Pavano might be pushed back: MLB.com reports the Twins will decide by Tuesday whether starting pitcher Carl Pavano will make his next scheduled start Thursday against the White Sox or get an extra day of rest. Manager Ron Gardenhire indicated if Pavano is pushed back, then a reliever who has spot started in the past could start Thursday. "We're still working on that," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We have a little bit of time here. Originally, the plan was for Pavano to take an extra day, so we're still waiting on that. We might need a Thursday starter, and if we do, it'll be in this clubhouse." (Updated 05/20/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/22/12).
Fantasy Analysis
If Pavano is pushed back, then Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak are the likely candidates for a spot start. Pavano has continued to deliver mixed results on the hill, but he did allow two runs on five hits in six innings Saturday at Milwaukee, which was one of his best starts this season. Pavano went 3-1 with a 1.53 ERA in three starts against the White Sox last season, so it would seem likely the Twins would keep him on regular rest. If he is pushed back, then he faces a Tigers lineup that wasn't as nice to Pavano last season. He went 0-2 with a 5.95 ERA in three starts against Detroit. Regardless, Pavano is just an AL-only Fantasy start heading into Week 8 (May 21-27). (Updated 05/20/2012).
05/20/2012 19:47 Hit Parade for Week 8
Some catchers have been bitten by the injury bug in recent days, leaving some owners scrambling. Our Scott White shares some recommendations and helps set your lineups for Week 8 in his Hit Parade.
05/18/2012 21:40 Pettitte dominates as Yanks blank Reds
Andy Pettitte pitched eight shutout innings for his first regular-season win since July 2010, leading the New York Yankees over the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 Friday night.
05/17/2012 14:59 By the Numbers: Weighing in on the Chens
Which starting pitchers have ratios that suggest a correction -- good or bad -- is in their immediate future? Our Al Melchior shares some buy-low and sell-high starting pitchers in his By the Numbers.
05/15/2012 15:58 Lowe throws shutout against Twins
Derek Lowe pitched his first shutout in nearly seven years, throwing a six-hitter Tuesday and leading the Cleveland Indians over the Minnesota Twins 5-0.
05/13/2012 20:18 Hit Parade for Week 7
As interleague play gets under way there are many matchups to break down. Our Scott White tells you who the best bets and biggest risks are in his Hit Parade for Week 7.
If you compare it to his 17-win 2010, Carl Pavano's 2011 was a complete disaster. He won only nine games and gave up an MLB-high 262 hits. But before you dismiss him as irrelevant in mixed leagues at age 35, keep in mind much of his decline was due to factors behind his control. The Twins were terrible last year, losing 99 games and ranking second-to-last in the AL in runs scored. He doesn't have the type of knockout stuff that would allow him to win on his own. Instead, he'll eat innings, minimize damage and take whatever the offense gives him. When the offense gives him nothing, he's nothing ... but he'll still eat innings and minimize damage. Of his 33 starts last year, Pavano lasted seven innings or more in 19 of them. And though he had a handful of ugly starts early in the season, he was as steady as it gets over the final two months, posting a 3.16 ERA in 11 starts. Pavano's supporting cast still doesn't figure to be particularly good in 2012, which makes him not such an attractive draft pick in mixed leagues, but he'll be a consistent enough source of quality starts to get looks off the waiver wire. (Updated 1/5/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start