Week 2 Fantasy Pitching Planner

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.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Dan Haren at SF Sanchez
2. Doug Davis vs STL Wellemeyer, at SF Lincecum
3. Jon Garland vs STL Pineiro
4. Max Scherzer vs STL Carpenter, at SF Johnson
5. Yusmeiro Petit, who replaces Brandon Webb (15-day DL: Shoulder), can be skipped (likely)

Two-starter(s): Davis and perhaps Scherzer. Davis is a questionable option because of his own pitching, not his matchups. Scherzer is a sleeper as a DL returnee in a probable four-man rotation.
Who is getting skipped: Likely Petit. With Webb going on the DL on Sunday, Petit becomes the No. 5 starter, but the D-Backs can use a four-man rotation and skip Petit's turn this week.
One-week sleeper: Scherzer. The fact he might not make it past five makes him a risky start, but you can use him in deeper leagues, though.
One-week bust: Petit or Davis. We don't think Petit gets a start and Davis is a bit of a risk to use right now. We would avoid both of them at this point.

Atlanta Braves

1. Derek Lowe vs FLA Miller
2. Jair Jurrjens at PIT Maholm
3. Javier Vazquez vs FLA Volstad, at PIT Duke
4. Kenshin Kawakami vs FLA Sanchez
5. TBD, Tom Glavine now might not return, so Jo-Jo Reyes or Tommy Hanson might be options

Two-starter(s): Vazquez. He looks like a must-start option, especially since he gets a home start and a road start at lowly Pittsburgh.
Who is getting skipped: None. The No. 5 starter will finally be needed April 19 at Pittsburgh
One-week sleeper: The No. 5 starter. Hanson has the most potential both short and long term, while Glavine and Reyes would be riskier and best left for deeper NL-only formats.
One-week bust: None. All five Braves starters will be useful in most leagues this week.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Jeremy Guthrie at BOS Beckett
2. Koji Uehara at TEX Padilla, at BOS Lester (or Penny)
3. Alfredo Simon at TEX McCarthy (and perhaps at BOS Lester)
4. Mark Hendrickson at TEX Benson
5. Adam Eaton at BOS (Penny), but he could be skipped after a Thursday offday.

Two-starter(s): Uehara and perhaps Simon. Uehara was decent in his debut, but his matchups at Texas and Boston are real dangerous ones. We wouldn't use an Orioles two-start pitcher still.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Eaton. He could be moved back to allow Uehara and Simon to stay on their regular fifth days.
One-week sleeper: Hendrickson. He was decent in his first start and his opposing pitcher is the beatable Benson. Only trust Hendrickson in real deep formats.
One-week bust: Eaton. He might not start. We wouldn't trust him at Boston even if he did.

Boston Red Sox

1. Josh Beckett vs BAL Guthrie
2. Jon Lester at OAK Braden, vs BAL Uehara
3. Daisuke Matsuzaka at OAK Eveland
4. Tim Wakefield at OAK Anderson
5. Brad Penny vs BAL Eaton

Two-starter(s): Lester. Despite his poor season debut, he is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues still.
Who is getting skipped: None. Penny was decent in his debut and the Red Sox won't be skipping anyone for the forseeable future.
One-week sleeper: Wakefield. He struggled in his season debut, but he draws a winable matchup at Oakland vs. a rookie pitcher.
One-week bust: None. All five of the Red Sox starters are useful option in most leagues on a regular basis.

Chicago Cubs

1. Carlos Zambrano vs STL Lohse
2. Ryan Dempster vs STL Wellemeyer
3. Ted Lilly vs COL Jimenez, vs STL Carpenter
4. Rich Harden vs COL Marquis
5. Sean Marshall vs STL Wainwright

Two-starter(s): Lilly. He is a borderline advisable option, although his matchups look a little tougher against the opposing team's best pitcher.
Who is getting skipped: None. Marshall will make his first start of the season Thursday, instead of Sunday.
One-week sleeper: Marshall. His matchup isn't great, but all of the Cubs starters are advisable options in most weeks.
One-week bust: Lilly. We could see him be a double loser in those matchups.

Chicago White Sox

1. Mark Buehrle at TB Shields
2. Gavin Floyd at DET Miner, at TB Kazmir
3. John Danks at DET Porcello, at TB Garza
4. Bartolo Colon at TB Niemann
5. Jose Contreras at DET Galarraga

Two-starter(s): Floyd and Danks. They are must-start options for all leagues, regardless of the matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None
One-week sleeper: Colon. He was great in his first start and draws the Rays No. 5 starter in Fantasy Week 2 (April 13-19).
One-week bust: Contreras. He wasn't great in his first start and goes at the potent Tigers against arguably their best pitcher.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Aaron Harang at HOU Rodriguez
2. Edinson Volquez at MIL Gallardo, at HOU Moehler
3. Bronson Arroyo at MIL Parra
4. Johnny Cueto at HOU Oswalt
5. Micah Owings at MIL Looper

Two-starter(s): Volquez. We consider him a must-start, two-starter pitcher, despite his lackluster season debut against the Mets.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Owings. If you need a one-start option in deeper leagues, give Owings a try at Milwaukee against Looper.
One-week bust: Arroyo. We still are not inclined to trust the carpal tunnel-plagued musician, err, pitcher.

Cleveland Indians

1. Cliff Lee at NYY Sabathia
2. Fausto Carmona at KC Greinke, at NYY Wang
3. Carl Pavano at KC Davies, at NYY Burnett
4. Anthony Reyes at NYY Chamberlain
5. TBD, options include Zach Jackson, David Huff or Jeremy Sowers

Two-starter(s): Carmona and Pavano. Carmona might be an advisable option, while Pavano has to be considered a high-risk one after his awful debut.
Who is getting skipped: None. With Scott Lewis (elbow) on the DL, the Indians need a No. 5 starter Wednesday at KC.
One-week sleeper: The No. 5 starter TBD. MLB.com's Probable Pitchers listed Sowers on Sunday morning, which makes sense because he is on the 40-man roster. Huff is, too, though, and is the more intriguing arm right now.
One-week bust: Pavano. That is just too easy. He needs to pitch even remotely decent before you can trust him in any league right now.

Colorado Rockies

1. Aaron Cook at LAD Billingsley
2. Ubaldo Jimenez at CHC Lilly, at LAD McDonald
3. Jason Marquis at CHC Harden
4. Jorge De La Rosa or Jason Hammel at LAD Stults
5. Franklin Morales is currently in the minor leagues and won't be needed in Fantasy Week 2 (April 13-19).

Two-starter(s): Likely Jimenez. The Rockies are going with a four-man rotation, so Jimenez gets the added weekend start at the Dodgers. He is an advisable option because of the double starts.
Who is getting skipped: Morales. He is back in the minors still. His 10-day option period expires Saturday, April 18, but the Rockies don't need a No. 5 starter until April 21.
One-week sleeper: Jimenez. The second start really helps us advise using him for all leagues this week.
One-week bust: Marquis. He starts against his former team, but we cannot see trusting him outside of the deepest of NL-only leagues, especially in that matchup with Harden.

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander at SEA Hernandez
2. Edwin Jackson at SEA Bedard
3. Armando Galarraga vs CHW Contreras
4. Rick Porcello vs CHW Danks
5. Zach Miner vs CHW Floyd, at SEA Silva

Two-starter(s): Miner. He has a tough first matchup and a Thursday offday could allow the Tigers to skip him the second time around over the weekend in Seattle. Consider him a risky option best left for AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Miner on his second turn. If the Tigers skip him April 19, then Porcello would be a two-start pitcher.
One-week sleeper: Jackson. He was great in his first start and could be poised for a surprisingly good year with the Tigers.
One-week bust: Porcello. He was decent in his major league debut, but his matchup this week suggests you might want to sit him in mixed leagues.

Florida Marlins

1. Ricky Nolasco at WAS Olsen
2. Josh Johnson at WAS Cabrera
3. Chris Volstad at ATL Vazquez, at WAS Zimmermann
4. Anibal Sanchez at ATL Kawakami
5. Andrew Miller at ATL Lowe

Two-starter(s): Volstad. He is more of a questionable option at this point, although that second start is against a rookie making his debut for a team that doesn't figure to give him much of a chance to be a winner right away.
Who is getting skipped: None. Miller will make his first start at Atlanta on Wednesday, instead of Saturday at Washington, which is actually the first time the No. 5 starter was going to be needed.
One-week sleeper: Volstad. He gets two starts, including a winable second one.
One-week bust: Miller. He draws a solid team and their ace at their place in his first start of the season. Miller has talent, but he won't be a great option outside of real deep NL-only leagues this week.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt vs CIN Cueto
2. Wandy Rodriguez vs CIN Harang
3. Mike Hampton at PIT Ohlendorf
4. Brian Moehler at PIT Duke, vs CIN Volquez
5. Russ Ortiz at PIT Karstens

Two-starter(s): Moehler. He is a high-risk option best left for the deepest of NL-only leagues. Even then, go with a middle reliever in his place, if possible.
Who is getting skipped: None. Ortiz is making his first start of the season Thursday at Pittburgh, instead of Sunday at Houston the first time the No. 5 starter is actually needed.
One-week sleeper: Hampton. He draws a solid matchup at Pittsburgh.
One-week bust: Moehler and Ortiz. You shouldn't trust either of these guys right now in any matchup.

Kansas City Royals

1. Gil Meche at TEX Harrison
2. Zack Greinke vs CLE Carmona, at TEX Millwood
3. Kyle Davies vs CLE Pavano, at TEX Padilla
4. Sidney Ponson vs CLE TBD
5. Horacio Ramirez, expected be to skipped in Fantasy Week 2 (April 13-19)

Two-starter(s): Greinke and Davies. These two young arms earned must-start status with their solid season debuts last week.
Who is getting skipped: Ramirez. The Royals say they will skip him whenever possible at this point.
One-week sleeper: Davies. He shouldn't be available, but pick him up for his two-start week after his great spring and season debut.
One-week bust: Meche. He has a tough matchup at Texas. Sit him in mixed leagues for a two-start pitcher or a one-starter with a better matchup.

Los Angeles Angels

1. Joe Saunders at SEA Rowland-Smith
2. Dustin Moseley at MIN Blackburn
3. Jered Weaver at SEA Washburn
4. Shane Loux at SEA Silva, at MIN Perkins
5. TBD, options include Anthony Ortega, Sean O'Sullivan and Jordan Walden.

Two-starter(s): Loux. The minor league veteran makes his first two starts of the season. Consider him a high-risk option at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None. They will need a No. 5 starter Saturday, April 18, a slot that could be filled by Ortega, O'Sullivan or Walden.
One-week sleeper: Moseley. He was decent in his season debut and gets a winable matchup.
One-week bust: Loux. He gets two starts, but we wouldn't trust him as a starter at this point. He is not a prospect and is only in the rotation because the Angels are digging deep into their organizational depth.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Randy Wolf vs COL Cook
2. Chad Billingsley vs SF Johnson, vs COL Cook
3. Clayton Kershaw vs SF Cain
4. Eric Stults vs SF Zito
5. James McDonald vs COL Jimenez

Two-starter(s): Billingsley. He is must-start option for all leagues regardless of the matchups at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: McDonald. He gets a nice Fantasy Week 2 (April 13-19) matchup at home.
One-week bust: Stults. We wouldn't trust him while he is starting for the DL'd Hiroki Kuroda (shoulder).

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Jeff Suppan at NYM Santana
2. Yovani Gallardo vs CIN Volquez, at NYM Pelfrey
3. Manny Parra vs CIN Arroyo
4. Braden Looper vs CIN Owings
5. Dave Bush at NYM Hernandez

Two-starter(s): Gallardo. He is a must-start in all leagues, regardless of the matchups at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None. Bush could be considered a candidate to skip after a Thursday offday -- especially since they have the following Monday off, too -- but we don't anticipate the Brewers doing so.
One-week sleeper: Parra. He has a solid one-start matchup this week.
One-week bust: Suppan. He gets a tough offensive team and a matchup against Santana. No thanks.

Minnesota Twins

1. Francisco Liriano vs TOR Halladay
2. Nick Blackburn vs LAA Moseley
3. Kevin Slowey vs TOR Litsch, vs LAA TBD
4. Glen Perkins vs TOR Romero, vs LAA Loux
5. Scott Baker vs TOR Richmond

Two-starter(s): Slowey and Perkins. They both look like advisable options in those matchups this week.
Who is getting skipped: None. Baker returns from the DL to start Wednesday vs. the Blue Jays.
One-week sleeper: Perkins. He gets a pair of winable starts coming off an impressive season debut.
One-week bust: Liriano. He had a rough first week and draws Halladay in Fantasy Week 2 (April 13-19). Chalk it up to a mere slow start for one of your aces, be we would sit him in mixed leagues if you have a viable replacement.

New York Mets

1. Johan Santana vs MIL Suppan
2. Mike Pelfrey vs SD Silva, vs MIL Gallardo
3. Oliver Perez vs SF Correia
4. John Maine vs SD Peavy
5. Livan Hernandez vs MIL Bush

Two-starter(s): Pelfrey. He is an advisable option in deeper leagues as he gets two starts in the Mets' new park. It promises to be a pitcher's park, although Pelfrey has always been a groundball pitcher anyway.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pelfrey. He probably shouldn't be available. He should be active in all leagues this week.
One-week bust: Perez. He is a mess right now and too risky to start in any format. The good news is the cavernous CitiField should help his flyball pitching ways.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia vs CLE Lee
2. Chien-Ming Wang at TB Kazmir, vs CLE Carmona
3. A.J. Burnett at TB Garza, vs CLE Pavano
4. Andy Pettitte at TB Sonnanstine
5. Joba Chamberlain vs CLE Reyes

Two-starter(s): Wang and Burnett. We would start them in all leagues, regardless of the matchups. Wang should be much better these times around.
Who is getting skipped: None. Chamberlain makes his first start Sunday before the start of Fantasy Week 2 (April 13-19) and will be on his regular turns.
One-week sleeper: Pettitte. He was solid in his first start and gets a back-end starter against the Rays.
One-week bust: None. All of the Yankees starters are viable options in all leagues this and most weeks.

Oakland Athletics

1. Trevor Cahill at TOR Litsch
2. Dallas Braden vs BOS Lester, at TOR Romero
3. Dana Eveland vs BOS Matsuzaka
4. Brett Anderson vs BOS Wakefield
5. Josh Outman vs TOR Purcey

Two-starter(s): Braden. He is a questionable to risky option in any format. We frankly wouldn't trust him at this point. If the A's skip their No. 5 starter, Eveland would add a second start at Toronto.
Who is getting skipped: None. Outman is slated to start right after Thursday's offday. He could be skipped, but there are no indications the A's are inclined to skip him right now.
One-week sleeper: Cahill. You're going to see him on our sleeper list quite a bit this year. He is a favorite here because he keeps the ball down and isn't prone to the gopher ball.
One-week bust: Braden, Eveland, Outman and Anderson. Outman might not pitch and an A's pitcher against the Red Sox has to qualify as an unfavorable matchup.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Cole Hamels at WAS Lannan
2. Brett Myers vs SD Young
3. Jamie Moyer at WAS Cabrera, vs SD Hill
4. Joe Blanton at WAS Martis
5. Chan Ho Park vs SD Silva

Two-starter(s): Moyer. He looks like an advisable option, despite his awful season debut. Those are really great matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Moyer and Blanton. They had poor debuts, but their matchups and potential to win are too great to sit them in any formats.
One-week bust: None. Hamels has struggled and is only throwing in the 80s, but his matchup makes him a tolerable start.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Paul Maholm vs ATL Jurrjens
2. Ian Snell vs ATL Glavine
3. Zach Duke vs HOU Moehler, vs ATL Vazquez
4. Ross Ohlendorf vs HOU Hampton
5. Jeff Karstens vs HOU Ortiz

Two-starter(s): Duke. He had a nice first start and is a questionable two-starter that we advise taking the shot on in deeper leagues. At least his first matchup is favorable.
Who is getting skipped: None. Ohlendorf or Karstens could be skipped after a Monday offday, but there are no indications the Pirates are inclined to do so. Regardless, they would get one start before the end of the week.
One-week sleeper: Duke. His debut and two starts help.
One-week bust: Everyone but Duke. Trusting the Pirates starters is tough still. Their ace, Maholm, is the one with the toughest matchup(s).

San Diego Padres

1. Jake Peavy at NYM Maine
2. Chris R. Young at PHI Myers
3. Walter Silva at NYM Pelfrey, at PHI Park
4. Kevin Correia at NYM Perez
5. Shawn Hill at PHI Moyer

Two-starter(s): Silva. He had a decent major league debut, but he draws road starts at New York and Philly. Consider him risky still.
Who is getting skipped: None. Hill likely will not start until the Phillies series, but he will start get a start in Fantasy Week 2 (April 13-19).
One-week sleeper: Correia. He has the best matchup against the struggling Perez and in a pitcher's park. CitiField is a large park that will be tough to homer in until the warmer weather comes.
One-week bust: Silva. His two starts after his debut might make you consider him, but you should be scared off by the opponents and the fact they are on the road.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum vs ARI Davis
2. Randy Johnson at LAD Billingsley, vs ARI Scherzer
3. Matt Cain at LAD Kershaw
4. Barry Zito at LAD Stults
5. Jonathan Sanchez vs ARI Haren

Two-starter(s): Johnson. We would consider him an advisable option in all leagues. Those matchups are not imposing enough to sit him.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Giants don't figure to be a team that will skip their No. 5 this season.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. He can pile up strikeouts against a young, aggressive hitting team and will be getting the benefits of starting at home, a pitcher's park.
One-week bust: Zito. We had hopes he would turn the corner, but the perennial slow starter is too risky to trust in any league right now.

Seattle Mariners

1. Felix Hernandez vs DET Verlander
2. Erik Bedard vs DET Jackson
3. Carlos Silva vs LAA Loux
4. Ryan Rowland-Smith vs LAA Saunders
5. Jarrod Washburn vs LAA Weaver

Two-starter(s): Silva. He is a high-risk option for the deepest of AL-only leagues. Even then, go with a middle reliever.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Washburn. He was surprisingly good in his first start. Also, he is rumored to be headed for retirement, so he might be motivated to have a fond farewell season. Consider him in deeper formats if you need a stopgap starter.
One-week bust: Silva and Rowland-Smith. We would never use Silva and would avoid Rowland-Smith against the Angels' De facto ace.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Adam Wainwright at CHC Marshall
2. Kyle Lohse at CHC Zambrano
3. Todd Wellemeyer at ARI Davis, at CHC Dempster
4. Chris Carpenter at ARI Scherzer, at CHC Lilly
5. Joel Pineiro at ARI Garland

Two-starter(s): Wellemeyer and Carpenter. Wellemeyer is coming off a bad start and is a risky option, while Carpenter is a must-start option in all formats right now. He is back.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pineiro. He was quietly effective in his first start, while Wellemeyer didn't instill us with any confidence.
One-week bust: Wellemeyer. He will get used because he starts twice, but he likely shouldn't be.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields vs CHW Buehrle
2. Scott Kazmir vs NYY Wang, vs CHW Floyd
3. Matt Garza vs NYY Burnett, vs CHW Danks
4. Andy Sonnanstine vs NYY Petttitte
5. Jeff Niemann vs CHW Colon

Two-starter(s): Kazmir and Garza. They are must-start, two-start pitchers in all leagues, regardless of their number of starts or matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Sonnanstine. He still qualifies as a risk, though.
One-week bust: Niemann. He was underwhelming in his first start and draws a tough matchup.

Texas Rangers

1. Kevin Millwood vs KC Greinke
2. Vicente Padilla vs BAL Uehara, vs KC Davies
3. Brandon McCarthy vs BAL Simon
4. Kris Benson vs BAL Hendrickson
5. Matt Harrison vs KC Meche

Two-starter(s): Padilla. He has decent matchups, so consider him a sleeper in deeper leagues, especially since he gets his opponents at home, where his team gets him tons of run support.
Who is getting skipped: None. They could skip Harrison after a Thursday offday, but likely won't.
One-week sleeper: Padilla and McCarthy. Padilla gets favorable matchups in a two-start week, while McCarthy is a nice one-start option.
One-week bust: Millwood. He has gotten off to a nice start and while his matchup seems friendly vs. the Royals, that is a buzz-saw in Greinke.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Roy Halladay at MIN Liriano
2. Jesse Litsch at MIN Slowey, vs OAK Cahill
3. David Purcey vs OAK Outman
4. Ricky Romero at MIN Perkins, vs OAK Braden
5. Scott Richmond at MIN Baker

Two-starter(s): Litsch and Romero. They have decent matchups and are sleepers for deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Litsch, Romero and Purcey. They are unheralded young arms with decent matchups.
One-week bust: Richmond. Baker is the staff ace coming off the DL. He is perhaps on the only unfavorable matchup for the Blue Jays starters this week.

Washington Nationals

1. John Lannan vs PHI Hamels
2. Scott Olsen vs FLA Nolasco
3. Daniel Cabrera vs PHI Moyer, vs FLA Johnson
4. Shairon Martis vs PHI Blanton
5. Jordan Zimmermann vs FLA Volstad

Two-starter(s): Cabrera. He is a high-risk option even for the deepest of NL-only leagues at this point. Those are tough matchups, too.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Zimmermann. The rookie will be making his major league debut and is talented enough to consider as lightning in a bottle in NL-only leagues this week.
One-week bust: Everyone. We wouldn't trust any of the Nationals starters in most leagues at this point. At least in the case of Zimmermann, you can say he has the potential to not stink -- ringing endorsement.

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