Week 7 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 FLA Nolasco, at OAK Gallagher
2. Jon Garlandat FLA Johnson, at OAK Outman
3. Doug Davis at FLA Volstad
4. Max Scherzer at FLA Miller
5. Bryan Augenstein at OAK Cahill

Two-starter(s): Haren and Garland. Haren is a must-start, while Garland is a questionable option best left for deeper leagues. A Sunday rainout pushed Garland off his Sunday start back to Tuesday, which makes him a two-start sleeper again. He burned us last week with a bad past start.
Who is getting skipped: Augenstein. He was going to start Tuesday as a two-start pitcher, but now he is merely a one-start option that could be held out until the next time the D-Backs need a No. 5 starter May 22 at Oakland.
One-week sleeper: Scherzer. He finally get his first victory out of the way. He is capable of taking off.
One-week bust: Garland. He was a failure at the start of his two-start week, so you cannot trust him in this one.

Atlanta Braves

1. Derek Lowe vs COL Marquis, vs TOR Richmond
2. Jair Jurrjens vs COL Hammel, vs TOR Tallet
3. Javier Vazquez vs COL Hammel
4. Kenshin Kawakami vs COL Cook
5. Kris Medlen was going to be called up to start Tuesday, but a Sunday rainout means the Braves won't need that turn until May 21 vs. COL Cook

Two-starter(s): Lowe and Jurrjens and Medlen. They are must-starts in all leagues regardless of the matchup(s).
Who is getting skipped: Medlen. Medlen had been announced as the call-up for Tuesday, but the Braves say he will go Thursday instead now. Interestingly, that is actually Tommy Hanson's (2-3, 1.70 in Triple-A) regular turn.
One-week sleeper: Medlen. We figured the Braves are giving Medlen (5-0, 1.19 in Triple-A) an early look before Tom Glavine's potential return, while Hanson is someone they would go to full-time and not move in and out of the rotation once he is given the call. Medlen doesn't get the two starts we expected, but he gets a favorable one still.
One-week bust: Kawakami. He has been better, but he is still not trustworthy in mixed leagues.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Jeremy Guthrie at NYY Hughes
2. Koji Uehara at WAS Detwiler
3. Rich J. Hill at WAS Zimmermann
4. Adam Eaton at NYY Chamberlain
5. Bradley Bergesen at NYY Sabathia, at WAS Martis

Two-starter(s): Bergesen. He is a risky option even in the deepest of AL-only leagues. He has been far too hittable (.348 batting-average against).
Who is getting skipped: None. The Orioles really don't have a reason to skip Bergesen or Eaton this week, despite the Monday offday.
One-week sleeper: Hill and Uehara. Hill was decent in his return from the DL and draws the Nationals. He is a sleeper even for mixed leagues. He might be the best starter on the Orioles staff already. Uehara is also decent and drawing a winnable matchup.
One-week bust: Guthrie. The Orioles' most-owned starter to start the year is facing the Yankees. Don't trust him.

Boston Red Sox

1. Josh Beckett vs NYM Pelfrey or Santana
2. Jon Lester vs TOR Ray
3. Tim Wakefield vs TOR Tallet, vs NYM Redding
4. Brad Penny vs TOR Cecil
5. Justin Masterson, although Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected to return May 22 or 23 vs. NYM Santana or Pelfrey

Two-starter(s): Wakefield. He is a sleeper for deeper leagues, although he is facing two first-place teams.
Who is getting skipped: Masterson. The return of Dice-K is expected to push him back to a relief role.
One-week sleeper: Penny. He has shown improvement in his past three starts and remains useful in deeper mixed leagues.
One-week bust: Dice-K. You should be wary trusting a struggling starter in his first game off the DL. Keep him reserved for one more week.

Chicago Cubs

1. Carlos Zambrano, expected to return from DL on May 22 at SD Geer
2. Ryan Dempster at STL Carpenter
3. Ted Lilly at STL Lohse, at SD Young
4. Rich Harden at SD Peavy
5. Sean Marshall at STL Wainwright

Two-starter(s): Lilly. He is an advisable option in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Randy Wells. The Cubs chose to slot Wells over Marshall last time, but Marshall is listed as Thursday's starter before Zambrano returns from the DL. This likely means no Fantasy Week 7 (May 18-24) start for Wells. Marshall will be pitching for his rotation spot Thursday.
One-week sleeper: Zambrano. We said starters off the DL are risky, but Zambrano is pitching at San Diego, a pitcher's park and a decent matchup. Use him in mixed leagues even.
One-week bust: Marshall. He draws the Cardinals, their ace and is facing pressure from the red-hot Wells for the No. 5 starter's spot going forward.

Chicago White Sox

1. Mark Buehrle vs MIN Baker, vs PIT Karstens
2. John Danks vs MIN Liriano
3. Gavin Floyd vs PIT Duke
4. Bartolo Colon vs MIN Blackburn
5. Clayton Richard at TOR Richmond, vs PIT Ohlendorf

Two-starter(s): Richard and Buehrle. Richard is a risky option for deeper formats, while Buehrle is at least advisable, likely even a must-start, in all leagues right now.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Floyd. He has been putrid, but he draws a favorable matchup this week and can still be of use in deeper mixed leagues because of it.
One-week bust: Richard. We wouldn't trust him in any format just yet.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Aaron Harang vs PHI Blanton
2. Edinson Volquez (back, questionable) vs CLE Pavano
3. Bronson Arroyo vs CLE Huff
4. Johnny Cueto vs PHI Hamels, vs CLE Lee
5. Micah Owings vs PHI Moyer

Two-starter(s): Cueto. He has tough matchups, but you need a far better reason to sit this young ace right now.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Owings. Moyer has been terrible, so Owings could get a lot of run support. He will need it vs. Philly in that hitter's park.
One-week bust: Arroyo. He leads the staff with five victories, but also a 7.02 ERA. He is difficult to trust right now.

Cleveland Indians

1. Cliff Lee at KC Bannister, at CIN Arroyo
2. Fausto Carmona at KC Meche
3. Carl Pavano at CIN Volquez
4. Anthony Reyes at KC Greinke
5. David Huff at CIN Arroyo

Two-starter(s): Lee. He remains a must-start ace in all Fantasy leagues, despite his slow start.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Carmona. Despite his high ERA, he does have a nice .255 batting-average against, which suggests there is some improvement to be seen in his results going forward.
One-week bust: Pavano and Reyes. We cannot advise using them in any leagues right now, especially in those matchups.

Colorado Rockies

1. Aaron Cook at ATL Medlen
2. Ubaldo Jimenez at DET Porcello
3. Jason Marquis at ATL Lowe, at DET Galarraga
4. Jason Hammel at ATL Jurrjens, at DET Willis
5. Jorge De La Rosa at ATL Vazquez

Two-starter(s): Marquis and Hammel.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Jimenez. His talent is far greater than his 83 percent ownership and 3-4, 4.73 numbers suggest. His past three starts are more indicative of his potential.
One-week bust: Marquis. His last start represents an expected market correction here. Don't trust him in mixed leagues this week.

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander vs TEX Harrison
2. Edwin Jackson vs TEX Millwood
3. Armando Galarraga vs COL Marquis
4. Rick Porcello vs COL Jimenez
5. Dontrelle Willis vs. TEX McCarthy, vs COL Hammel

Two-starter(s): Willis. He is a risky option that is best stashed until he can prove effective again.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Jackson. He is too hot to sit even in that tough matchup. He shouldn't be available in 17 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues right now.
One-week bust: Willis. Unfortunately, we cannot advise using him in those matchups after his disappointing season debut. He could still prove to be a viable major league starter, but keep him reserved until he does so.

Florida Marlins

1. Ricky Nolasco vs ARI Haren, vs TB Niemann
2. Josh Johnson vs ARI Garland, vs TB Shields
3. Chris Volstad vs ARI Davis
4. Andrew Miller vs ARI Scherzer
5. TBD Burke Badenhop or Hayden Penn vs TB Sonnanstine

Two-starter(s): Nolasco and Johnson. Johnson is a must-start, while Nolasco is a questionable option amid his horrendous start to the season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Miller. He is available in 85 percent of leagues and likely shouldn't be. There could be a point this season he is worthy of being owned in all leagues. It is too early to give up on a talent this promising.
One-week bust: Nolasco. He has been too awful to trust in most formats, so start him at your own risk.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt vs MIL Suppan
2. Wandy Rodriguez vs MIL Gallardo
3. Mike Hampton vs MIL Bush, vs TEX McCarthy
4. Brian Moehler vs TEX Padilla
5. Felipe Paulino vs TEX Feldman

Two-starter(s): Hampton. He is a questionable option, especially since he will have to face that potent Rangers lineup.
Who is getting skipped: Paulino. He will move back to May 23 at the back end of the Astros rotation.
One-week sleeper: None. The top two starters are must-starts, while the other three are high risk.
One-week bust: Hampton. He hasn't consistent enough to trust as a two-start in most leagues.

Kansas City Royals

1. Zack Greinke vs CLE Reyes
2. Gil Meche vs CLE Carmona
3. Kyle Davies at STL Wellemeyer
4. Brian Bannister vs CLE Lee, at STL Lohse
5. Luke Hochevar at STL Pineiro

Two-starter(s): Bannister. Despite his solid starts, Bannister draws some tough matchups that make him a less advisable option in his two-start week.
Who is getting skipped: None. Davies and Hochevar will be evaluated on a start-to-start basis, though.
One-week sleeper: Bannister. He has yet to be terrible, so the risk is a bit minimal going in.
One-week bust: Davies. He has been better of late, but drawing the potent Cardinals on the road is reason enough to avoid him this week.

Los Angeles Angels

1. John Lackey at SEA Washburn, at LAD Wolf
2. Ervin Santana at SEA Jakubauskas
3. Joe Saunders at SEA Bedard
4. Jered Weaver at LAD Kershaw
5. Matt Palmer at SEA Hernandez, at LAD Billingsley

Two-starter(s): Lackey and Palmer. Lackey's two-pitch outing Saturday due to an ejection allows him to start Monday-Saturday, moving Santana off a two-start week. Lackey and Santana are must-start pitchers regardless of the matchup(s), while Palmer is a nice sleeper for deeper leagues amid his wild hot streak.
Who is getting skipped: None as of yet. Palmer could be moved back, but we still think he starts Tuesday, if not Monday.
One-week sleeper: Palmer. The top four starters are must-start options in most leagues, while Palmer has pitched well and gets double starts.
One-week bust: None. All five of the Angels starters are decent options this week.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Chad Billingsley vs NYM Maine, vs LAA Palmer
2. Randy Wolf vs NYM Redding, vs LAA Lackey
3. Clayton Kershaw vs LAA Weaver
4. Eric Stults (thumb, questionable) vs NYM Hernandez (Jeff Weaver is a spot-start candidate)
5. Eric Milton, but he is expected to be skipped

Two-starter(s): Wolf and likely Billingsley. Wolf is a sleeper for deeper leagues, while Billingsley is a must-start in all leagues, with or without two starts. The Dodgers figure to skip Milton's No. 5 spot in the rotation Friday after Thursday's offday.
Who is getting skipped: Milton. He wasn't great in his season debut Saturday and MLB.com reports Joe Torre is expecting to skip him, giving Billingsley a second start Sunday.
One-week sleeper: Wolf. He faces two solid teams, but those are No. 5 starters he will be going against.
One-week bust: Stults. He might not start, and if he does, it will be against a potent Mets lineup. Don't use him this week.

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Yovani Gallardo at HOU Rodriguez
2. Manny Parra at MIN Slowey
3. Jeff Suppan at HOU Oswalt
4. Braden Looper at STL Pineiro, at MIN Perkins
5. Dave Bush at HOU Hampton, at MIN Baker

Two-starter(s): Looper and Bush. They are sleepers for deeper leagues in their two-start weeks.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Bush. He is slightly more favorable than Looper in our view. Both could prove useful, though.
One-week bust: Suppan. He is the least impressive and draws the toughest matchup of the Brewers' steady five starters.

Minnesota Twins

1. Francisco Liriano at CHW Danks
2. Scott Baker at CHW Buehrle, vs MIL Bush
3. Kevin Slowey vs MIL Parra
4. Glen Perkins at NYY Pettitte, vs MIL Looper
5. Nick Blackburn at CHW Danks

Two-starter(s): Perkins and Baker. They haven't been pitching well -- and they draw tough matchups -- but they could prove useful as sleepers in deeper formats.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Blackburn. He is pitching better than his 23 percent CBSSports.com ownership suggests.
One-week bust: Perkins and Baker. They are nice sleepers, but we cannot advise you trusting them at this point.

New York Mets

1. Johan Santana at BOS Matsuzaka?
2. Mike Pelfrey at BOS Beckett
3. John Maine at LAD Billingsley
4. Livan Hernandez at LAD Stults?
5. Tim Redding at LAD Wolf, at BOS Wakefield

Two-starter(s): Redding. He comes off the DL for a risky two-start week against a pair of potent teams.
Who is getting skipped: None. Redding could be a candidate to be skipped Sunday after Thursday's offday, but the Mets don't tend to skip their No. 5 starter unless there is an injury. Maine would move up for a second start, so consider him a slightly more intriguing one-start option.
One-week sleeper: Maine. Santana is a must-start option, while the other three are risky. Maine is the only non-Santana Mets starter we can advise this week.
One-week bust: Pelfrey, Hernandez and Redding. Start these guys at your own risk this week. They could all have value, but this week they are risky.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia vs BAL Bergesen, vs PHI Hamels
2. A.J. Burnett vs PHI Myers
3. Andy Pettitte vs MIN Perkins, vs PHI Park
4. Joba Chamberlain vs BAL Eaton
5. Phil Hughes vs BAL Guthrie

Two-starter(s): Pettitte and Sabathia. They are must-start, two-starters in all leagues at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None. We thought Chien-Ming Wang could take Hughes' turn this week, but Wang worked Sunday on a rehab assignment and won't be ready for Hughes' scheduled turn Wednesday. Hughes gets another start to prove his major league worthiness.
One-week sleeper: Hughes. He gets another start to prove his major league worthiness and a very favorable matchup.
One-week bust: None. All five Yankees starters are viable options in Fantasy Week 7 (May 18-24).

Oakland Athletics

1. Trevor Cahill vs ARI Augenstein
2. Dallas Braden at TB Garza
3. Brett Anderson at TB Kazmir
4. Josh Outman at TB Shields, vs ARI Garland
5. Sean Gallagher at TB Niemann, vs ARI Haren

Two-starter(s): Gallagher and Outman. We wouldn't trust them outside of AL-only leagues at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. All of the A's starters are difficult to trust right now.
One-week bust: Anderson. He draws a tough matchup and has been getting hammered.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Cole Hamels at CIN Cueto, at NYY Sabathia
2. Brett Myers at NYY Burnett
3. Jamie Moyer at CIN Owings
4. Joe Blanton at CIN Harang
5. Chan Ho Park at NYY Pettitte

Two-starter(s): Hamels. Now that he is pitching better, he is a must-start in all leagues again.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. Hamels and Myers are likely must-starts, while the bottom three are too risky to trust in any formats right now.
One-week bust: Moyer, Blanton and Park. Start them at your own risk right now. We don't like their matchups, recent results or potential to help you right now.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Paul Maholm at WAS Lannan
2. Zach Duke at CHW Floyd
3. Ian Snell at WAS Cabrera
4. Ross Ohlendorf at WAS Detwiler, at CHW Richard
5. Jeff Karstens at WAS Martis, at CHW Buehrle

Two-starter(s): Ohlendorf and Karstens. Ohlendorf is a sleeper in deeper leagues, while Karstens is too risky to use in mixed formats.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Maholm and Ohlendorf. This is one week where we can advise a Pirates starter.
One-week bust: Snell. He has a favorable start, but he hasn't pitched well to deserve any trust in mixed leagues even in that matchup.

San Diego Padres

1. Jake Peavy vs CHC Harden
2. Chris R. Young vs SF Zito, vs CHC Lilly
3. Chad Gaudin vs SF Sanchez
4. Kevin Correia vs SF Lincecum
5. Josh Geer vs CHC Zambrano

Two-starter(s): Young. He is a sleeper, despite his slow start to the season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Young. His last start was poor, but the two starts make him worth starting in deeper leagues. He can come through, if you feel like taking a mild risk.
One-week bust: Gaudin, Correia and Geer. Don't use these guys unless out of desperation in NL-only formats at this point.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum at SD Correia
2. Randy Johnson at SEA Vargas
3. Matt Cain at SEA Washburn
4. Barry Zito at SD Young, at SEA Hernandez
5. Jonathan Sanchez at SD Gaudin

Two-starter(s): Zito. He is a sleeper in deeper leagues, especially because he faces two offenses that aren't all that threatening.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Zito and Sanchez. Lincecum and Cain are must-starts, Johnson is not pitching well right now and Zito and Sanchez could be useful as fill-ins in deeper leagues.
One-week bust: Johnson. He is too risky to start amid his recent starts. That is a winnable start, though.

Seattle Mariners

1. Felix Hernandez vs LAA Palmer, vs SF Zito
2. Erik Bedard vs LAA Saunders
3. Jarrod Washburn vs LAA Lackey, vs SF Cain
4. Chris Jakubauskas vs LAA Santana
5. Jason M. Vargas vs SF Johnson

Two-starter(s): Washburn and Hernandez. King Felix is a must-start in all leagues. Washburn is a nice sleeper in deeper formats amid his surprising start.
Who is getting skipped: None. Bedard is coming off an injury, though, so they could be inclined to DL him if he cannot take his next turn. It is currently expected he will.
One-week sleeper: Washburn. Those are winnable matchups, especially the way Washburn has pitched this season.
One-week bust: Bedard. He is a question mark due to his sore hamstring and will face the Angels. Those are two very good reasons to consider other options in smaller mixed leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter, expected to return from DL on May 20 vs. CHC Dempster
2. Adam Wainwright vs CHC Marshall
3. Kyle Lohse vs CHC Lilly, vs KC Bannister
4. Todd Wellemeyer vs KC Davies
5. Joel Pineiro vs MIL Looper, vs KC Hochevar

Two-starter(s): Pineiro and Lohse. They are advisable options in most formats.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pineiro. He gets run support and hasn't embarrassed himself this season.
One-week bust: Carpenter. He returns from the DL without a rehab assignment, so he might be held to a tight pitch count. That is a tough matchup to return in, too. Leave him reserved one more week before trusting him next week.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields vs OAK Outman, at FLA Johnson
2. Scott Kazmir vs OAK Anderson
3. Matt Garza vs OAK Braden
4. Andy Sonnanstine at FLA Badenhop/Penn
5. Jeff Niemann vs OAK Gallagher, at FLA Nolasco

Two-starter(s): Niemann and Shields. Shields is a must-start in all leagues, while Niemann is a risky option.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. Shields and Garza are must-starts, while the other three are too risky to trust right now.
One-week bust: Kazmir, Sonnanstine and Niemann. They are not pitching well enough to trust in most formats right now.

Texas Rangers

1. Kevin Millwood at DET Jackson
2. Vicente Padilla at HOU Moehler
3. Brandon McCarthy at DET Willis, at HOU Hampton
4. Matt Harrison at DET Verlander
5. Scott Feldman at HOU Paulino

Two-starter(s): McCarthy. He is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: McCarthy. He draws some decent matchups away from his hitter's park. We already figure he would get solid run support, but he could win these two matchups.
One-week bust: Harrison. The trust factor has been rising quickly with this hot young arm, but we might keep him reserved for that matchup in mixed leagues. One more solid start and he is a must-own in all leagues, though.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Roy Halladay at ATL Kawakami
2. Brett Cecil at BOS Penny
3. Scott Richmond vs CHW Richard, at ATL Lowe
4. Brian Tallet at BOS Wakefield, at ATL Jurrjens
5. Robert Ray at BOS Lester

Two-starter(s): Richmond and Tallet. They are sleepers in deeper formats due to their two starts.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Richmond. He hasn't been as good of late (awful last time out), but he gets two winnable starts if you want to take a risk on him in deeper formats.
One-week bust: Cecil, Tallet and Ray. Tallet has posted three consecutive quality starts, but he really shouldn't be trusted outside of AL-only leagues. Cecil and Ray have to contend with the relentless Red Sox lineup. Start them at your own risk.

Washington Nationals

1. John Lannan vs PIT Maholm
2. Shairon Martis vs PIT Karstens, vs BAL Bergesen
3. Jordan Zimmermann vs BAL Hill
4. Daniel Cabrera vs PIT Snell
5. Ross Detwiler vs PIT Ohlendorf, vs BAL Uehara

Two-starter(s): Detwiler and Martis. The rookies are sleeper for deeper leagues, especially in those matchups. Martis is one to trust even in mixed formats right now.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Nationals needed a No. 6 starter and technically get one in Detwiler as Scott Olsen heads to the DL after his last start.
One-week sleeper: Martis. He is 5-0 and proving trustworthy in all mixed leagues. He has great matchups to boot.
One-week bust: Detwiler. The elite pitching prospect has a 2.96 ERA and .257 batting-average against, but he hasn't be pitched past the fifth inning yet this season. That makes him difficult to trust in his first two major league starts. He likely won't go long enough to get a victory.

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