Week 24 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. The means we consider them a recommended start. The means we suggest you consider a replacement option.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Dan Haren at SD LeBlanc
2. Doug Davis at SD Mujica
3. Max Scherzer vs COL Marquis
4. Billy Buckner at SD Correia, vs COL Hammel
5. Kevin Mulvey vs COL Rogers

Two-starter(s): Buckner. He is at best a questionable option, even though he is coming off a great start.
Who is getting skipped: Yusmeiro Petit. He is back in the bullpen, although he could slot in Mulvey's spot if the D-Backs choose. Petit or Mulvey are both too risky to trust in any league.
One-week sleeper: Davis. Although he is coming off a horrible start, he has a sub-4.00 ERA and is facing the beatable Padres. Use him in deeper formats if you need a stopgap.
One-week bust: Buckner. He is coming off a great start, but his two-start week is dangerous, especially with that second matchup against the wild card leaders.

Atlanta Braves

1. Derek Lowe vs NYM Parnell
2. Jair Jurrjens vs NYM Figueroa
3. Javier Vazquez vs PHI Martinez
4. Tim Hudson vs PHI Moyer
5. Tommy Hanson vs NYM Misch, vs PHI Lee

Two-starter(s): Hanson. He is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. Kenshin Kawakami figures to finish out the season in the bullpen.
One-week sleeper: None. All five of the Braves starters are owned in most leagues right now.
One-week bust: Hudson. He is coming off his worst outing yet and facing the Phillies. It is not a week to count on him.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Chris Tillman vs TB TBD
2. Brian Matusz vs TB Davis
3. Jeremy Guthrie vs BOS Buchholz
4. David Hernandez vs TB Price, vs BOS Lester
5. Jason Berken vs TB Niemann, vs BOS Matsuzaka

Two-starter(s): Hernandez and Berken. They are high-risk options even in the deepest of AL-only leagues at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Matusz. He has won three consecutive starts and opposes another rookie.
One-week bust: Berken. He handled the Red Sox well last time out, but there is very few reasons to expect him to handle this two-start week as well.

Boston Red Sox

1. Josh Beckett vs LAA Santana
2. Jon Lester at BAL Hernandez
3. Clay Buchholz at BAL Guthrie
4. Daisuke Matsuzaka vs LAA Lackey, at BAL Berken
5. Paul Byrd or Tim Wakefield vs LAA Saunders

Two-starter(s): Matsuzaka. He is a risk coming off the DL, especially since his rehab outings were coming against Class A opponents.
Who is getting skipped: Wakefield (back). He is banged up and the Red Sox are likely to slot Byrd on Wednesday, giving Wakefield until at at least Monday, Sept. 21 to get healthy.
One-week sleeper: Dice-K. He is a risk worth taking in deeper leagues, especially because of that favorable second matchup.
One-week bust: Byrd. He is getting perhaps one last start in place of Wakefield, but it is coming against the potent Angels.

Chicago Cubs

1. Carlos Zambrano vs MIL Gallardo, at STL Smoltz
2. Ryan Dempster vs MIL Suppan, at STL Carpenter
3. Ted Lilly at STL Lohse
4. Rich Harden vs MIL Looper
5. Randy Wells vs MIL Bush

Two-starter(s): Zambrano and Dempster. They are at least advisable in all leagues in crunch time, despite facing potent offenses.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. The Cubs starters are all owned in most leagues already.
One-week bust: Wells. He is coming off a bad start and facing a difficult matchup. You might want to look elsewhere this week.

Chicago White Sox

1. Mark Buehrle vs KC Hochevar
2. John Danks vs SEA Morrow
3. Gavin Floyd at SEA Rowland-Smith
4. Freddy An. Garcia at SEA Snell, vs KC Tejeda
5. TBD Jake Peavy, Carlos Torres or Daniel Hudson vs KC Davies

Two-starter(s): Garcia. He is advisable in deeper leagues, especially since he has four consecutive quality starts and is facing weak offensive teams.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Garcia. He has favorable matchups and a hot streak going. Ride him even in deeper mixed leagues right now.
One-week bust: No. 5 TBD. The White Sox haven't made a decision on Peavy. Until it comes, you have to avoid all of their No. 5 starter options.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Bronson Arroyo vs HOU Rodriguez, vs FLA Nolasco
2. Johnny Cueto vs FLA Sanchez
3. Homer Bailey vs FLA Volstad
4. Justin Lehr vs HOU Norris
5. Kip Wells vs HOU Oswalt, vs FLA West

Two-starter(s): Arroyo and Wells. Arroyo is advisable in deeper leagues, while Wells is high-risk in any format.
Who is getting skipped: None. Matt Maloney (blister) isn't expected to make a start this week.
One-week sleeper: Arroyo. He is starting in only 54 percent of leagues, despite having an ERA under 2.00 since July.
One-week bust: Wells. He was bad last time out and shouldn't be trusted in any format at this point.

Cleveland Indians

1. Aaron Laffey at MIN Blackburn
2. Fausto Carmona at MIN Baker
3. Jeremy Sowers at MIN Pavano, at OAK Tomko
4. David Huff at OAK Anderson
5. Justin Masterson at OAK Mortensen
6. Carlos Carrasco at OAK Gonzalez

Two-starter(s): Sowers. He is a questionable option best left for AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. They are going with a six-man rotation, so they could choose to skip someone in the back end of the rotation, which would give Carmona a second start. Carmona is a risky play regardless.
One-week sleeper: Huff. He has won three consecutive quality starts and faces the lowly A's next.
One-week bust: Carmona and Laffey. They have had their moments, but they were bad last time out and facing a quality opponent in Minnesota.

Colorado Rockies

1. Ubaldo Jimenez at SF Zito, at ARI Buckner
2. Jason Marquis at ARI Mulvey
3. Jorge De La Rosa at SF Cain
4. Jason Hammel at SF Lincecum, at ARI Scherzer
5. Esmil Rogers or Jose A. Contreras (quadriceps) likely to be skipped

Two-starter(s): Hammel and Jimenez. Hammel is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues, while Jimenez is a must-start in all formats.
Who is getting skipped: Rogers and Contreras. They have to be avoided in all leagues. The Rockies have days off Thursday and the following Monday, allowing them to go with a four-man rotation for the next three turns.
One-week sleeper: Hammel. He is drawing double starts and has not allowed more than three earned runs since July.
One-week bust: Contreras. He is injured and his turn likely won't be needed this week. Avoid him even if he is going to start. If he does, Jimenez would lose a second start, but Jimenez is an advisable option regardless.

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander vs TOR Purcey, at MIN Duensing
2. Edwin Jackson vs KC Greinke
3. Eddie Bonine vs KC DiNardo
4. Rick Porcello at MIN Manship
5. Jarrod Washburn vs KC Tejeda, at MIN Pavano

Two-starter(s): Verlander and Washburn. Verlander is a must-start, while Washburn is a questionable option who could prove useful in deeper leagues due to the matchups.
Who is getting skipped: Nate Robertson and Armando Galarraga. Robertson is banged up and unlikely to start Wednesday. Bonine was chosen for the spot start over Galarraga.
One-week sleeper: Washburn. He wasn't great in his return from injury, but he draws favorable matchups in his two-start week.
One-week bust: Robertson or Galarraga. Due to the uncertainty for that Wednesday turn, don't consider either of these guys viable.

Florida Marlins

1. Josh Johnson at STL Pineiro
2. Ricky Nolasco at STL Wellemeyer, at CIN Arroyo
3. Anibal Sanchez at CIN Cueto
4. Chris Volstad at CIN Bailey
5. Sean West at STL Wainwright, at CIN Wells

Two-starter(s): Nolasco and West. Nolasco is likely advisable in all leagues, while West is a high-risk option.
Who is getting skipped: Rick VandenHurk (back). He missed this Sunday's start, but he could be considered a candidate to replace Volstad or West this week. Don't use any of that trio if you can avoid it.
One-week sleeper: None. The top two starters are the only advisable options in a critical Fantasy Week 24 (Sept. 14-20).
One-week bust: Sanchez, Volstad and West. They are not pitching well enough to be assured of their rotation spots, much less be useful in Fantasy at this point.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt at CIN Wells
2. Wandy Rodriguez at CIN Arroyo, at MIL Gallardo
3. Bud Norris at CIN Lehr
4. Felipe Paulino at MIL Suppan
5. Brian Moehler at MIL Parra

Two-starter(s): Rodriguez. He is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Norris. He has won back-to-back starts. It is hard to trust him in a mixed leagues yet, though.
One-week bust: Paulino and Moehler. Back-end starters against the Brewers are not advisable plays in crunch time.

Kansas City Royals

1. Zack Greinke at DET Jackson
2. Kyle Davies at CHW TBD
3. Luke Hochevar at CHW Buehrle
4. Robinson Tejeda at DET Washburn, at CHW Garcia
5. Lenny DiNardo at DET TBD

Two-starter(s): Tejeda. He is a questionable option even in the deepest of leagues, despite two great starts.
Who is getting skipped: Bruce Chen. We don't expect the Royals to go with a six-man rotation.
One-week sleeper: Davies. He has won three consecutive starts and faces a questionable White Sox starter.
One-week bust: Tejeda. His shutout innings streak will tempt you, but he is too dangerous to trust outside of the deepest of AL-only leagues still.

Los Angeles Angels

1. John Lackey at BOS Matsuzaka, at TEX Holland
2. Jered Weaver at NYY Chamberlain, at TEX Feldman
3. Scott Kazmir at TEX Hunter
4. Ervin Santana at BOS Beckett
5. Joe Saunders at BOS Byrd

Two-starter(s): Weaver and Lackey. They are must-start options in all leagues in Fantasy crunch time, despite the potent opposing offenses.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Saunders. He has been solid coming off the DL and should remain active despite the matchup at Fenway.
One-week bust: Santana. If there is a risky option among the Angels quintet of advisable starts, it has to be the up-and-down Santana at Boston and vs. a potentially resurgent Beckett.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Chad Billingsley vs SF Penny
2. Randy Wolf (probable, elbow) vs PIT Duke
3. Clayton Kershaw (out, non-throwing shoulder)
4. Hiroki Kuroda vs PIT Hart
5. Jon Garland vs PIT McCutchen, vs SF Lincecum
6. Vicente Padilla vs SF Sanchez

Two-starter(s): Garland. The Dodgers will keep Kershaw out again this week, slotting Wolf in Tuesday and going back to a five-man rotation. That means double starts for Garland, who has been solid with the Dodgers. Consider him a nice sleeper in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Kershaw. They needed a reason to save his innings and his non-throwing shoulder separation, along with their six-man rotation, gives the lefty much-needed rest. Don't use him in any leagues this week.
One-week sleeper: Garland. He has been hot of late and draws timely two starts, including one against the lowly Pirates.
One-week bust: Kershaw. The Dodgers don't need him this week amid their rotation depth and the fact they also have a day off Thursday.

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Yovani Gallardo at CHC Zambrano, vs HOU Rodriguez
2. Jeff Suppan at CHC Dempster, vs HOU Paulino
3. Braden Looper at CHW Harden
4. Dave Bush at CHC Wells
5. Manny Parra (questionable, neck) of Chris Narveson vs HOU Moehler

Two-starter(s): Suppan and Gallardo. Suppan is a questionable option at best, while Gallardo is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Parra. He missed his Sunday start and is not a certainty to go at all this week. Avoid him and his potential replacement.
One-week sleeper: Bush. He is coming off a great start and draws the sinking Cubs with their struggling No. 5 starter on the hill.
One-week bust: Suppan. He was bad last time out and is too risky to trust in any mixed leagues right now.

Minnesota Twins

1. Carl Pavano vs CLE Sowers, vs DET Washburn
2. Scott Baker vs CLE Carmona
3. Nick Blackburn vs CLE Laffey
4. Jeff Manship vs DET Porcello
5. Brian Duensing vs DET Verlander

Two-starter(s): Pavano. He is hot and has decent matchups, so consider him advisable in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pavano. He has posted four consecutive quality starts and his matchups don't look that dangerous. We would trust him in a mixed league if you need a stopgap two-starter.
One-week bust: Duensing. He has been good since joining the rotation, but we don't trust him yet and his matchup is unfavorable.

New York Mets

1. Mike Pelfrey vs WAS Lannan
2. John Maine vs WAS Estrada
3. Tim Redding vs WAS Mock
4. Patrick Misch at ATL Hanson
5. Bobby Parnell at ATL Lowe
6. Nelson Figueroa at ATL Jurrjens

Two-starter(s): None. The Mets might go with a six-man rotation, unless they move Redding to the bullpen or skip someone. Nothing is apparent at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None. The return of Maine on Sunday could send someone to the bullpen, but the last three back-end starters are already assured of making a start Tuesday-Thursday.
One-week sleeper: Pelfrey. He was brutal last time out against the Phillies -- one step forward and two steps back -- but he draws the Nationals and could be useful in a deep mixed league if you need a stopgap.
One-week bust: Maine. He was limited in his pitch count in his return Sunday and doesn't figure to go deep enough to factor into a decision against the Nationals. Don't trust him yet.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia at SEA Hernandez
2. A.J. Burnett at SEA Fister
3. Andy Pettitte vs TOR Tallet
4. Joba Chamberlain vs LAA Weaver, at SEA Snell
5. Chad Gaudin vs TOR Halladay

Two-starter(s): Chamberlain. He is a questionable option, especially since he faces the Angels, might get skipped the second turn and hasn't been allowed to go deep enough into games of late.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Chamberlain. He could be moved off his second turn after Thursday's day off.
One-week sleeper: Gaudin. Sure he is opposing Halladay, but he's facing the lowly Jays and getting all that run support from the best team in baseball. He was also outstanding last time out and could pick up a second start if they choose to skip Chamberlain off his second turn.
One-week bust: Chamberlain. It will have to be a deep league to trust him at this point for the reasons stated above.

Oakland Athletics

1. Brett Anderson vs CLE Huff
2. Gio Gonzalez vs CLE Carrasco
3. Trevor Cahill at TEX Millwood
4. Brett D. Tomko at TEX Feldman, vs CLE Sowers
5. Edgar G. Gonzalez at TEX McCarthy
6. Clayton Mortensen vs CLE Masterson

Two-starter(s): Tomko. He is a questionable option best left for the deepest of AL-only leagues still.
Who is getting skipped: Vin Mazzaro (shoulder). He is still out of the six-man rotation, but he still hopes to return before the end of the season.
One-week sleeper: Mortensen. He draws a favorable matchup after a very good start last time out. We consider him a nice flier in deeper mixed leagues now.
One-week bust: Tomko. He is the type of journeyman who costs you in Fantasy crunch time just when you take a shot at him as a two-starter. Look at someone a bit more trustworthy in your lineup this week.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Cole Hamels vs WAS Martin
2. Cliff Lee vs WAS Mock, at ATL Hanson
3. Joe Blanton vs WAS Hernandez
4. Pedro Martinez at ATL Vazquez
5. J.A. Happ or Jamie Moyer at ATL Hudson

Two-starter(s): Lee. He is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Happ or Moyer and Kyle Kendrick. The Phillies used a six-man rotation this week, but we cannot be sure what they will do with Happ or Kendrick at this point. We figure Happ will remain at rest, Kendrick will go to the bullpen and Moyer will draw the start at Atlanta. He is a quesitonable one-starter due to uncertainty.
One-week sleeper: Martinez. He shouldn't be considered a sleeper at this point. He is a viable option in most mixed leagues now.
One-week bust: Happ. We doubt he makes a start and we don't like his matchup even if he does.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Zach Duke at LAD Wolf
2. Paul Maholm vs SD Correia
3. Ross Ohlendorf vs SD Richard
4. Charlie Morton vs SD Stauffer
5. Daniel McCutchen at LAD Garland
6. Kevin Hart at LAD Kuroda

Two-starter(s): None. The Pirates have a six-man rotation and have six games on the schedule with the Thursday off day.
Who is getting skipped: None. Hart could have pitched himself to the bullpen, but the Pirates have already listed him as probable Wednesday.
One-week sleeper: Maholm. He hasn't been bad of late and draws a favorable matchup against the Padres. Ohlendorf and Morton might also prove useful in deeper leagues against the Padres.
One-week bust: Duke. He has been brutal of late and draws a matchup in which he is a big underdog.

San Diego Padres

1. Kevin Correia vs ARI Buckner, at PIT Maholm
2. Clayton Richard at PIT Ohlendorf
3. Tim Stauffer at PIT Morton
4. Wade LeBlanc vs ARI Haren
5. Edward Mujica vs Davis

Two-starter(s): Correia. He is a questionable option that qualifies as a sleeper in deeper leagues due to the matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Correia and Stauffer. Correia is a nice two-start sleeper, while Stauffer has been outstanding a draws a very favorable matchup.
One-week bust: LeBlanc. He was very impressive last couple of times out, but he needs to string more together before you can trust him against Haren.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum vs COL Hammel, at LAD Garland
2. Matt Cain vs COL De La Rosa
3. Barry Zito vs COL Jimenez
4. Jonathan Sanchez at LAD Padilla
5. Brad Penny at LAD Billingsley

Two-starter(s): Lincecum. He remains a must-start in all leagues, despite coming off injury.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Zito. Despite a 5.00 ERA in September, he is still 4-3, 2.34 ERA in the second half and a viable start in most formats on a regular basis.
One-week bust: Sanchez. He is facing the potent Dodgers, albeit vs. a back-end starter. He also wasn't all that impressive last time out. You likely still need him active in deeper formats, though.

Seattle Mariners

1. Felix Hernandez vs NYY Sabathia
2. Ian Snell vs CHW Garcia, vs NYY Chamberlain
3. Ryan Rowland-Smith vs CHW Floyd
4. Brandon Morrow vs CHW Danks
5. Doug W. Fister vs NYY Burnett

Two-starter(s): Snell. He is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues, despite his so-so past outing and having one of his matchups against the Yankees. He had won four consecutive starts before his past one.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Morrow. He won his first start back from the minors and also has useful RP eligibility in CBSSports.com's leagues.
One-week bust: Fister. He has been a pleasant surprise, but a one-start week against the Yankees is not a time to use him in mixed formats.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter vs CHC Dempster
2. Adam Wainwright vs FLA West
3. Joel Pineiro vs FLA Johnson
4. Kyle Lohse vs CHC Lilly
5. John Smoltz (questionable, shoulder) vs CHC Zambrano
6. Todd Wellemeyer vs FLA Nolasco

Two-starter(s): None. Wellemeyer is making a spot start for Smoltz, which means the Cardinals could be using a six-man rotation in a six-game week. If the Cards skip Wellemeyer/Smoltz's turn next weekend, Wainwright could pick up a second start. Wainwright is a must-start regardless.
Who is getting skipped: Smoltz. He needs a break for his shoulder, but he still could get a start before the end of Fantasy Week 24 (Sept. 14-20).
One-week sleeper: None. The Cards' top three starters are all advisable, while the bottom three above are ...
One-week bust: Lohse, Smoltz and Wellemeyer. We cannot advise any of this trio this week.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields vs TOR Romero
2. David Price at BAL Hernandez, vs TOR Purcey
3. Matt Garza vs TOR Richmond
4. Jeff Niemann at BAL Berken
5. Wade Davis at BAL Matusz
6. TBD, perhaps Andy Sonnanstine at BAL Tillman

Two-starter(s): Price. He is an advisable option in all leagues in those matchups. The talented, but erratic lefty just might come through for you in crunch time. The Rays have seven games this week but just one two-start pitcher because of a six-man rotation necessitated by Sunday's doubleheader at Boston.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Davis. Assuming you already consider their top four advisable options, Davis is a sleeper, too. He is coming off a bad, bad outing against the Red Sox, but he is facing an easier matchup this time around and we like his talent and potential to rebound.
One-week bust: No. 6 TBD. Sonnanstine is likely to get the nod, but he is not trustworthy, especially amid the uncertainty.

Texas Rangers

1. Kevin Millwood vs OAK Cahill
2. Scott Feldman vs OAK Tomko, vs LAA Weaver
3. Tommy Hunter vs LAA Kazmir
4. Brandon McCarthy vs OAK Gonzalez
5. Derek Holland vs LAA Lackey

Two-starter(s): Feldman. The AL Cy Young sleeper is a must-start in all leagues now. Wow. What a long way he has come this season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: McCarthy. He was going to be a two-start pitcher before a rainout moved him back a day. As it is, he is a nice one-start sleeper.
One-week bust: Hunter and Holland. The rookies are not going that well right now and are facing the potent Angels in a key AL West matchup.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Roy Halladay at NYY Gaudin
2. Ricky Romero at TB Shields
3. Scott Richmond at TB Garza
4. Brian Tallet at NYY Pettitte
5. David Purcey at DET Verlander, at TB Price

Two-starter(s): Purcey. He is a high-risk option even in the deepest of AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. Halladay is the only Blue Jays starter worth using in any leagues this week.
One-week bust: Purcey. He wasn't great in the minors, so it will be tough for him to do well in those matchups.

Washington Nationals

1. John Lannan at NYM Pelfrey
2. Garrett Mock at PHI Lee, at NYM Redding
3. Livan Hernandez at PHI Blanton
4. J.D. Martin at PHI Hamels
5. Marco Estrada at NYM Maine

Two-starter(s): Mock. He is a high-risk option for the deepest of NL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. Lannan isn't pitching well enough and all of the other Nats starters aren't worthy of any consideration down the stretch.
One-week bust: All of them. Now is not the time to take a chance on a Nationals starter.

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