June 22, 2008

Week 13 Pitching Planner

By Eric Mack | Senior Fantasy Writer
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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 in all leagues. ... Doug Davis, Randy Johnson, Micah Owings and Brandon Webb follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Atlanta Braves: Jo-Jo Reyes is a two-start pitcher better left for deeper leagues still. ... Rookies Charlie Morton, Jorge Campillo, Jair Jurrjens and veteran Tim Hudson follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Baltimore Orioles: Jeremy Guthrie is a two-start pitcher with one tough matchup and one favorable one. Consider him in leagues where you are not penalized for losses. ... Brian Burres, Radhames Liz, Daniel Cabrera and Garrett Olson follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Boston Red Sox: Josh Beckett is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues, especially since he is well-rested after taking last week off. ... Justin Masterson, who could remain in the rotation the rest of the season now, Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jon Lester follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Curt Schilling (shoulder) is officially out for the season now and can be cut in all leagues. ... Bartolo Colon (back) and Clay Buchholz (Triple-A) could return in July, but Masterson is showing no signs of slowing down. ... Dice-K had a rough return from the DL on Saturday and a tough matchup next Friday at Houston. He should be reserved if you have a viable alternative.

Chicago Cubs: With Carlos Zambrano (shoulder) out for at least Fantasy Week 13 (June 23-29), the Cubs turn to Triple-A lefty Sean Marshall for a two-start week. Marshall, whose last Triple-A start Thursday was a dandy, is a two-start pitching sleeper for any league. He could stick around in the contending Cubs rotation for the long term. ... Zambrano was hoping to miss just one start, but the Cubs decided to be cautious and DL him. Consider him a July returnee without a rehab start at this point. ... Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis move up ahead of Sean Gallagher in the rotation. Lilly, Marquis, Ryan Dempster and Gallagher are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.

Chicago White Sox: Red-hot Mark Buehrle is an advisable two-start pitcher at this point. ... Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Jose Contreras and Javier Vazquez follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Cincinnati Reds: Bronson Arroyo is a two-start pitcher, but one best left for deeper leagues. ... Struggling ace Aaron Harang, Cy Young candidate Edinson Volquez and rookies Daryl Thompson and Johnny Cueto follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.

Cleveland Indians: Aaron Laffey is an advisable two-start pitcher in deeper leagues, especially with that first favorable matchup vs. the lowly Giants. ... Jeremy Sowers, Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia and Paul Byrd follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Colorado Rockies: Resurgent ace Jeff Francis is an advisable two-start pitcher in deeper leagues, especially with that first favorable matchup in the pitcher's park in Kansas City against the lowly Royals. ... Jorge De La Rosa, Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez and Greg Reynolds follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Jason Hirsh continues to struggle in Triple-A (0-1, 5.55). He is not a candidate to return until later in the second half.

Kenny Rogers has been pitching well of late and is a two-starter this week. (AP)

Florida Marlins: Scott Olsen is a two-start pitcher for deeper leagues, but he has a pair of tough matchups. ... Ryan Tucker, Mark Hendrickson, Ricky Nolasco and Andrew Miller are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.

Houston Astros: Brian Moehler is a high-risk, two-start picher who is best avoided in all leagues. ... Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, Runelvys Hernandez and Brandon Backe are slated to follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Shawn Chacon was ushered to the bullpen in lieu of Hernandez, who will be called up to start Friday.

Kansas City Royals: Brian Bannister is a two-start pitcher for deeper leagues. ... Zack Greinke, Luke Hochevar, Gil Meche and Kyle Davies follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Horacio Ramirez was called up from Triple-A, but he will work long relief and only make spot starts when one of those five are unavailable to start.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: John Lackey is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all Fantasy leagues. Heck, he is likely a must-start, one-start pitcher in all weeks, too. He has been dynamite off the DL. ... Jon Garland, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Derek Lowe has a pair of first-place matchups in his two-start week, but he has had a run of quality starts and is an advisable option still. ... Eric Stults, Clayton Kershaw, Chan Ho Park and Chad Billingsley follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Brad Penny (shoulder) won't return until Fantasy Week 14 (June 30-July 6) in a best-case scenario. ... Hiroki Kuroda (shoulder) is likely out until after the All-Star break at this point.

Milwaukee Brewers: Ben Sheets is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan, Seth McClung and Manny Parra follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Minnesota Twins: Kevin Slowey is a two-start sleeper for deeper leagues, but he is starting against two big-time aces. That is a reason to sit him, despite the double starts and his recent hot streak. ... Glen Perkins, Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn and Livan Hernandez follow as one-start options. ... Francisco Liriano was steamrolling Triple-A until his last start Friday, where he gave up five earned in five innings with nine hits. The good news is he continues to have a nice strikeout-to-walk ratio of late, fanning seven and walking just one. This recent "setback" makes it less likely The Franchise returns before the All-Star break now, especially if everyone in the Twins' rotation remains healthy.

New York Mets: Johan Santana is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... Oliver Perez will also get two starts in the seven-game week created by the day-night, two-park doubleheader Friday in New York. ... John Maine, Pedro Martinez and Mike Pelfrey are one-start pitchers. ... The Mets will require a No. 6 starter July 1 and that will likely be long relief Claudio Vargas out of the bullpen. It will be a one-shot deal, though, necessitated by the doubleheader.

New York Yankees: Despite a seven-game week, Darrell Rasner will be the team's lone two-start pitcher -- an advisable one in deeper leagues because of that favorable matchup at Pittsburgh. ... Joba Chamberlain, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Dan Giese are certain one-start options, while a No. 6 starter will be needed in the weekend series at the Mets, because of the Friday doubleheader. ... The leading candidates for that No. 6 spot are Sidney Ponson, Kei Igawa, Alan Horne and Jeff Karstens (in that order). The Yankees might go to Ponson over the other three, according to the Yes Network. Igawa is out of favor in the organization, Horne needs more time in Triple-A and Karstens is not quite ready after missing most of the first half.

Oakland Athletics: Joe Blanton is a two-start pitcher with one tough matchup (vs. the Phillies) and one favorable one (vs. the Giants). Consider him in deeper leagues. ... Greg Smith, Rich Harden, Dana Eveland and Justin Duchscherer follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Philadelphia Phillies: Jamie Moyer is a risky two-start pitcher best left for the deepest of leagues. ... Kyle Kendrick, Adam Eaton, Brett Myers and Cole Hamels follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Tom Gorzelanny is a risky two-start pitcher with a pair of tough matchups vs. the Yankees and Rays. ... With Phil Dumatrait (shoulder) on the 15-day DL, the Pirates will move everyone in the rotation up a day, so Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Ian Snell and a Saturday TBD follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... GM Neal Huntington said Triple-A right-hander John Van Benschoten is the most likely candidate to get the call as the No. 5 starter, according to MLB.com. Van Benschoten is a former No. 1 pick beset by Tommy John surgery. He has struggled in the majors, but he is 7-1 with 3.55 ERA in Triple-A right now. Consider him a high-risk option for deeper NL-only leagues if you are inclined to not completely give up on a former top talent.

San Diego Padres: Jake Peavy is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... Greg Maddux, Josh Banks, Cha Seung Baek and Randy Wolf figure to follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Baek is likely the first man out of the rotation if the Padres decide to make a change, so consider him the most high risk.

San Francisco Giants: Jonathan Sanchez is a two-start pitcher with a pair of pretty favorable matchups. Consider him a sleeper this week. ... Barry Zito, who the Giants might consider to skip until later in the week, Matt Cain, Kevin Correia and Tim Lincecum are one-start options in th six-game week.

Seattle Mariners: Felix Hernandez is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... R.A. Dickey, Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn and Carlos Silva follow as one-start options in the six-game week.

St. Louis Cardinals: Braden Looper is the team's lone two-start pitcher, one advisable in deeper leagues because of a favorable second start at Kansas City. ... Kyle Lohse and perhaps Todd Wellemeyer (elbow) and Mitchell Boggs -- in either order -- and then Joel Pineiro follow as probable one-start options. ... Mark Mulder (shoulder) could be close to a return from the DL, but he would be a high-risk option for the deepest of leagues, once activated. His numbers on his rehab assignment are not great. ... Matt Clement (shoulder) is likely more than two weeks away still. ... Adam Wainwright (finger) won't be ready to return in Fantasy Week 13 (June 23-29) either. Keep him reserved.

Tampa Bay Rays: Andy Sonnanstine is a two-start sleeper for deeper leagues, especially with that favorable second matchup at Pittsburgh. ... James Shields, Matt Garza, Scott Kazmir and Edwin Jackson (returning from a five-game suspension) follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Notably, the Rays have moved phenom David Price up to Double-A after only a month in high Class A. The top prospect needs to be challenged at this point and might only get a month in Double-A to prove worthy of a call-up to the majors for the contending Rays.

Texas Rangers: Rookie Eric Hurley is a high-risk, two-start pitcher best left for the deepest of AL-only leagues. ... He will be followed by one-start pitchers Scott Feldman, Kevin Millwood, Kason Gabbard and Vicente Padilla.

Toronto Blue Jays: A.J. Burnett moves up a day to be a two-start pitcher, albeit one struggling and facing two top offenses. ... Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch, a TBD and Dustin McGowan follow in the rotation as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Shaun Marcum (elbow) needs a DL stint and a visit to Dr. James Andrews, rarely good news. He is out until at least late July at this point. ... According to MLB.com, the top candidates to replace Marcum from Triple-A Syracuse include left-handers John Parrish and David Purcey, along with righty Kane Davis. Parrish is 10-0 with a 2.83 ERA, Purcey is 6-5 with a 2.42 ERA and Davis is 6-6 with a 3.30 ERA at Syracuse. Purcey, because of his long-term potential, would be our guess, but he is a risky option best left for AL-only formats right now.

Washington Nationals: Jason Bergmann is a two-start pitcher best left for the deepest of NL-only leagues still. ... Shawn Hill, Tim Redding, Odalis Perez (shoulder, coming off 15-day DL on Friday vs. Baltimore) and John Lannan are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.

Fantasy Week 13 (June 23-29)

Pitch a question

Ken: Armando Galarraga or Jair Jurrjens?

Emack: Jurrjens, but Galarraga is not far behind because the Tigers figure to stay hot to make up for their slow start.

Rob in PA: I have a great problem and a tough decision. Right now I am third in ERA, first in Ks and first in WHIP. I have a one- and seven-save lead on the guys behind me for the bottom of the league. I am tied for third in wins with only one win from 2nd. Do I play starters or relievers? This week Dan Haren, Felix Hernandez and Shaun Marcum are my two-start pitchers. I have Roy Halladay, Rich Harden, C.C. Sabathia and Ervin Santana as one-start options. My two closers are Salomon Torres and Takashi Saito. Which two do I put on the bench? I am thinking Santana and Saito. What about going forward?

Emack: Marcum is toast, so you have to bench him through the All-Star break at least now. Santana's start at Washington is too favorable to sit him, while your other starters are aces that have to start in all weeks without question right now. Sit Saito. Unfortunately your great problem got easier with the Marcum injury. It doesn't look good for him at this point.

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 larg e volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.