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 is a two-start pitcher with two home matchups vs. lowly San Diego and the potentially potent Marlins. ... Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Yusmeiro Petit and Randy Johnson are one-start pitchers. ... Max Scherzer allowed just one hit in six innings Saturday night, making it possible he could return to the D-Backs' rotation before the end of August. ... Petit is hot right now, though, so the D-Backs can be patient.
Atlanta Braves: Jorge Campillo and a TBD in Tom Glavine's spot are two-start pitchers, but only Campillo should be trusted and only in deeper formats. ... The candidates for the TBD are Jo-Jo Reyes or Chuck James from Triple-A or Jeff Bennett or Buddy Carlyle out of the bullpen. All of them should be considered high-risk options for the deepest of NL-only formats. ... The Braves will take a good, long look at their starters with John Smoltz (shoulder), Tim Hudson (elbow) and Tom Glavine (elbow) all out for the season and perhaps even done for their careers. We might only get to see Hudson again at this point.
Baltimore Orioles: The O's are sending Dennis Sarfate back to the bullpen for now as they can go with a four-man rotation in Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 18-24). That makes Jeremy Guthrie and Daniel Cabrera both two-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Chris Waters and Garrett Olson will each start once. ... Hayden Penn is back on the Triple-A DL, so he won't be a candidate for a call-up at this point, but Double-A right-hander Chris Tillman (8-4, 3.49 with 131 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings) is scorching hot right now and perhaps just a few turns away from a call-up. One of the pieces to the Erik Bedard deal, Tillman is almost certain to get at least a September call-up at this point. Take that flier in AL-only formats right now.
Boston Red Sox: Jon Lester is their lone two-start pitcher, an advisable one in all leagues at this point. ... Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz, Paul Byrd and Josh Beckett are one-start options in the six-game week. ... Bartolo Colon (back) went just one inning in his past Triple-A rehab start Friday, which might signal a potential return in the bullpen. He seems like a pretty good option as a setup man for a team that sorely needs one. It makes more sense for him to setup and let Buchholz fight through his struggles until Tim Wakefield (shoulder) can return. ... Wakefield is no longer just a week away, but days off Thursday and the following Monday will afford the Red Sox time even if Buchholz struggles in his Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 18-24) start. Wakefield cannot be used this week in Fantasy.
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| Player | % Change | |
| 1. | Paul Byrd, SP, BOS | 26 |
| 2. | Chris Perez, RP, STL | 25 |
| 3. | John Maine, SP, NYM | 18 |
| 4. | Anthony Reyes, SP, CLE | 15 |
| 5. | Grant Balfour, RP, TB | 13 |
| 6. | Brad Ziegler, RP, OAK | 12 |
| 7. | Joe Blanton, SP, PHI | 10 |
| 8. | Paul Maholm, SP, PIT | 9 |
| 9. | Josh Johnson, SP, FLA | 8 |
| 10. | Kevin Slowey, SP, MIN | 8 |
Chicago Cubs: Rich Harden is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues vs. the lowly Reds and Nats. He might be the pitcher of the week. ... Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, Jason Marquis and Ryan Dempster are one-start options in the six-game week.
Chicago White Sox: Mark Buehrle is a advisable two-start pitcher in the six-game week. ... A TBD follows on the schedule and it could be Clayton Richard out of the bullpen. ... If not, 2007 top pick Aaron Poreda is being considered. He is an elite pitching prospect who is a combined 7-8 with a 3.38 ERA in 24 starts and 144 innings between high Class A and Double-A. Consider him a flier in deeper formats, but you will have to add him as an unlisted player Sunday. He is not yet in our player database. ... Gavin Floyd, John Danks and Javier Vazquez follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Cueto is a two-start pitcher with a pair of tough road matchups. Consider him less advisable down the stretch, now that he is reaching his innings threshold. ... Bronson Arroyo, struggling Aaron Harang, Josh Fogg and ace Edinson Volquez follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Cleveland Indians: Anthony Reyes is a two-start pitcher for deeper leagues, with a favorable matchup at home vs. the lowly Royals and a tough matchup at Texas. That second matchup makes him risky for mixed leagues at this point, but we have always liked his long-term potential. ... Zach Jackson, Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona and Jeremy Sowers follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Lefty David Huff is a potential September rotation member, so track his progress in Triple-A over the next few weeks.
Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez is a two-start pitcher at Los Angeles and vs. Cincy. Consider him advisable in deeper leagues. ... Jeff Francis, Jorge De La Rosa, Livan Hernandez and Aaron Cook follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Detroit Tigers: Kenny Rogers is a two-start pitcher at Texas and Kansas City. That tough first matchup keeps him from being and advisable start in mixed leagues. ... Armando Galarraga, Nate Robertson, Justin Verlander and Zach Miner follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Rick Porcello (7-6, 2.80 in high Class A) has been limited to around five innings, so is unlikely to help the Tigers before the end of the season. ... Dontrelle Willis was pretty good in his past Triple-A start, going six innings (two earned) while striking out five and walking just two. Consider him a candidate to help the Tigers rotation any time down the stretch.
Florida Marlins: Ricky Nolasco is a two-start pitcher at San Francisco and Arizona. His matchups are not that tough, so consider him a sleeper in deeper leagues. ... Scott Olsen, Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad are one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Andrew Miller (knee) was outstanding in his Class A rehab start last Thursday, going six shutout innings. There is no clear spot for him in the rotation right now, so consider him a DL flier at this point. He might return in the bullpen, perhaps as a lefty reliever.
Houston Astros: Randy Wolf is a two-start pitcher with tough matchups at Milwaukee and the N.Y. Mets. ... Brian Moehler, Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Backe and ace Roy Oswalt follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Kansas City Royals: Luke Hochevar is a two-start pitcher at Cleveland and vs. Detroit. The second matchup makes him a risky option best left for the deepest of AL-only leagues. ... Gil Meche, Zack Greinke, Brian Bannister and a TBD follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Kyle Davies would have been a candidate for that TBD, but he was optioned to Triple-A to remain on a regular schedule. He needs to stay 10 days in the minors, barring someone being placed on the DL. It is likely he makes a start in Triple-A on Tuesday before that Saturday opening regardless, though. "We might scramble," manager Trey Hillman told MLB.com. "We'll deal with that when we get there." ... Whoever makes that start should be avoided.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Jon Garland and Ervin Santana are two-start pitchers to use in any format this week at Tampa Bay and vs. Minnesota. ... Jered Weaver, John Lackey and Joe Saunders follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Hiroki Kuroda is a two-start pitcher who faces a couple of plus-plus offenses in the Rockies and Phillies. ... Chad Billingsley, Derek Lowe, Clayton Kershaw and a TBD are one-start options in the six-game week. ... With Brad Penny (shoulder) expected to be out for the season, the Dodgers will need a fifth starter by the second game of a four-game series in Philadelphia. Manager Joe Torre's options from the current staff will include recently promoted left-hander Eric Stults and journeyman Jason M. Johnson. At Triple-A Las Vegas, James McDonald has made two solid starts since being promoted from Double-A.
Milwaukee Brewers: CC Sabathia is a two-start pitcher to use in all leagues. Duh! ... Ben Sheets, Manny Parra, Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan follow as one-start pitchers in a six-game week. ... Yovani Gallardo (knee) is working his way back, but he now looks like nothing more than a late September returnee at this point.
Minnesota Twins: Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey are two-start pitchers vs. the A's and at the Angels. Consider them in deeper leagues. ... Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker and Glen Perkins follow as one-start options in the seven-game week.
New York Mets: John Maine and Oliver Perez are two-start pitchers to trust in most leagues at this point, especially amid the Mets' hot streak. ... Mike Pelfrey, Pedro Martinez and Johan Santana follow as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
New York Yankees: Darrell Rasner is a risky two-start pitcher, especially since Carl Pavano (elbow) or Phil Hughes (rib) could take his rotation spot on the second turn next Sunday. ... Hughes and Pavano will first compete Sunday night for the right to be the No. 5 starter Saturday at Baltimore. The other could take Rasner's turn, too, if both prove healthy and effective enough for a call-up. Our guess is Hughes will be healthy and called up, while Pavano will get another turn or two in the minors. ... Andy Pettitte, Sidney Ponson, Mike Mussina and likely Hughes figure to be one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Oakland Athletics: Justin Duchscherer and Sean Gallagher are two-start pitchers at Minnesota and Seattle, two decent matchups to use them in deeper leagues. ... Dallas Braden, Greg Smith and Gio Gonzalez are one-start options in the seven-game week.
Philadelphia Phillies: Joe Blanton is an advisable two-start pitcher vs. the Nationals and Dodgers. ... Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick and Cole Hamels follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Paul Maholm, the Pirates' De facto ace, is a two-start pitcher vs. the Mets and at the Brewers. The difficult matchups make him less than advisable in smaller mixed leagues. ... Ian Snell, Jason T. Davis, Zach Duke and Jeff Karstens are one-start options best left for the deepest of leagues.
San Diego Padres: Josh Banks is a high-risk starter for the deepest of NL-only leagues at Arizona and San Francisco. Use him at your own peril, er, risk. ... Jake Peavy, Greg Maddux, Chad Reineke and Cha Seung Baek follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
San Francisco Giants: Barry Zito and Kevin Correia are high-risk two-start pitchers best left for the deepest of NL-only leagues, as they have been all season. ... Matt Cain, Matt Palmer and Tim Lincecum follow as one-start pithers in the seven-game week.
Seattle Mariners: Jarrod Washburn and Felix Hernandez are two-start pitchers at Chicago and Seattle. ... R.A. Dickey rejoins the rotation with Carlos Silva (elbow) on the 15-day DL. ... Silva is followed by one-start pitchers Ryan Rowland-Smith and Ryan Feierabend. ... Erik Bedard (shoulder) won't be ready in Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 18-24), so keep him stashed still -- perhaps until September now.
St. Louis Cardinals: A break in the schedule allows the Cardinals to go with a four-man rotation with Chris Carpenter (triceps) back on the DL and Adam Wainwright (finger) not quite ready. The Cardinals have three days off in the next eight days. ... Braden Looper is a likely two-start pitcher in the five-game week, because of the four-man rotation. ... Todd Wellemeyer, Joel Pineiro and Kyle Lohse will each get a start as well.
Tampa Bay Rays: Andy Sonnanstine is a two-start pitcher vs. the Angels and at the White Sox, two tough matchups that make him hard to trust in smaller mixed leagues. ... James Shields, Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson and Scott Kazmir follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... David Price struggled in his first Triple-A start, but we will be working on Sonnanstine's day Monday and could be a candidate to prove capable of overcoming adversity for the first time. Doing that might be all the Rays need to see before they call him up. The problem is there is still no clear opening in the Rays rotation and they still have a cushion in the division. Price might have to return as a reliever. He also might not have to be called before Sept. 1, because Chad Orvella (shoulder) is on the 60-day DL and teams are granted a postseason roster exemption for every member of their team on the 60-day DL.
Texas Rangers: Scott Feldman is tentatively slated to be a two-start pitcher, but no Rangers starter can be trusted at this point, especially since a Thursday offday could allow someone to be skipped. Vicente Padilla (neck) is questionable again Tuesday, so avoid him, and Kevin Millwood stunk in his return from the DL. ... Matt Harrison and perhaps Dustin Nippert could get a start next weekend to open the home set vs. the Indians, but we don't see any reason to trust them either at this point. ... Brandon McCarthy was outstanding in his previous Triple-A start and could be a candidate for a call-up at any point, especially if he comes out of Sunday's start feeling good.
Toronto Blue Jays: A.J. Burnett isa two-start pitcher with a pair of tough home matchups vs. the Yankees and Red Sox. Consider him useful, but far less than a must-start option he would ordinarily be. ... David Purcey, Roy Halladay, Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Washington Nationals: Jason Bergmann is a high-risk, two-start pitcher for the deepest of NL-only leagues. ... Collin Balester, Tim Redding, John Lannan and Odalis Perez follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 18-24)
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| Must-start options | ||
| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| C.C. Sabathia | vs HOU Wolf | vs PIT Maholm |
| Rich Harden | vs CIN Cueto | vs WAS Bergmann |
| Ervin Santana | at TB Shields | vs MIN Slowey |
| Jon Lester | at BAL Guthrie | at TOR Burnett |
| Felix Hernandez | at CHW TBD/Poreda? | vs OAK Gallagher |
| Jon Garland | at TB Sonnanstine | vs MIN Blackburn |
| Mark Buehrle | vs SEA Washburn | vs TB Sonnanstine |
| Advisable options | ||
| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| John Maine | at PIT Maholm | vs HOU Oswalt |
| A.J. Burnett | vs NYY Rasner | vs BOS Lester |
| Oliver Perez | at ATL TBD? | vs HOU Wolf |
| Justin Duchscherer | at MIN Blackburn | at SEA Washburn |
| Ubaldo Jimenez | at LAD Kuroda | vs CIN Cueto |
| Jorge Campillo | vs SF Zito | at STL Pineiro |
| Joe Blanton | vs WAS Bergmann | vs LAD Kuroda |
| Ricky Nolasco | at SF Correia | at ARI Davis |
| Questionable options | ||
| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Jeremy Guthrie | vs BOS Lester | vs NYY Rasner |
| Andy Sonnanstine | vs LAA Garland | at CHW Buehrle |
| Nick Blackburn | vs OAK Duchscherer | at LAA Garland |
| Kevin Slowey | vs OAK Gallagher | at LAA Santana |
| Paul Maholm | vs NYM Maine | at MIL Sabathia |
| Hiroki Kuroda | vs COL Jimenez | at PHI Blanton |
| Johnny Cueto | at CHC Harden | at COL Jimenez |
| Randy Wolf | at MIL Sabathia | at NYM Perez |
| Anthony Reyes | vs KC Hochevar | at TEX Feldman |
| Barry Zito | at ATL Campillo | vs SD TBD? |
| Kenny Rogers | at TEX Feldman | at KC Hochevar |
| Doug Davis | vs SD Banks | vs FLA Nolasco |
| High-risk options | ||
| Player | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Jarrod Washburn | at CHW Buehrle | vs OAK Duchscherer |
| Sean Gallagher | at MIN Slowey | at SEA Hernandez |
| Darrell Rasner | at TOR Burnett | at BAL Guthrie |
| Jason Bergmann | at PHI Blanton | at CHC Harden |
| Luke Hochevar | at CLE Reyes | vs DET Rogers |
| Kevin Correia | vs FLA Nolasco | vs SD Banks |
| Josh Banks | at ARI Davis | at SF Correia |
| Scott Feldman | vs DET Rogers | vs CLE Reyes |
Pitch a question
Denny, Ames, Iowa: Hi, I'm in a Head-to-Head mixed league and have a pitching quandary now that a few guys are back off the DL. I can start seven and have Blanton, Dempster, Duchscherer, Hamels, Lincecum, Liriano, Papelbon and Wood. Which one do I sit? Blanton and Duchscherer are two-start pitchers and the other starters all have favorable matchups.
Emack: It depends on your scoring system, but Wood seems to be the one to sit right now. If closers tend to score more than an average starter, sit Dempster perhaps.
You can e-mail 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.
