We go around baseball's pitching staffs and Fantasy's two-start pitcher options every Sunday of the season in the Pitching Planner. The two-start DL returns of Felix Hernandez (elbow) and Kevin Millwood (hamstring) highlight this week's top news.
Staff reflections
Arizona Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson did not make the trip to Houston and will reunite with his team in Colorado next week. Johnson had back surgery last October and manager Bob Melvin doesn't want to risk Johnson re-injuring it. "Whether he gets some soreness flying, I kind of want to minimize that early on," Melvin said. Johnson is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in four starts. He struck out nine, but got a no-decision Wednesday in a 9-3 loss to Philadelphia. Melvin said Johnson's back isn't sore now -- the team is just playing it safe with the five-time Cy Young Award winner, who will be a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 7 (May 14-20). "You want to just stay away from stiffness," Melvin said, "and a lot of times travel and flying will do that. It's just proactive." Rookie RHP Micah Owings has impressed Melvin with his versatility. The 24-year-old earned his second career victory on Tuesday night, pitching seven innings in Arizona's 3-2 win over Philadelphia. Owings, who has a 3.18 ERA in his first five major-league starts, will likely be used out of the bullpen because he's the fifth starter and isn't needed until the weekend series at Pittsburgh. "He's a guy we've talked about internally as a guy that could probably be very good in any role you put him in," Melvin said. "He could potentially be a closer down the road. This guy is an athlete and a guy that can probably acclimate to any role."
Atlanta Braves: All five starters will work in succession, including must-start two-starters John Smoltz and Tim Hudson.
Baltimore Orioles: Despite an offday Thursday, we don't see Jeremy Guthrie getting skipped over the weekend at Washington. Daniel Cabrera could get a second start if Guthrie is passed over. Guthrie is a risky play this week. Erik Bedard is a must-start two-starter with his matchups.
Boston Red Sox: LHP Jon Lester is limited to bullpen sessions right now as Julian Tavarez is pulling his weight as the No. 5 starter. The Red Sox are content holding him back right now, so keep him reserved at this point. Josh Beckett did leave his start early Sunday with a flap of skin tearing off his finger, so Lester might be a candidate to start if Beckett's unavailable this week. Track Beckett's news in the coming hours before your roster deadline. Reserve him if you have alternatives. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield are advisable two-start pitchers in Fantasy Week 7 (May 14-20).
Chicago Cubs: RHP Wade Miller, out since April 23 with back spasms, is expected to go on a rehab stint in the minors, manager Lou Piniella said. "He's thrown off the mound a few times. He's feeling better and he's working on a couple of things with (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild)," Piniella said. Angel Guzman will get at least one more start at this point, but he's a risky option for deeper NL-only leagues. Jason Marquis and Carlos Zambrano are advisable two-start pitchers.
Chicago White Sox: Manager Ozzie Guillen doesn't believe in skipping No. 5 starters, so John Danks will be a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 7 (May 14-20) -- despite an offday Monday.
Cincinnati Reds: LHP Bobby Livingston was called up over Homer Bailey from Triple-A Louisville to make his first big league start and fourth appearance. He is filling in for Eric Milton (elbow), who went on the 15-day DL on Wednesday. Livingston could be skipped on his next turn because of a day off Thursday, so consider him a low-end NL-only option at this point. Bailey will likely be en route come June. Aaron Harang would pick up a second start in Fantasy Week 7 (May 14-20), if Livingston is skipped. Matt Belisle is the lone two-start pitcher at this point.
Cleveland Indians: LHP Jeremy Sowers fell to 0-3. He gave up six runs on four hits in five innings, struck out two and walked one. "It's still Jeremy's first full year in the big leagues, so we knew he was going to have some bumps along the way," manager Eric Wedge said. "And that's what he's working through right now, so you just keep working with him, support him and make sure that he remains confident when he goes out there and pitches." He will remain in the rotation, but you have to wonder if he might get sent to Triple-A instead of Fausto Carmona when Jake Westbrook is ready in June. Paul Byrd is the team's lone two-start pitcher this week.
Colorado Rockies: Taylor Buchholz is pitching for his rotation spot every time out, especially with Rodrigo Lopez and Byung-Hyun Kim working on rehab assignments. All of them are high-risk options for the deepest of NL-only leagues anyway. Jason Hirsh is an intriguing two-start pitcher sleeper for Fantasy Week 7 (May 14-20).
Detroit Tigers: Jeremy Bonderman (blister) was skipped off his Sunday start, but he should be fine to return for May 18 vs. St. Louis (Braden Looper). Consider him in deeper leagues, but play it safe if you have a viable alternative. Nate Robertson and Justin Verlander are advisable two-start pitchers.
Florida Marlins: All five starters will work in succession, including two-starters Dontrelle Willis and Sergio Mitre.
Houston Astros: RHP Jason Jennings, out since mid-April with tendinitis in his throwing elbow, threw 75 pitches during a simulated game. "It was nice and hot today, so I worked up a sweat, which was good," said Jennings, acquired in the offseason in a trade with Colorado. The 28-year-old Jennings was to be re-evaluated Sunday and likely will make a rehab start at Double-A Corpus Christi on Thursday. "As far as results go, minor league starts are kind of tough to read," said Jennings, 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts with the Astros. "I'm just worried about physically, how my arm reacts and how I feel in a game situation." Also, RHP Brandon Backe, who had ligament replacement surgery on his pitching elbow in September, threw 44 pitches in the simulation. Backe, who threw seven shutout innings in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series, hopes to be ready in August. "He's doing a very good job of doing everything we tell him to do," manager Phil Garner said. "The ball is coming out of his hand good." All five of the current starters will work in succession, including two-start pitcher Woody Williams, who should only be considered in deeper NL-only leagues.
Kansas City Royals: RHP Scott Elarton made his first start since last July 16 after undergoing shoulder surgery Aug. 1. Elarton had nearly a month of rehab starts with Royals farm clubs to get ready for his return Saturday. Luke Hudson returned, too, but he had to go back on the DL and will likely be replaced by Brian Bannister, who was pulled from his Triple-A start. Bannister will be a two-start pitcher, as will staff ace Gil Meche.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: All five starters will work in succession, including two-starters Jered Weaver and Kelvim Escobar.
Los Angeles Dodgers: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start Brett Tomko. Tomko likely is in no danger to move back for Derek Lowe after Thursday's offday.
Milwaukee Brewers: All five starters will work in succession, including two-starters Dave Bush and Claudio Vargas.
Minnesota Twins: After Sidney Ponson firing's, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey and Matt Garza owners are licking their chops. One of them will be called up to start Saturday. Our gut says it's Garza, who was dynamite Saturday. Slowey is raw and won't be working on a regular schedule and Baker was less impressive in his Triple-A start Sunday. Ramon Ortiz will be a two-start pitcher for deeper AL-only leagues in Fantasy Week 7 (May 14-20).
New York Mets: RHP Orlando Hernandez, on the DL with right shoulder bursitis, threw about 65 pitches at 85 percent Thursday, according to manager Willie Randolph. El Duque could return to the rotation next week. With the demotion of Mike Pelfrey, El Duque's return could come May 17 vs. the Cubs (Guzman) -- although Aaron Sele and Jason Vargas were mentioned as possibilities. Tom Glavine and John Maine are must-start two-start pitchers.
New York Yankees: LHP Andy Pettitte will start the open of the series at the Mets which begins May 18. Darrell Rasner will be a skipped No. 5 starter, but returns to the rotation Saturday. Mike Mussina, a two-start pitcher, works the Sunday game against the Mets.
Oakland Athletics: RHP Rich Harden threw for a second straight day but is still more than a week away from throwing off a mound, according to manager Bob Geren. The Oakland ace has been on the DL with a strained right shoulder since April 16. "He was in a great mood after he threw (Friday) and was really happy this morning," Geren said. "I could tell he was feeling good, just by his body language." Harden will rest Sunday then resume a schedule that has him throwing for two days then off for one. Geren said the team will increase Harden's workload and the distance of his throws with each outing. Also, RHP Esteban Loaiza will make the first of at least four minor league starts Monday for Class A Stockton. Loaiza has been on the DL since March 25 due to spasms in his throwing shoulder. All five of the current starters will work in succession, including two-starters Dan Haren and Joe Kennedy.
Philadelphia Phillies: All five starters will work in succession, including two-starters Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton. Use them in deeper leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates: All five starters will work in succession, including two-starters Tom Gorzelanny and Paul Maholm. Use them in NL-only leagues.
San Diego Padres: A day off Thursday might allow the Padres to skip No. 5 starter Justin Germano. Consider him a risky option in the deepest of NL-only leagues. Greg Maddux is assured of two starts, while David Wells could pick up a second start if Germano is indeed skipped.
San Francisco Giants: Top prospect Tim Lincecum will remain in the rotation for this week at least and might not lose his spot even when Russ Ortiz is ready to come off the DL. Matt Morris is a two-start pitcher option for deeper leagues.
Seattle Mariners: Manager Mike Hargrove said RHP Jeff Weaver will return to the rotation when he comes off the 15-day disabled list for shoulder tendinitis, perhaps in two weeks. The Mariners will have to decide what to do with RHP Cha Seung Baek, who will essentially be replacing Weaver once RHP Felix Hernandez returns this week. Weaver is 0-6 with a 14.32 ERA. He went the disabled list for the first time in his career Friday. Hernandez is a two-start pitcher, but he will be held to a pitch count, so consider him not quite 100 percent.
St. Louis Cardinals: Brad Thompson will remain in the rotation, but he's a candidate to be skipped over next weekend, which would make Adam Wainwright a two-start pitcher instead of Thompson. Consider Wainwright a slightly more intriguing one-start pitcher because he might get that second start.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitcher James Shields.
Texas Rangers: RHP Kevin Millwood is on track to start Monday against the Angels after being on the disabled list since April 29 with a strained left hamstring. Manager Ron Washington said Millwood has been cranky about being on the DL, but is ready to return to the rotation.
Toronto Blue Jays: RHP Roy Halladay was released from the hospital Saturday, one day after an appendectomy. He's expected to miss four to six weeks. Toronto has not yet named a replacement starter for Tuesday's game against Baltimore but the candidates include minor leaguers Josh Banks, Jesse Litsch, David Purcey and Ty Taubenheim. Also, LHP Gustavo Chacin (shoulder) played catch for the first time since going on the DL on April 28. He reported no problems. Neither he nor Victor Zambrano will be ready until June at this point. RHP Shaun Marcum took over Zambrano's spot in the starting rotation beginning Sunday against Tampa Bay.
Washington Nationals: Levale Speigner will start Wednesday against Atlanta, filling in for right-hander Shawn Hill (sore right elbow). Hill left Friday's game after five innings, and Acta confirmed Saturday, "It's very likely that he'll end up on the DL. ... This guy is a very important part of our present and our future. We're not going to rush him back." Jerome Williams (ankle) will return for a two-start week Tuesday-Sunday. Consider him high risk in the deepest of NL-only leagues. Speigner will be working out of the bullpen, so he will be held to a pitch count most likely. He's not a top prospect, so nothing more than deeper NL-only leagues at this point.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Fantasy Week 7 (May 14-20
| This week's matchups | |||
| AL early | NL early | Intl@AL | Intl@NL |
| TEX@TB | MIL@PHI | FLA@TB | TOR@PHI |
| DET@BOS | FLA@PIT | ATL@BOS | KC@COL |
| BAL@TOR | ATL@WAS | STL@DET | BAL@WAS |
| KC@OAK | CHC@NYM | SF@OAK | CHW@CHC |
| MIN@CLE | CIN@SD | CIN@CLE | NYY@NYM |
| NYY@CHW | STL@LAD | LAD@LAA | MIN@MIL |
| LAA@SEA | SF@HOU | SD@SEA | TEX@HOU |
| ARI@COL | ARI@PIT | ||
| Bold denotes a four-game series. | |||
| The L.A. Angels play at Texas on May 14 to finish a four-game series from this weekend. | |||
| The following teams play seven games this week: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago Cubs, Detroit, Florida, Kansas City, L.A. Angels, Milwaukee, N.Y. Mets, Oakland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Texas and Washington. | |||
Two-start pitcher options
| This week's two-start pitchers | ||
| Must-start options | ||
| John Smoltz | at WAS Bergmann | at BOS Matsuzaka |
| Dan Haren | vs. KC Meche | vs. SF Cain |
| Dontrelle Willis | at PIT Gorzelanny | at TB Seo |
| Daisuke Matsuzaka | vs. DET Robertson | vs. ATL Smoltz |
| Tim Hudson | at WAS Williams | at BOS Wakefield |
| Carlos Zambrano | at NYM Maine | vs. CHW Wakefield |
| Justin Verlander | at BOS Wakefield | vs. STL Thompson |
| Erik Bedard | at TOR Ohka | at WAS Williams |
| John Maine | vs. CHC Zambrano | vs. NYY Mussina |
| Tom Glavine | vs. CHC Marquis | vs. NYY Rasner |
| Jered Weaver | at TEX Millwood | vs. LAD Hendrickson |
| Jason Marquis | at NYM Glavine | vs. CHW Vazquez |
| Mike Mussina | at CHW Danks | at NYM Maine |
| Kelvim Escobar | at SEA Hernandez | vs. LAD Tomko |
| Advisable options | ||
| Felix Hernandez | vs. LAA Escobar | vs. SD Maddux |
| Randy Johnson | at COL Hirsh | at PIT Maholm |
| Nate Robertson | at BOS Matsuzaka | vs. STL Reyes |
| James Shields | vs. TEX Tejeda | vs. FLA Mitre |
| Gil Meche | at OAK Haren | at COL Buchholz |
| Dave Bush | at PHI Moyer | vs. MIN Bonser |
| Tom Gorzelanny | vs. FLA Willis | vs. ARI Owings |
| Greg Maddux | vs. CIN Belisle | at SEA Hernandez |
| Claudio Vargas | at PHI Eaton | vs. MIN Ortiz |
| Tim Wakefield | vs. DET Verlander | vs. ATL Hudson |
| Kevin Millwood | vs. LAA Weaver | at HOU Sampson |
| Jason Hirsh | vs. ARI Johnson | vs. KC Bannister |
| Questionable options | ||
| Jamie Moyer | vs. MIL Bush | vs. TOR Marcum |
| Matt Morris | at HOU Williams | at OAK Kennedy |
| Matt Belisle | at SD Maddux | at CLE Byrd |
| Ramon Ortiz | at CLE Byrd | at MIL Vargas |
| Paul Maholm | vs. FLA Mitre | vs. ARI Johnson |
| Paul Byrd | vs. MIN Ortiz | vs. CIN Ohka |
| High-risk options | ||
| Joe Kennedy | vs. KC Bannister | vs. SF Morris |
| Robinson Tejeda | at TB Shields | at HOU Williams |
| Jason Bermann | vs. ATL Smoltz | vs. BAL Guthrie |
| Brett Tomko | vs. Thompson | at LAA Escobar |
| John Danks | vs. NYY Mussina | at CHC Zambrano |
| Sergio Mitre | at PIT Maholm | at TB Shields |
| Woody Williams | vs. SF Morris | vs. TEX Tejeda |
| Tomo Ohka | vs. BAL Bedard | at PHI Eaton |
| Brad Thompson | at LAD Tomko | at DET Verlander |
| Brian Bannister | at OAK Kennedy | at COL Hirsh |
| Jerome Williams | vs. ATL Hudson | vs. BAL Bedard |
Pitch a question
Tom: For Week 7, which two pitchers should I start of Chuck James, Jason Marquis, Tim Wakefield or Jose Contreras and why?
Emack: Marquis and Wakefield are hot right now and getting double starts. Multiple reasons to choose those two.
Jeff Taccarino, Ocean City, N.J.: I have both C.C. Sabathia and Johan Santana, who are going head to head this week, and then I have Jered Weaver, John Maine and Kelvim Escobar, all two starts. I'd like to start the two-starters, but that leaves me with C.C and Johan, and only one spot left. Dare I sit one of them?
Emack: You never sit Johan and usually never sit Sabathia. Escobar vs. Sabathia is a tough call, but with Escobar hot and getting two starts, sit Sabathia. A good problem to have.
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 do not guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.
