Week 8 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 vs ATL Lowe
2. Jon Garland vs ATL Jurrjens
3. Doug Davis vs SD Gaudin, vs ATL Vazquez
4. Max Scherzer vs SD Correia, vs ATL Medlen?
5. Billy Buckner vs SD Peavy

Two-starter(s): Davis and Scherzer. Davis is a questionable option after his bad last start, while Scherzer is advisable on potential alone. He is long overdue to take off.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Davis. He seems to run hot and cold, which is what we expect will happen in Fantasy Week 8 (May 25-31), a good start and a loss.
One-week bust: Garland. He too has run hot and cold, so we cannot advise you using him as a one-starter in that matchup.

Atlanta Braves

1. Derek Lowe at ARI Haren
2. Jair Jurrjens at ARI Garland
3. Javier Vazquez at SF Sanchez, at ARI Davis
4. Kenshin Kawakami at SF Johnson
5. Kris Medlen at SF Lincecum, at ARI? Scherzer

Two-starter(s): Vazquez and Medlen. Vazquez is a must-start in all leagues, while Medlen is a high-risk option after his poor debut. There is no reason in the world Tommy Hanson shouldn't be making these starts. Oh well, patience, we suppose.
Who is getting skipped: None. Although Medlen could be removed for Hanson for a second start with another bad outing.
One-week sleeper: Kawakami. He was outstanding in his last start and draws a decent matchup.
One-week bust: Medlen. His numbers in Triple-A were great and he draws two starts, but there is no guarantee he gets a second start with Hanson working on the same turn back in the minors. Hanson is going to arrive and dominate at some point soon.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Jeremy Guthrie vs TOR Tallet, vs DET Verlander
2. Rich J. Hill vs TOR Halladay
3. Koji Uehara (hamstring, questionable) vs DET Galarraga
4. Bradley Bergesen vs DET Willis
5. TBD vs TOR Romero, vs DET Jackson

Two-starter(s): Guthrie and TBD No. 5. Guthrie is at best a questionable option. We wouldn't trust him outside of deeper AL-only formats. The TBD could have gone to Chris Tillman, but he left his last start with a tight groin. Troy Patton has been awesome in Double-A, but started Sunday and wouldn't be on regular rest. Jason Berken (2-0 in five Triple-A starts with a 1.05 ERA) can fill in until Tillman is ready come June.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Bergesen. We would trust him in AL-only leagues. He has only had one real bad start in his first six.
One-week bust: Guthrie. He is a dangerous guy to trust, especially against those teams. We wouldn't go to the well here.

Boston Red Sox

1. Josh Beckett at MIN Swarzak
2. Jon Lester at MIN Blackburn, at TOR Tallet
3. Daisuke Matsuzaka at MIN Slowey
4. Tim Wakefield at TOR Janssen
5. Brad Penny at MIN Liriano, at TOR Richmond

Two-starter(s): Penny and Lester. They had their struggles this year, but we consider them advisable options in any format in Fantasy Week 8 (May 25-31).
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Penny. He is underowned for a Red Sox starter. All of them are worthy of keeping active right now.
One-week bust: None. All five Red Sox starters should be active at this point. John Smoltz (shoulder) is on the way in a rehab assignment, but it will be real interesting to see who might lose their rotation spot if they all stay healthy. The Red Sox could be headed to a six-man rotation even.

Chicago Cubs

1. Carlos Zambrano vs PIT Duke
2. Ryan Dempster vs PIT Maholm, vs LAD Stults?
3. Ted Lilly vs LAD Billingsley
4. Randy Wells vs LAD Wolf
5. Sean Marshall vs PIT Snell, vs LAD Milton?

Two-starter(s): Dempster and Marshall. They are advisable options in most leagues this week. Rich Harden's DL stint saves Marshall's two-start week.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Marshall. He is still underrated and will be until he is the Cubs' sure-fire choice as the No. 5 starter when everyone is healthy.
One-week bust: Lilly. He draws the toughest matchup, but really all Cubs starters are worth having active this week.

Chicago White Sox

1. Mark Buehrle at KC Meche
2. John Danks at LAA Santana, at KC Geinke
3. Gavin Floyd at LAA Weaver
4. Bartolo Colon at LAA Saunders
5. Clayton Richard at KC Bannister

Two-starter(s): Danks. He is an advisable option in all leagues now that he is has gotten his slump out of his system.
Who is getting skipped: None. Richard starts Friday after a Thursday offday, but after his past two starts, he is too promising to skip. Colon could have been an option amid his recent struggles, but he starts before the day off.
One-week sleeper: Richard. He is hot and draws a winnable matchup. Consider him a sleeper in deeper mixed formats right now.
One-week bust: Floyd and Colon. Their slumps and matchup(s) make them difficult to trust this week. Find more intriguing options in any league.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Aaron Harang vs HOU Rodriguez, at MIL Bush
2. Bronson Arroyo vs HOU Paulino
3. Johnny Cueto at MIL Looper
4. Micah Owings vs HOU Oswalt, at MIL Gallardo
5. Vacant. This turn can be skipped until Edinson Volquez returns June 2 at St. Louis

Two-starter(s): Harang and Owings. Harang is a must-start, while Owings is a risky option best left for the deepest of NL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: No. 5, which was Homer Bailey. Bailey struggled Saturday and was sent back to the minors. This means the Reds likely will skip the No. 5 spot until June 2, when Volquez (back) can return from the DL.
One-week sleeper: Arroyo. His past two starts have been quality and he draws the best matchup this week among Reds starters.
One-week bust: Owings. He is coming off his worst start and draws very tough opposing pitchers.

Cleveland Indians

1. Cliff Lee vs NYY Wang?
2. Fausto Carmona vs TB Price, vs NYY Pettitte?
3. Carl Pavano vs TB Garza, vs NYY Sabathia?
4. David Huff vs TB Niemann
5. TBD, likely Jeremy Sowers vs TB Sonnanstine

Two-starter(s): Carmona and Pavano. They are questionable options in most leagues, but we would certainly run them out there in AL-only formats where viable options are less readily available.
Who is getting skipped: None. With Anthony Reyes and Aaron Laffey on the DL, Huff and Sowers are likely to fill the back end of the rotation for the next few weeks.
One-week sleeper: Pavano. He has a 6.10 ERA and draws two tough matchups -- not to mention this is Pavano -- but he has won four of his past five starts.
One-week bust: All. We see bust potential in all of the Indians' starters this week. Carmona and Pavano are potential powder-keg two-starters (despite our belief they can surprise) and Huff and Sowers are great in the minors but yet to prove effective in the majors. Lee is likely a solid start, but he faces the red-hot and potent Alex Rodriguez-led Yankees. There is potential in this rotation, but none of them are really trustworthy in Fantasy Week 8 (May 25-31).

Colorado Rockies

1. Aaron Cook vs LAD Milton?
2. Ubaldo Jimenez vs LAD Kershaw
3. Jason Marquis vs SD Geer
4. Jason Hammel vs SD Young
5. Jorge De La Rosa vs LAD Stults?, vs SD Gaudin

Two-starter(s): De La Rosa. His numbers are quietly pretty decent, despite his 0-4 record. Consider him a questionable option, especially since he has to face the Dodgers and pitches twice at home.
Who is getting skipped: None. They have a Thursday offday, but we don't see Marquis, Hammel or De La Rosa getting moved off their weekend starts.
One-week sleeper: Marquis. He had a couple of stinkers in mid-May, but his past two starts have been dominant. His next matchup is a good one, too.
One-week bust: De La Rosa. You can like his periphals, but there is a reason he hasn't won a start yet. You know all the talk about ignoring a pitcher's won-loss record? Ignoring it here could be potentially dangerous.

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander at KC Meche, at BAL Guthrie
2. Edwin Jackson at KC Greinke, at BAL TBD
3. Armando Galarraga at BAL Uehara
4. Rick Porcello at KC Davies
5. Dontrelle Willis at BAL Bergesen

Two-starter(s): Verlander and Jackson. They are must-starts in all leagues right now.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Willis. He is still an erratic lefty, but he is a nice buy-low candidate right now. You certainly cannot argue with his Fantasy Week 8 (May 25-31) matchup either.
One-week bust: Galarraga. He is closer to losing his rotation spot than being worth trusting in Fantasy rotations right now. Jeremy Bonderman (shoulder) needs more time on his rehab assignment, but Galarraga's time might be running out.

Florida Marlins

1. Josh Johnson at NYM Redding
2. Chris Volstad at PHI Moyer, at NYM Maine
3. Andrew Miller at PHI Blanton
4. Sean West at NYM Pelfrey
5. TBD, perhaps Sean Henn or Burke Badenhop at PHI Myers

Two-starter(s): Volstad. He has tough matchups, but likely remains an advisable option in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. They could skip West on Friday on Thursday's offday to give Miller as second start, but West was good enough to earn another look or two.
One-week sleeper: Miller. He faces the potent Phillies, but the left-hander at least is a challenge for the best bats the Phillies have from the left side.
One-week bust: West and No. 5 TBD. We cannot advise trusting them against the Mets, although it is in a pitcher's park.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt at CIN Owings
2. Wandy Rodriguez at CIN Harang, at PIT Maholm
3. Mike Hampton at PIT Karstens
4. Felipe Paulino at CIN Arroyo
5. Brian Moehler? at PIT Ohlendorf

Two-starter(s): Rodriguez. A return of Brandon Backe (oblique) could affect his second start, but Rodriguez's rise to ace-dom makes him a must-start in all leagues with or without two starts. You have to figure the Astros will do everything to keep Rodriguez and Oswalt on regular rest.
Who is getting skipped: Moehler, perhaps. Backe is due off the DL on Friday, which is Moehler's turn. It could mean Moehler is removed from the rotation or just skipped. Moehler's 8-plus ERA makes him a must-avoid, regardless. Backe is not useful until he proves healthy and effective off the DL either.
One-week sleeper: Hampton. He hasn't been great, but he at least draws a nice matchup in Fantasy Week 8 (May 25-31).
One-week bust: Paulino, Moehler and Backe. Paulino is likely to get a start at Cincy (a bad place), while Moehler and Backe are not trustworthy, as stated above.

Kansas City Royals

1. Zack Greinke vs DET Jackson, vs CHW Danks
2. Gil Meche vs DET Verlander, vs CHW Buehrle
3. Kyle Davies vs DET Porcello
4. Brian Bannister vs CHW Bannister
5. Vacant

Two-starter(s): Meche and Greinke. Meche was better his last time out, so consider him advisable, while Greinke is an obvious must-start in his Cy Young campaign.
Who is getting skipped: Luke Hochevar. The Royals have days off Thursday and the following Monday, which will allow them to employ a four-man rotation for the next 10 days. Hochevar will make a couple of starts in Triple-A over that time to get himself straightened out.
One-week sleeper: Davies. He has posted three consecutive quality starts, so he can be used in deeper mixed formats again, perhaps.
One-week bust: Bannister. His poor last start leaves his ownership below 50 percent. We wouldn't trust him in mixed leagues.

Los Angeles Angels

1. John Lackey vs SEA Hernandez
2. Ervin Santana vs CHW Danks, vs SEA Washburn?
3. Joe Saunders vs CHW Colon
4. Jered Weaver vs CHW Floyd
5. Matt Palmer vs SEA? Vargas?

Two-starter(s): Santana. He is a must-start in all leagues, while Saunders is perhaps a two-starter, too. The Angels have days off Thursday and the following Monday, which could lead them to employ a four-man rotation.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Palmer. He could be moved off his weekend start vs. the Mariners, which would slot Lackey, Santana and Saunders, the latter two being two-start pitchers.
One-week sleeper: None. The top four starters are must-starts in all leagues, while Palmer could be skipped.
One-week bust: Palmer. He could be skipped due to the timing of a couple of offdays, not just one.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Chad Billingsley at CHC Lilly
2. Randy Wolf at CHC Wells
3. Clayton Kershaw at COL Jimenez
4. Eric Stults at COL De La Rosa, at CHC Dempster
5. Eric Milton at COL Cook, at CHC Marshall

Two-starter(s): Stults and Milton. They are risky options in all Fantasy leagues at this point, even with the elite contender they are pitching for.
Who is getting skipped: None. Milton or Stults are pitching for their rotation spots on a start-to-start basis. Jeff Weaver is ready as a spot starter, while Jason Schmidt (shoulder) and Hiroki Kuroda (shoulder) are pitching on rehab assignments. The runaway Dodgers are in no rush on their DL guys right now, though.
One-week sleeper: Stults. Of their two-starters, this would be the flier to go with.
One-week bust: Milton. Of their two-starters, this is definitely the one to avoid. Milton is merely a placeholder.

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Yovani Gallardo vs STL Carpenter, vs CIN Owings
2. Manny Parra vs STL Wellemeyer
3. Jeff Suppan vs STL Wainwright
4. Braden Looper vs CIN Cueto
5. Dave Bush vs CIN Harang

Two-starter(s): Gallardo. He is a must-start in all leagues at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Parra. After a long hot streak, he was awful last time out. He is out Brewers sleeper, though, because he is the only one not facing a Fantasy ace this week.
One-week bust: Suppan. He is still useful in deeper leagues, but he is the Brewers starter we would rank fifth this week, due to his recent start, potential and matchup.

Minnesota Twins

1. Scott Baker at TB Shields
2. Francisco Liriano vs BOS Penny, at TB Price
3. Kevin Slowey vs BOS Matsuzaka
4. Nick Blackburn vs BOS Lester, at TB Garza
5. Anthony Swarzak vs BOS Beckett

Two-starter(s): Liriano and Blackburn. Amid Liriano's struggles, we are inclined to call both of these guys questionable options this week.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Slowey. He is the one Twins starter we can recommend this week.
One-week bust: Baker, Liriano, Blackburn and Swarzak. Tough matchups or recent struggles make this quartet tougher to trust this week.

New York Mets

1. Johan Santana vs WAS Zimmermann
2. Mike Pelfrey vs FLA West
3. John Maine vs WAS Lannan, vs FLA Volstad
4. Livan Hernandez vs WAS Stammen
5. Tim Redding vs FLA Johnson

Two-starter(s): Maine. He is an advisable option with those matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None. A Thursday offday could allow them to skip Redding next weekend, but we don't see that happening at this point.
One-week sleeper: Hernandez. He was solid his last time out vs. a much tougher opponent.
One-week bust: Redding. The top four are at least advisable in all leagues, while Redding faces the lone tough matchup of the week.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia at CLE Pavano?
2. A.J. Burnett at TEX Holland
3. Andy Pettitte at CLE Carmona?
4. Joba Chamberlain (knee, questionable) at TEX Millwood
5. Phil Hughes at TEX Harrison and then perhaps Chien-Ming Wang at CLE Lee

Two-starter(s): None. Hughes could be a two-start pitcher after Monday's start at Texas, but it is expected the Yankees slot Wang back in the rotation at Cleveland over next weekend. That pushes Hughes out of the rotation, perhaps to long relief, and means the Yankees have no two-starters.
Who is getting skipped: Likely Hughes, but only after he already makes a start Monday. Chamberlain (knee, questionable) could be held out of his start. If he is, Wang will start Tuesday at Texas and Hughes or Chamberlain could make a weekend start at Cleveland.
One-week sleeper: Wang. He should get a start, but the risk and uncertainty makes him more of an AL-only option at this point.
One-week bust: Chamberlain. He is coming off that abbreviated start, is questionable to make his start and would draw a potent Rangers offense on the road in a hitter's park. There are a number of reasons to hold out Chamberlain this week.

Oakland Athletics

1. Dallas Braden vs SEA Washburn, at TEX Millwood
2. Trevor Cahill vs SEA Bedard
3. Brett Anderson vs SEA Jakubauskas, at TEX Harrison
4. Josh Outman at TEX McCarthy
5. Edgar G. Gonzalez at TEX Feldman

Two-starter(s): Anderson and Braden. The rookie is a risky option amid his season-long struggles, while Braden is intriguing in deeper formats.
Who is getting skipped: None. Gonzalez goes after a Thursday offday, but after his past start, we don't see the struggling A's skipping him at this point. They would be more inclined to skip Anderson off his second start than Gonzalez. We cannot project that either.
One-week sleeper: Braden. He has been flying under the radar and draws a two-start week, albeit with a tough second matchup.
One-week bust: Anderson. He is coming off his first career victory and draws a favorable first start, but he is dangerous in mixed leagues, especially with that second matchup.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Cole Hamels vs WAS Martis
2. Brett Myers vs FLA TBD
3. Jamie Moyer vs FLA Volstad, vs WAS Lannan
4. Joe Blanton vs FLA Miller
5. J.A. Happ vs WAS Detwiler

Two-starter(s): Moyer. He is a risky option amid his pitiful start to the season.
Who is getting skipped: None. Happ is in the rotation to stay, without skipping.
One-week sleeper: Happ. We figure he will have value in all leagues going forward. Take the flier on him for Fantasy Week 8 (May 25-31), especially since he draws the lowly Nats.
One-week bust: Moyer. You will fall in love with those matchups and overlook the fact he has been brutally bad at 7.62. There is a possibility another awful start leads him to being skipped over the weekend to keep Blanton on regular rest. If it was Hamels, we would agree. Otherwise, expect Moyer to make two risky starts in two favorable matchups.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Paul Maholm at CHC Dempster, vs HOU Rodriguez
2. Zach Duke at CHC Zambrano
3. Ian Snell at CHC Marshall
4. Ross Ohlendorf vs HOU Moehler or Backe
5. Jeff Karstens vs HOU Hampton

Two-starter(s): Maholm. With those matchups, we wouldn't trust him outside of NL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. They have a Thursday offday, but we don't see a real reason Ohlendorf, Karstens or Maholm will be moved off the weekend series at this point.
One-week sleeper: Ohlendorf. Duke is intriguing, but he has a far tougher matchup this week. Ohlendorf is useful as a one-starter in deeper leagues.
One-week bust: Maholm. After two great outings, he is a two-start pitcher, but one we could see blowing up on you. Use him at your own risk.

San Diego Padres

1. Jake Peavy at ARI Buckner
2. Chris R. Young at COL Hammel
3. Chad Gaudin at ARI Davis, at COL De La Rosa
4. Kevin Correia at ARI Scherzer
5. Josh Geer at COL Marquis

Two-starter(s): Gaudin. He is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues with those matchups. He hasn't been awful. In fact, two of his past three starts have been outstanding.
Who is getting skipped: None. We don't see Geer or Gaudin getting moved out of the weekend series to move up Correia on regular rest.
One-week sleeper: Gaudin. He is a solid option in all NL-only leagues and perhaps some deep mixed formats, too. The Cubs made a mistake letting him go.
One-week bust: Correia and Geer. We trust the top three and don't like the bottom two this week and most weeks.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum vs ATL Medlen
2. Randy Johnson vs ATL Kawakami
3. Matt Cain vs STL Lohse
4. Barry Zito vs STL Pineiro
5. Jonathan Sanchez vs ATL Vazquez, vs STL Carpenter

Two-starter(s): Sanchez. There is a small possibility the Giants choose to skip him off his weekend start, since they have offdays Thursday and the following Monday. Consider Sanchez a questionable two-starter for that reason.
Who is getting skipped: None. Although that Sanchez possibility might seem to make sense. They could want to keep Lincecum on regular rest Sunday as opposed to holding back back to seven days.
One-week sleeper: Johnson. He hasn't been very good, but he could be a one-start winner at home to get closer to win No. 300.
One-week bust: Sanchez. He looks like he could be a two-start pitcher, but those are tough matchups and he could be a candidate to skip off his second start as state above.

Seattle Mariners

1. Felix Hernandez at LAA Lackey
2. Erik Bedard at OAK Cahill
3. Jarrod Washburn at OAK Braden, at LAA Santana
4. Jason M. Vargas at LAA Palmer
5. Chris Jakubauskas at OAK Anderson

Two-starter(s): Washburn. He hasn't been as good of late, but he is useful in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Jakubauskas after he starts Monday. He will actually be removed from the rotation after going at Oakland, since Ryan Rowland-Smith can be ready the next time the Mariners need a No. 5 starter June 2 vs. Baltimore.
One-week sleeper: Vargas. He has been surprisingly effect and should get a start in the weekend series at the Angels.
One-week bust: Jakubauskas. He looks like he could be a two-starter but he is a high-risk one and we expect he will be removed from the rotation to keep Vargas in and set up for Rowland-Smith's return.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter at MIL Gallardo, at SF Sanchez
2. Adam Wainwright at MIL Suppan
3. Kyle Lohse at SF Cain
4. Joel Pineiro at SF Zito
5. Todd Wellemeyer at MIL Parra

Two-starter(s): Carpenter. The leash should be taken off and he is a must-start ace in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pineiro. The top three starters are must-starts in all leagues, while No. 4 is hot and a solid sleeper.
One-week bust: Wellemeyer. He is the lone Cardinals starter who can't be trusted in all leagues. He is in no danger of losing his rotation spot, though.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields vs MIN Baker
2. Matt Garza at CLE Pavano, vs MIN Blackburn
3. David Price at CLE Carmona, vs MIN Liriano
4. Andy Sonnanstine at CLE Sowers
5. Jeff Niemann at CLE Huff

Two-starter(s): Price and Garza. You have to consider them must-starts in all leagues. Price takes Scott Kazmir's rotation spot, while the struggling ace is on the DL. Price is here to stay, though, even when Kazmir is ready to return.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Price, Sonnanstine and Niemann. All of the Rays five starters should be active in all leagues in Fantasy Week 8 (May 25-31).
One-week bust: None. All five of the Rays starters should be active, especially against the struggling Indians and Twins.

Texas Rangers

1. Kevin Millwood vs NYY Chamberlain, vs OAK Braden
2. Brandon McCarthy vs OAK Outman
3. Matt Harrison vs NYY Hughes, vs OAK Anderson
4. Scott Feldman vs OAK Gonzalez
5. Derek Holland vs NYY Burnett

Two-starter(s): Harrison and Millwood. They have a Thursday offday, but they come back Friday with a doubleheader against the A's. That makes them both two-starters, albeit much less than must-start options.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: McCarthy. We have said he is ready to take off as a Fantasy star. Get on board before it's too late.
One-week bust: Holland. We don't like the rookie's matchup. Don't use him this week.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Roy Halladay at BAL Hill
2. Scott Richmond vs BOS Penny
3. Ricky Romero at BAL TBD
4. Casey Janssen vs BOS Wakefield
5. Brian Tallet at BAL Guthrie, vs. BOS Lester

Two-starter(s): Tallet. The Blue Jays have a Thursday offday and could chose to skip him off his second start if they want Romero going at home vs. the first-place Red Sox. Consider Tallet a risky two-start option not worth trusting at this point.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Tallet. His second start depends on his outing Monday at Baltimore and Romero's return start Tuesday at Baltimore. We think there is a possibility the Blue Jays will want to start Romero over Tallet because there are off days Thursday and the following Monday and Tallet could be useful out of the bullpen for an important series they need to win if they want to remain in the thick of the rugged AL East race.
One-week sleeper: Romero. He will draw a back-end rotation call-up and a winnable Orioles matchup in his return from the DL and the minor leagues.
One-week bust: Richmond, Janssen and Tallet. We don't like the Red Sox matchups for these guys.

Washington Nationals

1. John Lannan at NYM Maine, at PHI Moyer
2. Shairon Martis at PHI Hamels
3. Jordan Zimmermann at NYM Santana
4. Ross Detwiler at PHI Happ
5. Craig Stammen at NYM Hernandez

Two-starter(s): Lannan. You have to hate his matchups at the Mets and Phillies.
Who is getting skipped: None. It was believed the elite, but slowly developing Detwiler would be sent back to the minors by now, but he enjoyed a pair of incredible starts last week and earned another start. There are offdays Thursday and the following Monday, though, so the Nationals could move him back or to the minors, regardless.
One-week sleeper: Detwiler. The left faces the potent Phillies, but it is a lot better to do it as a lefty vs. that lefty-leaning lineup. Detwiller is a bit erratic for a young lefty, but his talent might mean his quick start is for real.
One-week bust: Everyone else. It is hard enough to trust a Nationals pitcher against the Pirates, much less against the Mets or Phillies.

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball pitching questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Pitching Planner in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.