ... Gio Gonzalez, Dana Eveland and Dan Meyer follow as one-start options in the seven-game week. ... Olympians Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson are returning from Beijing, but it is unlikely they are options for the A's until after the minor league season -- and perhaps into mid-September due to the Double- or Triple-A postseasons.
Philadelphia Phillies: Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer are two-start pitchers with tough contending matchups. ... Kyle Kendrick, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Jeff Karstens is a high-risk, two-start pitcher vs. the Cubs and Brewers. ... Ian Snell, Zach Duke, Tom Gorzelanny and Paul Maholm follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
San Diego Padres: Jake Peavy is a must-start, two-start pitcher, despite his recent cold spell. ... Chad Reineke, Cha Seung Baek, Dirk Hayhurst and Josh Banks follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
San Francisco Giants: Matt Cain is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... Matt Palmer, Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito and Kevin Correia follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Seattle Mariners: Miguel Batista is a high-risk, two-start pitcher, especially since he could be moved off his second start after a Thursday offday. ... He is only in the rotation because R.A. Dickey was banished to the bullpen and Erik Bedard (shoulder) has been shut down for the season. ... Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ryan Feierabend, Jarrod Washburn and Felix Hernandez are one-start pitchers in the six-game week. All of the Mariners starters are risky option down the stretch, especially since ace King Felix is struggling right now.
St. Louis Cardinals: Days off Monday and Thursday will allow the Cardinals to stick with a four-man rotation. ... Todd Wellemeyer is a two-start pitcher in the five-game week. ... Adam Wainwright, who was outstanding in his return from the DL, Kyle Lohse and Braden Looper follow as one-start pitchers. ... Days off could allow Lohse to drop his appeal of a five-game suspension, but we don't think he does it until after he makes his one start this week. ... Joel Pineiro will work out of the bullpen for now, barring Lohse dropping his appeal. Pineiro might not start again if Chris Carpenter (triceps) can be ready come September.
Tampa Bay Rays: James Shields is a must-start, two-start pitcher. ... Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson, Scott Kazmir and Andy Sonnanstine are one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Down on the farm, David Price has struggled in back-to-back starts in Triple-A and looks like he might merely return as a reliever now. He was completely dominant until his promotion to the top minor league level, but his first bit of adversity is frustrating to Fantasy owners hoping he can dominate in the season's final weeks.
Texas Rangers: Scott Feldman and Kevin Millwood are high-risk, two-start pitchers. ... Matt Harrison, Brandon McCarthy and Vicente Padilla follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Toronto Blue Jays: Roy Halladay is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... David Purcey, John Parrish, Jesse Litsch and A.J. Burnett follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Demoted Shaun Marcum will return to the rotation in September after getting a few starts to find himself back in the minor leagues.
Washington Nationals: Collin Balester is a high-risk, two-start pitcher. ... Tim Redding, John Lannan, Odalis Perez and Jason Bergmann follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Fantasy Week 22 (Aug. 25-31)
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| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Must-start options | ||
| Dan Haren | at SD Peavy | vs LAD Lowe |
| Roy Halladay | at TB Shields | at NYY Pettitte |
| Carlos Zambrano | at PIT Snell | vs PHI Moyer |
| Jake Peavy | vs ARI Haren | vs COL Francis |
| Chad Billingsley | at PHI Myers | at ARI Davis |
| John Lackey | vs OAK Smith | vs TEX Millwood |
| Francisco Liriano | at SEA Batista | at OAK Braden |
| Matt Cain | vs COL Francis | at CIN Arroyo |
| James Shields | vs TOR Halladay | vs BAL Waters |
| Derek Lowe | at WAS Balester | at ARI Haren |
| Advisable options | ||
| Ted Lilly | at PIT Karstens | vs PHI Myers |
| Andy Pettitte | vs BOS Wakefield | vs TOR Halladay |
| Brett Myers | vs LAD Billingsley | at CHC Lilly |
| Armando Galarraga | vs CLE Jackson | vs KC Greinke? |
| Jered Weaver | vs OAK Braden | vs TEX Feldman |
| Jair Jurrjens | vs FLA Olsen | at WAS Balester |
| Todd Wellemeyer | vs MIL Sheets | at HOU Rodriguez |
| Zack Greinke? | vs TEX Millwood | at DET Galarraga |
| Gil Meche | vs TEX Feldman | at DET Rogers |
| Scott Baker | at SEA Rowland-Smith | at OAK Smith |
| Bronson Arroyo | at HOU Rodriguez | vs SF Cain |
| Jamie Moyer | vs NYM Martinez | at CHC Zambrano |
| Questionable options | ||
| Jeff Francis | at SF Cain | at SD Peavy |
| Scott Olsen | at ATL Jurrjens | vs NYM Stokes? |
| Wandy Rodriguez | vs CIN Arroyo | vs STL Wellemeyer |
| Tim Wakefield | at NYY Pettitte | vs CHW Richard |
| Greg Smith | at LAA Lackey | vs MIN Baker |
| Brian Moehler | at NYM Pelfrey | vs STL Looper |
| Jeff Karstens | vs CHC Lilly | vs MIL Sabathia |
| Kevin Millwood | at KC Greinke | at LAA Lackey |
| High-risk options | ||
| Dallas Braden | at LAA Weaver | vs MIN Liriano |
| Scott Feldman | at KC Meche | at LAA Weaver |
| Clayton Richard | at BAL Waters | at BOS Wakefield |
| Chris Waters | vs CHW Richard | at TB Shields |
| Miguel Batista | vs MIN Liriano | at CLE Jackson |
| Collin Balester | vs LAD Lowe | vs ATL Jurrjens |
| Zach Jackson | at DET Galarraga | vs SEA Batista |
Pitch a question
Brad Reed, Chicago: I'm neck-and-neck in wins in my Rotisserie league, and I'm worried about some of my stud young pitchers on teams that are basically out of contention (Jair Jurrjens, Ricky Nolasco and Matt Cain). I don't want to risk losing starts down the stretch, considering my competition has pitchers on teams still in the race (Cubs, Brewers, Rays, etc.). When should I worry about my guys getting shut down for the season?
Emack: You should worry about that this time of the year, but we don't see Jurrjens getting shut down with the Braves already going to a slew of rookies along with Mike Hampton in their injury-hit rotation. Also, Jurrjens is pitching for NL Rookie of the Year votes. Nolasco is a bit more of a veteran and the Marlins are clinging to playoff hopes, so we don't see him getting shut down either. Cain is the most likely one to be treated with kid gloves, but he has already reached 200 innings last year and should be stretched to around 210. He is currently on pace for 223 so Cain might be taken out early in his upcoming games and given some extra rest days down the stretch. He should stay active up until the season's final week, we say. Yes, you should be concerned about young arms this time of year, but your trio seems to be a pretty safe bet to help down the stretch still.
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.
