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
- Dan Haren vs COL De La Rosa
- Doug Davis vs SF Sanchez
- Jon Garland vs COL Marquis, vs SF Johnson
- Max Scherzer vs SF Lincecum
- Yusmeiro Petit vs COL Morales ... until Brandon Webb returns, perhaps April 24-26
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Must-start options | ||
RK | Pitcher | TM |
1 | Roy Halladay | TOR |
2 | Jake Peavy | SD |
3 | Derek Lowe | ATL |
4 | Rich Harden | CHC |
5 | Clayton Kershaw | LA |
Advisable options | ||
RK | Pitcher | TM |
6 | Jered Weaver | ANA |
7 | Andy Pettitte | NYY |
8 | Armando Galarraga | DET |
9 | Oliver Perez | NYM |
10 | Bronson Arroyo | CIN |
11 | Andy Sonnanstine | TB |
12 | Manny Parra | MIL |
13 | Joe Blanton | PHI |
14 | Jamie Moyer | PHI |
Questionable options | ||
RK | Pitcher | TM |
15 | Aaron Laffey | CLE |
16 | Jarrod Washburn | SEA |
17 | Mike Hampton | HOU |
18 | Jon Garland | ARI |
19 | Jason Marquis | COL |
20 | Brandon McCarthy | TEX |
21 | Andrew Miller | FLA |
22 | Dana Eveland | OAK |
23 | Micah Owings | CIN |
24 | Tim Wakefield | BOS |
25 | Joel Pineiro | STL |
26 | Ross Ohlendorf | PIT |
27 | Jose A. Contreras | CHW |
28 | Shairon Martis | WAS |
High-risk options | ||
RK | Pitcher | TM |
29 | Mark Hendrickson | BAL |
30 | Kevin Correia | SD |
31 | Russ Ortiz | HOU |
32 | Sidney Ponson | KC |
33 | Bradley Bergesen | BAL |
Two-starter(s): Perhaps Garland. He might not make a second start
in the D-Backs' six-game week, because Petit is pitching Tuesday on
Webb's turn and then Webb might return for the weekend series vs. San
Francisco. That would give the D-Backs a temporary six-man rotation in a
six-game week. Garland is a decent one-starter in deeper formats, though.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Garland. He
gets a favorable home start vs. the Rockies and might even make a second
start if the D-Backs hold Webb's return until the start of the Cubs
series April 27.
One-week bust: Petit. He is taking his last
turn in the rotation vs. the Rockies.
Atlanta Braves
- Derek Lowe at WAS Zimmermann
- Jair Jurrjens at WAS Lannan
- Javier Vazquez at CIN Arroyo
- Kenshin Kawakami at WAS Martis
- Jo-Jo Reyes at CIN Volquez
Two-starter(s): Lowe and maybe Kawakami. Lowe is certain for two
starts and is a must-start, while Kawakami would pick up a second start
if the Braves choose to skip Reyes in the No. 5 starter's spot. That
appears unlikely at this point after he debuted Saturday to mixed
reviews.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Reyes. The Braves
won't need a No. 5 starter in Fantasy Week 3 (April 20-26).
One-week
sleeper: Kawakami. He looks like a must-start at Washington,
especially since there is a slim chance he could pick up a second start
at Cincy.
One-week bust: Reyes. He might not start, and if he
does, it would come at Cincy vs. Volquez. Ew.
Baltimore Orioles
- Jeremy Guthrie vs CHW Danks
- Koji Uehara vs TEX Millwood
- Mark Hendrickson at BOS Masterson, vs TEX Padilla
- Adam Eaton vs CHW Colon
- Bradley Bergesen vs CHW Contreras, vs TEX McCarthy
Two-starter(s): Hendrickson and Bergesen. Hendrickson is high
risk at Boston and vs. Texas. Ouch. The Tuesday turn goes to pitching
prospect Bergesen and would be almost as dangerous, vs. the White Sox
and vs. the Rangers. Consider them high-risk options in all formats.
Bergesen has some long-term potential to not be terrible, though.
Who
is getting skipped: None. The Orioles don't have a day off.
One-week
sleeper: Uehara. Maybe. We would avoid all Orioles starters right
now, but Uehara could be a candidate to win a home start, albeit vs. the
offensively potent Rangers.
One-week bust: Hendrickson,
Bergesen, Guthrie and Eaton. Basically everyone faces the Red Sox, White
Sox and Rangers in the seven-game week. Look out on Eutaw Street!
Boston Red Sox
- Josh Beckett vs NYY Burnett
- Jon Lester vs NYY Wang
- Tim Wakefield vs MIN Baker, vs NYY Pettitte
- Brad Penny vs MIN Liriano
- Justin Masterson vs BAL Hendrickson
Two-starter(s): Perhaps Masterson, but more likely Tim Wakefield. The Red Sox slot them Monday and Tuesday, but we
expect they will skip Masterson's No. 5 starter's spot the following
Sunday vs. the Yankees, slotting Wakefield Tuesday-Sunday.
Who is
getting skipped: Likely Masterson. He would still make a start
Monday before being skipped next Sunday.
One-week sleeper:
Masterson. He gets a favorable start vs. the Orioles, although it is
doubtful he goes longer than five innings. He could still win with a
five-inning start vs. the Orioles, though.
One-week bust:
Penny. He was awful his last time out and is too risky to trust in mixed
leagues.
Chicago Cubs
- Carlos Zambrano vs CIN Harang
- Ryan Dempster at STL Lohse
- Ted Lilly at STL Wellemeyer
- Rich Harden vs CIN Owings, at STL Pineiro
- Sean Marshall vs CIN Cueto
Two-starter(s): Rich Harden.
Despite his start to the season, we consider him advisable.
Who is
getting skipped: None. After Monday off, the Cubs play straight
through the end of the week.
One-week sleeper: Marshall. He
should improve as he makes return turns in the rotation now. He gets a
decent matchup at home vs. the Reds.
One-week bust: None. All
of the Cubs starters look like solid options at this point.
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Player | % Change | |
1. | Zach Duke, SP, PIT | 44 |
2. | John Lackey, SP, ANA | 38 |
3. | Ervin Santana, SP, ANA | 37 |
4. | John Smoltz, SP, BOS | 35 |
5. | Trevor Hoffman, RP, MIL | 30 |
6. | Justin Masterson, RP, BOS | 30 |
7. | Scott Baker, SP, MIN | 27 |
8. | Kelvim Escobar, SP, ANA | 27 |
9. | Jarrod Washburn, SP, SEA | 27 |
10. | Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL | 25 |
Chicago White Sox
- Mark Buehrle vs TOR Tallet
- Gavin Floyd vs TOR Romero
- John Danks at BAL Guthrie
- Bartolo Colon at BAL Eaton
- Jose Contreras at BAL Bergesen, vs TOR Halladay
Two-starter(s): Contreras. He is a sleeper for deeper formats.
Who
is getting skipped: None. After Monday off, the White Sox player
straight through the end of the week.
One-week sleeper:
Contreras and Colon. The matchup(s) at Baltimore after favorable and
Contreras gets a second start at home vs. the Blue Jays.
One-week
bust: None. All of the White Sox starters look like decent options
this week.
Cincinnati Reds
- Aaron Harang at CHC Zambrano
- Edinson Volquez vs ATL Reyes
- Bronson Arroyo at HOU Hampton, vs ATL Vazquez
- Johnny Cueto at CHC Marshall
- Micah Owings at CHC Harden, vs ATL Lowe
Two-starter(s): Arroyo and Owings. They are decent options in
deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Reds don't
have a day off.
One-week sleeper: Arroyo. After all that
carpal tunnel talk, he is 2-0 and gets double starts.
One-week
bust: Owings. The two starts will be tempting, but his matchups are
tougher than Arroyo's, not to mention he is not pitching as well.
Cleveland Indians
- Cliff Lee vs KC Ramirez
- Fausto Carmona vs MIN Blackburn
- Carl Pavano vs MIN Slowey
- Anthony Reyes vs KC Meche
- Aaron Laffey vs KC Ponson, vs MIN Perkins
Two-starter(s): Laffey. He could have been skipped back to later
in the week to give Lee two starts, but the Indians are slotting him
Tuesday-Sunday, both winnable matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
It would have been Laffey, but it won't be.
One-week sleeper:
Laffey. He was decent in his first start and gets the Royals and Twins
at home.
One-week bust: Pavano. Even though he was decent vs.
the Yankees, we still cannot advise you trust him.
Colorado Rockies
- Aaron Cook vs LAD Billingsley
- Ubaldo Jimenez vs LAD McDonald
- Jason Marquis at ARI Garland, vs LAD Kershaw
- Jorge De La Rosa at ARI Haren
- TBD, but Franklin Morales is expected to return from Triple-A to start in the No. 5 starter's turn. at ARI Petit
Two-starter(s): Marquis. He is off to a great start, but we still
consider him a questionable option with those matchups.
Who is
getting skipped: None. The Rockies have to use the No. 5 starter's
spot Tuesday and De La Rosa is needed Wednesday.
One-week sleeper:
Morales. He has been very good in his starts in the majors and minors
and he draws Petit.
One-week bust: De La Rosa and Cook. We
expect both will get beaten this week.
Detroit Tigers
- Justin Verlander at LAA Saunders
- Edwin Jackson at LAA Oliver
- Armando Galarraga at LAA Weaver, at KC Ponson
- Rick Porcello at KC Greinke
- Zach Miner at KC Davies
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Pitcher | TM | |
1 | Edwin Jackson | DET |
2 | Aaron Laffey | CLE |
3 | Franklin Morales | COL |
4 | Kenshin Kawakami | ATL |
5 | Mike Hampton | HOU |
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Pitcher | TM | |
1 | Brad Penny | BOS |
2 | John Maine | NYM |
3 | Jo-Jo Reyes | ATL |
4 | Sidney Ponson | KC |
5 | Chien-Ming Wang | NYY |
Two-starter(s): Galarraga. Burgeoning young ace looks like an
advisable option in all leagues now.
Who is getting skipped:
Miner until the No. 5 spot is needed April 25. He still gets a start
this week, assuming the Tigers don't pull him from the rotation entirely.
One-week
sleeper: Jackson. He is ridiculously underowned at just 60 percent.
He is a lock-down ace now. Own him in all leagues. His matchup helps,
too.
One-week bust: Miner and Porcello. Miner is obvious,
especially since he might get yanked from the rotation, but we are not
sure you can truly trust Porcello just yet.
Florida Marlins
- Ricky Nolasco at PIT Maholm
- Josh Johnson vs PHI Park
- Chris Volstad vs PHI Moyer
- Anibal Sanchez at PIT Karstens
- Andrew Miller at PIT Ohlendorf, vs PHI Blanton
Two-starter(s): Likely Miller. He could be moved back off his
second start Sunday, but he would have to start in the next two games at
the Mets. We figure the Marlins will choose to keep their left-hander in
the rotation vs. the lefty-leaning Phillies on Sunday.
Who is
getting skipped: Perhaps Miller. But he gets one very favorable
start at Pittsburgh, and we don't think he moves off that second start
at home vs. the Phillies.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. His start
at Pittsburgh is not difficult.
One-week bust: Volstad. He is
a bit more risky vs. the Phillies. They can eat up a young right-hander,
even good ones.
Houston Astros
- Roy Oswalt vs LAD Stults
- Wandy Rodriguez vs LAD Wolf
- Mike Hampton vs CIN Arroyo, vs MIL Suppan
- Felipe Paulino vs MIL Gallardo
- Russ Ortiz vs LAD Kershaw, vs MIL Parra
Two-starter(s): Hampton and Ortiz. While Ortiz is a high-risk
option, Hampton might be an advisable one now. He looks healthy and
trustworthy again.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Astros
don't have a day off.
One-week sleeper: Hampton. He is hot and
getting two home starts.
One-week bust: Ortiz and Paulino.
Ortiz is not yet someone to trust even in the deepest of NL-only
leagues, while Paulino was hot in Triple-A, he draws the Brewers and
their ace.
Kansas City Royals
- Gil Meche at CLE Reyes
- Zack Greinke vs DET Porcello
- Kyle Davies vs DET Miner
- Sidney Ponson at CLE Laffey, vs DET Galarraga
- Horacio Ramirez at CLE Lee
Two-starter(s): Ponson. He has been decent, but we still have to
consider him a high-risk option, especially vs. those potent offenses.
Who
is getting skipped: None. Ramirez slots back in the rotation April
22 and will take the next few turns after frequent skippings.
One-week
sleeper: Davies. He has been solid out of the gate and draws the
Tigers' junk No. 5 starter.
One-week bust: Ponson and Ramirez.
It is still Ponson. Don't be fooled. Ramirez at CLE vs. Lee? Forget it.
Los Angeles Angels
- Joe Saunders vs LAA Verlander
- Jered Weaver vs DET Galarraga, vs. SEA Washburn
- Shane Loux vs SEA Bedard
- Darren Oliver vs DET Jackson
- TBD, Anthony Ortega, Sean O'Sullivan or Jordan Walden will be needed April 25 vs SEA Silva
Two-starter(s): Weaver. He hasn't been great, but he still could
be an advisable option.
Who is getting skipped: None. The
Angels play six consecutive games and need all five rotation slots.
One-week
sleeper: Weaver. He gets two starts at home.
One-week bust:
Oliver. He was decent in his first start, but it will be hard for him to
go long enough to beat Jackson and the Tigers.
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Chad Billingsley at COL Cook
- Randy Wolf at HOU Rodriguez
- Clayton Kershaw at HOU Ortiz, at COL Marquis
- Eric Stults at HOU Oswalt
- Likely James McDonald since Hiroki Kuroda (shoulder) now won't be ready to return ... at COL Jimenez
Two-starter(s): Kershaw. You saw his last start. He looks like a
must-start option in all leagues. He could be this year's Lincecum-like
breakthrough.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Dodgers need
all five starters, since the play straight through the weekend after
Monday's offday.
One-week sleeper: None. Kershaw and
Billingsley are must-starts, while McDonald is too risky and middle guys
Wolf and Stults have tough matchups.
One-week bust: McDonald.
He cannot be trusted right now, especially at Colorado vs. Jimenez.
Milwaukee Brewers
- Yovani Gallardo at HOU Paulino
- Manny Parra at PHI Blanton, at HOU Ortiz
- Jeff Suppan at HOU Hampton
- Braden Looper at PHI Hamels
- Dave Bush at PHI Myers
Two-starter(s): Parra. He is a bit more questionable than usual
because he pitches on the road in two hitter's parks.
Who is
getting skipped: None. After Monday's offday, the Brewers play
straight through the weekend.
One-week sleeper: Parra. We
would take the shot on him. He was much better his last time out.
One-week
bust: Looper, Bush and Suppan. They have tough matchups that make
them less intriguing this week.
Minnesota Twins
- Scott Baker at BOS Wakefield
- Francisco Liriano at BOS Penny
- Nick Blackburn at CLE Carmona
- Kevin Slowey at CLE Pavano
- Glen Perkins at CLE Laffey
Two-starter(s): None. They play just five games and would have to
skip one of their five starters to get a two-start pitcher. We don't see
it at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None, but they could
choose to skip anyone not named Baker or Liriano. Again, we don't see it.
One-week
sleeper: Perkins. Owned in just 44 percent of CBSSports.com's
leagues, he is one of the most underrated starters in baseball. He had
gone eight innings in both of his first two starts and draws the
Indians' No. 5 starter.
One-week bust: Blackburn. He is the
most hittable of the Twins starters and draws the offensively potent
Indians on the road. There is also a slim chance he could be skipped.
New York Mets
- Johan Santana vs WAS Olsen
- Mike Pelfrey (elbow), he's expected to return to the rotation April 25 vs WAS Cabrera after Nelson Figueroa's spot start.
- Oliver Perez at STL Pineiro, vs WAS Martis
- John Maine at STL Wainwright
- Livan Hernandez at STL Walters
Two-starter(s): Perez. He has one tough matchup and one favorable
one. We would use him in deeper leagues. He was much improved his last
time out with a return of his velocity after a WBC-caused slow start to
the spring.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Mets need the
No. 5 starter's spot against April 25 and Pelfrey should be ready after
Figueroa's spot start vs. the Brewers.
One-week sleeper:
Perez. We would trust him in deeper leagues at least again.
One-week
bust: Pelfrey and Maine. Pelfrey is coming off a skipped start and
Maine has started slow and draws the Cardinals' ace.
New York Yankees
- CC Sabathia vs OAK Anderson
- A.J. Burnett at BOS Beckett
- Andy Pettitte vs OAK Eveland, at BOS Wakefield
- Joba Chamberlain vs OAK Outman
- Chien-Ming Wang at BOS Lester
Two-starter(s): Pettitte and perhaps Sabathia. Pettitte gets a
favorable start vs. the A's and a much tougher assignment at Boston over
the weekend. Sabathia is a must-start regardless, but he would pick up a
second start at Boston if the Yankees move the mightily struggling Wang
off his Friday start in Boston.
Who is getting skipped: Maybe
Wang. He has been terrible, but the Yankees have made no decision to
move him off his Friday start after Thursday's offday.
One-week
sleeper: Pettitte. We would consider him a bit riskier than his name
suggests, but the two starts help.
One-week bust: Wang. He is
the worst starting pitcher in baseball history through three starts and
might not get a start.
Oakland Athletics
- Dallas Braden vs TB Garza
- Trevor Cahill vs TB Kazmir
- Dana Eveland vs NYY Pettitte, vs TB Sonnanstine
- Brett Anderson at NYY Sabathia
- Josh Outman at NYY Chamberlain
Two-starter(s): Eveland. He is a high-risk option at the Yankees
and vs. the Rays.
Who is getting skipped: None. Braden or
Eveland could be skipped after Thursday's offday, but we don't see it at
this point.
One-week sleeper: Cahill. He is off to a solid
start and is a nice flier in deeper formats right now.
One-week
bust: Braden, Eveland, Anderson and Outman. That is everyone not
named Cahill and since Cahill draws Kazmir, we consider him a bit risky,
too.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Cole Hamels vs MIL Looper
- Brett Myers vs MIL Bush
- Jamie Moyer vs SD Correia, at FLA Volstad
- Joe Blanton vs MIL Parra, at FLA Miller
- Chan Ho Park at FLA Johnson
Two-starter(s): Moyer and Blanton. They are sleepers for deeper
leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Phillies play every
day this week.
One-week sleeper: Moyer and Blanton. Moyer
draws the Padres at home and gets the Marlins in a pitcher's park in
South Florida, while Blanton draws the struggling Brewers at home and
the Marlins on the road.
One-week bust: None. We would say the
struggling Hamels, but we think he should be starting, despite his
struggles.
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Paul Maholm vs FLA Nolasco
- Zach Duke at SD Correia
- Ian Snell at SD Hill
- Ross Ohlendorf vs FLA Miller, at SD Peavy
- Jeff Karstens vs FLA Sanchez
Two-starter(s): Ohlendorf. He is a high-risk option no matter how
he has started and watch matchup(s) he has.
Who is getting skipped:
None. They have a Thursday offday, but we don't see a reason to skip
Ohlendorf to move up Karstens to Sunday.
One-week sleeper:
Duke. He has been a huge story to date and gets a favorable start at San
Diego, the best pitcher's park in baseball.
One-week bust:
Ohlendorf. Don't be sucked in by the lure of two starts with him.
San Diego Padres
- Jake Peavy at SF Cain, vs PIT Ohlendorf
- Chris R. Young at SF Zito
- Shawn Hill vs PIT Snell
- Kevin Correia at PHI Moyer, vs PIT Duke
- Josh Geer, likely to be skipped, if not, he takes Peavy's start Sunday
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Pitcher | TM | |
1 | Heath Bell | SD |
2 | Brad Lidge | PHI |
3 | Joe Nathan | MIN |
4 | Kerry Wood | CLE |
5 | Todd Coffey | MIL |
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Pitcher | TM | |
1 | Joel Hanrahan | WAS |
2 | Brian Wilson | SF |
3 | George Sherrill | BAL |
4 | Carlos Villanueva | MIL |
5 | Brad Ziegler | OAK |
Two-starter(s): Perhaps Correia and Peavy. Correia is pretty
certain to get double starts, while Peavy could as well, if the Padres
choose to skip the No. 5 starter's spot. Peavy is a must-start pitcher
regardless of the number of starters or matchup(s).
Who is getting
skipped: Perhaps Geer, maybe Correia. The Padres have a Thursday
offday and skipping Correia (unlikely) or Geer (more likely) would allow
Peavy to start on regular rest Sunday.
One-week sleeper: Hill
and Young. Hill has been decent and looks like a decent option in deeper
formats right now. Young is coming off a brutal start, but he looks like
an advisable option at San Francisco.
One-week bust: Correia
and Geer. We wouldn't trust the back-end of the Padres rotation still.
San Francisco Giants
- Tim Lincecum at ARI Scherzer
- Randy Johnson at ARI Garland
- Matt Cain vs SD Peavy
- Barry Zito vs SD Young
- Jonathan Sanchez at ARI Davis
Two-starter(s): None. The Giants play just five games this week.
Who
is getting skipped: None. If they Giants were going to skip someone,
it would have to be Zito. But they have already announced he will take
his turn Wednesday.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. He was great
his last time out and draws a decent matchup.
One-week bust:
Zito and Johnson. The veterans don't look trustworthy in any formats
right now.
Seattle Mariners
- Felix Hernandez vs TB Shields
- Erik Bedard at LAA Loux
- Jarrod Washburn vs TB Sonnanstine, at LAA Weaver
- Carlos Silva vs LAA TBD
- Chris Jakubauskas vs TB Niemann
Two-starter(s): Washburn. He is off to a surprising start, but we
have to consider him a somewhat questionable option still with those
matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None. They could have moved
Jakubauskas back to later in the week, but all of the Mariners starters
will work in succession.
One-week sleeper: Washburn. In what
figures to be his final season before retirement, Washburn is off to a
great start. He pitches against two of baseball's playoff teams from a
year ago, though. The good news is both those teams have started slowly.
One-week
bust: Jakubauskas and Silva. We still consider them all-week busts.
Don't trust the back end of the Mariners' rotation.
St. Louis Cardinals
- Adam Wainwright vs NYM Maine
- Kyle Lohse vs CHC Dempster
- Todd Wellemeyer vs CHC Lilly
- Joel Pineiro vs NYM Perez, vs CHC Harden
- P.J. Walters vs NYM Hernandez
Two-starter(s): Pineiro. He draws tough matchups, so consider him
a questionable-to-risky option.
Who is getting skipped: None.
After Monday's offday, the Cardinals play six games straight through the
weekend.
One-week sleeper: Walters. He struck out seven in his
first start vs. the Cubs, so he likely earns rotation status while
Carpenter is out 4-to-8 weeks. He also faces the Mets No. 5 starter, so
consider him in NL-only leagues.
One-week bust: Pineiro. His
two-start week is tempting, but the offensively potent Mets and Cubs
make him risky and best left for NL-only formats.
Tampa Bay Rays
- James Shields at SEA Hernandez
- Scott Kazmir at OAK Cahill
- Matt Garza at OAK Braden
- Andy Sonnanstine at SEA Washburn, at OAK Eveland
- Jeff Niemann at SEA Jakubauskas
Two-starter(s): Sonnanstine. He gets great matchups, too.
Consider him advisable in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped:
None. After Monday's offday, the Rays play six games straight through
the weekend.
One-week sleeper: Niemann. He hasn't been very
good, but he draws the Mariners in a pitcher's park with a career
journeyman opposing him.
One-week bust: None. All of the Rays
starters after viable in any formats this week.
Texas Rangers
- Kevin Millwood at BAL Uehara
- Vicente Padilla at BAL Hendrickson
- Kris Benson at TOR Purcey
- Brandon McCarthy at TOR Halladay, at BAL Bergesen
- Matt Harrison at TOR Richmond
Two-starter(s): McCarthy. He has a real tough matchup Tuesday,
but the matchup Sunday makes up for it. Consider him advisable in deeper
leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. After Monday's offday,
the Rangers play six games straight through the weekend. Harrison is
struggling, but he remains in the rotation, while Derek Holland remains in the bullpen ... for now.
One-week
sleeper: McCarthy. Two-start week looks favorable for a starter who
might finally be ready to hit stride, for a team that can score tons of
runs for him.
One-week bust: Harrison. He can't be trusted in
any matchup(s) right now. Avoid him even in AL-only leagues.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Roy Halladay vs TEX McCarthy, at CHW Contreras
- David Purcey vs TEX Benson
- Ricky Romero at CHW Floyd
- Scott Richmond vs TEX Harrison
- Brian Tallet at CHW Buehrle
Two-starter(s): Halladay. Sit him. We dare you.
Who is
getting skipped: None. After Monday's offday, the Blue Jays play six
straight through the weekend. Tallet looks capable of staying in the
rotation for the forseeable future.
One-week sleeper: Romero.
He has been dynamite and at least he doesn't have to start against the
Rangers. He draws the White Sox instead, slightly more favorable of a
matchup.
One-week bust: Purcey and Richmond. Halladay is the
only Blue Jays starter who could be trusted against the Rangers' potent
offense.
Washington Nationals
- John Lannan vs ATL Jurrjens
- Scott Olsen at NYM Santana
- Daniel Cabrera at NYM Pelfrey
- Shairon Martis vs ATL Kawakami, at NYM Perez?
- Jordan Zimmermann vs ATL Lowe
Two-starter(s): Zimmermann or Martis. Zimmermann makes his major
league debut Monday and could make his second start over next weekend at
the Mets, but Martis is the Nationals best starter and could force
Zimmermann back a few days. Elias Sports Burreau believes Martis will be
the two-start pitcher, but we tend to think there is no reason not to
keep Zimmermann on his regular turn.
Who is getting skipped:
Perhaps Zimmermann. As we stated above he still gets at least one start,
but a potential skipping could keep him from a second.
One-week
sleeper: Zimmermann and Martis. Even with one start, these guys are
useful in deeper formats. It might be better either one of them gets
only one start, because that second start at the Mets is a tough one. We
say use Martis over Zimmermann at this point, especially since we feel
Zimmermann makes that unfavorable second start at the Mets.
One-week
bust: Olsen and Cabrera. Olsen draws the Mets' Santana, while
Cabrera is an all-week bust guy still.
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