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: Randy Johnson is a must-start, two-start pitcher. ... Yusmeiro Petit, Doug Davis, Dan Haren and Brandon Webb are one-start options in the six-game week. ... Prospect Max Scherzer is back in the majors, but as a reliever for now. He could be a sleeper in deeper formats right now and a potential spot starter if the D-Backs need a sixth starter down the stretch.
Atlanta Braves: Mike Hampton and recently promoted Charlie Morton are two-start pitchers. ... Morton doesn't need to wait 10 days to be recalled because September roster expansion overrides the MLB rule on options. ... Rookies Jorge Campillo, Jo-Jo Reyes and Jair Jurrjens are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles are adding Garrett Olson to the rotation again Monday and Radhames Liz on Tuesday. ... Olson is a two-start pitcher candidate, but it is likely Liz, Jeremy Guthrie, Daniel Cabrera, Chris Waters and Brian Burres follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. Don't count on Olson getting a second start as the O's might consider a six-man rotation.
Boston Red Sox: Paul Byrd is a two-start pitcher with a favorable matchup vs. Baltimore and a tougher one at Texas. ... Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett (elbow) and Tim Wakefield are expected to follow. ... Beckett will be making a return from the DL, but consider him a risky start this week. Let him return and prove healthy and effective before you trust him in Fantasy crunch time. ... If Beckett cannot go, Michael Bowden or Clay Buchholz could start in his place next weekend. Regardless, those two could be brought up to pitch in relief at least in September.
Chicago Cubs: Jason Marquis is a two-start pitcher with a pair of decent matchups. Trust him in deeper leagues coming off his great outing against the Pirates. ... Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ted Lilly are expected to be one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Zambrano was moved back a few days to get his tired arm some rest, but he should be fine to start Tuesday or Wednesday. Trust him in deeper leagues still, because this rest should do him some good. He had a bad August last year, too, and was a horse down the stretch in September. Expect the same this year.
Chicago White Sox: Clayton Richard is a two-start pitcher with a pair of tough matchups at Cleveland (Cliff Lee) and vs. Anaheim (Joe Saunders). Trust him only in deeper formats at this point, especially since John Danks could take Richard's second start Sunday on regular rest after a Thursday offday. ... Danks, Javier Vazquez, Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd follow in the rotation for the six-game week.
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| Player | % Change | |
| 1. | Frank Francisco, RP, TEX | 21 |
| 2. | Glen Perkins, SP, MIN | 13 |
| 3. | Jensen Lewis, RP, CLE | 13 |
| 4. | Yusmeiro Petit, SP, ARI | 13 |
| 5. | Adam Wainwright, SP, STL | 12 |
| 6. | Tim Wakefield, SP, BOS | 11 |
| 7. | Paul Byrd, SP, BOS | 10 |
| 8. | Brandon Morrow, RP, SEA | 10 |
| 9. | Jason Marquis, SP, CHC | 10 |
| 10. | Josh Johnson, SP, FLA | 9 |
Cincinnati Reds: There is a discrepency between the Reds' game notes and the MLB.com probable pitchers Tuesday-Thursday. The game notes list Josh Fogg, Aaron Harang and Edinson Volquez, while MLB.com goes Harang-Volquez-Fogg. ... The significant difference, of course, is whether Harang or Fogg will be the Reds' two-start pitcher. We have to think it will be Harang, but be careful starting him if you are doing so because he is getting two starts. He is a solid one-start option still, though, finally proving healthy and effective again. ... Fogg looks like a risky start with or without one start, while Volquez, Johnny Cueto (forearm) and Bronson Arroyo are slated to follow in the rotation. ... Cueto remains a real risk, especially since September call-ups could start in his place amid his forearm and elbow issues. We cannot advise you using Cueto in any format, because the Reds have zero reason to risk using him right now. He has done enough for one year, whether or not he pitches again until spring 2009.
Cleveland Indians: Cliff Lee is a must-start, two-start pitcher vs. Chicago and at Kansas City. ... Fausto Carmona, Jeremy Sowers, Anthony Reyes and Zach Jackson follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... We have to figure September will lead to a few call-ups, perhaps starting pitchers Aaron Laffey and/or David Huff.
Colorado Rockies: Jorge De La Rosa is a two-start pitcher. ... Livan Hernandez, Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeff Francis follow as one-start pitchers in a six-game week.
Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander and Chris Lambert will be two-start pitchers. ... Zach Miner, Kenny Rogers and Armando Galarraga follow as one-start pitchers in a seven-game week.
Florida Marlins: Josh Johnson is a must-start, two-start pitcher amid his hot return from Tommy John surgery in less than a year. ... Anibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad, Ricky Nolasco and Scott Olsen follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Andrew Miller (back) is returning from the DL in relief at this point, but he could get spot starts down the stretch.
Houston Astros: Roy Oswalt is a must-start, two-start pitcher. ... Brandon Backe, Randy Wolf, Brian Moehler and Wandy Rodriguez follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Kansas City Royals: Zack Greinke is an advisable two-start pitcher vs. Oakland and Cleveland. Those are favorable matchups for him. ... Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies, Brandon Duckworth and Gil Meche follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Struggling Joe Saunders is a two-start pitcher at Detroit and Chicago, a pair of tough matchups. ... Jon Garland, Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver and John Lackey follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Greg Maddux is a two-start pitching sleeper vs. the Padres and D-Backs at home. ... Clayton Kershaw is expected to return Tuesday from the minors, while Hiroki Kuroda, Chad Billingsley and Derek Lowe follow as the other one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Kershaw is coming off another terrible start, but he is a nice sleeper in deeper formats, especially NL-only leagues.
Milwaukee Brewers: Ben Sheets and Manny Parra are two-start pitchers to use in any league. ... Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan and CC Sabathia follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Minnesota Twins: Glen Perkins is an advisable two-start pitcher at Toronto and vs. Detroit. ... Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey, Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
New York Mets: Johan Santana is a must-start, two-start pitcher. ... Jonathon Niese makes his big league debut as the No. 5 starter Tuesday. Consider him a sleeper in deeper leagues down the stretch, because John Maine (shoulder) might not return before the end of the year. ... Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey and Pedro Martinez follow as one-start pitchers, too, in the six-game week. ... Closer Billy Wagner will throw a bullpen session Monday and might get a Class A rehab appearance Wednesday before a potential Friday return vs. the Phillies. Consider him nothing more than a DL stashee at this point.
New York Yankees: Sidney Ponson and Mike Mussina are two-start pitchers. ... Carl Pavano, Darrell Rasner and Andy Pettitte are slated to follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week. ... Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain should get a look down the stretch in the rotation, but there are no current start dates for them at this point.
Oakland Athletics: Gio Gonzalez is a two-start pitcher with two solid matchups vs. the Royals and Orioles. Consider him a sleeper in deeper leagues, especially AL-only formats because of his potential. He can strike out batters at a good clip even if he doesn't get run support. ... Dana Eveland, Dan Meyer, Dallas Braden and Greg Smith are slated to follow as one-start options in the six-game week. The A's-O's have a Saturday doubleheader before a rare Sunday off.
Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Kendrick was slated to be a two-start pitcher at Washington and the N.Y. Mets, but Cole Hamels starts Tuesday and could slot Sunday ahead of Kendrick in the crucial weekend set at the Mets. Expect that to happen because the Phillies need that game badly and Hamels hasn't slotted against the rival Mets much this season. It is the last set the Phillies play against the first-place Mets this season, in fact. ... Joe Blanton, Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer are certain to be one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Ian Snell is a two-start pitching sleeper at Cincy and San Francisco. Consider him viable in deeper leagues. ... Zach Duke, Tom Gorzelanny, Paul Maholm and Jeff Karstens follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
San Diego Padres: Chris Young and Cha Seung Baek are two-start pitchers with tough matchups at Los Angeles and Milwaukee. ... A TBD on Wednesday, Josh Geer and Jake Peavy are slated to follow as one-start options in a seven-game week. Dirk Hayhurst could get a start or the Padres could dip into their minor league system. You will want to ignore all Padres pitchers not named Peavy or Young down the stretch in Fantasy crunch time. They are a bad team that doesn't figure to get their pitchers run support.
San Francisco Giants: Jonathan Sanchez returns from the DL as a two-start pitcher at Colorado and vs. Pittsburgh. Consider him a sleeper in deeper leagues. ... Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, Kevin Correia and Matt Cain follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Seattle Mariners: Carlos Silva returns from the DL, perhaps as a two-start pitcher at Texas and vs. the N.Y. Yankees. He stinks regardless, but those matchups make him unusable. ... Ryan Feierabend, Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Ryan Rowland-Smith are likely to follow as one-start options. ... Brandon Morrow is expected to pitch in the weekend series vs. the Yankees, though, so Rowland-Smith or Silva's second start will get bumped. Consider Morrow an outstanding sleeper in deeper leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals: Joel Pineiro is tentatively slated to be a two-start pitcher, but Tuesday starter Adam Wainwright could slot Sunday after a Thursday offday on Pineiro's second turn. ... Wainwright is a solid one-start pitcher at Arizona, but the potential second start at home vs. Florida makes him even more intriuging in Fantasy crunch time. ... We think Wainwright doesn't get moved up, because the Cardinals likely will want to save him to start the opener of an important series against the Cubs on Tuesday, Aug. 9. ... Kyle Lohse, Braden Looper and Todd Wellemeyer are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Tampa Bay Rays: Matt Garza is a must-start, two-start pitcher vs. the Yankees and at the Blue Jays. ... Edwin Jackson, Scott Kazmir, Andy Sonnanstine and James Shields follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Top prospects David Price, Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann could have been call-up candidates as relievers down the stretch, but the Triple-A Durham Bulls are in the postseason and that trio figures to be leaned on heavily there first. Consider them mid-September call-ups as relievers now. What changed with Price? Well, he has proven less dominant in Triple-A of late, the Rays are easily in first place and it is unlikely Price would start over the Rays' top three in the postseason anyway. So, Price is now just a middle reliever and thousands of CBSSports.com Fantasy readers now hate your's truly -- well, hate more at least.
Texas Rangers: Matt Harrison is a risky two-start pitcher vs. Seattle and Boston. ... Brandon McCarthy, Dustin Nippert, Scott Feldman and Kevin Millwood figure to follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Toronto Blue Jays: David Purcey is a high-risk, two-start pitcher best left for the deepest of AL-only leagues. ... A.J. Burnett, Jesse Litsch, John Parrish and Roy Halladay are slated to follow as one-start options -- although Shaun Marcum could take Parrish's spot. Consider Marcum a sleeper September rotation call-up.
Washington Nationals: Tim Redding and John Lannan are two-start pitchers vs. the Phillies and at the Braves. ... Odalis Perez, Jason Bergmann and Collin Balester follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Fantasy Week 23 (Sept. 1-7)
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| Must-start options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Johan Santana | at MIL Sheets | vs PHI Hamels? |
| Cliff Lee | vs CHW Richard | at KC Greinke |
| Ben Sheets | vs NYM Santana | vs SD Young |
| Cole Hamels | at WAS Lannan | at NYM Santana |
| Roy Oswalt | at CHC Marquis | at COL De La Rosa |
| Randy Johnson | vs STL Pineiro | at LAD Maddux |
| Josh Johnson | vs ATL Hampton | at STL Pineiro |
| Advisable options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Justin Verlander | vs NYY Ponson | at MIN Baker |
| Mike Mussina | at TB Garza | at SEA Rowland-Smith? |
| Zack Greinke | vs OAK Gonzalez | vs CLE Lee |
| Matt Garza | vs NYY Mussina | at TOR Purcey |
| Joe Saunders | at DET Lambert | at CHW Richard |
| Manny Parra | vs NYM Niese | vs SD Baek |
| Glen Perkins | at TOR Purcey | vs DET Lambert |
| Paul Byrd | vs BAL Olson | at TEX Harrison |
| Greg Maddux | vs SD Young | vs ARI Johnson |
| Aaron Harang | vs PIT Snell | vs CHC Marquis |
| Questionable options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Jonathan Sanchez | at COL De La Rosa | vs PIT Snell |
| Jason Marquis | vs HOU Oswalt | at CIN Harang |
| Ian Snell | at CIN Harang | at SF Sanchez |
| Tim Redding | vs PHI Kendrick | at ATL Hampton |
| Chris Young | at LAD Maddux | at MIL Sheets |
| John Lannan | vs PHI Hamels | at ATL Morton |
| Sidney Ponson | at DET Verlander | at SEA Washburn |
| Jorge De La Rosa | vs SF Sanchez | vs HOU Oswalt |
| Gio Gonzalez | at KC Greinke | at BAL Burres |
| David Purcey | vs MIN Perkins | vs TB Garza |
| Mike Hampton | at FLA Johnson | vs WAS Redding |
| High-risk options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Joel Pineiro | at ARI Johnson | vs FLA Johnson |
| Matt Harrison | vs SEA Silva | vs BOS Byrd |
| Cha Seung Baek | at LAD Kershaw | at MIL Parra |
| Clayton Richard | at CLE Lee | vs LAA Saunders |
| Charlie Morton | at FLA Sanchez | vs WAS Lannan |
| Chris Lambert | vs LAA Saunders | at MIN Perkins |
Pitch a question
Josh A.: You reccommend cutting Maine in all leagues except keepers. Would you keep him at $16 though? I got limited carryovers, and he was on my short list, but figured I could get him cheaper at the auction. I appreciate all your info all season long.
Emack: Yeah, I would still cut him. Maine is probably a $10 pitcher as an injury-risk sleeper. If the offseason surgery works, though, we could see him be a 20-game-winner candidate again.
Brandon, Casselton, North Dakota: I'm in a 10-team, Head-to-Head, points-based league. I have both John Maine and Billy Wagner on my roster and am looking to drop one of them for a player not on the DL. The best free-agent options in our league are Jose Valverde, Brian Wilson, Randy Johnson, Armando Galarraga or Derek Lowe. I currently have Peavy, Verlander, Burnett, Lackey, Vazquez, Francisco Rodriguez and Francisco Cordero on my roster. Our scoring system awards 10 points for both wins and saves, two points for Ks, two points for each inning, minus-5 for losses, minus-5 for blown saves, and minus-1 for walks, hits allowed and runs allowed. It tends to favor closers slightly, but two-start pitchers, as in most leagues, are the key to wins. Who should I pick up, and who should I drop to give myself the best chance down the stretch?
Emack: The Big Unit. He is a big part of the D-Backs' pennant push and he will be kept on every fifth day down the stretch. Lowe is the next most advisable option. Drop Maine, because we don't see him returning at this point, while Wagner still should and will in a significant role. Maine might merely be a reliever once healthy in late September.
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.
