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: Doug Davis and Randy Johnson are two-start pitchers starting twice at home. ... Micah Owings (back) is expected to make his one start, as are Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.
Atlanta Braves: Charlie Morton is a two-start pitcher, but he is facing a pair of great offenses against the Phillies and Astros. ... Jorge Campillo, Jair Jurrjens, Tim Hudson and Jo-Jo Reyes follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Baltimore Orioles: Brian Burres, who missed his last start with an illness but should be fine Monday, and Radhames Liz are two-start pitchers best left for deeper AL-only leagues. ... Daniel Cabrera, Garrett Olson and Jeremy Guthrie follow as one-start options in the seven-game week.
Boston Red Sox: Justin Masterson and Tim Wakefield are two-start pitchers but they have tough matchups at Tampa Bay and vs. the Yankees. ... Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Chicago Cubs: Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis are two-start pitchers, but the big news is the potential return of Carlos Zambrano (shoulder) on Friday, July 4 at St. Louis. ... We say Zambrano returns because that is the Cubs' chief division rival, so take the risk on him in any league you need him. Be safe in smaller mixed leagues, though, where a goose egg or a brief return outing would prove costly. ... Sean Marshall is pitching for his rotation spot Sunday and could replace Sean Gallagher as the No. 5 starter, but that won't happen in Fantasy Week 14 (June 30-July 6), because Zambrano is not eligible to return until Marshall's turn, which is a day after Gallagher's turn. Keep Marshall reserved in all leagues, if he even proves worthy of sticking in the majors. Gallagher is expected to take at least one more turn, but he is high risk for the deepest of NL-only leagues. ... Ryan Dempster, who struggled in his last start, is the Cubs other one-start pitcher and he has a great matchup at San Francisco.
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| Player | Change | |
| 1. | Eric Stults, SP, LAD | 26 |
| 2. | Dave Bush, SP, MIL | 14 |
| 3. | Ricky Nolasco, SP, FLA | 13 |
| 4. | Wandy Rodriguez, SP, HOU | 12 |
| 5. | Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, BOS | 10 |
| 6. | Doug Davis, SP, ARI | 10 |
| 7. | Tim Wakefield, SP, BOS | 9 |
| 8. | Seth McClung, SP, MIL | 7 |
| 9. | Sidney Ponson, SP, NYY | 7 |
| 10. | Mark Buehrle, SP, CHW | 6 |
Chicago White Sox: Gavin Floyd and John Danks are solid two-start pitcher options. ... Jose Contreras, Javier Vazquez and Mark Buehrle are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Cincinnati Reds: Aaron Harang and Edinson Volquez are must-start, two-start pitchers vs. the Pirates and Nationals. Those are great matchups, even for the struggling Harang. ... Daryl Thompson, Johnny Cueto and Bronson Arroyo follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Cleveland Indians: Jeremy Sowers is a risky two-start pitcher, especially because a day off Thursday and the following Monday could allow the Indians to skip his second start and give Cliff Lee a second start in Fantasy Week 14 (June 30-July 6). Sowers is high risk, while Lee is a favorable one-starter who might even start twice. ... C.C. Sabathia, Paul Byrd and Aaron Laffey are one-start options in the six-game week. ... Fausto Carmona (hip) is targeting a post-break return, so consider stashing him for the next couple of weeks.
Colorado Rockies: Jorge De La Rosa and Aaron Cook are two-start pitchers. ... Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeff Francis and Greg Reynolds follow as one-start options in the seven-game week. ... Kip Wells (hand) began a Triple-A rehab assignment and could be a candidate to replace De La Rosa or Reynolds anytime in July. He is nothing more than a high-risk NL-only option once activated, though.
Detroit Tigers: Armando Galarraga and Nate Robertson are two-start sleepers, especially with a pair of favorable matchups against weaker hitting teams Minnesota and Seattle. ... Eddie Bonine, Justin Verlander and Kenny Rogers follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Florida Marlins: Ryan Tucker and Mark Hendrickson are on schedule for two-start weeks, but a potential weekend return of Josh Johnson (Tommy John elbow surgery) will likely take Tucker's second start. Hendrickson should still start twice, though. .... Ricky Nolasco, Andrew Miller and Scott Olsen are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week. ... Consider starting Johnson only in the deepest of NL formats in Fantasy Week 14 (June 30-July 6). He could have a setback, especially since he is trying to return from reconstructive elbow surgery from last August in less than a year. He has been on an accelerated timetable. Johnson has potential to help in any Fantasy league in the second half -- especially behind that power offense -- if he can prove healthy and effective. ... Anibal Sanchez (shoulder) is reportedly a month behind Johnson, which makes him a potential sleeper come August.
Houston Astros: Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez are two-start pitchers. ... Runelvys Hernandez, Brandon Backe and Brian Moehler are one-start options in the seven-game week.
Kansas City Royals: Zack Greinke and Luke Hochevar are two-start sleepers, especially because of a favorable first matchup at Baltimore. The weekend start at Tampa Bay is much tougher for the talented young arms. ... Gil Meche, Kyle Davies and Brian Bannister follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Jon Garland is a two-start pitcher useful in deeper leagues vs. Oakland and Toronto. ... Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver and ace John Lackey follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Eric Stults and Clayton Kershaw are slated to be two-start pitchers, but they are questionable ones because of the pending return(s) of Hiroki Kuroda (shoulder) on Wednesday and perhaps Brad Penny (shoulder) next weekend. ... Don't count on Stults, and especially not Kershaw, to be a two-start pitcher in your Fantasy lineup this week. The Dodgers suggested they might go with a six-man rotation once the first of Kuroda and Penny return. ... Penny might need a rehab start, but the Dodgers could merely decide to bring him back Sunday. Don't expect that at this point. Keep Penny reserved in all leagues. ... Stults, Kershaw, Kuroda, Chad Billingsley and Derek Lowe are slated to get at least one start in the seven-game week. Chan Ho Park and/or Penny could also get a start. ... Stults, Kershaw and perhaps Park will be pitching for one rotation spot this week. Stults is coming off a complete-game shutout, so unless he falters Monday, he is a pretty good bet to stick around. Kershaw and Penny could be slotted in relief.
Milwaukee Brewers: Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan are two-start pitchers with one tough start at Arizona and one more-favorable one vs. Pittsburgh. Consider them sleepers in deeper leagues. ... Seth McClung, Manny Parra and ace Ben Sheets follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Minnesota Twins: Glen Perkins is a two-start pitcher better left for deeper leagues, facing the resurgent Tigers and still-sinking Indians at home. ... Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Livan Hernandez and Kevin Slowey follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Francisco Liriano was looking like an imminent call-up a few starts ago, but his last two starts in Triple-A have been his worst of the season, so consider him a minor leaguer through the All-Star break at least right now.
New York Mets: John Maine is a must-start, two-start pitcher despite the tough matchups at St. Louis and Philadelphia. ... the Mets have a seven-game week, but they need a six-man rotation, which was necessitated by the doubleheader last Friday. Tony Armas is expected to get the spot start Tuesday at St. Louis. Only consider him out of desperation in NL Fantasy formats. ... Journeyman Armas, emerging Mike Pelfrey, struggling Pedro Martinez, ace Johan Santana and erratic Oliver Perez are one-start pitchers.
New York Yankees: Mike Mussina and Joba Chamberlain are advisable two-start pitchers in most leagues, despite facing two of the best offensive teams in baseball in Texas and Boston. ... Sidney Ponson stole Dan Giese's rotation spot and he will be followed by Andy Pettitte and Darrell Rasner as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Oakland Athletics: Greg Smith and Rich Harden are two-start pitchers working on the road aganist first-place teams. Harden is a must-start regardless in every week as long as he stays healthy, though. ... Dana Eveland, Justin Duchscherer and Joe Blanton are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Kendrick is a two-start pitcher with a pair of tough matchups at Atlanta and vs. the Mets. ... Adam Eaton, Brett Myers, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... There were reports Myers might be moved off his start Thursday, but he will likely have to pitch before the end of the week anyway and we don't see the Phillies making a drastic change in a week they play their chief rivals in the NL East. Sit Myers in any Fantasy league right now, but don't give up on him. The Phillies really don't have a replacement for him at this point. Reliever Chad Durbin is not stretched out enough.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Maholm is the team's long two-start pitcher. ... John Van Benschoten is likely to get the nod over prospect Yoslan Herrera for the start in Ian Snell's (elbow) spot Wednesday. Both are nothing more than a high-risk option for the deepest of NL-only leagues. ... Zach Duke, likely Van Benschoten, Tom Gorzelanny and perhaps a returning Phil Dumatrait (elbow) will be one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
San Diego Padres: Greg Maddux is the team's lone two-start pitcher, but Tuesday's starter Josh Banks could pick up a second start if the Padres decide to skip Cha Seung Baek's turn Friday after a Thursday offday. ... Randy Wolf and Jake Peavy are certain one-start options in the six-game week. ... Chris Young (nose, concussion) is expected to return to the Padres' rotation after the All-Star break, so stash him now if you have room on your reserves or open DL spots.
San Francisco Giants: Barry Zito and Matt Cain are two-start pitchers with a pair of home starts. Zito is obviously high risk, while Cain is a more advisable option. ... Kevin Correia, Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Seattle Mariners: R.A. Dickey and Felix Hernandez (ankle) are tentatively scheduled to be two-start pitchers. Dickey won a rotation spot over Miguel Batista last time out, while Hernandez is hoping to return from a sore ankle. ... Batista will start in Hernandez's place if he cannot go. We think Hernandez will pitch at least once in Fantasy Week 14 (June 30-July 6), so go ahead and start him in any league. ... Jarrod Washburn, Carlos Silva and likely Erik Bedard (back) will be one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
St. Louis Cardinals: Kyle Lohse and Todd Wellemeyer are tentatively slated to be two-start pitchers. ... Joel Pineiro, Mitchell Boggs and Braden Looper, who left his start early Sunday, are expected to follow as one-start pitchers. The Cardinals work wonders with this pitching staff, but your guess is as good as ours right now. ... Adam Wainwright (finger) could be a candidate to return late in the week, but there are no reports of him being ready to do so. Keep him reserved in all leagues. ... Mark Mulder is off the DL in relief and could be called upon to start at some point, while Jaime Garcia is also up if needed to spot start. ... Matt Clement (shoulder) is pitching in relief on his Triple-A rehab assignment, and there are reports now Chris Carpenter (elbow) might only return as a reliever.
Tampa Bay Rays: James Shields is an advisable two-start pitcher, despite facing the first-place Red Sox and streaking Royals. ... Matt Garza, Scott Kazmir, Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Texas Rangers: Scott Feldman is a two-start pitcher best left for deeper AL-only leagues, especially with that tough matchup at the N.Y. Yankees. ... Kevin Millwood, Luis Mendoza, Vicente Padilla and Eric Hurley follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Kason Gabbard (elbow) is back on the DL and Mendoza now has the No. 5 starter's spot to lose, according to MLB.com.
Toronto Blue Jays: Roy Halladay is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... Tuesday's starter Jesse Litsch could also pick up a second start if the Blue Jays choose to skip recently called up No. 5 starter John Parrish on Friday after a Thursday offday to keep A.J. Burnett, Halladay and Litsch on regular rest. ... Parrish's solid first outing suggest they won't, but the looming All-Star break and Shaun Marcum's (elbow) likely second-half return makes it make some sense to skip Parrish. Don't start Parrish outside of deeper AL-only Rotisserie leagues for his potential to be skipped.
Washington Nationals: Tim Redding and rookie Collin Balester are two-start pitchers with a pair of road starts against good offensive teams. ... Balester is one of the Nationals' better pitching prospects and has the potential to stick in the rotation for the long term. He is not quite as intriguing of a prospect in Fantasy terms, because of the likelihood the Nationals won't give him enough run support to come close to being a .500 pitcher here on out. ... Odalis Perez, John Lannan and Jason Bergmann are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Fantasy Week 14 (June 30-July 6)
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| Must-start options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Roy Halladay | at SEA Dickey | at LAA Garland |
| Edinson Volquez | vs PIT Duke | vs WAS Balester |
| Roy Oswalt | vs LAD Stults | at ATL Reyes |
| John Maine | at STL Lohse | at PHI Kendrick |
| Rich Harden | at LAA Santana | at CHW Danks |
| James Shields | vs BOS Masterson | vs KC Hochevar |
| Joba Chamberlain | vs TEX Millwood | vs BOS Wakefield |
| Advisable options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Felix Hernandez | vs TOR Litsch | vs DET Robertson |
| Ted Lilly | at SF Zito | at STL Lohse |
| Zack Greinke | at BAL Burres | at TB Sonnanstine |
| Matt Cain | vs CHC Marquis | vs LAD Kershaw |
| Gavin Floyd | vs CLE Sowers | vs OAK Smith |
| Aaron Cook | vs SD Banks | vs FLA Hendrickson |
| Aaron Harang | vs PIT Maholm | vs WAS Redding |
| Mike Mussina | vs TEX Feldman | vs BOS Masterson |
| John Danks | vs CLE Lee | vs OAK Harden |
| Armando Galarraga | at MIN Perkins | at SEA Dickey |
| Jon Garland | vs OAK Smith | vs TOR Halladay |
| Questionable options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Kyle Lohse | vs NYM Maine | vs CHC Lilly |
| Randy Johnson | vs MIL Suppan | vs SD Maddux |
| Todd Wellemeyer | vs NYM Armas | vs CHC Marquis |
| Justin Masterson | at TB Shields | at NYY Mussina |
| Wandy Rodriguez | vs LAD Kershaw | at ATL Morton |
| Greg Maddux | at COL De La Rosa | at ARI Johnson |
| Clayton Kershaw? | at HOU Rodriguez | at SF Cain |
| Tim Wakefield | at TB Garza | at NYY Chamberlain |
| Greg Smith | at LAA Garland | at CHW Floyd |
| Doug Davis | vs MIL Bush | vs SD Peavy |
| Eric Stults? | at HOU Oswalt | at SF Zito |
| Tim Redding | at FLA Tucker | at CIN Harang |
| Jason Marquis | at SF Cain | at STL Wellemeyer |
| Nate Robertson | at MIN Baker | at SEA Hernandez? |
| Dave Bush | at ARI Davis | vs PIT Dumatrait? |
| Kyle Kendrick | at ATL Morton | vs NYM Maine |
| Mark Hendrickson | vs WAS Balester | at COL Cook |
| Charlie Morton | vs PHI Kendrick | vs HOU Rodriguez |
| Luke Hochevar | at BAL Liz | at TB Shields |
| Jeff Suppan | at ARI Johnson | vs PIT Maholm |
| Glen Perkins | vs DET Galarraga | vs CLE Sowers |
| High-risk options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Barry Zito | vs CHC Lilly | vs LAD Stults? |
| Paul Maholm | at CIN Harang | at MIL Suppan |
| Collin Balester | at FLA Hendrickson | at CIN Volquez |
| Jorge De La Rosa | vs SD Maddux | vs FLA Johnson? |
| Radhames Liz | vs KC Hochevar | vs TEX Feldman |
| Brian Burres | vs KC Greinke | vs TEX Hurley |
| Jeremy Sowers? | at CHW Floyd | at MIN Perkins |
| Scott Feldman | at NYY Mussina | at BAL Liz |
| R.A. Dickey | vs TOR Halladay | vs DET Galarraga |
Pitch a question
Mike McKeown, Philadelphia: I need to start seven of the following pitchers in the upcoming week: Matt Cain, James Shields, Zack Greinke, Felix Hernandez, Cliff Lee, Ben Sheets, Ervin Santana, Erik Bedard and George Sherrill. Which seven do I start?
Emack: We would probably sit Bedard, because of his shaky injury status, and Sherrill -- assuming starters are more valuable than relievers in your format. If relievers are move valuable, then sit Lee.
Rex Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo.: In a 10-team mixed league where we carry 11 pitchers at most, I have a difficult decision as to which pitcher to drop from my roster. In alphabetical order I have: Dempster, Duchscherer, Greinke, Haren, Hamels, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Sanchez, Salomon Torres, Javier Vazquez, Verlander, Volquez and Jered Weaver. Which pitcher should I drop? Also, in our league we can make four free-agent moves per week, and I'm in the habit of swapping out the pitcher(s) that isn't performing well for another that is for the upcoming scoring period. Which pitchers should I hold on to through thick and thin, and ride or die with?
Emack: Sanchez has the least Fantasy potential, because he has the worst offense/sub-.500 club of that group. Haren, Hamels, Verlander and Volquez are your guys to start, regardless of their matchup(s). Weaver, Duchscherer and perhaps Greinke are likely just outside of that must-start grouping.
Marc Lavergne, Ottawa, Ontario: I have Rich Harden, James Shields, Justin Masterson, John Lackey, Cole Hamels, Felix Hernandez, Scott Kazmir, Justin Duchscherer, Justin Verlander and relievers Kerry Wood, Brian Fuentes and Brandon Morrow on my pitching staff. (Chris Young is on my DL.) My lineup consists of: Harden, Shields, Masterson, Lackey, Wood, Fuentes and Morrow. My relievers get seven opportunities to save games in Week 14 and I figured that is more promising than Hamels going against Johan Santana, Kazmir vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka and too a much lesser extent Hernandez going against Kenny Rogers. What do you think?
Emack: Kazmir and Hamels should start every week regardless of the matchups. Hernandez should, too, when he is healthy -- which you cannot be sure he is at this point. You can keep Hernandez benched, but you should also sit Masterson and then one of Morrow or Fuentes. Heck, you probably should sit both of those two closers on bad teams and take the risk on Hernandez.
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.
