We go around baseball's pitching staffs and Fantasy's two-start pitcher options every Sunday of the season in the weekly Pitching Planner.
Staff reflections
Arizona Diamondbacks: Doug Davis is a two-start pitcher, albeit a risky one coming off a terrible second start in his return from thyroid cancer surgery. ... Randy Johnson, Micah Owings, Brandon Webb and Dan Haren follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Atlanta Braves: Jo-Jo Reyes and Jorge Campillo are two-start pitchers, albeit questionable ones at this point. Reyes seems to run hot-and-cold, while Campillo is dealing with blister issues that might affect his availability. ... Tom Glavine, Jair Jurrjens and Tim Hudson follow as one-start pitchers. ... John Smoltz (shoulder) is expected to return Monday as a late-inning reliever. He won't pitch on back-to-back days initially, but a seven-game week could get him a couple save opportunities in Fantasy Week 10 (June 2-8). ... Rafael Soriano and Manny Acosta will be situational closers at best with Smoltz healthy. ... Also, Mike Gonzalez (elbow) is on a rehab assignment and nearing a return as a complement to that trio of late-inning right-handers. Wow, this will be a really good Braves bullpen and that will help the Braves half-inexperienced, half-old rotation.
Baltimore Orioles: Jeremy Guthrie and a Tuesday TBD are two-start pitchers. ... The Tuesday TBD would figure to be Steve Trachsel, but the O's could make the move to a trio of replacements: Radhames Liz, Matt Albers or Jim R. Johnson. We rank their chances in that order. Trachsel was warming up in the bullpen Sunday, so it is likely he has been yanked from the rotation. ... Liz has been on a mini-tear in Triple-A and pitched only one inning Saturday, perhaps the sound of side session, according to the Baltimore Sun. Liz is a decent add in deeper AL-only and long-term keeper leagues for his potential to strikeout a batter per inning. ... Albers is a decent choice, too, having worked three innings of relief Friday. He could be ready to transition to starting with an abbreviated start, similar to Joba Chamberlain. ... Johnson has been stellar in relief, but he hasn't stretched it past one inning recently, so moving him to the rotation is much tougher right now. The O's might be grooming him to be a full-time setup man. ... Daniel Cabrera, Garrett Olson and Brian Burress are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Boston Red Sox: Tim Wakefield and a Tuesday TBD are two-start pitchers. ... The removal of Clay Buchholz from the 15-day DL and subsequent optioning of him to Triple-A makes it apparent Justin Masterson will get the call Tuesday and Sunday of next week. Masterson will remain in the Red Sox rotation for at least three turns at this point and is an outstanding sleeper in Fantasy Week 10 (June 2-8). ... Daisuke Matsuzaka (shoulder) was cautiously placed on the DL and should be ready by mid-June at this point. Keep him reserved in all leagues for the next two weeks. ... Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Bartolo Colon are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Chicago Cubs: Carlos Zambrano and Jason Marquis are two-start pitchers. ... Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and likely Sean Gallagher follow as one-start options in the seven-game week. ... Donald Veal (3-4, 2.60 ERA in Triple-A) and Kevin Hart (1-1. 3.81 ERA) are potential replacement options for Gallagher, though. Veal is an elite prospect who warants attention in deeper NL-only and long-term keeper leagues. ... Rich Hill only recently came off the Triple-A DL and wouln't be ready this week. ... Sean Marshall is still on the DL in Triple-A, too.
Chicago White Sox: Gavin Floyd is a two-start pitcher. ... John Danks, Jose Contreras, Javier Vazquez and Mark Buehrle follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Cincinnati Reds: Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang are two-start pitchers. ... The Reds assigned Josh Fogg (back) to the 15-day DL and need a No. 5 starter Thursday, June 5. ... Homer Bailey could have been expected to make that start, but he was listed as the starter in Triple-A on Sunday and would need a strong abbreviated outing to be the one that gets the nod. ... Matt Maloney, a key piece of the Kyle Lohse trade to the Phillies last year, is 6-2 with a 4.09 ERA. He has posted five consecutive quality starts and would be ready for Fogg's turn on regular rest. That is a big reason for him to perhaps get the call. ... Also, Daryl Thompson threw seven shutout innings in his Double-A debut and is a combined 4-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 11 starts between high Class A and Double-A. He is an elite prospect who warrants attention in all long-term keeper leagues. We don't see Thompson arriving until later in the second half at this point. ... Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto are one-start options in the seven-game week.
Cleveland Indians: Aaron Laffey and Jake Westbrook are two-start pitchers. ... Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia and Paul Byrd follow as one-start options in the seven-game week. ... Closer Joe Borowski has returned near-perfectly for the Indians, settling what was a problematic closer situation.
Colorado Rockies: With days off Thursday and the following Monday, the Rockies can go with a four-man rotation for the next week. ... That's good news, because recently promoted No. 5 starter Glendon Rusch was abused in his start. ... Jason Hirsh (shoulder) has started a rehab assignment, but he won't be ready until mid-June at the earliest at this point. ... Greg Reynolds will get two starts, but Jeff Francis likely will also if the Rockies go with a four-man rotation like we expect. ... Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez are one-start options in the six-game week.
Detroit Tigers: Kenny Rogers is a two-start pitcher best left for deeper leagues. ... Dontrelle Willis returns to the rotation in an abbreviated start Tuesday and he will be followed in relief by demoted former No. 5 starter Armando Galarraga. ... Nate Robertson, Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Florida Marlins: Scott Olsen and Burke Badenhop are two-start pitchers. ... Badenhop is a high-risk one because he is coming off a temporary demotion to relief and is in danger of losing the No. 5 starter's spot on a day's notice. ... Chris Volstad (3-2, 2.96 in Double-A) is more of an elite prospect and could be an option by next weekend. ... Mark Hendrickson, Ricky Nolasco and Andrew Miller are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Houston Astros: Wandy Rodriguez is a two-start pitcher. ... Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe, Brian Moehler and Shawn Chacon follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Kansas City Royals: Zack Greinke is a two-start pitcher. ... Luke Hochevar, Gil Meche, Kyle Davies and Brian Bannister are one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Davies was dynamite in his first start and is a must-add in AL-only and long-term keeper leagues at this point.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Ervin Santana is a two-start pitcher. ... Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, John Lackey and Jon Garland follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Derek Lowe and Brad Penny are two-start pitchers. ... Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda follow as one-start options in the seven-game week. ... Kershaw struggled in his past start and could be skipped on his next turn after this upcoming start. It is an important start for him because Jason Schmidt (shoulder) could be ready in a couple of weeks and Kershaw could be a candidate to move into relief at that point. Watch Kershaw closely his next time out.
Milwaukee Brewers: Jeff Suppan is the team's lone two-sart pitcher in the six-game week. ... Shaky No. 5 starter Seth McClung, Manny Parra, Ben Sheets and Dave Bush follow as one-start pitchers. ... With four saves and a victory in his past five outings, Salomon Torres has locked up full-time closer status. He shouldn't lose it even when battered Eric Gagne returns from the DL.
Minnesota Twins: Livan Hernandez and Kevin Slowey are two-start pitchers. ... Glen Perkins is a one-start pitcher, while Boof Bonser is in danger of losing his rotation spot Thursday due to ineffectiveness and Nick Blackburn might be a DL candidate after taking a liner off his face Sunday. ... Francisco Liriano had his best start yet in Triple-A on Saturday and could return on regular rest Thursday. ... If the Twins opt against Liriano for Thursday or Friday, Scott Baker (groin) is another option. He went five innings in his rehab start Saturday. ... Liriano is the better option for the Twins, but Baker is more likely to get the call. Liriano might need Blackburn to wind up on the DL, and even then the struggling Bonser could get another start.
New York Mets: Oliver Perez and Pedro Martinez (hamstring), returning from the DL, are two-start pitchers with great matchups. ... John Maine, the No. 5 spot to be taken by Mike Pelfrey or Claudio Vargas, and Johan Santana are one-start pitchers in the seven-game road trip. ... Pelfrey likely saved his rotation spot with a great outing Saturday, while Vargas should stick around in long relief and a spot starter's role. Vargas will be just an injury or a few more bad starts by Pelfrey away from returning to the rotation.
New York Yankees: Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain are two-start pitchers. ... Chamberlain will be held to strict pitch counts, so you should expect a two-start sleeper like Masterson to have more potential to help Fantasy owners in mixed Head-to-Head leagues. Chamberlain likely won't pitch more than 10 innings in his two starts, which basically equals one trademark Roy Halladay start. ... Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang and Darrell Rasner follow Chamberlain as one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Oakland Athletics: Rich Harden is the team's lone two-start pitcher. ... Dana Eveland, Justin Duchscherer, Joe Blanton and Greg Smith follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Philadelphia Phillies: Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton are two-start pitchers. ... Brett Myers, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer follow as one-start pithers in the seven-game week. ... If you are wondering who might be options to start later this season for the offensively potent Phillies, take fliers on elite prospect Carlos Carrasco, emerging prospect Antonio Bastardo and rehabbing veteran Kris Benson, in that order.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Tom Gorzelanny and Phil Dumatrait are two-start pitchers. ... Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Ian Snell are one-start options in the seven-game week.
San Diego Padres: A Monday TBD and Wil Ledezma are two-start pitchers. ... Shawn Estes (thumb) went back on the 15-day DL after breaking his thumb, tripping down clubhouse steps. ... Recently acquired Cha Seung Baek is a potential spot start candidate, but he certainly isn't stretched out enough to be considered a true two-start pitcher outside of the deepest of NL-only leagues. ... Greg Maddux, Josh Banks and Randy Wolf are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week. ... Enrique Gonzalez (3-2, 3.98 ERA in Triple-A) has won his past three starts and could be a rotation option as soon at Thursday, since he started Saturday (spectacularly). ... One-time elite prospect Cesar Carrillo, recovering from Tommy John surgery a year ago, is about a month away from returning to the mound in Triple-A. He could be a potential sleeper in deeper leagues in the season's final month or so.
San Francisco Giants: Jonathan Sanchez is a two-start pitcher, but Barry Zito can also be if the Giants go to a four-man rotation as we expect. ... Struggling No. 5 starter Patrick Misch can be skipped after a Thursday offday and rehabbing Kevin Correia (oblique) can be ready to return the next time the Giants need the No. 5 spot June 10. ... Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.
Seattle Mariners: Jarrod Washburn is the team's lone two-start pitcher. ... Erik Bedard, Carlos Silva, Felix Hernandez and Miguel Batista follow as one-start options in the seven-game week.
St. Louis Cardinals: Adam Wainwright and Kyle Lohse are two-start pitchers. ... Todd Wellemeyer, shaky No. 5 starter Mike Parisi and Braden Looper figure to follow in the seven-game week. ... Joel Pineiro (groin) doesn't figure to return without a rehab start, but he could replace Parisi on the first day he is eligible to return from his DL stint.
Tampa Bay Rays: Matt Garza is a two-start pitcher. ... Edwin Jackson, James Shields, Scott Kazmir and Andy Sonnanstine follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... The pick as closer to replace Troy Percival (hamstring) is Al Reyes, but clearly there is reason to believe the Rays would go with Dan Wheeler against right-handed bats in save situations.
Texas Rangers: Doug Mathis and Vicente Padilla are tentatively slated to be two-start pitchers, but there are variables that can keep them from that. ... Mathis was moved up from Tuesday to Monday to fill in for Padilla, who is currently away from the team due to personal family matters. Mathis could be in danger of losing his rotation spot after any given start. ... Padilla will at least make one start this week, but he is questionable to be ready for his Tuesday start, which would be the only way he gets two starts this week. ... A.J. Murray is the leading candidate to be recalled from Triple-A, if the Rangers decide to place Padilla on the bereavement list for the normal three-to-seven days. Avoid Mathis and Murray in all leagues at this point, while take the risk on the Rangers' ace Padilla in deeper leagues -- especially since he has been solid and will make at least one start. ... Kevin Millwood, Sidney Ponson and Scott Feldman figure to be one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.
Toronto Blue Jays: Roy Halladay is a must-start, two-start pitcher in all leagues. ... Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum and A.J. Burnett follow as one-start pitchers in in the six-game week.
Washington Nationals: Odalis Perez is the team's lone two-start pitcher. ... John Lannan, Tim Redding, Jason Bergmann and Shawn Hill follow as one-start options in the six-game week.
Fantasy Week 10 (June 2-8)
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| Must-start options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Roy Halladay | at NYY Chamberlain | vs. BAL TBD/Liz? |
| Carlos Zambrano | at SD TBD? | at LAD Lowe |
| Adam Wainwright | vs. PIT Gorzelanny | at HOU Chacon |
| Rich Harden | vs. DET Rogers | vs. LAA Santana |
| Aaron Harang | at PHI Eaton | at FLA Badenhop? |
| Ervin Santana | at SEA Washburn | at OAK Harden |
| Andy Pettitte | at MIN Hernandez | vs. KC Bannister |
| Advisable options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Zack Greinke | at CHW Floyd | at NYY Chamberlain |
| Oliver Perez | at SF Sanchez | at SD TBD/Baek? |
| Brad Penny | vs. COL Halladay | vs. CHC Marquis |
| Aaron Laffey | at TEX Mathis | at DET Bonderman |
| Gavin Floyd | vs. KC Greinke | vs. MIN Slowey |
| Derek Lowe | vs. COL Reynolds | vs. CHC Zambrano |
| Matt Garza | at BOS Masterson | at TEX Padilla |
| Justin Masterson | vs. TB Garza | vs. SEA Washburn |
| Pedro Martinez | at SF Zito | at SD Ledezma |
| Questionable options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Joba Chamberlain | vs. TOR Halladay | vs. KC Greinke |
| Bronson Arroyo | at PHI Kendrick | at FLA Olsen |
| Vicente Padilla | vs. CLE Westbrook | vs. TB Garza |
| Scott Olsen | at ATL Reyes | vs. CIN Arroyo |
| Jeff Francis | at LAD Penny | vs. MIL Suppan |
| Jonathan Sanchez | vs. NYM Perez | at WAS Hill |
| Livan Hernandez | vs. NYY Pettitte | at CHW Buehrle |
| Jeremy Guthrie | vs. BOS Wakefield | at TOR Burnett |
| Jake Westbrook | at TEX Padilla | at DET Rogers |
| Tim Wakefield | at BAL Guthrie | vs. SEA Batista |
| Kyle Lohse | at WAS Perez | at HOU Rodriguez |
| Kevin Slowey | vs. BAL TBD/Liz? | at CHW Floyd |
| Doug Davis | at MIL Suppan | at PIT Dumatrait |
| Wandy Rodriguez | at PIT Dumatrait | vs. STL Lohse |
| Tom Gorzelanny | at STL Wainwright | vs. ARI Haren |
| Jeff Suppan | vs. ARI Davis | at COL Francis |
| Jorge Campillo | vs. FLA Badenhop | vs. PHI Eaton |
| Jo-Jo Reyes | vs. FLA Olsen | vs. PHI Kendrick |
| Barry Zito | vs. NYM Martinez | at WAS Perez |
| High-risk options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Kyle Kendrick | vs. CIN Arroyo | at ATL Reyes |
| Kenny Rogers | at OAK Harden | vs. CLE Westbrook |
| Jason Marquis | at SD Ledezma | at LAD Penny |
| Odalis Perez | vs. STL Lohse | vs. SF Zito |
| Phil Dumatrait | vs. HOU Rodriguez | vs. ARI Davis |
| Adam Eaton | vs. CIN Harang | at ATL Campillo |
| Greg Reynolds | at LAD Lowe | vs. MIL Bush |
| Jarrod Washburn | vs. LAA Santana | at BOS Masterson |
| Wil Ledezma | vs. CHC Marquis | vs. NYM Martinez |
| Doug Mathis | vs. CLE Laffey | vs. TB Sonnanstine |
| BAL TBD | at MIN Slowey | at TOR Halladay |
| Burke Badenhop | at ATL Campillo | vs. CIN Harang |
| SD TBD | vs. CHC Zambrano | vs. NYM Perez |
Pitch a question
Mike Wilson, Cleveland: I currently have Johnny Cueto and Greg Smith on my roster, and I was debating on dropping one of them to pick up Brad Penny. Who should I drop, if any?
Emack: Drop Smith, because Cueto has a higher ceiling. Penny should be owned in all leagues, despite his troubles against the Mets.
James: Which bench player is capable of a start next week: Bronson Arroyo, Dana Eveland, Dustin McGowan, Greg Smith or Brett Myers?
Emack: Give the resurgent Arroyo a try in his two-start week. If not for his two starts, we would likely say Myers.
Walter Paley, Templeton, Calif.: Jonathan Sanchez is a two-start guy, against Oliver Perez/NYM and Odalis Perez/WAS. Should I start him in a points league over Micah Owings, who will start once against Manny Parra/MIL? Owings has been a little rough his past couple of starts, while Sanchez has been solid, albeit with a chance for the Giants to get shut out on any given night.
Emack: Sanchez is worth the risk this week over Owings.
You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball pitching questions to DMFantasyBaseball @cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: 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.
