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: Yusmeiro Petit is slated to be a two-start pitcher, but his status could be contingent on how well Max Scherzer pitches and whether the D-Backs top starters are healthy. ... The D-Backs had said their top four starters would remain on regular rest whenever possible, so Doug Davis could go twice Tuesday and Sunday. ... Dan Haren and Brandon Webb are one-start pitchers, while Randy Johnson (shoulder) is slated to return Saturday. ... Johnson is a risky option outside of deeper NL-only formats.
Atlanta Braves: Jorge Campillo is a two-start pitching sleeper for deeper leagues vs. the Rockies and at the Mets. Those tough matchups likely should keep you from trusting him in mixed leagues. ... James Parr gets another look Wednesday and he will be followed by Jair Jurrjens, Mike Hampton and likely Jo-Jo Reyes. ... Rookie Charlie Morton (back) is not currently slated to get a start this week.
Baltimore Orioles: Garrett Olson and Jeremy Guthrie are two-start pitchers. ... Chris Waters, Radhames Liz and Daniel Cabrera will follow as one-start options in the seven-game week. ... Jim Johnson is out for the year, so lefty Jamie Walker could be the stopgap closer down the stretch. Chris Ray (elbow) has been shut down for the year. No O's closer is worthwhile owning at this point, because they don't figure to get many save chances.
Boston Red Sox: Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka are must-start, two-start pitchers in crunch time vs. the Rays and Blue Jays. ... Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and Paul Byrd follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week that includes a Saturday doubleheader. ... Bartolo Colon (back) was removed from the 15-day DL and was optioned to Triple-A in lieu a Devern Hansack call-up as a reliever. Colon should return later in September, perhaps as the No. 6 starter necessitated after that doubleheader.
Chicago Cubs: Ryan Dempster is a solid two-start pitcher. ... Ted Lilly, Rich Harden (shoulder), Jason Marquis and perhaps Carlos Zambrano (shoulder) are the likely one-start options -- albeit with some question marks. ... Sean Marshall could get a start in there somewhere, but he is a risky play because we cannot be sure where he might slot and whose spot he might take -- or whether it will be a six-man rotation.
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| Player | % Change | |
| 1. | Chris R. Young, SP, SD | 15 |
| 2. | Troy Percival, RP, TB | 14 |
| 3. | Jesse Litsch, SP, TOR | 14 |
| 4. | Randy Wolf, SP, HOU | 12 |
| 5. | Brandon Morrow, SP, SEA | 11 |
| 6. | Frank Francisco, RP, TEX | 10 |
| 7. | Joba Chamberlain, RP, NYY | 9 |
| 8. | Jeff Suppan, SP, MIL | 9 |
| 9. | Nick Blackburn, SP, MIN | 7 |
| 10. | Jonathan O. Sanchez, SP, SF | 7 |
Chicago White Sox: Javier Vazquez and Clayton Richard are two-start pitchers. ... They will be followed by Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd and John Danks in the seven-game week.
Cincinnati Reds: Edinson Volquez is a two-start pitcher with tough matchups at Milwaukee and Arizona. ... Ramon A. Ramirez, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and Aaron Harang are slated to follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Homer Bailey was dominant in his return to the Triple-A rotation during their playoffs, so expect him to be a factor in the Reds' rotation before the end of the season again. Like the breakthrough of the Mets' Mike Pelfrey, eventually Bailey's talent will pay dividends in the majors. Honest.
Cleveland Indians: Fausto Carmona and Jeremy Sowers are two-start pitchers at Baltimore and vs. the Royals. Those matchups make them nice sleepers this week. ... Rookie Scott Lewis debuts Wednesday and will be followed by Zach Jackson and Cliff Lee as one-start pitchers. ... A doubleheader Saturday vs. the Royals gives the Indians an eight-game week and necessitates a six-man rotation. ... Anthony Reyes (elbow) is not an option for that doubleheader due to injury, so the Indians will have a TBD between Carmona and Sowers over the weekend. Avoid that TBD in all leagues, because it might even be a bullpen game for all we know.
Colorado Rockies: Aaron Cook is a two-start pitcher at Atlanta and vs. the Dodgers. ... Livan Hernandez, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeff Francis and Jorge De La Rosa follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Detroit Tigers: Zach Miner is a two-start pitcher. ... Nate Robertson, slotted for the injured Kenny Rogers, Armando Galarraga, Justin Verlander and Chris Lambert follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Rogers is out until at least Sept. 15.
Florida Marlins: Anibal Sanchez is a two-start pitcher with a tough matchup at Philly and vs. Washington. Consider him in deeper leagues. ... Chris Volstad, Ricky Nolasco, Scott Olsen and Josh Johnson follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Houston Astros: Brandon Backe and Randy Wolf are two-start pitchers with a great matchup vs. the Pirates and a tough one vs. the Cubs. ... Brian Moehler, Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Kansas City Royals: Brian Bannister is a two-start pitcher at Minnesota and Cleveland. ... Kyle Davies, Brandon Duckworthy, Gil Meche, Zack Greinke and a TBD in the second game of the Saturday doubleheader follow in the seven-game week after Monday's offday. ... The Royals don't have an intriguing No. 6 starter option to consider in Fantasy crunch time.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Jon Garland and Jered Weaver, returning after missing a start, are two-start pitchers vs. the Yankees and Mariners. ... Ervin Santana, John Lackey and Joe Saunders follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Greg Maddux is a two-start pitcher at San Diego and Colorado. ... Hiroki Kuroda, Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Milwaukee Brewers: Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan are a two-start pitcher vs. the Reds and Phillies. ... CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Manny Parra follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Minnesota Twins: Nick Blackburn is a two-start pitcher vs. the Royals and at the the Orioles. ... Kevin Slowey, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker and Glen Perkins are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
New York Mets: Oliver Perez is a likely two-start pitcher as the Mets figure to stick with a four-man rotation in a five-game week. ... Mike Pelfrey, Pedro Martinez and Johan Santana are one-start pitchers. ... The No. 5 starter still might be Jonathon Niese, but he won't get a start this week. The other options really are not intriguing.
New York Yankees: Carl Pavano is a two-start pitcher at Anaheim and vs. Tampa Bay. ... Alfredo Aceves, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and likely Sidney Ponson are one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... It is possible Phil Hughes and/or Ian Kennedy could get starts for the Yankees in September, but they are not currently slated to return this week.
Oakland Athletics: Gio Gonzalez and Dana Eveland are two-start pitchers. ... Sean Gallagher (back) returns Wednesday and he will be followed by Greg Smith and Dallas Braden as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week. ... Justin Duchscherer (hip) has been shut down for now but still hopes to make a return before the end of the season. ... Dan Meyer, who was risky anyway, heads back to the bullpen.
Philadelphia Phillies: Joe Blanton is the lone two-start pitcher in the seven-game week for the Phillies, because the Sunday doubleheader and no days off necessitates a six-man rotation this week. ... Kyle Kendrick, Brett Myers, the No. 6 starter TBD, Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels are one-start options. ... The top TBD options are J.A. Happ out of the bullpen or perhaps a call-up of a minor leaguer like Carlos Carrasco. We cannot recommend either this week, but Carrasco is an elite prospect who could be real interesting down the stretch if he gets the call and pitches well.
Pittsburgh Pirates: They have a six-man rotation in a seven-game week, so Ian Snell (at Houston and vs. St. Louis) is the team's lone two-start pitcher. ... Ross Ohlendorf, Tom Gorzelanny, Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Jeff Karstens are one-start pitchers.
San Diego Padres: They have a six-man rotation in a seven-game week, so Cha Seung Baek (vs. the Dodgers and Giants) is the team's lone two-start pitcher. ... Wade LeBlanc, Shawn Estes, Josh Geer, Jake Peavy and Chris Young are slated to follow as one-start pitchers.
San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito are two-start pitchers vs. Arizona and at San Diego. This is risky, but Zito might be a sleeper for you in deeper formats. ... Kevin Correia, Matt Cain and Jonathan O. Sanchez are one-start options in the seven-game week.
Seattle Mariners: Felix Hernandez is a two-start pitcher in the six-game week. ... Brandon Morrow, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ryan Feierabend and perhaps Carlos Silva (back) are one-start pitchers. ... Morrow might start Wednesday or Thursday, depending on Silva's status. He had a smashing debut in their rotation and is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues. He is real good.
St. Louis Cardinals: Kyle Lohse is a two-start pitcher vs. the Cubs and at the Pirates. ... Braden Looper, Todd Wellemeyer, Adam Wainwright and a TBD (likely Joel Pineiro) follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Tampa Bay Rays: Edwin Jackson is a two-start pitcher at Boston and New York. Those are tough matchups that should keep you from trusting him in mixed leagues. ... Scott Kazmir, Andy Sonnanstine, James Shields and Matt Garza follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Texas Rangers: Vicente Padilla is a two-start pitcher at Seattle and Oakland, which are two favorable matchups. Consider him a nice flier if you are looking for a two-start pitcher. ... Kevin Millwood, Dustin Nippert, Matt Harrison and Brandon McCarthy follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Toronto Blue Jays: A.J. Burnett and Jesse Litsch are two-start pitchers. ... Roy Halladay, Shaun Marcum, David Purcey and Saturday doubleheader No. 6 starter TBD follow as one-start pitchers in the eight-game week. ... Reliever John Parrish or Scott Richmond are the top options for the TBD, but they should be avoided in all leagues at this point.
Washington Nationals: They have just five games with days off Monday and Thursday. John Lannan, Odalis Perez, Shairon Martis, Tim Redding and Collin Balester are all one-start pitchers.
Fantasy Week 24 (Sept. 8-14)
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| Must-start options | ||
| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Tim Lincecum | vs ARI Petit | at SD Young |
| A.J. Burnett | at CHW Vazquez | at BOS Byrd |
| Daisuke Matsuzaka | vs TB Kazmir | vs TOR Litsch |
| Ryan Dempster | at STL Lohse | at HOU Wolf |
| Jon Lester | vs TB Jackson | vs. TOR TBD |
| Javier Vazquez | vs TOR Burnett | vs DET Lambert |
| Advisable options | ||
| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Edinson Volquez | at MIL Bush | at ARI Petit |
| Felix Hernandez | vs TEX Padilla | at LAA Weaver |
| Oliver Perez | vs WAS Lannan | vs ATL Campillo |
| Jered Weaver | vs NYY Aceves | vs SEA Hernandez |
| Fausto Carmona | at BAL Olson | vs KC Greinke |
| Questionable options | ||
| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Aaron Cook | at ATL Campillo | vs LAD Maddux |
| Jon Garland | vs NYY Pavano | vs SEA Silva |
| Dave Bush | vs CIN Volquez | at PHI Hamels |
| Kyle Lohse | vs CHC Dempster | at PIT Snell |
| Joe Blanton | vs FLA Sanchez | vs MIL Suppan |
| Nick Blackburn | vs KC Bannister | at BAL Guthrie |
| Jeremy Guthrie | vs CLE Sowers | vs MIN Blackburn |
| Greg Maddux | at SD Baek | at COL Cook |
| Randy Wolf | vs PIT Ohlendorf | vs CHC Dempster |
| Edwin Jackson | at BOS Lester | at NYY Pavano |
| Jeff Suppan | vs CIN Ramirez | at PHI Blanton |
| Anibal Sanchez | at PHI Blanton | vs WAS Balester |
| Jesse Litsch | at CHW Richard | at BOS Matsuzaka |
| Jorge Campillo | vs COL Cook | at NYM Perez |
| Zach Miner | vs OAK Gonzalez | at CHW Richard |
| Yusmeiro Petit | at SF Lincecum | vs CIN Volquez |
| Dana Eveland | at DET Robertson | vs TEX Padilla |
| Ian Snell | at HOU Backe | vs STL Lohse |
| Barry Zito | vs ARI Davis | at SD Baek |
| Carl Pavano | vs LAA Garland | vs TB Jackson |
| Vicente Padilla | at SEA Hernandez | at OAK Eveland |
| Brandon Backe | vs PIT Snell | vs CHC Zambrano |
| Jeremy Sowers | at BAL Guthrie | vs KC Bannister |
| High-risk options | ||
| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Gio Gonzalez | at DET Miner | vs TEX McCarthy |
| Brian Bannister | at MIN Blackburn | at CLE Sowers |
| Cha Seung Baek | vs LAD Maddux | vs SF Zito |
| Clayton Richard | vs TOR Litsch | vs DET Miner |
| Garrett Olson | vs CLE Carmona | vs MIN Perkins |
Pitch a question
Gabe Rees, St. Louis: I am in a points-based league and I'm preparing for our playoffs which begin in Week 24. In that week I have a tough decision to make of whether to start CC Sabathia, who has one turn, or Anibal Sanchez who has two turns. Sabathia is at home against the Reds, while Sanchez is at the Phillies and at home against the Nationals. Considering this is a points-based league, what would you do?
Emack: Sabathia is a must-start in all formats right now, regardless of the one start. Let him win or lose your title for you. He has earned that right. Sanchez is a sleeper, but he is far less trustworthy. Consider sitting someone else, if you want the benefit of a two-start week.
Bill Herlin, Frisco, Texas: I am in a standard 10-team Head-to-Head points league with seven slots for active pitchers. I can have any combination of closers and starters, with saves and wins each worth 10 points. I have Fausto Carmona, Ervin Santana and Edinson Volquez each with two starts. I have Scott Kazmir and Daisuke Matsuzaka each with one start -- difficult matchups against each other -- and I also have CC Sabathia, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Francisco Liriano each with one start (the latter two with favorable matchups against the Royals). The only closer on my roster is Kerry Wood, whom I normally leave active when healthy. I am having a hard time deciding which three to reserve. Which seven would you keep active in this important playoff week?
Emack: Well, Santana is no longer a two-start pitcher, while Dice-K now is. Sabathia, Lee, Liriano, Hamels and Dice-K are must-start pitchers -- with or without the second start. Volquez and Carmona are the ones we would go with. Sit Wood, Santana and Kazmir (ouch).
Ro, Sunnyvale, Calif.: I am in a 10-team, points-based league in the first round of playoffs and I already have Volquez (@ MIL, @ ARI), Liriano (vs. KC) and Pelfrey (vs. WAS) slotted. I need to pick any four more. Should I pick another two-start pitcher in Weaver (vs. NYY, vs. SEA)? Or go with tough matchups like Myers (vs. Nolasco in FLA), Grienke (@ CLE) or Morrow (@ LAA vs. Lackey)? Or roll the dice with questionable aces Zambrano (maybe @ HOU) or Verlander (@ CHW)? Or maybe hope my closers get opportunites -- Jon Papelbon or Joakim Soria with six games apiece? I need to get past this round and I have been playing with my roster every day this week. Who should I go with?
Emack: Volquez, Liriano, Pelfrey, Myers, Weaver, Papelbon and Greinke. Zambrano and Verlander have proven to be too risky. Soria you cannot trust to get save chances. And Morrow is outstanding, but that is a tough matchup for a small league like yours.
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.
