Pitching Forecaster: Injuries causing issues already

It didn't take long for a quiet DL to become a busy one. It sure makes your love, Fantasy Baseball, a high-maintenance companion nightly. It needs a lot of attention after dessert.

Only 69 players were on the DL opening day, down from 106 last year and 97 in 2007. The only lower total since the major leagues expanded to 30 teams in 1998 was when there were 66 in 2006.

The recent change of course is mostly due to pitching woes. Pitchers who thought they were ready, really weren't. And pitchers that might have been ready, wound up hurt. Just a week-plus in, we get the likes of Brandon Webb (shoulder), Hiroki Kuroda (shoulder), Jesse Litsch (forearm) and Scott Lewis (elbow) on the shelf.

Then, just Tuesday night alone, Chris Carpenter (ribcage), Daisuke Matsuzaka (shoulder) and Alfredo Simon (elbow) leave their starts early. Carpenter and Dice-K hit the DL on Wednesday, while Simon could join them.

And, when we think we're getting one back in Tom Glavine (elbow, shoulder), he heads to Dr. James Andrews. No name in the baseball world generates more four-letter words than that one. Hearing Dr. Andews' name attached to your pitcher is like waking up the next morning and seeing the huge minuses from the new CBSSports.com standard scoring system that penalized the Chien-Ming Wangs and Oliver Perez's of your pitching staff. Ouch!

Glavine might never pitch again now.

The only solution to the injury rash and rush to the DL is to wait things out. The silver lining in the case of Webb is at least you get to see him make a warmup start in Fantasy Week 3 (April 20-26) before you absolutely have to activate him from the DL.

Webb was real bad in his season debut and needs to build up arm strength before he can be trusted in your Fantasy lineup. He is hoping to make a return to the D-Backs rotation when first eligible after his retroactive DL assignment April 7. That is as soon as April 22, which could then make him a two-start pitcher for Fantasy Week 4 (April 27-May 3).

Unlike the struggling Cliff Lee and Wang -- if your league has DL spots -- you get a free look at Webb before you have to make a decision on activating him. Lee and Wang are guys you probably have to run out there and cross your fingers ... cross your toes, too, or anything you can find.

The string of injury might mean the arrival of some new talent:

The Dodgers might consider signing Pedro Martinez now that James McDonald has moved back to the bullpen.
The kid gloves will come off D-Backs flamethrower Max Scherzer. They need him as much as we do.
The Blue Jays could be forced into taking a look at prospects Brad Mills or Brett Cecil before June 1.
The Indians will give Aaron Laffey another look now and might go to the well on prospect David Huff or ex-prospect Jeremy Sowers.
With Simon down, the Orioles could be tempted to look at one of their pitching prospects.
Justin Masterson or Clay Buchholz will be needed in the Red Sox rotation in Fantasy Week 3 (April 20-26) now.
And ... drum roll ... most important, Tommy Hanson could be just a start or two away from an arrival in Atlanta -- one that could lead to an NL Rookie of the Year campaign.

The news will be evolving faster than we can type it, but it certainly makes it imperative to keep close to your internet access in real competitive leagues this time of year.

On to the bi-weekly rotational recaps ...

Arizona Diamondbacks

Dan Haren
Doug Davis
Jon Garland
Max Scherzer
Yusmeiro Petit until Brandon Webb returns from the DL, perhaps April 22 or 24

Forecasting risers
	Player	TM
1	Franklin Morales	COL
2	Kyle Davies	KC
3	Max Scherzer	ARI
4	Zach Duke	PIT
5	Tommy Hanson	ATL
6	Scott Baker	MIN
7	David Purcey	TOR
8	Bartolo Colon	CHW
9	Brad Penny	BOS
10	Andrew Miller	FLA
Forecasting fallers
	Player	TM
1	Oliver Perez	NYM
2	Mike Pelfrey	NYM
3	Cliff Lee	CLE
4	Randy Johnson	SF
5	Chien-Ming Wang	NYY
6	Edinson Volquez	CIN
7	Mark Hendrickson	BAL
8	Eric Stults	LAD
9	Vicente Padilla	TEX
10	Barry Zito	SF

Week 3 two-starter(s): Garland. He pitches Wednesday vs. the Cardinals and could be a nice pick-up in mixed leagues.
Starters on the DL: Webb (shoulder) and Scherzer (shoulder). Scherzer is expected to start Tuesday night, while Webb could make his return before the end of Fantasy Week 3 (April 20-26). He was expected to miss just his April 17 start, but he won't be eligible to return until after Petit takes a turn early in Week 3.
Starters to watch in the minors: Jarrod Parker. He is real good, but he might not arrive at all this season.

Atlanta Braves

Derek Lowe
Jair Jurrjens
Javier Vazquez
Kenshin Kawakami
Jo-Jo Reyes, expected to make his first start Saturday, April 18 at Pittsburgh

Week 3 two-starter(s): Lowe and maybe Kawakami. We figure Lowe is a must-start, two-start pitcher for all leagues. He pitches Wednesday vs. the Marlins. Kawakami could also get a two-start week, if the Braves choose to skip their No. 5 starter's spot (perhaps). Kawakami goes Thursday vs. Florida and will be an intriguing sleeper in mixed leagues.
Starters on the DL: Tim Hudson (elbow) and Tom Glavine (shoulder). Hudson is out until at least August after Tommy John surgery, while Glavine needs two weeks off from a strained rotator cuff. Reyes is getting the call in his place Saturday.
Starters in the minors to watch: Tommy Hanson. He was passed up in favor of Reyes for now, but it won't take long for him to get the call if Glavine will miss a significant amount of time. Dr. Andrews will tell us.

Baltimore Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie
Koji Uehara
Alfredo Simon, left his last start with elbow pain
Mark Hendrickson
Adam Eaton

Week 3 two-starter(s): Simon and Hendrickson. They are risky options for AL-only leagues. Simon is now nursing a sore elbow and Hendrickson will likely get beat up Wednesday at Texas.
Starters on the DL: Rich Hill (elbow). He figures to need at least another month, so he is merely a DL stashee in AL-only formats right now.
Starters to watch in the minors: Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz. Future aces, all. Bradley Bergesen could be intriguing, too. Bergesen could get the earliest look -- perhaps if Simon needs a DL stint -- but they had to hoped they won't be going to that well until June 1, or later if Hill can prove healthy.

Boston Red Sox

Week 3 two-starter(s): Wakefield. He closes out the West Coast swing at Oakland on Wednesday and will get a pair of home starts.
Starters on the DL: Daisuke Matsuzaka (shoulder) and John Smoltz (shoulder). Dice-K went on the DL on Wednesday and will have to build his arm strength back up. Consider him out until early to mid-May now. Smoltz is nearly ready to pitch in extended spring training, which (coincidentally) ends in late May. That has been his target return date all along.
Starters to watch in the minors: Buchholz and Michael Bowden. Masterson stretched out to four innings Tuesday night and could be pushed to five-plus in place of Dice-K, which would keep Buchholz back in Triple-A -- where he wasn't spectacular in his first start. Bowden isn't a factor at this point.

Chicago Cubs

Carlos Zambrano
Ryan Dempster
Ted Lilly
Rich Harden
Sean Marshall, expected to make first start April 16

Week 3 two-starter(s): Harden. He starts Wednesday vs. Colorado and will likely earn must-start, two-start status.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: Jeff Samardzija. You have to consider him the Cubs' de facto No. 6 starter, since Aaron Heilman is stuck back in the Pitch-22 (good enough to start, but too valuable in relief).

Chicago White Sox

Week 3 two-starter(s): Contreras. He starts Wednesday at Detroit and could prove to be a sleeper in deeper formats if he pitches well.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: Aaron Poreda and Jeff Marquez. Poreda will be in the rotation by June 1, we say. Clayton Richard opens the year in long relief, which could make it tougher for him to be stretched out to start if there is an injury to the veterans on the staff.

Cincinnati Reds

Week 3 two-starter(s): Arroyo and Owings. The pitch Tuesday and Wednesday at Milwaukee and figure to be risky two-start pitchers in Fantasy Week 3 (April 20-26).
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: Homer Bailey and Daryl Thompson. Bailey has the potential to be a big-time impact call-up, while Thompson is more of a back-end starter long term.

Cleveland Indians

Week 3 two-starter(s): Lee. The Indians will likely skip Laffey's turn after his season debut Wednesday. If Laffey pitches well, he could earn a two-start week. Lee would get the two starts if Laffey is skipped. Lee makes his third start after two stinkers Thursday in the debut of the new Yankee Stadium.
Starters on the DL: Jake Westbrook (elbow) and Scott Lewis (elbow). Westbrook is out until at least July after Tommy John surgery, while Lewis just went on the DL and won't throw for another week. He is out until at least early May.
Starters to watch in the minors: David Huff, Jeremy Sowers and Charles Lofgren. Adam Miller has staved off finger surgery, but his future is now as a reliever at best. Huff and Sowers were passed up in favor of Laffey for now, while Lofgren is a talent but merely the No. 5 starter in Double-A to open the season.

Colorado Rockies

Aaron Cook
Ubaldo Jimenez
Jason Marquis
Jorge De La Rosa
TBD, perhaps Franklin Morales the next time the No. 5 starter's spot comes up April 21.

Scout these two-starters
	Pitcher	TM
1	Cole Hamels	PHI
2	Franklin Morales	COL
3	Clayton Kershaw	LAD
4	Jon Garland	ARI
5	Brandon McCarthy	TEX
6	Andy Sonnanstine	TB
7	Joe Blanton	PHI
8	Joel Pineiro	STL
9	Jered Weaver	LAA
10	Manny Parra	MIL
11	Tim Wakefield	BOS
12	Armando Galarraga	DET
13	Cliff Lee	CLE
14	Oliver Perez	NYM
15	Andy Pettitte	NYY
16	Micah Owings	CIN
17	Jose Contreras	CHW
18	Bronson Arroyo	CIN
19	Mike Hampton	HOU
20	Dana Eveland	OAK
21	Kevin Correia	SF
22	John Lannan	WAS

Week 3 two-starter(s): Perhaps Morales. He is in the minors for 10 days after his spectacular season debut, so instead of slotting Jason Hammel out of the bullpen, we expect the Rockies to call Morales back up. There is the potential he gets skipped off his second start in Fantasy Week 3 (April 20-26), but that is unlikely amid the struggles of De La Rosa in the No. 4 starter's spot. De La Rosa is a candidate to be skipped, or removed from the rotation altogether for Hammel.
Starters on the DL: Jeff Francis (shoulder). He is out for the season.
Starters to watch in the minors: Greg Smith, Jason Hirsh and Jhoulys Chacin. Chacin is going to be the 2007 Jimenez/Morales impact second-half call-up. Smith and Hirsh are trying to rebuild their careers back in Triple-A. Heck, it worked for Morales last year apparently.

Detroit Tigers

Week 3 two-starter(s): Galarraga. A Tuesday rainout lines him up for this. He pitches Wednesday vs. the White Sox and could be an advisable two-start pitcher if he pitches well.
Starters on the DL: Jeremy Bonderman (shoulder) and Dontrelle Willis (anxiety disorder). Bonderman doesn't look like he will be ready until May yet, while Willis is anyone's guess right now. They are decent DL stashees, though.
Starters to watch in the minors: Cody Satterwhite. With Porcello and Ryan Perry already in the majors, they are dangerously thin in the minors. Nate Robertson is the de facto No. 6 starter at this point.

Florida Marlins

Ricky Nolasco
Josh Johnson
Chris Volstad
Anibal Sanchez
Andrew Miller, expected to make first start April 15 at Atlanta.

Week 3 two-starter(s): Miller or Sanchez. Miller makes his season debut Wednesday at Atlanta, but he could be skipped off his second start in Fantasy Week 3 (April 20-26). Sanchez would pick up the second start then. Sanchez goes Thursday at Atlanta and could earn sleeper status for his potential two-start week.
Starters on the DL: Rick VandenHurk (elbow). We don't see him being a factor this season.
Starters to watch in the minors: Sean West, Ryan Tucker, Brett Sinkbeil, Aaron Thompson and Burke Badenhop might get looks before the end of the season. The Marlins are loaded with organizational depth, so Miller will have a short leash.

Houston Astros

Roy Oswalt
Wandy Rodriguez
Mike Hampton
Brian Moehler, questionable with strained MCL
Russ Ortiz, expected to make his first start April 16 at Pittsburgh

Week 3 two-starter(s): Hampton and Ortiz. They pitch Wednesday and Thursday at Pittsburgh. We doubt Ortiz proves intriguing, but Hampton could pitch well and earn a look.
Starters on the DL: Brandon Backe (oblique). He is nothing more than a high-risk starter for the deepest of NL-only leagues, when healthy. He could begin a rehab assignment soon, though -- especially with Moehler's shaky status.
Starters to watch in the minors: Bud Norris and Felipe Paulino. The Astros are going to need these guys this year, for better or for worse.

Kansas City Royals

Gil Meche
Zack Greinke
Kyle Davies
Sidney Ponson
Horacio Ramirez, after being skipped, he will be needed again April 25.

Week 3 two-starter(s): Ponson. You can't trust this guy as far as you can throw him. We don't care how strong you are, he is a big guy that won't be thrown far.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: Brian Bannister, Luke Hochevar, Danny Cortes and Carlos Rosa. The hot hand(s) will earn a look sooner or later, because the back end of this rotation is complete junk.

Los Angeles Angels

Joe Saunders
Dustin Moseley
Jered Weaver
Shane Loux
TBD, Darren Oliver is an option out of the bullpen, but a prospect is more likely to fill in.

Week 3 two-starter(s): Weaver. He pitches Wednesday at Seattle and could earn must-start status.
Starters on the DL: John Lackey (elbow), Ervin Santana (elbow) and Kelvim Escobar (shoulder). They might all be back in early May. Escobar begins a Class A rehab assignment soon and might only need a couple of starts. Watch him closely.
Starters to watch in the minors: Jordan Walden, Sean O'Sullivan, Anthony Ortega and Trevor Reckling. Ortega or O'Sullivan could fill the empty spot in the rotation. Walden is an elite prospect, if the Angels choose to rush him to the majors, while O'Sullivan is a decent one who will be a starter in the majors.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Chad Billingsley
Randy Wolf
Clayton Kershaw
Eric Stults
James McDonald but only until Hiroki Kuroda (shoulder) is eligible to return April 22

Week 3 two-starter(s): Kershaw. He goes Wednesday vs. the Giants and could earn must-start, two-start status.
Starters on the DL: Kuroda, Jason Schmidt (shoulder) and Claudio Vargas (elbow). Kuroda should be back next week, making McDonald a full-time reliever again. Schmidt is no better than a mid-May return. Vargas is not worth stashing and is out for an extended period, if not the whole season.
Starters to watch in the minors: Joshua Lindblom and Scott Elbert. Lindblom is an elite prospect who is a must-watch in all formats.

Milwaukee Brewers

Week 3 two-starter(s): Parra. He starts Tuesday vs. Cincy and could prove to be a sleeper as a two-starter.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: Jeremy Jeffress. He should help out the rotation before the end of the season.

Minnesota Twins

Scott Baker coming off the DL to start April 15
Francisco Liriano
Nick Blackburn
Kevin Slowey
Glen Perkins

Week 3 two-starter(s): Perhaps Baker. The Twins have only five games next week, so unless they skip someone or have an injury, no Twins starter will get two starts.
Starters on the DL: Boof Bonser (shoulder). He is out for the season and can be ignored.
Starters to watch in the minors: Anthony Swarzak and Kevin Mulvey. Those are two pretty close pitching prospects who could step in and contribute if there is an injury.

New York Mets

Week 3 two-starter(s): Perez. Unless he really turns it around Wednesday vs. the Padres (doubtful), you have to consider him a risky option in all leagues. He is a mess right now.
Starters on the DL: Tim Redding (shoulder). He will be no better than a May returnee, but he is returning in the bullpen at this point.
Starters to watch in the minors: Freddy Garcia, Jonathon Niese and Bradley Holt. They will be needed at some point. None of them are all that promising yet.

New York Yankees

Week 3 two-starter(s): Pettitte. He pitches Wednesday at Tampa Bay and could earn advisable two-start status. Sabathia could also get two starts if the Yankees choose to skip someone, perhaps the struggling Wang.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Hughes is almost certain to be needed this year. Kennedy might be, too. We expect they both will dominate Triple-A for at least the season's first two months.

Oakland Athletics

Week 3 two-starter(s): Eveland. He pitches Tuesday vs. the Red Sox and likely will be a risky two-start pitcher option.
Starters on the DL: Justin Duchscherer (elbow). He is out until at least mid-May and might have to return in the bullpen initially.
Starters to watch in the minors: With Sean Gallagher in the bullpen to start the season, Gio Gonzalez is the defacto No. 6 starter in Triple-A. Michael Ynoa and Vin Mazzaro also could prove useful this year.

Philadelphia Phillies

Week 3 two-starter(s): Blanton and Hamels. They pitch Wednesday and Thursday at Washington and could wind up being advisable options after slow starts to the season.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: J.A. Happ is in the bullpen, so Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery, Antonio Bastardo and Kyle Drabek are their depth guys. They haven't really needed much depth the past few seasons. Carrasco is the real elite prospect in their group, despite his so-so spring.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Week 3 two-starter(s): Ohlendorf. He is a risky option, barring a completely dominant outing Wednesday vs. the struggling Astros.
Starters on the DL: Phil Dumatrait (shoulder). The healthy Pirates pitchers aren't worth stashing, so the injured one shouldn't be either.
Starters to watch in the minors: Brad Lincoln, Bryan Morris and Daniel McCutchen. These guys will get a look later this year, but they are hardly worth tracking in the minors at this point.

San Diego Padres

Week 3 two-starter(s): Correia and perhaps Peavy. He will be a risky option, barring a completely dominant outing Wednesday at the Mets. Peavy could also pick up a second start if a starter is skipped. We think Hill could continue to get the skipping treatment unless he builds up arm strength. Peavy is a must-start pitcher with one start or two, regardless of the matchup(s).
Starters on the DL: Cha Seung Baek (forearm). Baek is out at least a few more weeks, so consider him out until May at this point.
Starters to watch in the minors: Cesar Carrillo, Nick Schmidt, Josh Geer, Wade LeBlanc and William Inman. We list a lot of options here because the Padres will have openings galore this season. We don't really like these guys all that much right now.

San Francisco Giants

Week 3 two-starter(s): Maybe Cain. The Giants play only five games, so they won't have any two-start pitchers unless a starter is injured or skipped. We don't see it at this point.
Starters on the DL: Noah Lowry (shoulder, elbow) is out until at least mid-May. He might never be the same at this point. Ignore him.
Starters to watch in the minors: Madison Bumgarner, Timothy Alderson and Kevin Pucetas. No one in baseball has a better pair of elite arms down on the farm than Bumgarner and Alderson, potential front-line guys. Watch their starts closely for potential second-half rewards in deeper leagues. Or any league, perhaps.

Seattle Mariners

Week 3 two-starter(s): Washburn. His first start was amazing, but he will get another look Wednesday vs. the Angels. That could bring him back to the questionable two-starter area.
Starters on the DL: Ryan Feierabend (elbow surgery). He is out for the season.
Starters to watch in the minors: Gaby Hernandez. We figure Miguel Batista or Chris Jakubauskas will get a look before anyone from the minors, and they are not intriguing stashees.

St. Louis Cardinals

Adam Wainwright
Kyle Lohse
Todd Wellemeyer
Joel Pineiro
P.J. Walters, will be called up to start Friday at Chicago.

Week 3 two-starter(s): Pineiro. He goes Wednesday at Arizona and could be a sleeper two-starter in deeper leagues if he has an outing like his first one.
Starters on the DL: Chris Carpenter (ribcage) and Jaime Garcia (elbow). Carpenter looks like he will be out a month at this point. Garcia is out for the season after Tommy John surgery.
Starters to watch in the minors: Walters, Jess Todd and Clayton Mortensen. Walters will get a start Friday and could be an option to stick in the rotation with Carpenter out. Mitchell Boggs is up to work in long relief, but he could be a starter candidate now, too. Todd is one that could force his way up in the second half. Brad Thompson was sent back to Triple-A, perhaps to stretch back out to start.

Tampa Bay Rays

Week 3 two-starter(s): Sonnanstine. He pitches vs. the Yankees on Wednesday and could be a sleeper in Fantasy Week 3 (April 20-26). Watch his start, or even pick him up just in case. All Rays starters can be winners for your Fantasy team(s).
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: David Price, Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson. Price's first start in Triple-A wasn't great, but he will be treated with kid gloves. It won't be long before he is up and dominating for Fantasy owners. Davis and Hellickson likely have to wait until spring 2010.

Texas Rangers

Week 3 two-starter(s): McCarthy. He starts vs. the Orioles on Tuesday and could be a nice two-start sleeper to add in mixed leagues if he pitches as well as he is capable.
Starters on the DL: Eric Hurley (shoulder surgery). He is out for the season.
Starters to watch in the minors: Neftali Feliz, Derek Holland, Michael Main, Tommy Hunter, Thomas Diamond and Kasey Kiker. The Rangers are strong and deep down on the farm. Feliz is the most elite of their prospects, and anyone getting starts for the Rangers will get great run support.

Toronto Blue Jays

Week 3 two-starter(s): Halladay. Um, sit him. We dare you.
Starters on the DL: Jesse Litsch (forearm), Dustin McGowan (shoulder), Shaun Marcum (elbow) and Casey Janssen (shoulder). Litsch makes it almost a complete rotation on the DL now. Consider him out until at least mid-May at this point. Marcum has been ruled out for the year, while McGowan hopes to be a factor in the second half. Janssen could be ready earlier in the first half, but he will be a high-risk AL-only starting pitcher.
Starters to watch in the minors: Brad Mills, Brett Cecil and Robert Ray. The Blue Jays elected to go with Tallet out of the bullpen to replace Litsch for now, but Mills and Cecil could be impact Fantasy starters if they can get hot back in Triple-A. Watch them closely right now.

Washington Nationals

Week 3 two-starter(s): Lannan. He is an ace only because of the lack of aces on his own team. Consider him a risky option even if he pitches well Thursday vs. the Phillies.
Starters on the DL: Matt Chico (elbow). He is out until at least late July after Tommy John surgery.
Starters to watch in the minors: Ross Detwiler, Josh Smoker and Colton Willems. It will take a real good rookie season by Zimmermann to be useful in more than deeper NL-only leagues and this trio is nowhere near Zimmermann's class of pitching prospect.

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