We go around baseball's rotations every Sunday of the season in our weekly Pitching Planner. We highlight every matchup, recommended two-start options, sleepers and busts and much more. The means we consider them a recommended start. The means we suggest you consider a replacement option. The teams have if we deem their week's matchups favorable and if their week's matchups are deemed unfavorable.
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Dan Haren at STL Carpenter, vs LAD Billingsley
- Edwin Jackson vs LAD Kershaw
- Ian Kennedy vs LAD Kuroda
- Rodrigo Lopez might not start, due to moving Jackson back
- Dontrelle Willis at STL Wainwright
- TBD at STL Suppan
Two-starter(s): Haren. He remains a must-start in all leagues.
Despite his disappointing season, he is on pace for career highs in
innings and strikeouts.
Who is getting skipped: Jackson and
perhaps Lopez. Jackson needs some time off after throwing the most
pitches (149) in a no-hitter in baseball history. He could start Friday
or Saturday, but the D-Backs would need a No. 6 starter Wednesday at the
Cardinals. Avoid that slot, no matter who could be taking it.
One-week
sleeper: Jackson. Clearly the reports of his demise were greatly
exaggerated. He has a .211 ERA and .212 BAA against in his five June
starts.
One-week bust: Lopez, Willis and TBD. These guys are
too dangerous even in the deepest of NL-only leagues this week. Kennedy,
too, could be a candidate to be skipped if they decide to skip him a
start to save innings and keep Lopez on turn.
Atlanta Braves
- Tommy Hanson vs FLA Sanchez
- Tim Hudson vs WAS Strasburg, vs FLA Nolasco
- Derek Lowe vs WAS Stammen
- Jair Jurrjens vs WAS Martin
- Kenshin Kawakami or Kris Medlen vs FLA Johnson
Two-starter(s): Hudson. He wasn't great last time out, but he is
a must-start in all leagues amid his renaissance.
Who is getting
skipped: Medlen and/or Kawakami. The Braves are expected to slot
Jurrjens off the DL on Medlen's turn Wednesday. Medlen or Kawakami
figures to start the Florida series opener and the other will be ushered
to the bullpen. Kawakami finally won, but Medlen has outpitched him. The
Braves could also skip both after Thursday's offday and hand a second
weekend start to Lowe.
One-week sleeper: Jurrjens. His return
start against the Nationals makes him intriguing right away in deeper
leagues.
One-week bust: Hanson. He has gotten beat up in
back-to-back starts and has been a bust of a sophomore ace,
surprisingly. He should be fine, but you likely have more productive
options in mixed leagues right now.
Baltimore Orioles
- Jeremy Guthrie at BOS Buchholz
- Kevin Millwood vs OAK Sheets
- Brian Matusz vs OAK Braden, at BOS Lester
- Jake Arrieta vs OAK Cahill
- Brad Bergesen at BOS Wakefield
Two-starter(s): Matusz. He is a questionable option in mixed
leagues. He was great in June before his so-so last start. He has one
favorable outing and one unfavorable one, so trusting him this week
could be a crapshoot.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps
Bergesen. The Orioles haven't committed to him as their No. 5 starter,
so they could turn back to Chris Tillman
at any point going forward. You can't trust Bergesen at Fenway.
One-week
sleeper: Matusz. If you look past his last start, Matusz could be
considered an advisable option. He is worth owning, if not starting, for
his potential in the second half of the season.
One-week bust: All.
The whole Orioles starting rotation has been sketchy to use, even in
favorable matchups.
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Player | % Change | |
1. | R.A. Dickey, SP, N.Y. Mets | 27 |
2. | Madison Bumgarner, SP, Giants | 15 |
3. | Brandon Morrow, SP, Blue Jays | 14 |
4. | Joel Pineiro, SP, Angels | 12 |
5. | Trevor Cahill, SP, Athletics | 11 |
6. | Mark Buehrle, SP, White Sox | 10 |
7. | Manny Parra, SP, Brewers | 8 |
8. | Edinson Volquez, SP, Reds | 7 |
9. | Joe Blanton, SP, Phillies | 7 |
10. | Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Rays | 7 |
Boston Red Sox
- Jon Lester vs BAL Guthrie
- John Lackey vs TB Shields
- Daisuke Matsuzaka vs TB Garza
- Clay Buchholz vs BAL Guthrie
- Tim Wakefield vs BAL Bergesen
Two-starter(s): None. The Red Sox have five games with a pair of
days off.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Buchholz (knee). The
Red Sox have days off Monday and Thursday and could go with a four-man
rotation. Lackey would pick up a second weekend start against the
Orioles in that event, which makes Lackey a more advisable one-start
option this week. The Red Sox might have considered skipping a young arm
like Buchholz just to save innings on his arm for the second half anyway.
One-week
sleeper: Wakefield. Three of his past four starts have been quality
starts and he draws the lousy O's.
One-week bust: Buchholz. He
hyperextended his knee in his past start and the days off make it
possible he will be skipped or moved back. We cannot be sure of the Red
Sox's plans before your roster deadline. He is fine, but rest could be
coming.
Chicago Cubs
- Ted Lilly vs PIT Karstens
- Ryan Dempster vs CIN Arroyo
- Carlos Silva vs CIN TBD
- Tom Gorzelanny vs PIT Lincoln
- Randy Wells vs PIT Maholm, vs CIN Cueto
Two-starter(s): Wells. He is a high-risk option in all formats
amid his sophomore swoon. Frankly, he belongs in the bullpen.
Who
is getting skipped: Carlos Zambrano.
He has been banished to the bullpen once he returns from his
team-imposed suspension. He is pretty worthless again until he is traded.
One-week
sleeper: Silva. He has pitched quality starts in seven of his past
eight starts and we have given up trying to explain how he has sustained
this breakthrough season.
One-week bust: Zambrano, Gorzelanny
and Wells. You cannot use Big Z amid his suspension and demotion;
Gorzelanny isn't stretched out enough to be useful as a starter even in
that favorable matchup; and Wells has been just too bad to trust in a
two-start week.
Chicago White Sox
- John Danks at TEX Nippert
- Mark Buehrle at KC Lerew, at TEX Feldman
- Gavin Floyd at KC Bannister
- Jake Peavy at KC Greinke
- Freddy An. Garcia at TEX Hunter
Two-starter(s): Buehrle. He is an advisable option, despite the
second tough matchup, because he is hot, winning his past three starts.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Floyd. He
hasn't been winning like the other White Sox starters, but he might be
pitching the best of all of them right now. That is also a very
favorable matchup.
One-week bust: Garcia. He is 8-1 since
April, but he has an ERA over 4.00 and faces a potent Rangers lineup.
This isn't a week to use Garcia.
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Must-starts | Own% | Start% |
Ubaldo Jimenez COL | 97 | 90 |
Adam Wainwright STL | 97 | 89 |
Chris Carpenter STL | 97 | 89 |
Cliff Lee SEA | 97 | 87 |
Stephen Strasburg WAS | 95 | 86 |
Matt Cain SF | 97 | 86 |
Yovani Gallardo MIL | 97 | 86 |
Francisco Liriano MIN | 96 | 84 |
Phil Hughes NYY | 96 | 80 |
Dan Haren ARI | 97 | 80 |
Tim Hudson ATL | 94 | 78 |
Advisables | Own% | Start% |
Ricky Romero TOR | 94 | 76 |
Barry Zito SF | 91 | 71 |
James Shields TB | 96 | 69 |
Johnny Cueto CIN | 90 | 67 |
Mike Leake CIN | 86 | 62 |
Ted Lilly CHC | 86 | 60 |
Mark Buehrle CHW | 74 | 52 |
Brandon Morrow TOR | 71 | 49 |
Joel Pineiro ANA | 66 | 45 |
Brett Myers HOU | 65 | 44 |
R.A. Dickey NYM | 51 | 39 |
Dallas Braden OAK | 67 | 35 |
Jason Hammel COL | 46 | 31 |
Chad Billingsley LA | 94 | 24 |
Bud Norris HOU | 12 | 2 |
Questionables | Own% | Start% |
Ricky Nolasco FLA | 90 | 65 |
Fausto Carmona CLE | 71 | 44 |
Jeremy Bonderman DET | 43 | 28 |
Hisanori Takahashi NYM | 40 | 25 |
Joe Blanton PHI | 44 | 23 |
Wade LeBlanc SD | 34 | 22 |
Brian Matusz BAL | 51 | 22 |
Scott Feldman TEX | 36 | 17 |
Kyle Kendrick PHI | 14 | 9 |
Manny Parra MIL | 14 | 9 |
Jake Westbrook CLE | 13 | 7 |
High-risks | Own% | Start% |
Randy Wells CHC | 40 | 19 |
Kevin Correia SD | 29 | 13 |
Nick Blackburn MIN | 25 | 9 |
Paul Maholm PIT | 11 | 5 |
Anthony Lerew KC | 1 | 1 |
Jeff Karstens PIT | 2 | 1 |
Craig Stammen WAS | 1 | 0 |
Cincinnati Reds
- Bronson Arroyo at CHC Dempster
- Johnny Cueto vs PHI Kendrick, at CHC Wells
- Mike Leake vs PHI Blanton, at CHC Lilly
- Aaron Harang vs PHI Halladay
- TBD (perhaps Travis Wood) at CHC Silva
Two-starter(s): Cueto and Leake. They are advisable options the
way they have pitched over the long haul, despite being right-handers
against the red-hot and lefty-leaning Phillies.
Who is getting
skipped: Sam LeCure. He has been
sent to the minors and can only come back to start Wednesday if a Reds
player is placed on the DL. Travis Wood
has a 1.25 ERA in June and can start on regular rest, as can Matt Maloney, whose Triple-A ERA is over 5.00 in June. We figure the
Reds will give the nod to Wood as a one-start stopgap before Edinson Volquez (elbow) makes his pre-break return from Tommy John
surgery. Homer Bailey (shoulder) will
resume throwing Monday and won't be ready to return until after the
All-Star break. Somehow the Reds have just too many good starting
pitcher options. So much so, they have decided Aroldis Chapman is moving to the bullpen to come up in relief in the
second half. Chapman's 2010 Fantasy prospects are now real low.
One-week
sleeper: Wood. The lefty is a good prospect and has a winnable
matchup. Consider him a nice pickup in NL-only leagues this week.
One-week
bust: Harang. He hasn't been awful but a start against the Phillies
and ace Halladay clearly makes him someone to avoid.
Cleveland Indians
- Jake Westbrook vs TOR Romero, vs OAK Gonzalez
- Fausto Carmona vs TOR Morrow, vs OAK Braden
- Mitch Talbot vs OAK Mazzaro
- Justin Masterson vs TOR Marcum
- Aaron Laffey vs TOR Litsch
Two-starter(s): Westbrook and Carmona. They are questionable
options not because of their matchups but because they just aren't
pitching well right now.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Talbot. He remains a bit of a risk, but he is pitching the
best of the Indians' starters and has the most favorable matchup.
One-week
bust: Carmona. He has been beaten up in his past two starts and
isn't worth trusting in mixed leagues for the first time this season.
Colorado Rockies
- Ubaldo Jimenez at SD Correia, vs SF Zito
- Jason Hammel at SD LeBlanc, vs SF Cain
- Jeff Francis at SD Richard
- Aaron Cook vs SF Bumgarner
- Jhoulys Chacin vs SF Lincecum
Two-starter(s): Jimenez and Hammel. Jimenez is an obvious
must-start, while Hammel could be an advisable option. Even with a bad
start in his past outing, Hammel is still 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in June.
Those teams are not scary offensively either.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hammel. With those
matchups, he should be starting in far more than a mere 30 percent of
CBSSports.com leagues.
One-week bust: Cook. With Jorge De La Rosa (finger) nearing a return, Cook is pitching for a
rotation spot. Cook has pitched the worst of the Rockies' starters this
season.
Detroit Tigers
- Justin Verlander vs SEA Vargas
- Jeremy Bonderman at MIN Liriano, vs SEA Lee
- Max Scherzer vs SEA Fister
- Armando Galarraga at MIN Blackburn
- Andrew Oliver at MIN Slowey
Two-starter(s): Bonderman. He is a questionable option but one
that has pitched consistently enough to use in deeper leagues.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Galarraga. He
has snapped his winless stretch after his perfect game and is useful in
deeper formats again.
One-week bust: Oliver. He did a decent
job in his debut, but he draws a first-place team with a solid 15-game
winner on the mound.
Florida Marlins
- Josh Johnson at ATL Medlen
- Anibal Sanchez at ATL Hanson
- Ricky Nolasco vs NYM Dickey, at ATL Hudson
- Nate Robertson vs NYM Takahashi
- Chris Volstad vs NYM Pelfrey
Two-starter(s): Nolasco. He is a questionable option but one that
is owned and active in so many leagues he is probably worth throwing out
there. A word of warning, though: It is a bandbox in Puerto Rico's Hiram
Bithorn Stadium. That is a big difference from a start at his true home.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. We
cannot figure how in the world Sanchez is owned (75 percent) and active
(51) in far less leagues than Nolasco (90-64). Blind faith in Nolasco,
we suppose. Sanchez is the better option in Fantasy now, even with one
start.
One-week bust: Robertson and Volstad. The Mets are hot
and that is a hitter-friendly park in Puerto Rico, so not a good time to
use the back-end Marlins starters.
Houston Astros
- Roy Oswalt at SD Latos
- Bud Norris at MIL Parra, at SD Correia
- Brett Myers at MIL Gallardo, at SD LeBlanc
- Wandy Rodriguez at MIL Bush
- Brian Moehler or Josh Banks at SD Garland
Two-starter(s): Norris and Myers. They are advisable options in
most leagues. Norris is a bit more questionable, but he is talented and
is coming off six shutout innings in his last Triple-A rehab start.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Norris. If you
like the find of a Mat Latos, you can
get some value out of Norris, a strikeout pitcher. He has 54 strikeouts
in 43 2/3 innings and could be ready to take off for Fantasy owners.
One-week
bust: Rodriguez. He has been awful and not trustworthy as a
one-starter against the Brewers.
Kansas City Royals
- Zack Greinke vs CHW Peavy
- Brian Bannister vs CHW Floyd
- Kyle Davies at LAA Saunders
- Bruce Chen at LAA Santana
- Anthony Lerew vs CHW Buehrle, at LAA Pineiro
Two-starter(s): Lerew. He is a high-risk option even in the
deepest of AL-only leagues. You cannot trust him against those teams
even in those formats.
Who is getting skipped: None. Lerew or
Chen could be moved off their weekend start if the Royals decide to
remove one of them from the rotation for a turn after Thursday's offday,
though.
One-week sleeper: None. Greinke is the only Royals
starter worth considering in any format this week.
One-week bust: Bannister.
He was decent in his past start and has had his moments, but we wouldn't
trust him against the red-hot White Sox.
Los Angeles Angels
- Jered Weaver vs TEX Wilson
- Joe Saunders vs KC Davies
- Ervin Santana vs KC Chen
- Joel Pineiro vs TEX Feldman, vs KC Lerew
- Scott Kazmir vs TEX Lewis
Two-starter(s): Pineiro. He is an advisable option in most
leagues, despite that Rangers matchup, having won four consecutive
starts.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper:
Pineiro. That favorable second matchup and his hot streak should allow
you to absorb a mediocre first outing. He also has two home starts,
where he is far better (4-2, 2.25 ERA, .217 BAA). Pineiro won't have to
start on the road, where he is terrible (6.80 ERA, .315 BAA).
One-week
bust: Kazmir. He had a four-start win streak snapped with a bad past
outing and draws the Rangers in a one-start week. Unlike Pineiro, Kazmir
is worse at home (6.00, .300) vs. on the road (5-3, 4.73, .247).
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Hiroki Kuroda at ARI Kennedy
- Clayton Kershaw at ARI Jackson
- Chad Billingsley at SF Zito, at ARI Haren
- John Ely at SF Cain
- Vicente Padilla at SF Sanchez
Two-starter(s): Billingsley. He is an advisable option in most
leagues coming off of the DL, due to those matchups.
Who is
getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Padilla and Ely.
They pitched well last time out and get the rival Giants in a pitcher's
park. That offense isn't scary.
One-week bust: None. All five
of the Dodgers' starting five are viable in any formats right now. This
figures to be their rotation for the long haul now that everyone is
healthy.
Milwaukee Brewers
- Yovani Gallardo vs HOU Myers, at STL Wainwright
- Dave Bush vs HOU Rodriguez
- Randy Wolf at STL Hawksworth
- Chris Narveson at STL Garcia
- Manny Parra vs HOU Norris, at STL Carpenter
Two-starter(s): Gallardo and Parra. Gallardo is a must-start,
while Parra is a questionable option best left for NL-only leagues.
Who
is getting skipped: Doug Davis
(heart). He was going to come off the DL, but the Brewers decided he
will get one more rehab start.
One-week sleeper: Bush. He is
2-0 with a 3.51 ERA in June and draws a bottom-feeder opponent with a
struggling pitcher on the mound.
One-week bust: Narveson. He
is coming off a great start and is pitching for his rotation spot with
Davis on the come in July, but we wouldn't trust Narveson against the
Cardinals with one of their aces on the mound.
Minnesota Twins
- Francisco Liriano vs DET Bonderman, vs TB Davis
- Kevin Slowey vs DET Oliver
- Carl Pavano vs TB Niemann
- Scott Baker vs TB Price
- Nick Blackburn vs DET Galarraga, vs TB Shields
Two-starter(s): Liriano and Blackburn. Liriano is an obvious
must-start ace, while Blackburn is a high-risk option even in AL-only
leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper:
Pavano. He is 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA and .186 BAA in June. Clearly, he is a
solid mixed-league Fantasy option again.
One-week bust: Blackburn.
He is drawing two home starts, where he is 4-0 with a 3.19 ERA and .272
BAA (2-5, 9.40 ERA, .401 BAA on the road), but he is 0-4 with a 12.05
ERA and .422 BAA in June. That makes him too risky, even if you love the
home splits.
New York Mets
- Mike Pelfrey at FLA Volstad
- Johan Santana at WAS Hernandez
- Jonathon Niese at WAS Atilano
- R.A. Dickey at FLA Nolasco, at WAS Strasburg
- Hisanori Takahashi at FLA Robertson, at WAS Stammen
Two-starter(s): Dickey and Takahashi. Somehow the
unlar-collateral-ligament-less Dickey has made himself an advisable
option in any league. Takahashi is more of a questionable option because
of his up-and-down results in June (4.84 ERA).
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Niese. Dickey could be an
obvious choice the way he is pitching, but Niese (owned in just 55
percent of CBSSports.com's leagues) is the better long-term option. He
was great again Sunday -- 4-0 since coming off the DL -- and draws the
Mets' most-favorable matchup of the week.
One-week bust: Takahashi.
The two starts are tempting, but both are on the road (one in a
hitter-friendly park). He is more of an NL-only option this week.
New York Yankees
- CC Sabathia vs SEA Rowland-Smith
- A.J. Burnett vs TOR Cecil
- Andy Pettitte vs TOR Romero
- Phil Hughes vs SEA Lee, vs TOR Morrow
- Javier Vazquez vs SEA Hernandez
Two-starter(s): Hughes. He is a must-start in all leagues coming
off his one-week break.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Vazquez. His past start wasn't great, but he is 3-1 with a
3.00 ERA and .174 BAA in June. He is back to being advisable in all
leagues, regardless of the matchup(s).
One-week bust: Burnett.
His awful June (0-5, 11.35 ERA, .357 BAA) makes him a must-sit in all
leagues right now.
Oakland Athletics
- Dallas Braden at BAL Matusz, at CLE Carmona
- Ben Sheets at BAL Millwood
- Trevor Cahill at BAL Arrieta
- Gio Gonzalez at CLE Westbrook
- Vin Mazzaro at CLE Talbot
Two-starter(s): Braden. The matchups make him an advisable option
again. He has been better of late.
Who is getting skipped: Mazzaro.
He will still get a start in a favorable matchup over the weekend at
Cleveland.
One-week sleeper: Cahill. He has become a
must-start in all leagues, but Fantasy owners are catching on slowly. He
is still starting in just 41 percent of leagues, owned in a mere 64
percent. What is the holdup folks? Cahill (7-2, 2.88) is a big-time ace
and he is facing the worst team in baseball this week.
One-week
bust: Mazzaro. We would still use him in AL-only formats in that
matchup, but he is the least intriguing of the A's starting five in what
should be a bountiful week.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Roy Halladay at CIN Harang
- Cole Hamels at PIT McCutchen/Morton
- Jamie Moyer at PIT Ohlendorf
- Kyle Kendrick at CIN Cueto, at PIT Maholm
- Joe Blanton at CIN Leake, at PIT Karstens
Two-starter(s): Kendrick and Blanton. They are questionable
options, but their second starts are favorable enough to consider them
in any league where you want to take a chance on a two-start pitcher.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Blanton. He
has back-to-back quality starts and can be a big winner behind that
resurgent offense. The only concern could be the Phillies considering J.A. Happ (elbow) over Blanton next Sunday. Blanton will remain in
the rotation regardless of how he does Tuesday, but the Phillies could
keep the rehabilitating Happ on schedule.
One-week bust: Kendrick.
If you have a choice, go with Blanton over Kendrick, who is pitching
more like an NL-only starter. Kendick will be pitching for his rotation
spot in these two starts since Happ can return as soon as next Sunday.
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Ross Ohlendorf vs PHI Moyer
- Paul Maholm at CHC Wells, vs PHI Kendrick
- Jeff Karstens at CHC Lilly, vs PHI Blanton
- Brad Lincoln at CHC Gorzelanny
- Daniel McCutchen or Charlie Morton (shoulder) vs PHI Hamels
Two-starter(s): Maholm and Karstens. They are high-risk options
even in the deepest of NL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: McCutchen
or Morton. The Pirates have a decision to make with that turn July 1.
One-week
sleeper: None. There is nothing to use here at this point.
One-week
bust: All. The Pirates starters should be avoided if at all possible.
San Diego Padres
- Jon Garland vs HOU Moehler
- Mat Latos vs HOU Oswalt
- Kevin Correia vs COL Jimenez, vs HOU Norris
- Wade LeBlanc vs COL Hammel, vs HOU Myers
- Clayton Richard vs COL Francis
Two-starter(s): Correia and LeBlanc. Correia is high-risk, while
LeBlanc is a nice sleeper in deeper formats.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: LeBlanc. He draws a pair
of starts at home, where he has a 2.25 ERA. The only issue is he is very
hittable, allowing a .305 BAA in June despite a 2.25 ERA this month. He
has to be one of the most fortunate pitchers in Fantasy.
One-week
bust: Correia. He isn't pitching well enough to trust in that
two-start week, especially with that first matchup against the ace of
baseball.
San Francisco Giants
- Tim Lincecum at COL Chacin
- Matt Cain vs LAD Ely, at COL Hammel
- Barry Zito vs LAD Billingsley, at COL Jimenez
- Jonathan O. Sanchez vs LAD Padilla
- Madison Bumgarner at COL Cook
Two-starter(s): Cain and Zito. Cain is a must-start in all
leagues, while Zito is not. He hasn't been great since April, but he
really hasn't been terrible either.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Bumgarner. He wasn't necessarily good enough in his season
debut to get you to trust him at Coors Field, but he is worth a flier in
any format because of his potential. We say pick him up and stash him
for a week.
One-week bust: Zito. He has been mediocre with an
ERA over 4.50 since April. He is no longer a must-start option in mixed
leagues.
Seattle Mariners
- Cliff Lee at NYY Hughes, at DET Bonderman
- Felix Hernandez at NYY Vazquez
- Jason M. Vargas at DET Verlander
- Doug Fister at DET Scherzer
- Ryan Rowland-Smith at NYY Sabathia
Two-starter(s): Lee. He is a must-start in all leagues.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Vargas. He
wasn't stellar in his last start, but his full-season numbers make him
viable in most formats still.
One-week bust: Fister and
Rowland-Smith. Fister isn't yet full speed since coming off the DL and
Rowland-Smith is facing the Yankees in what could be his last start
before Erik Bedard (shoulder) makes a
potential July 6 return to the majors.
St. Louis Cardinals
- Chris Carpenter vs ARI Haren, vs MIL Parra
- Adam Wainwright vs ARI Willis, MIL Gallardo
- Jaime Garcia vs MIL Narveson
- Jeff Suppan vs ARI TBD
- Blake Hawksworth vs MIL Wolf
Two-starter(s): Carpenter and Wainwright. They are must-starts in
all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Hawksworth. He pitched better in his past start and could
become the Cardinals' No. 4 starter once he stretches out.
One-week
bust: Suppan. He is a reclamation project and not trustworthy
outside of deeper NL-only leagues right now.
Tampa Bay Rays
- David Price at MIN Baker
- James Shields at BOS Lackey, at MIN Blackburn
- Matt Garza at BOS Matsuzaka
- Jeff Niemann at MIN Pavano
- Wade Davis at MIN Liriano
Two-starter(s): Shields. He is an advisable option in most
formats, having kicked his first-half slump.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Niemann. Save for Price,
Niemann has been the Rays' best pitcher.
One-week bust: Davis.
He is pitching better after a slump -- and we like him going forward --
but sitting him against Liriano is likely a good idea.
Texas Rangers
- Colby Lewis at LAA Kazmir
- C.J. Wilson at LAA Weaver
- Tommy Hunter vs CHW Garcia
- Scott Feldman at LAA Pineiro, vs CHW Buehrle
- Dustin Nippert or Matt Harrison vs CHW Danks
Two-starter(s): Feldman. He is a questionable option who should
probably be limited to starting in AL-only Fantasy formats.
Who is
getting skipped: Nippert or Harrison. The Rangers are skipping the
No. 5 spot until July 3 and will spot start one of these two. They
should be avoided in all leagues, though.
One-week sleeper:
Wilson. He has snapped a slump by going 3-0, with a 3.09 ERA and .205
BAA in June, making him a regular starter in all leagues again.
One-week
bust: Feldman. We cannot advise him against those teams amid his
disappointing season coming off a 17-victory campaign.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Shaun Marcum at CLE Masterson
- Brett Cecil at NYY Burnett
- Ricky Romero at CLE Westbrook, at NYY Pettitte
- Brandon Morrow at CLE Carmona, at NYY Hughes
- Jesse Litsch at CLE Laffey
Two-starter(s): Romero and Morrow. They are advisable options in
deeper leagues, especially with their first matchup.
Who is
getting skipped: None. Litsch is a candidate to be sent back to the
minor leagues, though, as he has struggled mightily to come back from
Tommy John surgery.
One-week sleeper: Marcum. He is back to
viable in mixed leagues with three consecutive good starts after his
worst start of the season.
One-week bust: Cecil and Litsch.
They are coming off bad outings and not worth using in mixed formats.
Washington Nationals
- Stephen Strasburg at ATL Hudson, vs NYM Dickey
- TBD (likely Craig Stammen) at ATL Lowe, vs NYM Takahashi
- Livan Hernandez vs NYM Santana
- Luis Atilano vs NYM Niese
- J.D. Martin at ATL Jurrjens
Two-starter(s): Strasburg and likely Stammen. Fantasy Week 13
(June 28-July 4) is Strasimas, X-mas in late June. He is a must-start.
Stammen is likely to get the call for the other two-start week, but he
is high-risk even in the deepest of NL-only leagues even if he is
officially announced as the recall.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: None. Hernandez, Atilano and Martin are not pitching well
enough to trust as one-starters.
One-week bust: Stammen. Don't
be lured in by his numbers in Triple-A (2-0, 2.25 ERA and .237 BAA). He
is a risky option.
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