Some can get by on stuff that tops out at 90 mph, but you cannot be dominant without at least mid-90s heat. Velocity tends to be overrated, some say ... until they don't have it anymore.
Ask Pedro Martinez about it. Ask Barry Zito. Look at Francisco Liriano now.
As soon as this weekend, we could be asking Jeremy Bonderman the same question. As soon as next week, we could see all we need to see.
The 26-year-old right-hander, who is coming off shoulder surgery to repair a circulation issue in his shoulder, wasn't going to return until his velocity got back up to the mid-90s. We are not sure it has.
But we are going to find out.
A White Sox-Tigers doubleheader Monday and a lack of offdays before or after makes it likely that Bonderman will return in the coming week. Jose A. Contreras, who has pitched better after his Triple-A demotion, likely will, too, Monday for the White Sox.
Bonderman made what could have been his last rehab start Sunday with eight shutout innings for Triple-A Toledo. He allowed six hits and struck out five with no walks. Sixty-six of his 98 pitches were strikes.
That was a dominant outing, but he has yet to show dominant stuff, according to reports. His rehab assignment numbers suggest otherwise: 2-1, 3.00 ERA with 17 strikeouts to six walks in 27 innings over four starts. He has allowed a .250 batting-average against.
Bonderman awaits his official Tigers starting assignment, but it will have to come no later than the second game of the Monday doubleheader, since the Tigers need a No. 6 starter -- one that could take Dontrelle Willis or Armando Galarraga's rotation spot.
"Whenever they (club officials) feel I'm ready, I'll go up," Bonderman said. "I feel bad when I do go up, taking someone's spot. They're throwing the ball really well, everybody up there. It's not like anyone deserves to be moved."
Bonderman has been a hotly debated (still) young pitcher on CBSSports.com among readers. He has been considered a future ace at times. He has looked like garbage at others -- and that was when he was entirely healthy.
In 163 career starts, Bonderman is just 59-66 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Those are not numbers backed by mid-90s stuff that makes you think he can be much better in the low-90s.
But a few things need to be re-emphasized about Bondo:
- He was drafted as a high school junior after earning his GED and made it to the majors at age 20 after just one pro season. That is amazing. College pitchers usually are the ones arriving after one pro season, no high schoolers -- much less ones drafted early because they took their GED.
- His career record of just seven games below .500 comes despite arriving early and pitching for one of the worst single-season teams in baseball history. The Tigers stunk both in 2003 and '04.
- Current Rockies ace Aaron Cook overcame a similar medical procedure to go a remarkable 7-2 with a 3.68 ERA in the second half of 2005 -- that was in the pre-humidor Coors Field, no less. Cook was a 16-game winner last year. Clearly, this form of shoulder surgery is not a deal-breaker.
Sure, Bonderman might have to remake himself from power pitcher to being an actual pitcher, but we give him at least enough of a chance to warrant taking that flier even in mixed leagues right now. Bonderman is owned in just 39 percent of CBSSports.com leagues.
Even if you don't want to trust him in Fantasy Week 10 (June 8-14) as a potential two-start pitcher returnee, you can stash him on the DL for a week and get two looks at him before you have to activate him to your regular roster.
We suggested you start Edinson Volquez (back) as a two-start returnee this week, only to see him toss one inning and then head right back to the DL with an elbow issue. That is enough of an example as to why you need to allow Bonderman to prove healthy and effective in the Tigers rotation before trusting him in your lineup.
Heck, many of you want to see his heat before you believe anything he accomplished in the minors.
(Pick up Reds replacement starter Matt Maloney, by the way. See the explanation in the Reds rotation thumbnail below.)
Arizona Diamondbacks
|
|||
Pitcher | TM | Own% | Start% |
Josh Beckett | BOS | 98 | 91 |
Jake Peavy | SD | 97 | 86 |
Matt Cain | SF | 97 | 85 |
Jered Weaver | ANA | 96 | 84 |
Derek Lowe | ATL | 97 | 82 |
Josh Johnson | FLA | 97 | 82 |
James Shields | TB | 97 | 82 |
Ted Lilly | CHC | 97 | 81 |
Cliff Lee | CLE | 97 | 80 |
Johnny Cueto | CIN | 95 | 76 |
Jair Jurrjens | ATL | 95 | 74 |
Mike Pelfrey | NYM | 78 | 57 |
Randy Johnson | SF | 70 | 50 |
Andy Pettitte | NYY | 85 | 49 |
Jason Marquis | COL | 49 | 34 |
Kyle Lohse | STL | 72 | 32 |
Clayton Richard | CHW | 42 | 32 |
J.A. Happ | PHI | 44 | 31 |
Josh Outman | OAK | 44 | 30 |
Scott Baker | MIN | 63 | 29 |
Jon Garland | ARI | 48 | 22 |
Brian Tallet | TOR | 33 | 22 |
Jordan Zimmermann | WAS | 49 | 21 |
Chien-Ming Wang | NYY | 76 | 18 |
Brian Bannister | KC | 41 | 18 |
Ross Ohlendorf | PIT | 31 | 17 |
Armando Galarraga | DET | 52 | 17 |
Braden Looper | MIL | 23 | 14 |
Brandon McCarthy | TEX | 34 | 14 |
Scott Feldman | TEX | 25 | 14 |
David Hernandez | BAL | 17 | 10 |
Jason M. Vargas | SEA | 13 | 9 |
Jeff Niemann | TB | 13 | 7 |
Anthony Swarzak | MIN | 9 | 5 |
Sean West | FLA | 7 | 4 |
Casey Janssen | TOR | 3 | 2 |
Brian Moehler | HOU | 2 | 1 |
Jeff Karstens | PIT | 3 | 1 |
Billy Buckner | ARI | 2 | 1 |
Jason Hammel | COL | 3 | 1 |
Week 10 two-starter(s): Garland and Buckner. Garland is a
questionable option amid his up-and-down season, while Buckner is
expected to be skipped until Tuesday. He is a sleeper for NL-only
formats as a two-starter.
Starters on the DL: Brandon Webb (shoulder) and Yusmeiro Petit
(shoulder). Webb now is merely hoping to return before the All-Star
break. Keep him stashed. Petit is no threat to anyone currently in the
rotation. Bucker has pitched pretty well.
Starters to watch in the
minors: Jarrod Parker and Bryan Augenstein. Parker has allowed a .308 batting-average against
in Double-A, but he could prove useful at age 21 late this summer.
Atlanta Braves
- Derek Lowe
- Jair Jurrjens
- Javier Vazquez
- Kenshin Kawakami
- Tommy Hanson
Week 10 two-starter(s): Lowe and Jurrjens. They pitch Wednesday
and Thursday vs. the Cubs and are likely to be must-starts.
Starters
on the DL: Tim Hudson (elbow). Tom Glavine has been listed here all season, but he was
surprisingly released by the team on Wednesday.
Starters to watch
in the minors: Tommy Hanson is
finally on the way. He is expected to start Saturday vs. Jeff Suppan and
the Brewers. Grab him and start him ASAP.
Baltimore Orioles
Week 10 two-starter(s): Hernandez. He has the potential to be a
nice sleeper with a solid start Tuesday at Seattle.
Starters on
the DL: Koji Uehara (hamstring) and Alfredo Simon (elbow, out for the season). Uehara is targeting a June
10 return, which could affect Hernandez's double starts or lead to one
of the rookies getting sent to Triple-A or the bullpen. Track his
progress through the weekend before considering him for Fantasy Week 10
(June 8-14).
Starters to watch in the minors: Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, Troy Patton and Brandon Erbe (7-day DL). Tillman (5-0) is returning Tuesday night in
Triple-A after a hammy issue. Patton (6-1, 1.75 in Double-A) needs a
promotion, while Arrieta (4-3, 2.98 in Double-A) will get ample time to
season. Matusz (4-2, 2.37 ERA) is in high Class A and deserves a
promotion, while Erbe is hurt right now. It figures to get crowded in
Baltimore with pitching prospects by the end of 2009 though spring 2010.
Boston Red Sox
Week 10 two-starter(s): Beckett. He is a must-start in all
leagues amid his recent revival. He starts Wednesday at Detroit.
Starters
on the DL: John Smoltz (shoulder).
Smoltz is targeting a June 16 return vs. the Marlins and could be a
two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 11 (June 15-21).
Starters to
watch in the minors: Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden and Junichi Tazawa.
Buchholz (3-0, 1.47 in Triple-A), Bowden (2-2, 1.68 in Triple-A) and
Tazawa (5-2, 2.82 in Double-A) are good enough to pitch in the majors
right now, but there is no room. Trading Penny after June 15 might
merely open Smoltz's rotation spot.
Chicago Cubs
- Carlos Zambrano, returning from suspension June 4
- Ryan Dempster
- Ted Lilly
- Randy Wells
- Sean Marshall or Rich Harden
Week 10 two-starter(s): Lilly. He pitches Wednesday at Atlanta
and is likely advisable next week.
Starters on the DL: Rich Harden (back). He is expected to return June 11 at Houston.
Track his progress through the weekend before considering him for
Fantasy Week 10 (June 8-14).
Starters to watch in the minors: Jeff Samardzija and Mitch Atkins.
Samardzija (2-1, 4.04) will get a good stretching out in Triple-A.
Atkins (2-7, 8.38) has been worse than his numbers even.
Chicago White Sox
Week 10 two-starter(s): Richard and Buehrle. A doubleheader
Monday vs. Detroit necessitates a six-man rotation, but it is expected
that Richard and Buehrle -- who start this week Wednesday and Thursday
vs. the A's -- would remain on track for two-start weeks. Buehrle could
prove to be advisable, while Richard could prove to be a sleeper.
Starters
on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in the minors: Aaron Poreda and Jose A. Contreras.
Contreras is expected to be on schedule to start one of the doubleheader
games Monday, along with Richard. It is conceivable Contreras (2-1, 3.04
in Triple-A) outpitches Richard enough to remain in the rotation and be
a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 10 (June 8-14). Poreda is just 4-4
in Double-A, but he has a 2.62 ERA, a .214 batting-average against and
has made five consecutive quality starts. Seven of his past eight starts
have been quality and he hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in
any of his 10 starts. He belongs in Triple-A and could move there soon.
Cincinnati Reds
- Aaron Harang
- Bronson Arroyo
- Johnny Cueto
- Micah Owings
- TBD, see their note on the minors
Week 10 two-starter(s): Cueto. He looks like a must-start,
two-start pitcher right now.
Starters on the DL: Edinson Volquez (elbow). He went back on the DL right away, but they
say he will be fine with rest. Consider him out a couple of weeks and
someone who might need a rehab start this time around.
Starters to
watch in the minors: Matt Maloney, Homer Bailey and Daryl Thompson.
Maloney (4-3, 2.00, 58 strikeouts to just nine walks in 67 1/3 Triple-A
innings) has significantly outpitched Bailey (4-5, 4.38) and Thompson
(1-2, 6.59). Since Volquez needs another DL stint, Maloney should be
called up. He is on schedule to start in Volquez's spot start Saturday
vs. the Cubs. Conveniently, Maloney struck out 10 and walked none with a
three-hit, nine-inning shutout victory Monday night at Scranton.
Cleveland Indians
Week 10 two-starter(s): Lee. He pitches Wednesday at Minnesota
and should prove to be a must-start.
Starters on the DL: Jake Westbrook (elbow), Aaron Laffey
(side), Scott Lewis (elbow), Anthony Reyes (elbow, out for the season). The mash unit won't be
getting any of these guys back before late June at best.
Starters
to watch in the minors: Jeanmar Gomez,
Hector Rondon and Charles Lofgren. The major league rotation is partially on the DL. The
Triple-A rotation is in the major leagues and the Double-A trio of Gomez
(4-2, 2.77), Rondon (6-3, 2.61) and Lofgren (3-1, 1.48) is worthy of
being promoted to Triple-A right now. There is a chance we see each of
these guys in the majors before the end of the season.
Colorado Rockies
Week 10 two-starter(s): Marquis and Hammel. They are questionable
options, but Marquis could prove to be a sleeper with a solid outing
Wednesday at Houston.
Starters on the DL: Franklin Morales (shoulder) and Jeff Francis
(shoulder, out for the season). Morales has started a rehab assignment
and will likely start again this weekend, but a return late next week is
possible at this point. Track his progress through the weekend before
considering him for Fantasy Week 10 (June 8-14).
Starters to watch
in the minors: Brandon Hynick, Jason Hirsh, Greg Smith (7-day DL), Greg Reynolds (7-day DL), Jhoulys Chacin and Samuel Deduno.
Double-A starters Chacin (3-4, 3.38 ERA) and Deduno (6-1, 2.92) are
really the only ones worth tracking right now.
Detroit Tigers
Week 10 two-starter(s): Galarraga and/or Willis. The Monday
doubleheader at the Chicago White Sox could mark the return of Jeremy Bonderman from the 15-day DL. The Tigers need a six-man
rotation and could slot Bonderman in that spot. That could mean
Galarraga or Willis are pitching for their rotation spot Wednesday and
Thursday vs. the Red Sox.
Starters on the DL: Bonderman
(shoulder). He pitched eight shutout innings Sunday and in order to be
on regular rest to slot as the Tigers' temporary No. 6 starter, he would
have to pitch this weekend vs. the Angels (unlikely) or next Monday at
the White Sox. Track his progress through the weekend before considering
him for Fantasy Week 10 (June 8-14). If he returns Monday, it would
likely be as a two-start pitcher.
Starters to watch in the minors: None.
Bonderman will force a starter to long relief, which would mean Nate Robertson and that demoted starter are the de facto rotation
fill-ins this season. The Tigers really don't have a pitching prospect
who is keeper-worthy.
Florida Marlins
- Josh Johnson
- Chris Volstad
- Andrew Miller
- Anibal Sanchez
- Sean West or Ricky Nolasco
Week 10 two-starter(s): West or Sanchez and Johnson. Ricky Nolasco can return to the Marlins' rotation as soon as this
weekend if Sanchez cannot prove healthy in his DL return Tuesday, or it
could happen in West's spot next Monday.
Starters on the DL: Sanchez
(shoulder) and Rick VandenHurk (elbow).
Sanchez is back Tuesday and VandenHurk is on a rehab assignment that
could position himself for a mid-June return, but perhaps in the bullpen.
Starters
to watch in the minors: Nolasco, Ryan Tucker,
Brett Sinkbeil, Graham Taylor and Aaron Thompson. The
returns of Sanchez and perhaps Nolasco and the surprising early
effectiveness of West mean the Marlins won't need these guys anytime
soon. They haven't warranted a real look anyway.
Houston Astros
- Roy Oswalt
- Wandy Rodriguez
- Mike Hampton
- Felipe Paulino
- Brian Moehler
Week 10 two-starter(s): Moehler. He is a high-risk option,
despite his great past outing. He should prove to be that Wednesday vs.
the Rockies.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch
in the minors: Bud Norris. He has
established himself well in Triple-A at 2-4 with a 2.75 ERA and a .240
batting-average against.
Kansas City Royals
- Zack Greinke
- Gil Meche
- Kyle Davies
- Brian Bannister
- TBD, likely Luke Hochevar
Week 10 two-starter(s): Bannister. He is a questionable option,
but he could prove to be a sleeper with a solid outing Wednesday at
Tampa Bay.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch
in the minors: Hochevar and Danny Cortes.
Hochevar had a quality start over the weekend and is on schedule to
return to the rotation this week. Cortes is much further away at 2-5
with a 4.01 and a .251 batting-average against in Double-A.
Los Angeles Angels
- John Lackey
- Ervin Santana
- Joe Saunders
- Jered Weaver
- Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) is expected to return Saturday June 6 at Detroit
Week 10 two-starter(s): Weaver. He starts at Toronto on Wednesday
and has pitched like a must-start option all season.
Starters on
the DL: Escobar (shoulder) and Dustin Moseley
(elbow). Escobar pushes Matt Palmer to
the bullpen, which is where Moseley would head when ready in late June
(at best).
Starters to watch in the minors: Jordan Walden, Sean O'Sullivan and Trevor Reckling. Escobar's return makes it even more unlikely one of
this trio gets a start in the majors this season. Consider them
long-term keeper fliers at best right now.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Week 10 two-starter(s): None. They have a five-game week and we
don't figure there is any interest in skipping Milton's turn at this
point. It is possible they save innings on Kershaw by skipping him
again. Billingsley would be a two-start pitcher in that case, but he is
a must-start guy even as a one-starter.
Starters on the DL: Jason Schmidt (shoulder) and Eric Stults
(finger). Schmidt had a setback and will need a full 30-day rehab
assignment to prove worthy to be activated again. He is closer to
retirement than returning.
Starters to watch in the minors: James McDonald and Joshua Lindblom.
Their best two pitching prospects are more likely to be brought up to
help the bullpen than the rotation at this point. They are intriguing
starters long term, though.
Milwaukee Brewers
- Yovani Gallardo
- Manny Parra
- Jeff Suppan
- Braden Looper
- Dave Bush
Week 10 two-starter(s): Looper. He starts Wednesday at Florida
and could prove to be a nice sleeper in mixed leagues with a solid
effort.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in
the minors: Christopher Cody and Jeremy Jeffress. While Jeffress has taken a step back, Cody is
stepping up at 5-1 with a 2.30 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings
in Double-A. The 25-year-old lefty is moving to Triple-A now, but is not
a top prospect.
Minnesota Twins
Week 10 two-starter(s): Swarzak and Baker. They pitch Wednesday
and Thursday vs. Cleveland and could prove to be nice sleepers for mixed
formats.
Starters on the DL: Glen Perkins (elbow) and Boof Bonser
(shoulder, out for the season). Perkins is starting a rehab assignment
June 4 and might need another one June 9, before a potential June 14
return. Track his news in the coming days, but Swarzak looks like a fine
No. 5 starter right now.
Starters to watch in the minors: Kevin Mulvey. Mulvey has a 4.08 ERA in 10 Triple-A starts and is no
real threat to Swarzak or Perkins at this point.
New York Mets
- Johan Santana
- Mike Pelfrey
- John Maine
- Livan Hernandez
- Tim Redding
Week 10 two-starter(s): Pelfrey. He has been solid of late and
should prove at least advisable with a solid start at Pittsburgh on
Wednesday.
Starters on the DL: Oliver Perez (knee). He had a setback on his rehab assignment and is
no better than a late June returnee at this point.
Starters to
watch in the minors: Jon Niese, Bradley Holt and Tobi Stoner. Niese
has been awful, Holt deserves a move up to Double-A, while Stoner
deserves a move to Triple-A. It is more likely the Mets make a trade for
a starter or sign Pedro Martinez or Ben Sheets (elbow) before they consider one of these prospects amid
the heat of a pennant race this summer.
New York Yankees
- CC Sabathia
- A.J. Burnett
- Andy Pettitte
- Joba Chamberlain
- Chien-Ming Wang is returning to the rotation Thursday vs. Texas
Week 10 two-starter(s): Pettitte and Wang. They could prove to be
advisable options after they pitch Wednesday and Thursday vs. the
Rangers.
Starters on the DL: None.
Starters to watch in
the minors: Kei Igawa and Ian Kennedy (shoulder, might be out for the season). Igawa is 5-1
with a 3.39 ERA and a .229 batting-average against, but he has allowed
10 homers in 58 1/3 innings. He could post even better numbers in
Triple-A and the Yankees still wouldn't dare consider him a rotation
option. It is more likely they consider recently converted reliever Phil Hughes or Alfredo Aceves as
their starting depth.
Oakland Athletics
Week 10 two-starter(s): Outman and Anderson. Outman is pitching
well, but even with a great outing Wednesday at the Chicago White Sox,
he will be difficult to trust in mixed leagues. Anderson is pitching for
his rotation spot Thursday at Chicago, since Mazzaro made a great debut
Tuesday and is going to stick around. Edgar G. Gonzalez was the No. 5 starter and could return to the rotation
if the A's chose to demote one of their rookies -- Cahill or Anderson --
after another bad outing. Cahill goes Friday vs. the Orioles.
Starters
on the DL: Justin Duchscherer
(elbow). He needs a lengthy rehab assignment, which he is not yet ready
to start. He hasn't picked up a ball in 10 days.
Starters to watch
in the minors: Dana Eveland, Gio Gonzalez and James J. Simmons.
Mazzaro gets a look now, but Eveland or Gonzalez could get their looks
next/again. Simmons is more likely to remain in the minors this season.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Cole Hamels
- Joe Blanton
- Jamie Moyer
- J.A. Happ
- Antonio Bastardo makes his major league debut Tuesday
Week 10 two-starter(s): Happ. He is a sleeper for deeper leagues
with a solid outing Wednesday at San Diego.
Starters on the DL: Brett Myers (hip, might be out for the season).
Starters to
watch in the minors: Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery and Kyle Drabek. Drabek is the most intriguing of the Phillies' depth
amid his recent promotion in the minors, but it is more likely these
guys are used to acquire a veteran. Kendrick was overlooked for
Bastardo, which says a lot about what the Phillies now think of him long
term.
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Paul Maholm
- Zach Duke
- Ian Snell
- Ross Ohlendorf
- Jeff Karstens
Week 10 two-starter(s): Ohlendorf and Karstens. They are
questionable options even with solid outings vs. the Mets Wednesday and
Thursday.
Starters on the DL: Phil Dumatrait (shoulder). He isn't ready for a rehab assignment and
would likely get a lengthy one once he's ready to start it.
Starters
to watch in the minors: Brad Lincoln,
Bryan Morris and Daniel McCutchen. Tom Gorzelanny is already up, working in long relief, but the
Pirates are saying they still expect (hope) him to be in the rotation
before the end of the year. He needs to go back to the minors first.
McCutchen (3-3, 4.35 in Triple-A) is the de facto No. 6 starter until
Gorzelanny gets stretched back out.
San Diego Padres
Week 10 two-starter(s): Young. He could prove to be an advisable
option in any league with a solid outing Wednesday vs. the Phillies.
Starters
on the DL: Shawn Hill (elbow) and Cha Seung Baek (elbow). They are both closer to Tommy John surgery
than a rehab assignment, much less a return. Ignore them.
Starters
to watch in the minors: Walter Silva,
Cesar Carrillo, Nick Schmidt, Wade LeBlanc, William Inman and perhaps Mark Prior.
It is more likely the Padres deal Peavy for multiple pitchers than give
any of these guys a look this season. Inman was pitching well in
Double-A (4-1, 3.05) before proving scouts right about his purported
so-so stuff in Triple-A (7.04 ERA in three starts).
San Francisco Giants
Week 10 two-starter(s): Johnson and Cain. Cain is a must-start in
all leagues, while the Big Unit could be an advisable option in most
formats with a solid outing (on the verge of win No. 300) at Washington
on Wednesday.
Starters on the DL: Noah Lowry (shoulder, out for the season).
Starters to watch
in the minors: Madison Bumgarner, Timothy Alderson and Kevin Pucetas.
There are reports Sanchez is on the trade market, because Pucetas (5-1,
3.47 ERA in Triple-A) deserves a look right now. The 19-year-old
Bumgarner (7-1, 1.14 between high Class A and Double-A) and 20-year-old
Alderson (3-1, 3.20 ERA between the same levels) warrant a look come
August, if not now. Ryan Sadowski, cousin of CBSSports.com Fantasy
staffer Ian Melmood, is 4-2 with a 3.74 ERA through 10 Triple-A starts.
He is not an elite prospect, but he could get a look if Sanchez was
dealt.
Seattle Mariners
- Felix Hernandez
- Erik Bedard
- Jarrod Washburn
- Jason M. Vargas
- Vacant ... Garrett Olson is getting skipped this weekend and will remain in long relief
Week 10 two-starter(s): Likely Vargas. He has been a pleasant
surprise and an AL-only sleeper. Consider him risky, though, even if he
pitches well again Wednesday vs. the Orioles.
Starters on the DL: Ryan Rowland-Smith (biceps), Carlos Silva
(shoulder) and Ryan Feierabend (elbow,
out for the season). Rowland-Smith is making his final rehab start
Friday and is expected to return June 11 at Baltimore at this point.
Consider him a risky AL-only option in Fantasy Week 10 (June 8-14).
Silva is not better than a second-half returnee at this point.
Starters
to watch in the minors: None. Their organization is not real ripe
with pitching prospects now that Phillipe Aumont
has been moved to relief. Olson is their de facto No. 6 now, while Silva
could prove healthy later.
St. Louis Cardinals
- Chris Carpenter
- Adam Wainwright
- Kyle Lohse (elbow) expected to return Wednesday, June 3 vs. the Reds
- Joel Pineiro (back) might return Sunday, June 7 vs. the Rockies
- Todd Wellemeyer
- Brad Thompson, being used in the rotation with Lohse and Pineiro needing time off
Week 10 two-starter(s): Lohse and Carpenter. They could prove to
be must-start options with decent outings Wednesday and Thursday vs. the
Reds.
Starters on the DL: Jaime Garcia
(elbow, out for the season).
Starters to watch in the minors: Mitchell Boggs, P.J. Walters and Clayton Mortensen. Thompson is being used out of the bullpen right now
and could start Sunday if Pineiro is not ready. With Lohse and Pineiro
both healthy, Thompson heads back to the bullpen and Boggs becomes the
most likely No. 6 starter for the Cardinals.
Tampa Bay Rays
- James Shields
- Matt Garza
- David Price
- Andy Sonnanstine
- Jeff Niemann
Week 10 two-starter(s): Niemann and Shields. Shields is a
must-start regardless, but Niemann is a sleeper with a solid outing
Wednesday vs. the Royals.
Starters on the DL: Scott Kazmir (quadriceps). Kaz will need more than 15 days to prove
ready for a brief rehab assignment. Consider him a late June returnee.
It will be interesting to see which starter might head to the bullpen.
Starters
to watch in the minors: Wade Davis.
He finally had a bad outing last weekend, but at 5-2, 3.40 with a .223
batting-average against, we will easily grant him a mulligan. We still
don't see him impacting the rotation this year, though.
Texas Rangers
Week 10 two-starter(s): Feldman and McCarthy. Feldman is no
better than a questionable option for AL-only leagues still, while
McCarthy might prove advisable even in mixed leagues with a solid outing
Thursday at the N.Y. Yankees.
Starters on the DL: Matt Harrison (shoulder) and Eric Hurley
(shoulder, out for the season). Harrison likely needs a rehab stint
before he is a candidate to return. Consider him at best a late June
returnee.
Starters to watch in the minors: Neftali Feliz, Michael Main, Tommy Hunter, Thomas Diamond and Kasey Kiker. Hunter failed miserably in a one-start audition. Feliz
would figure to be the next healthy option, but Harrison is more likely
to be an option before that.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Roy Halladay
- Casey Janssen
- Brian Tallet
- Ricky Romero
- Scott Richmond
Week 10 two-starter(s): Janssen and Tallet. They could be
sleepers for mixed leagues with solid outings Wednesday and Thursday vs.
the Angels, but we figure they will be best left for AL-only leagues.
Starters
on the DL: Jesse Litsch (forearm), Bobby Ray (shoulder), Dustin McGowan
(shoulder) and Shaun Marcum (elbow).
Litsch might be the closest, but he looks like it could take him until
July at this point. They are nothing more than DL stashees right now.
Starters
to watch in the minors: David Purcey,
Brad Mills, Brett Cecil and Marc Rzepczynski.
Cecil is likely to be the first one back, but we have ostensibly given
up trying to predict the Blue Jays' pitching moves.
Washington Nationals
Week 10 two-starter(s): Zimmermann. He has struggled, but he is
talented and intriguing enough to consider in mixed leagues if he can
pitch well Wednesday vs. the Giants.
Starters on the DL: Scott Olsen (shoulder) and Matt Chico
(elbow). Olsen is not ready for a rehab assignment and looks like no
better than a late June returnee at this point.
Starters to watch
in the minors: Josh Smoker and
Colton Willems. Stephen Strasburg's
college career is over and he waits for the June 9 First Year Player
Draft and the expected long negotiation process with Scott Boras.
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