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 vs FLA Nolasco
- Edwin Jackson vs CHC Dempster
- Ian Kennedy vs CHC Gorzelanny, vs FLA Robertson
- Barry Enright vs CHC Silva, vs FLA Volstad
- Rodrigo Lopez vs FLA Sanchez
Two-starter(s): Kennedy and Enright. They are advisable options
in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Enright. He is a pretty good prospect coming off a solid
debut and can be a nice find in all NL-only formats and long-term keeper
leagues.
One-week bust: Lopez. He had a two-start win streak
snapped as he couldn't get through four last time out.
Atlanta Braves
- Tommy Hanson at NYM Dickey
- Tim Hudson at NYM Takahashi
- Derek Lowe at PHI Halladay, at NYM Pelfrey
- Jair Jurrjens at PHI Hamels
- Kris Medlen at PHI Moyer
Two-starter(s): Lowe. He is an advisable option in deeper
leagues, albeit with a pair of tough road matchups.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Medlen. He is full-time
in the rotation now and has a stellar 2.33 ERA in his past three starts.
He draws the Chase Utley-less Phillies with Moyer on the mound, too.
One-week
bust: None. All of the Braves starters are viable in any formats
right now.
Baltimore Orioles
- Jeremy Guthrie at TEX Hunter
- Brian Matusz at TEX Feldman
- Kevin Millwood at DET Oliver, at TEX Beltre
- Jake Arrieta at DET Galarraga, at TEX Wilson
- Brad Bergesen at DET Scherzer
Two-starter(s): Millwood and Arrieta. They are questionable to
risky options even in the deepest of AL-only leagues with those matchups.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Matusz or
Arrieta. If you're going to gamble on an Orioles starter -- you
shouldn't -- these are the least objectionable ones right now.
One-week
bust: Take your pick. The Orioles aren't getting anything out of
their rotation and all of their starters are risky options.
Boston Red Sox
- Jon Lester at TOR Romero
- John Lackey at TOR Morrow
- Daisuke Matsuzaka at TB Garza, at TOR Litsch
- Tim Wakefield at TB Price
- TBD (likely Felix Doubront) at TB Niemann
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Player | % Change | |
1. | Trevor Cahill, SP, Athletics | 13 |
2. | Tom Gorzelanny, SP, Cubs | 12 |
3. | Clayton Richard, SP, Padres | 11 |
4. | John Ely, SP, Dodgers | 11 |
5. | Gavin Floyd, SP, White Sox | 9 |
6. | Erik Bedard, SP, Mariners | 9 |
7. | Vicente Padilla, SP, Dodgers | 9 |
8. | Wandy Rodriguez, SP, Astros | 7 |
9. | Travis Wood, SP, Reds | 7 |
10. | Carl Pavano, SP, Twins | 6 |
Two-starter(s): Dice-K. He is an advisable option in deeper
leagues, despite that tough first matchup.
Who is getting skipped: Clay Buchholz (hamstring). He headed for the DL and Doubront is the
likely fill-in. Although Michael Bowden
has scorched in Triple-A since a bad April, he won't have the required
rest.
One-week sleeper: Dice-K. The two-start pitcher has a
2.37 ERA in his past three starts.
One-week bust: Buchholz. He
is getting another week off and won't be needed in the brief week after
the break either. It is a good time to give the young starter's shoulder
some rest.
Chicago Cubs
- Carlos Silva at ARI Enright, at LAD Padilla
- Ryan Dempster at ARI Jackson
- Randy Wells at LAD Kershaw
- Ted Lilly at LAD Billingsley
- Tom Gorzelanny at ARI Kennedy, at LAD Ely
Two-starter(s): Silva and Gorzelanny. They are advisable options
in most formats.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Gorzelanny. He is stretched out enough now to expect some
quality starts, especially in that first matchup.
One-week bust: None.
All five of the Cubs starters are useful in most leagues.
Chicago White Sox
- Mark Buehrle vs KC Chen
- Gavin Floyd vs LAA Kazmir, vs KC Lerew
- Jake Peavy vs LAA Weaver, vs KC Bannister
- Freddy An. Garcia vs LAA Saunders
- John Danks vs LAA Santana
Two-starter(s): Floyd and Peavy. They are advisable options now
after kicking their early season slumps.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Garcia. He hasn't lost since May 23, so he can be worth
trusting in deeper leagues against the Angels.
One-week bust: None.
All five starters are viable options in mixed leagues right now.
Cincinnati Reds
- Bronson Arroyo at NYM Niese
- Johnny Cueto at PHI Kendrick
- Mike Leake at PHI Blanton
- Aaron Harang at NYM Pelfrey, at PHI Halladay
- Travis Wood at NYM Santana, at PHI Hamels
Two-starter(s): Harang and Wood. They are questionable options
better left to NL-only leagues with those road matchups.
Who is
getting skipped: Edinson Volquez
(elbow). He could return the last day before the All-Star break and take
Woods' second start, but we figure it is more likely the Reds hold him
out through the break.
One-week sleeper: Harang. He has tossed
three consecutive quality starts and at least gets a start at the
pitcher's park at Citi Field.
One-week bust: Leake. He hasn't
been good of late and draws a single matchup against the still-dangerous
Phillies.
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Must-starts | TM | Own% | Start% |
Roy Halladay | PHI | 98 | 91 |
CC Sabathia | NYY | 98 | 89 |
Felix Hernandez | SEA | 97 | 87 |
Jered Weaver | ANA | 97 | 87 |
Cole Hamels | PHI | 97 | 82 |
Jonathan O. Sanchez | SF | 91 | 68 |
C.J. Wilson | TEX | 81 | 60 |
Advisables | TM | Own% | Start% |
Jake Peavy | CHW | 96 | 80 |
Matt Garza | TB | 97 | 78 |
Javier Vazquez | NYY | 93 | 76 |
Mike Pelfrey | NYM | 93 | 76 |
Jeff Niemann | TB | 94 | 75 |
Gavin Floyd | CHW | 84 | 66 |
Carlos Silva | CHC | 84 | 63 |
Clayton Richard | SD | 78 | 58 |
Derek Lowe | ATL | 80 | 55 |
Carl Pavano | MIN | 82 | 52 |
Daisuke Matsuzaka | BOS | 83 | 44 |
Trevor Cahill | OAK | 78 | 42 |
Ian Kennedy | ARI | 65 | 39 |
Randy Wolf | MIL | 59 | 36 |
Wandy Rodriguez | HOU | 61 | 34 |
John Ely | LA | 47 | 33 |
Madison Bumgarner | SF | 56 | 26 |
Tom Gorzelanny | CHC | 25 | 17 |
Vicente Padilla | LA | 22 | 13 |
Erik Bedard | SEA | 67 | 10 |
Barry Enright | ARI | 5 | 2 |
Questionables | TM | Own% | Start% |
Scott Kazmir | ANA | 80 | 50 |
Ben Sheets | OAK | 65 | 37 |
Livan Hernandez | WAS | 58 | 32 |
Aaron Harang | CIN | 49 | 26 |
Justin Masterson | CLE | 33 | 16 |
Chris Volstad | FLA | 22 | 11 |
Brad Lincoln | PIT | 9 | 4 |
Travis Wood | CIN | 9 | 3 |
Andrew Oliver | DET | 7 | 3 |
High-risks | TM | Own% | Start% |
Jeff Francis | COL | 35 | 17 |
Kevin Millwood | BAL | 23 | 9 |
Jake Arrieta | BAL | 21 | 6 |
Brian Bannister | KC | 11 | 5 |
Nate Robertson | FLA | 10 | 5 |
Jeff Suppan | STL | 4 | 2 |
Omar Beltre | TEX | 4 | 2 |
Jesse Litsch | TOR | 4 | 1 |
Aaron Laffey | CLE | 2 | 1 |
Cleveland Indians
- Fausto Carmona at TB Shields
- Jake Westbrook at TB Davis
- Mitch Talbot at TEX Lewis
- Justin Masterson at TEX Wilson, at TB Niemann
- Aaron Laffey at TEX Beltre, at TB Garza
Two-starter(s): Masterson and Laffey. They are coming off good
starts, but they are questionable to risky options with those matchups.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Westbrook. He
has strung some solid starts together and draws the most favorable
matchup among the Indians starters this week. He is more of an AL-only
option, though.
One-week bust: Talbot. We couldn't explain his
first half, but we definitely wouldn't tempt fate against the potent
Rangers.
Colorado Rockies
- Ubaldo Jimenez vs STL Carpenter
- Aaron Cook vs STL Garcia
- Jeff Francis vs STL Suppan, vs SD Richard
- Jason Hammel vs SD LeBlanc
- Jhoulys Chacin or Jorge De La Rosa vs SD Correia
Two-starter(s): Francis. He is a high-risk option coming off that
bad start and facing the Cardinals in his first start.
Who is
getting skipped: Perhaps Chacin. De La Rosa was hammered in what was
supposed to be his final rehab start, but that bad result could keep him
out through the All-Star break. Chacin will be sent to the minors if the
Rockies decide they want to go to De La Rosa.
One-week sleeper:
Hammel. He hasn't lost since May 21, going 4-0, 1.83 in June. The Padres
don't have a scary offense either.
One-week bust: Chacin. He
has been very, very good, but the Rockies haven't officially announced
the status of De La Rosa. That makes Chacin a tough one to trust.
Detroit Tigers
- Justin Verlander vs MIN Liriano
- Jeremy Bonderman vs MIN Blackburn
- Max Scherzer vs BAL Bergesen
- Armando Galarraga vs BAL Arrieta
- Andrew Oliver vs BAL Millwood, vs MIN Pavano
Two-starter(s): Oliver. The surprising rookie is a questionable
option as an unknown and because he could be skipped off his second
start, but we suggest using him in deeper leagues because of that
favorable first matchup.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps
Oliver. Galarraga starts Tuesday and could go the final Sunday before
the break, but Oliver is pitching better right now.
One-week
sleeper: Oliver. He might be 0-2 and a threat to lose that second
start, sure, but he has tossed two quality starts and looks plenty
capable of sticking around and winning for the contending Tigers.
One-week
bust: Bonderman. He hasn't been pitching as poorly as Galarraga, but
he draws a top contender and shouldn't be used in mixed leagues.
Florida Marlins
- Josh Johnson at LAD Kuroda
- Anibal Sanchez at ARI Lopez
- Ricky Nolasco at ARI Haren
- Nate Robertson at LAD Ely, at ARI Kennedy
- Chris Volstad at LAD Padilla, at ARI Enright
Two-starter(s): Robertson and Volstad. They are questionable to
risky options best left for NL-only leagues.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. He is still
active in a mere 35 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues. He is much more
useful in mixed leagues than his ownership and starting percentages
suggest.
One-week bust: Robertston. His 6.57 ERA in June
suggests he might not keep his rotation spot in the second half. He
should be avoided outside of NL-only leagues.
Houston Astros
- Roy Oswalt vs PIT Ohlendorf
- Brett Myers vs. STL Hawksworth
- Wandy Rodriguez vs PIT Lincoln, vs STL Suppan
- Bud Norris vs STL Wainwright
- Brian Moehler vs PIT McCutchen
Two-starter(s): Rodriguez. He has won back-to-back starts and
draws the Pirates and a back-end Cardinals starter. Consider him
advisable in mixed leagues again.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Rodriguez. It is time to buy back into him. This is a
potential top 25 starter in the second half that is available in 40
percent of CBSSports.com's leagues right now.
One-week bust: Norris.
We love the potential; you have to love his past start; and he loves
beating the Cardinals, against whom he is 4-0 with a 0.35 ERA in four
starts in his career. That is 0.35, not 3.50. Still, we see him a bit
risky against the Cardinals and Wainwright in mixed formats.
Kansas City Royals
- Zack Greinke at SEA Bedard
- Brian Bannister at SEA Hernandez, at CHW Peavy
- Kyle Davies at SEA Fister
- Bruce Chen at CHW Buehrle
- Anthony Lerew at CHW Floyd
Two-starter(s): Bannister. He is a questionable to risky option
that is best left for AL-only leagues against those two aces.
Who
is getting skipped: Perhaps Lerew. The Royals could go with a
four-man rotation in the final week, which would hand a second start to
Greinke, who is a must-start ace regardless.
One-week sleeper:
Davies. He draws the Mariners and is 3-1 against them in his career. He
is good enough to use in deeper leagues.
One-week bust: Chen.
He has been great and cannot explain it. We still have a hard time
trusting him outside of the deepest of AL-only formats.
Los Angeles Angels
- Jered Weaver at CHW Peavy, at OAK Cahill
- Joe Saunders at CHW Garcia
- Ervin Santana at CHW Danks
- Joel Pineiro at OAK Mazzaro
- Scott Kazmir at CHW Floyd, at OAK Sheets
Two-starter(s): Kazmir and Weaver. Kazmir is a questionable
option and best avoided in mixed leagues amid his slump. Weaver is a
must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Pineiro. He has been scorching of late and draws a
favorable matchup than makes him a useful one-start pitcher in mixed
formats.
One-week bust: Kazmir. He continues to be too erratic
to trust in mixed leagues right now, even with two starts.
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Hiroki Kuroda vs FLA Johnson
- Clayton Kershaw vs CHC Wells
- Chad Billinsley vs CHC Lilly
- John Ely vs FLA Robertson, vs CHC Gorzelanny
- Vicente Padilla vs FLA Volstad, vs CHC Silva
Two-starter(s): Ely and Padilla. They are advisable options in
mixed leagues with the way they are pitching of late. Those matchups are
relatively neutral.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Padilla. He has been great since coming off the DL and has
handled tough opponents well, too.
One-week bust: Kuroda. His
past two starts have been stinkers, which makes him someone to avoid in
mixed leagues.
Milwaukee Brewers
- Yovani Gallardo vs PIT Maholm
- Dave Bush vs SF Sanchez (might also go vs PIT Lincoln)
- Randy Wolf vs SF Bumgarner (might also go vs PIT Lincoln)
- Manny Parra vs SF Lincecum
- Chris Narveson vs SF Zito
- Doug Davis vs PIT Maholm
Two-starter(s): Bush or Wolf. Wolf would be our pick to get the
second start Sunday, but no decision has been made. That makes these two
guys a bit less intriguing in mixed leagues. Consider Wolf a decent
one-start option, especially since he could get the second start. Davis
starts Monday and would have more rest, but he could also be used out of
the bullpen more easily in the weekend series, having done it before.
Who
is getting skipped: None. The Brewers are going with a six-man
rotation with Davis' return slated for Friday against the Pirates.
One-week
sleeper: Wolf. He has the potential to put together a stretch that
will make him a must-have in mixed leagues again.
One-week bust: Parra.
He and Narveson are pitching for their rotation spots against the
Giants. We cannot advise either of them in most mixed leagues right now.
Minnesota Twins
- Francisco Liriano at DET Verlander
- Carl Pavano at TOR Litsch, at DET Oliver
- Kevin Slowey at TOR Rzepczynski
- Scott Baker at TOR Cecil
- Nick Blackburn at DET Bonderman
Two-starter(s): Pavano. He is an advisable option in mixed
leagues, even after his winning streak was snapped last time out.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Slowey. He is
making his start despite his ankle issue. That is a good matchup for
him, too.
One-week bust: Blackburn. He has been real, real
rough and cannot be trusted against the contending Tigers.
New York Mets
- Mike Pelfrey vs CIN Harang, vs ATL Lowe
- Johan Santana vs CIN Wood
- Jonathon Niese vs CIN Arroyo
- R.A. Dickey vs ATL Hanson
- Hisanori Takahashi vs ATL Hudson
Two-starter(s): Pelfrey. He is an advisable option even though
his season has taken a turn for the worse. Those starts come at home,
where the Mets are decidedly better.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps
Takahashi. The Mets can skip their No. 5 starter after Thursday's offday
and slot Santana on the final day before the break against the
first-place Braves. The Mets typically try to give Santana extra rest,
but the matchup for first place could alter their plans. Santana is a
must-start regardless.
One-week sleeper: Niese. He has been
real good since returning from the DL and is useful in mixed leagues now
and for the second half.
One-week bust: Takahashi. He has been
alternately great and terrible and might be skipped to get Santana up
against the Braves.
New York Yankees
- CC Sabathia at OAK Cahill, at SEA Bedard
- A.J. Burnett at OAK Gonzalez
- Andy Pettitte at SEA Vargas
- Phil Hughes at SEA Lee
- Javier Vazquez at OAK Sheets, at SEA Hernandez
Two-starter(s): Sabathia and Vazquez. Sabathia is a must-start,
while Vazquez is an advisable option with those matchups.
Who is
getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Vazquez. He
hasn't won since June 12, but he is still getting those favorable
matchups and is useful in most leagues this week.
One-week bust: Hughes.
He hasn't been great lately and draws the red-hot Lee opposite him. That
could make you sit him in smaller formats.
Oakland Athletics
- Ben Sheets vs NYY Vazquez, vs LAA Kazmir
- Trevor Cahill vs NYY Sabathia, vs LAA Weaver
- Gio Gonzalez vs NYY Burnett
- Vin Mazzaro vs LAA Pineiro
- vacant
Two-starter(s): Sheets and likely Cahill. Sheets is a
questionable option with those matchups, while Cahill is pitching much
better and is more of an advisable option.
Who is getting skipped: Dallas Braden (elbow). He was placed on the 15-day DL and the A's are
likely to stick with a four-man rotation through the break, which gives
Cahill another start.
One-week sleeper: Cahill. He has become
a must-own in all leagues. Those matchups shouldn't keep you from
starting him. His All-Star status does make his second start a bit
sketchy, though. pitchers who work on that Sunday are ineligible for the
All-Star Game.
One-week bust: Sheets. He hasn't pitched well
enough to be used in smaller mixed formats with those matchups.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Roy Halladay vs ATL Lowe, vs CIN Harang
- Cole Hamels vs ATL Jurrjens, vs CIN Wood
- Jamie Moyer vs ATL Medlen
- Kyle Kendrick vs CIN Cueto
- Joe Blanton vs CIN Leake
Two-starter(s): Halladay and Hamels. They are must starts in all
leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. J.A. Happ (elbow) could return on Kendrick's turn, but he is likely
to remain on a rehab assignment through the All-Star break.
One-week
sleeper: Moyer. He has surprised many with how well he has held up
at his age. The Phillies really need him in a key series against the
Braves.
One-week bust: Kendrick. He might be a candidate to be
removed from the rotation if Happ is ready to return from the DL, but
Happ won't be coming back on regular rest. Kendrick is not a real
mixed-league option against the contending Reds anyway.
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Ross Ohlendorf at HOU Oswalt
- Paul Maholm at MIL Davis
- Jeff Karstens at MIL Gallardo
- Brad Lincoln at HOU Rodriguez, at MIL Wolf
- Daniel McCutchen at HOU Moehler
Two-starter(s): Lincoln. He is a questionable option because he
pitches for the Pirates, but he is useful in deeper leagues because of
the way he is pitching.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Lincoln. He has strung three consecutive quality starts
together, showing the promise that made him a touted prospect. We
wouldn't trust him in smaller mixed leagues, but he has value in formats
deeper than those.
One-week bust: McCutchen. He is coming off
a very good start, but he shouldn't be used outside of NL-only leagues.
San Diego Padres
- Jon Garland at WAS Martin
- Mat Latos at WAS Atilano
- Kevin Correia at COL Chacin
- Wade LeBlanc at COL Hammel
- Clayton Richard at WAS Hernandez, at COL Francis
Two-starter(s): Richard. He is an advisable option in most
formats now.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Richard. His ownership is at a career high, but his
starting percentage is merely 57 percent in CBSSports.com's leagues.
One-week
bust: Correia and LeBlanc. They have had their moments, but we
wouldn't trust them in mixed leagues with starts at Colorado.
San Francisco Giants
- Tim Lincecum at MIL Parra
- Barry Zito at MIL Narveson
- Matt Cain at WAS Strasburg
- Jonathan O. Sanchez at MIL Bush, at WAS Stammen
- Madison Bumgarner at MIL Wolf, at WAS Hernandez
Two-starter(s): Sanchez and Bumgarner. Sanchez is a must-start,
while Bumgarner is an advisable one in deeper leagues.
Who is
getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Bumgarner. The
prospect hasn't been great yet, but his favorable second matchup makes
him an advisable option.
One-week bust: Zito. He has struggled
since his hot start in the first couple of months. It is time to sit him
in mixed formats.
Seattle Mariners
- Cliff Lee vs NYY Hughes
- Felix Hernandez vs KC Bannister, vs NYY Vazquez
- Erik Bedard vs KC Greinke, vs NYY Sabathia
- Doug Fister vs KC Davies
- Jason M. Vargas vs NYY Pettitte
Two-starter(s): Hernandez and Bedard. King Felix is a must-start,
while Bedard is likely an advisable one coming off the DL.
Who is
getting skipped: Ryan Rowland-Smith.
He is likely to head to the bullpen with the return of Bedard scheduled
for Tuesday.
One-week sleeper: Bedard. You have waited this
long to get the benefits of him on your roster this season, you might as
well run him out there. A healthy Bedard is a must-start in all leagues
on a regular basis.
One-week bust: Fister and Vargas. Their
early season streaks have come to a screeching halt. They are no longer
trustworthy in mixed leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals
- Adam Wainwright at HOU Norris
- Chris Carpenter at COL Jimenez
- Jaime Garcia at COL Cook
- Jeff Suppan or Blake Hawksworth at COL Francis, at HOU Rodriguez
- Hawksworth or Suppan at HOU Myers
Two-starter(s): Suppan or Hawksworth. The Cardinals are up in the
air on how they will line their rotation up. They might go Suppan,
Hawksworth, Garcia, Carpenter, Wainwright and then Suppan. Or they could
go Suppan, Garcia, Carpenter, Wainwright, Hawksworth and Suppan. Or they
could go Hawksworth, Garcia, Carpenter, Wainwright, Suppan and
Hawksworth. Or, finally, they could go Hawksworth, Suppan, Garcia,
Carpenter, Wainwright and Hawksworth. The questions make Suppan a
high-risk two-start pitcher.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps
Suppan or Hawksworth. After Monday's offday, they each will be needed
with six games without a day off from Tuesday through Sunday.
One-week
sleeper: Hawksworth. He would be our choice to start Tuesday and get
two starts, but the Cardinals haven't announced their plans. Even as a
one-starter, Hawksworth is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues.
One-week
bust: Suppan. We don't know if he will make two starts or one.
Either way, he shouldn't be used outside of deeper NL-only leagues.
Tampa Bay Rays
- James Shields vs CLE Carmona
- Matt Garza vs BOS Matsuzaka, vs CLE Laffey
- Jeff Niemann vs BOS Doubront, vs CLE Masterson
- David Price vs BOS Wakefield
- Wade Davis vs CLE Westbrook
Two-starter(s): Garza and Niemann. They are advisable options in
most leagues, especially with that very favorable second matchup.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Shields. He
hasn't been himself of late, but that matchup against the lowly Indians
makes him useful in any format this week.
One-week bust: Davis.
He has been pitching poorly and we can't even advise him against the
Indians now. Jeremy Hellickson owners
could be anxiously anticipating a switch at the back end of the Rays'
rotation.
Texas Rangers
- C.J. Wilson vs CLE Masterson, vs BAL Arrieta
- Colby Lewis vs CLE Talbot
- Tommy Hunter vs BAL Guthrie
- Scott Feldman vs BAL Matusz
- Omar Beltre vs CLE Laffey, vs BAL Millwood
Two-starter(s): Wilson and Beltre. Wilson is a must-start in all
leagues with those matchups. Beltre is a high-risk option in all formats.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hunter. He has
been lights out since his return and looks like a must-start in all
leagues right now. CBSSports.com's owners are slow to believe, though:
He is available in 55 percent of leagues and inactive in 73 percent --
amazingly.
One-week bust: Feldman and Beltre. The matchups
make them potential sleepers, but they haven't pitched well enough to
trust them in mixed formats.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Brett Cecil vs MIN Baker
- Ricky Romero vs BOS Lester
- Brandon Morrow vs BOS Lackey
- Jesse Litsch vs MIN Pavano, vs BOS Matsuzaka
- Marc Rzepczynski vs MIN Slowey
Two-starter(s): Litsch. He is a high-risk option even in the
deepest of AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Shaun Marcum (elbow). He was placed on the DL to get his surgically
repaired elbow some rest. Rzepczynski returns to take his rotation spot.
One-week
sleeper: Morrow. He is talented and was pitching well enough to
start in deeper leagues. We don't like his matchup against the Red Sox,
though.
One-week bust: Romero. He got beat up last time out
and draws the Red Sox in another tough matchup for him. Leave him for
AL-only formats.
Washington Nationals
- Stephen Strasburg vs SF Cain
- Livan Hernandez vs SD Richard, vs SF Bumgarner
- J.D. Martin vs SD Garland
- Luis Atilano vs SD Latos
- Craig Stammen vs SF Sanchez
Two-starter(s): Hernandez. He is a questionable option who is
getting two home starts against two less-than-scary offensive teams.
Hernandez is 4-1 with a 1.75 ERA and .228 batting-average against in the
pitcher's park in Washington and just 2-3, 4.70, .290 on the road.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hernandez.
Those great home splits make him useful in deeper mixed formats.
One-week
bust: Martin, Atilano and Stammen. Strasburg and Hernandez are the
only Nationals pitchers worth owning outside of NL-only leagues still.
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