We go around baseball's pitching staffs and Fantasy's two-start pitcher options every Sunday of the season in our weekly Pitching Planner.
Staff reflections
Arizona Diamondbacks: LHP Randy Johnson, on the 15-day DL with a herniated disk, threw 42 pitches on flat ground Friday afternoon. Johnson is eligible to come off the DL on June 26, but no date has been set for his return. RHP Edgar Gonzalez will take Johnson's turn in the rotation Tuesday night against the Dodgers. Gonzalez is 3-2 with a 4.44 ERA in 12 games, including seven starts. He will be a risky two-start pitcher, especially since Johnson's situation could improve in mid-week and he could take the second start. Johnson will have to be kept reserved in all formats at this point.
Atlanta Braves: Kyle Davies might be skipped in the rotation next weekend after Thursday's off day and that might make Buddy Carlyle a two-start pitcher. It's doubtful Davies slides back to make room for Carlyle. Regardless, Tim Hudson will be a two-start pitcher, but a far more questionable one at this point -- amid his struggles.
Baltimore Orioles: The club will make a decision whether to put LHP Erik Bedard on the DL following a checkup to see how he feels after throwing on the side Saturday. Bedard has been bothered by a strained left hamstring. He is tentatively scheduled to start Wednesday. Daniel Cabrera might start if Bedard cannot go. Consider Bedard a viable option in deeper leagues. Red-hot rookie Jeremy Guthrie is a two-start pitcher sleeper.
Boston Red Sox: RHP Curt Schilling didn't care to share his feelings about going on the DL with the media. "I have a million things to do," he said Saturday night. Schilling was put on the DL because of right shoulder soreness Friday, retroactive to Tuesday. Manager Terry Francona said Schilling had some baseline testing done. "As when he throws that will be up to the medical staff when it's in his best interest. And I don't know when that is," the skipper said. The Red Sox will need a starter for Tuesday's game at Seattle and will have to make another roster move then. The top two candidates are Kason Gabbard and Jon Lester. Consider either one a viable option in deeper leagues. Julian Tavarez is a two-start sleeper in deeper leagues.
Chicago Cubs: Despite a day off Thursday, all five starters are expected to start in succession. Jason Marquis is the team's lone two-start pitcher.
Chicago White Sox: All five starters are expected to start in succession, including two-start pitcher John Danks and Jon Garland.
Cincinnati Reds: All five starters are expected to start in succession, including two-start pitcher Homer Bailey.
Cleveland Indians: All five starters are expected to start in succession, including two-start pitchers C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Down on the farm, top prospect Adam Miller, on the DL at Triple-A Buffalo with an injured finger, threw two innings (34 pitches) in a simulated game Thursday. He is scheduled to start for Buffalo on Monday. He'll pitch one inning or about 20-25 pitches.
Colorado Rockies: All five starters are expected to start in succession, including two-start pitchers Jeff Francis and Rodrigo Lopez.
Detroit Tigers: LHP Nate Robertson is expected to come off the DL to start Tuesday. Andrew Miller is pitching Sunday for his rotation spot. He will have to hold off Chad Durbin, who has been temporarily moved to the bullpen. Don't start those guys this week, but don't cut them either. Whoever gets starts as the Tigers' No. 5 will have wins potential.
Florida Marlins: LHP Dontrelle Willis, who has been nursing a tight forearm, threw a bullpen session Saturday and is expected to start Tuesday against Pittsburgh. He will be a two-start pitcher -- albeit a risky one because of the injury question mark.
Houston Astros: All five starters are expected to start in succession, including two-start pitchers Jason Jennings and Wandy Rodriguez.
Kansas City Royals: Pitcher John Thomson arrived in Milwaukee before Saturday's game after signing a free agent contract. Thomson will wear jersey number 52. The Royals are his fifth major league team. Friday's starter, former Brewer Jorge De La Rosa, has now lost six consecutive decisions, including losses in back-to-back games. All Royals starters are risky options at this point, although Thomson, Meche and Bannister do have some potential to help in deeper leagues.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: RHP Bartolo Colon will pitch Sunday instead of John Lackey, whose next start was pushed back because of a sore shoulder that affected his breaking ball and led to his shortest and worst outing this season (six runs, eight hits, 4 2/3 innings). This is the first time Lackey will miss a scheduled start in the majors because of a physical problem. He will be an advisable two-start pitching in all leagues. Manager Mike Scioscia is having trouble coming up with fresh ideas for how to tell LHP Joe Saunders he's going back to Triple-A after making a spot start for an injured pitcher. Friday night was the third time that scenario played out this season, and Saunders is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in those outings. "I think it's gone from explaining it to Joe -- which he's come to understand -- to (Friday) night, where it was just, 'Joe, you know the routine,"' Scioscia said. "Joe's like any other kid who thinks he's ready for the challenge of pitching in the big leagues, but understands the situation."
Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Brad Penny will get an extra day of rest before his next start and will pitch Monday at Arizona as the Dodgers open a three-game set against their division rivals. "It's good to get him six days right now," manager Grady Little said. LHP Hong-Chih Kuo, who worked just 1 2/3 innings against Toronto on Wednesday, started in Penny's place at Tampa Bay on Sunday. Penny and Chad Billingsley will be two-start pitchers.
Milwaukee Brewers: Yovani Gallardo could be skipped next weekend to keep Ben Sheets on regular rest. We don't think that will be the case, unless Gallardo really gets hammered Sunday. Sheets is a must-start two-start pitcher.
Minnesota Twins: All five starters are expected to start in succession, including two-start pitchers Kevin Slowey and Scott Baker.
New York Mets: The Mets need a starting pitcher for a doubleheader Friday at Philadelphia, so RHP Mike Pelfrey might be recalled from Triple-A New Orleans. New York manager Willie Randolph said the team was still thinking about that decision. Pelfrey is 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA at New Orleans since being demoted. He opened the season 0-5 with a 6.53 ERA in six starts with the Mets. Pelfrey pitched Friday for New Orleans, allowing four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-0 loss to Omaha. He struck out five and walked one. Consider Pelfrey an option in deeper leagues. LHP Dave Williams began a rehab assignment Friday night with Class-A St. Lucie. He allowed three runs and four hits in five innings against Vero Beach. Williams had surgery for a herniated disk in his neck Jan. 31.
New York Yankees: Kei Igawa is expected to get another start, but he will slide back to the next time the No. 5 starter's spot is needed next weekend. The top four starters will work on their regular fifth day. Roger Clemens, who has not made a relief appearance in the regular season since 1984, was warming up in the bullpen in the 13th inning with the Yankees running out of pitchers. Manager Joe Torre decided to let reliever Scott Proctor bat with a runner on and two outs in the top of the 13th instead of rushing Clemens. "Roger said he was available, but there was no way I was going to force him to get ready," Torre said. By the way, RHP Phil Hughes might resume throwing off the mound soon. Hughes worked out for the second consecutive day Saturday at the Yankees' minor league complex without a protective boot on his left ankle, which he sprained May 25 while doing an agility drill during a rehab program for a strained left hamstring. RHP Jeff Karstens (broken right leg) might throw batting practice in the next few days. Karstens, who had a 15-minute bullpen session Wednesday, has been out since being hit in the leg by a liner off the bat of Boston's Julio Lugo on April 28.
Oakland Athletics: RHP Rich Harden felt fine after throwing 15 pitches Friday night in his first relief outing following a two-month stint on the DL because of a strained right shoulder. Harden struck out two in a perfect eighth inning. The plan is for him to pitch again Monday night at Cleveland, possibly for two innings. The Athletics are using Harden out of the bullpen for now, gradually building up his strength and endurance for a return to the rotation. The team hopes he'll be starting again by the All-Star break. Chad Gaudin and Dan Haren will be two-start pitchers.
Philadelphia Phillies: With Jon Lieber (foot) likely out for the season, Kyle Kendrick has secured a rotation spot for the foreseeable future. A Friday doubleheader will necessitate a six-man rotation, so the Phillies will need two spot starters in a crucial series against the Mets. Candidates include 20-year-old Carlos Carrasco (recently called up to Double-A), J.A. Happ (recently activated from a two-week stint on the DL) and J.D. Durbin, according to MLB.com. Carrasco is a big-time prospect worth a look in any league, especially if he can arrive and stick around. Kendrick will be a two-start pitcher for deeper leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates: All five starters are expected to start in succession, including two-start pitcher Paul Maholm.
San Diego Padres: All five starters are expected to start in succession, including two-start pitcher Justin Germano.
San Francisco Giants: Rookie SP Tim Lincecum will start Monday against the Padres, then get skipped over the weekend due to days off Thursday and the following Monday. The Giants are desperate to get their prized pitcher out of his funk. Lincecum opened the season 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA, but he is 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA in his past four outings. Consider him a risky start at this point. The skipping of Lincecum makes Barry Zito a two-start pitcher this week, an advisable one despite his erratic results of late.
Seattle Mariners: Manager Mike Hargrove said RHP Mark Lowe and LHP Horacio Ramirez are getting closer to going out on rehab assignments. Lowe has been out all year following elbow surgery. Ramirez went on the 15-day DL on May 25 with left shoulder tendinitis. RHP Cha Seung Baek, who struggled in his last few starts, was placed on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Hargrove said of Wednesday's decision to insert 21-year-old LHP Ryan Feierabend into the rotation for RHP Cha Seung Baek, beginning Friday against Cincinnati: "He gives us a chance to win maybe on a more consistent basis right now. We'll see." Jeff Weaver will be the team's lone two-start pitcher.
St. Louis Cardinals: Newcomer Mike Maroth, acquired from the Tigers on Friday, takes Brad Thompson's spot in the rotation Monday at New York against the Mets. Thompson was available in the bullpen over the weekend after throwing seven strong innings Tuesday against the Royals. Manager Tony La Russa said he told Thompson the move is not necessarily permanent. Kip Wells, 3-11 with a 6.75 ERA, would seem to be in the greatest danger, especially if he struggles Sunday against the Phillies. Thompson could take Wells' next start. RHP Chris Carpenter, rehabbing from surgery he had in May to remove bone spurs from his elbow, added breaking balls to his third bullpen session Saturday. Carpenter expects to meet with team physician Dr. George Paletta on Monday in New York during the team's series against the Mets to map out the next phase in his rehab. He could return to a tattered rotation after the All-Star break. "I basically did a normal warmup routine, threw all my pitches and everything felt good," Carpenter said. LHP Mark Mulder, rehabbing from rotator cuff surgery last September, threw to rehabbing C Yadier Molina (broken wrist) in the bullpen before the game, but he is not close to a rehab assignment. "Compared to where we were when the team left for the season, it's a thousand times better," Mulder said. "But there's still a ways to go." Maroth and Todd Wellemeyer (maybe) are two-start pitchers. Wellemeyer could be another person who loses his rotation spot to Thompson.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays: RHP Edwin Jackson (0-8, 7.85 ERA) is not facing a make-or-break start Sunday. "We knew coming into the season there would be ups and downs," Maddon said of the 23-year pitcher. Jackson enjoys having Jason Hammel lurking in relief to challenge him "It should be fun," Jackson said. "Definitely a lot of motivation." J.P. Howell and James Shields are two-start pitchers.
Texas Rangers: Manager Ron Washington is concerned about the tender right elbow of RHP Vicente Padilla, who has allowed 42 hits over 16 2/3 innings in his past four starts. Padilla has told Washington his arm is fine, but Padilla has been quoted as saying his elbow is giving him problems. "The velocity is there. He feels it when he throws the changeup," Washington said. "I have concerns, but I'm trusting the medical staff." Kameron Loe and Padilla will be high-risk two-start pitchers. RHP Brandon McCarthy is scheduled to make a rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Oklahoma. McCarthy has been on the DL since June 14 with a blister on his right middle finger. He will be on a 65-pitch count and could be available to take Loe's next turn. RHP Kevin Millwood has won his past two starts after going winless in his previous seven starts dating back to April 13. Millwood gave up three runs in six innings as the Rangers beat the Astros 11-3 Friday night. "The big thing is he's kept us in games," manager Ron Washington said. "He didn't have his best stuff and he still made the best of it." All Rangers starters are risky Fantasy options, obviously, although McCarthy and Millwood have potential to help in deeper leagues.
Toronto Blue Jays: RHP A.J. Burnett (sore shoulder) threw in the bullpen before Friday's game and remains on track to pitch at Minnesota on June 28, the day he is eligible to come off the DL. Roy Halladay and Shaun Marcum are two-start pitchers.
Washington Nationals: RHP Jason Bergmann's return to the starting rotation has been moved up a day. Bergmann, on the DL with elbow inflammation, will start Monday against Atlanta, with Mike Bacsik moving back a day. Bergmann's last start was May 14 against Atlanta. RHP Shawn Hill's sore right elbow is not healing as hoped, so he will get a second opinion Monday from Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Hill felt pain in the elbow May 11 after he altered his mechanics to compensate for a left shoulder injury he suffered while running the bases. Hill missed the 2004 season after having ligament replacement surgery on the elbow.
Information from the Associated Press and The Sports Xchange was used in this report.
Week 13 (June 25-July 1)
| This week's matchups | |||
| AL early | NL early | AL late | NL late |
| OAK@CLE | WAS@ATL | TB@CLE | ATL@FLA |
| TEX@DET | STL@NYM | TEX@BOS | STL@CIN |
| CHW@TB | COL@CHC | CHW@KC | COL@HOU |
| TOR@MIN | HOU@MIL | MIN@DET | MIL@CHC |
| KC@LAA | LAD@ARI | OAK@NYY | ARI@SF |
| BOS@SEA | SD@SF | TOR@SEA | SD@LAD |
| NYY@BAL | CIN@PHI | LAA@BAL | WAS@PIT |
| PIT@FLA | NYM@PHI | ||
| Bold indicates a four-game series. | |||
| The Mets play Philadelphia in a doubleheader Friday as a makeup game for an April 16 rainout. So the Mets have two four-game series this week. | |||
Two-start pitcher options
| This week's two-start pitchers | ||
| Must-start options | ||
| Pitcher | Start No. 1 | Start No. 2 |
| Brad Penny | at ARI Owings | vs. SD Peavy |
| Roy Halladay | at MIN Slowey | at SEA Batista |
| C.C. Sabathia | vs. OAK Gaudin | vs. TB Howell |
| Ben Sheets | vs. HOU Jennings | at CHC Marquis |
| Jeremy Bonderman | vs. TEX Loe | vs. MIN Slowey |
| Dan Haren | at CLE Lee | at NYY Pettitte |
| Andy Pettitte | at BAL Guthrie | vs. OAK Haren |
| Oliver Perez | vs. STL Wellemeyer | at PHI Kendrick |
| Advisable options | ||
| John Lackey | vs. KC Thomson | at BAL Guthrie |
| Tim Hudson | vs. WAS Bergmann | at FLA Willis |
| Jon Garland | at TB Shields | at KC Thomson |
| Barry Zito | vs. SD Wells | vs. ARI Gonzalez |
| James Shields | vs. CHW Garland | at CLE Lee |
| Justin Germano | at SF Lincecum | at LAD Billingsley |
| Homer Bailey | at PHI Kendrick | vs. STL Wellemeyer? |
| Shaun Marcum | at MIN Baker | at SEA Weaver |
| Jeff Francis | at CHC Marquis | at HOU Jennings |
| Julian Tavarez | at SEA Weaver | vs. TEX Padilla |
| Questionable options | ||
| Dontrelle Willis | vs. PIT Maholm | vs. ATL Hudson |
| Chad Gaudin | at CLE Sabathia | at NYY Igawa |
| Cliff Lee | vs. OAK Haren | vs. TB Shields |
| Jeremy Guthrie | vs. NYY Pettitte | vs. LAA Lackey |
| Chad Billingsley | at ARI Gonzalez | vs. SD Germano |
| Micah Owings | vs. LAD Penny | at SF Lowry |
| Jorge Sosa | vs. STL Maroth | at PHI TBD |
| Jason Marquis | vs. COL Francis | vs. MIL Sheets |
| Jason Jennings | at MIL Sheets | vs. COL Francis |
| Kevin Slowey | vs. TOR Halladay | at DET Bonderman |
| Wandy Rodriguez | at MIL Vargas | vs. COL Lopez |
| John Danks | at TB Howell | at KC Perez |
| High-risk options | ||
| Mike Maroth | at NYM Sosa | at CIN Arroyo |
| Rodrigo Lopez | at CHC Lilly | at HOU Rodriguez |
| Nate Robertson | vs. TEX Padilla | vs. MIN Baker |
| Vicente Padilla | at DET Robertson | at BOS Tavarez |
| J.P. Howell | vs. CHW Danks | at CLE Sabathia |
| Paul Maholm | at FLA Willis | vs. WAS Bergmann |
| Jason Bergmann | at ATL Hudson | at PIT Maholm |
| Edgar Gonzalez? | vs. LAD Billingsley | at SF Zito |
| Kyle Kendrick | vs. CIN Bailey | vs. NYM Glavine |
| Jeff Weaver | vs. BOS Tavarez | vs. TOR Marcum |
| Scott Baker | vs. TOR Marcum | at DET Robertson |
| Kameron Loe | at DET Bonderman | at BOS Beckett |
| Todd Wellemeyer? | at NYM Perez | at CIN Bailey |
| John Tomson | at LAA Lackey | vs. CHW Garland |
Pitch a question
Kevin Quinn, Troy, Mich.: I just managed to pick up Dan Haren in a trade this past week and want to put him and his two starts into my lineup for Week 13, but they are against the Tribe and Yankees. I need three pitchers and also have Daisuke Matsuzaka, Brad Penny, Ervin Santana and Chad Billingsley. Dice-K and Penny are my locks. Santana concerns me because, of his two starts, only one is at home, but the road game is at lowly Baltimore. And Billingsley might not make it past the fifth inning until he is used to starting. Of the top 3, Dice-K, Penny and Santana, who should I replace with Haren?
Emack: Actually, Santana is not a two-start pitcher because the Angels have Thursday off, so he will pitch Tuesday and then be a two-starter next week. Dice-K is not a two-start pitcher, but he should start with Penny and Haren. We would go with those three.
Chris Jones, Deland, Fla.: Who would you recommend starting of the two, Chad Billingsley or Homer Bailey?
Emack: Kevin above answered this one for us. Billingsley will have to be waited on. Bailey is the two-starter to go with this week.
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 do not guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.
