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.
Two-starter(s): Haren. He is a must-start in all leagues, despite the two road starts in two hitters parks. Who is getting skipped: No. 5 spot. Billy Buckner was demoted to the minors, but Petit could be ready to return from the DL and his Triple-A rehab assignment before the next time the D-Backs need a No. 5 starter. One-week sleeper: Scherzer. We are assuming he will slot Friday on regular rest, saving the No. 5 turn until Saturday. That gives him a matchup vs. a back-end starter. One-week bust: Garland. He has been better of late, but he faces an ace and works in a hitter's park this week.
Two-starter(s): Kawakami. He left his last start with a contusion, getting hit by a comebacker, so the Braves might go with Lowe on regular rest. Kawakami is a questionable two-starter for this reason. Lowe is a sleeper as a one-start who could move up. Track this news closely if you have these two guys. Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Kawakami. His injury and a Monday day off would allow the Braves to slot every other starter on regular rest and use Kawakami the next time the No. 5 starter's spot is needed July 4. One-week sleeper: Hanson. He is likely a must-start in all leagues in that matchup vs. the last-place Nationals. One-week bust: Kawakami. He could be a two-starter, one-starter or a no-starter. You are best off avoiding him.
Two-starter(s): Berken and Hill. They are questionable-to-risky options because they face top contenders in both starts and have been inconsistent this season. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: None. We don't like any of their matchups this week. One-week bust: All. It is not a week to be relying on an Orioles starter in most formats.
Two-starter(s): Lester. He is a must-start ace in all leagues. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Smoltz. He wasn't good in his return start, but he draws a favorable matchup. One-week bust: Wakefield. He was awesome his last time out, but he faces a red-hot ace in King Felix. Wake is still useful, but he is just not advisable.
Two-starter(s): Lilly and Harden. They are at least advisable in all leagues. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Wells. Their underrated No. 5 starter draws the Pirates. One-week bust: None. All of the Cubs starters can be considered advisable options this week.
Two-starter(s): Floyd and Richard. Floyd is a must-start option, while Richard is a questionable option best left for the deepest of formats. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Buehrle. His matchup makes him a must-start option in all leagues. One-week bust: Richard and Contreras. The top three starters are advisable and the last two likely should be avoided, if possible.
Two-starter(s): Arroyo. His hot-and-cold inconsistency makes him a questionable option, especially because he is opposing a pair of aces. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Bailey. He was wild in his return start, but if you are a risk-taker, he could have value in deeper formats this week. One-week bust: Arroyo. His double starters are intriguing, but he is a difficult one to predict this season.
Two-starter(s): Pavano and perhaps Lee. The Indians have six games this week, but we expect Ohka or Huff to be skipped to keep Cliff Lee on regular rest. Pavano is a questionable option, while Lee is a must-start, with or without two starts. Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Ohka or Huff. We wouldn't use Ohka in any leagues, while Huff is a risky option best left on the bench this week. One-week sleeper: None. We would only consider trusting Lee in any formats at this point. One-week bust: Pavano, Sowers, Huff and Ohka. See above comment.
Fantasy Baseball - Week 13 Fantasy Pitching Planner : FantasyNews.CBSSports.com
Two-starter(s): Jimenez. He is an advisable option in most formats, despite the tough matchups. Who is getting skipped: Perhaps De La Rosa. An off day Thursday could allow the Rockies to skip De La Rosa and keep their other starters on regular rest. Marquis would pick up a second start if De La Rosa is skipped. After De La Rosa's past solid outing, we don't see him getting skipped, though. One-week sleeper: Cook. He has been outstanding of late and draws the most favorable matchup of the week among Rockies pitchers. One-week bust: Marquis, Hammel and De La Rosa. We like the top two starters this week in most formats, but we don't like the bottom three even in NL-only leagues.
Two-starter(s): Porcello. He has been giving up more baserunners of late, but he remains an advisable option amid his AL ROY candidacy. Who is getting skipped: None. Alfredo Figaro was sent to Triple-A and French will be called up because the Tigers want a left-hander in a key series against the Twins. One-week sleeper: Porcello. The rookie is on pace for 17 victories. We say he tops out at 15, but the Tigers are a first-place team that can make him a winner in both starts. One-week bust: French. He will be making his first career start against the Twins. We cannot advise him in any league.
Two-starter(s): Nolasco. He is at least advisable in all leagues with those matchups, perhaps even a must-start. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Miller and West. They are useful in deeper mixed leagues in those matchups if you need replacement starters. One-week bust: None. All five of the Marlins starters can be useful this week.
Russ Ortiz TBD, perhaps at SF Sadowski or Lincecum
Two-starter(s): Oswalt and Hampton. Oswalt is a must-start, while Hampton is a questionable option off the DL. Who is getting skipped: None. The return of Hampton, though, causes a six-man rotation, because the Astros are slated to pitch Moehler on Wednesday. They could remove him from the rotation if they choose to keep Paulino and Ortiz in it. If they start Moehler and choose to keep Paulino and Ortiz in the rotation, Hampton will lose his two-start week. One-week sleeper: Hampton. He is useful in NL-only formats due to the potential two starts and the weak offensive teams he is facing. One-week bust: Moehler. He might be removed from the rotation and has been pitching poorly. Don't trust him in any format.
Two-starter(s): Hochevar and Bannister. They are sleepers for deeper leagues this week. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Bannister. Their two-starters have been a bit inconsistent in their results, but they have been pitching fairly well overall. Bannister has the better numbers and better matchups of the two. One-week bust: Hochevar. We don't like his matchups as much, considering he is facing the two hottest pitchers of his opponents.
Two-starter(s): O'Sullivan and Saunders. O'Sullivan is a questionable option, especially because of that first matchup, while Saunders is probably advisable in all leagues regardless of the matchups. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: O'Sullivan. He is risky enough we might only advise using him in AL-only leagues, but he is a solid prospect off to a good start in the majors. One-week bust: Palmer. His matchup looks as enticing as his record as a rookie, but the journeyman really isn't pitching well enough to trust outside of the deepest of AL-only leagues. He is not the prospect O'Sullivan is and was pitching over his head.
Two-starter(s): Wolf. He is coming off his worst start of the season but is likely still advisable in all leagues this week. Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Milton. A Thursday day off and the following Monday might lead the Dodgers to skip their No. 5 starter Milton on Friday after the first off day, so their starters don't get too much extra rest. One-week sleeper: Kuroda. Before struggling Sunday, he was coming off his best start of the season. He is facing the lowly Padres in their pitcher's park. He shouldn't be available in 24 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues. One-week bust: Milton. He just returned from the DL, but the Dodgers can afford to skip him. If they had just one upcoming day off, we wouldn't think they would, but the second off day coming so soon makes us believe they could.
Two-starter(s): Looper and Burns. They are questionable-to-risky options better left for NL-only leagues at this point, especially with the tough second matchup. Who is getting skipped: None. But Manny Parra belongs back in the rotation and could be a candidate to return late in Fantasy Week 13 (June 29-July 5). He could take Burns second start or return on short rest on McClung's turn after his third Triple-A start Sunday. One-week sleeper: Looper. He hasn't won in June, but the woeful Mets offense could make him a sleeper to use in deeper mixed formats if you like taking a risk on a two-start guy. One-week bust: Suppan, Burns and McClung. They draw tough matchups and the latter two might be candidates to be demoted if Parra stays hot in Triple-A. Don't trust the Brewers' back-end guys.
Two-starter(s): Blackburn. He is at least an advisable option in all leagues, likely a must-start. Who is getting skipped: None. The Twins have off days Thursday and the following Monday and can go with a four-man rotation, but we don't see the weekend guys Slowey, Liriano and Blackburn getting skipped out of the crucial Tigers series. If one of them does, Baker would pick up a second start. One-week sleeper: Blackburn. He has posted seven consecutive quality starts and should be owned in far more than 77 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues. One-week bust: Liriano. He is still wild and draws a tough matchup. We like him for the second half, but we wouldn't necessarily advise him this week.
Two-starter(s): Nieve and Santana. Santana is a must-start regardless, but Nieve is hot and a nice sleeper in deeper leagues. Nieve, though, is being evaluated on a start-to-start basis and might be a candidate to be removed from his second start if he struggles. Who is getting skipped: None. But Oliver Perez is making a Class A rehab start Sunday and could be a candidate to be used in the rotation against the lefty-leaning Phillies lineup. The Mets like using lefties against the Phillies and are currently slated to use right-handers Hernandez and Nieve at Philly on Friday and Saturday. Perez could take Nieve's second start. One-week sleeper: Redding. He will be pitching for his rotation spot with Perez perhaps ready to return. Redding is assured a start against the Pirates, though. One-week bust: Pelfrey. He has been pitching poorly of late and he faces the Brewers' ace on the road.
Two-starter(s): Chamberlain. He is an advisable option, despite his disappointing first half. Who is getting skipped: None. But Wang is being evaluated on a start-to-start basis and could be a candidate to be removed in favor of Phil Hughes out of long relief. One-week sleeper: Pettitte. He was awful last time out, but he is still 7-3 on the season and a candidate to win for you any time out. One-week bust: Wang. Unless he shuts out the pitiful Mets on Sunday night, we cannot advise using him in any format. With a dominant outing, consider him a sleeper.
Two-starter(s): Anderson. He is a questionable option until he proves more consistent as a rookie. Who is getting skipped: None. They have a Thursday off day, but we don't see Cahill, Mazzaro or Anderson getting skipped over the weekend to slot Gonzalez up a day. One-week sleeper: Cahill and Mazzaro. They have shown flashes of brilliance and draft favorable matchups in Fantasy Week 13 (June 29-July 5). One-week bust: Braden, Anderson and Gonzalez. The matchups and their recent performance shouldn't give you much confidence in them this week.
Two-starter(s): Blanton. He is an advisable option amid his solid June (3.34 ERA and .252 batting-average against). Who is getting skipped: No. 5 starter. Antonio Bastardo is likely headed to the 15-day DL, but the Phillies look like they will reslot their No. 5 spot Thursday at Atlanta. Elias Sports Bureau's Probable Pitchers like Carrasco as the starter. Carrasco has won his past three starts in Triple-A. One-week sleeper: Blanton. There is some risk there, but Blanton has been solid after a slow start and the still first-place Phillies have a huge week ahead of them. One-week bust: Carrasco. We don't like his matchup in his major league debut. Take that flier in deeper NL-only and long-term keeper leagues, though.
Two-starter(s): Duke and Ohlendorf. Duke is at least advisable, despite his tough first matchup. Ohlendorf is questionable at best. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Maholm. He snapped a two-start losing streak and gets a toss-up matchup vs. the pitiful Mets. He deserves to be owned in more than his 59 percent on CBSSports.com. One-week bust: Ohlendorf, Morton and Vasquez. Ohlendorf is coming off a quality start and has a respectable 1.29 WHIP, but he is a potential two-start loser this week against those teams. Morton and Vasquez are risky even for the deepest of NL-only leagues at this point.
Two-starter(s): Geer and Banks. They are high-risk options even in the deepest of NL-only leagues at this point. Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Correia. He is the only Padres starter we could trust at all right now -- and he is merely an NL-only option. One-week bust: Everyone but Correia. Yes, the Padres are playing at home in their pitcher's park, but this patchwork rotation is hardly Triple-A worthy.
Two-starter(s): Lincecum and Johnson. Lincecum is a must-start, while Johnson could be an advisable option amid his productive June (3-1, 2.93). Who is getting skipped: None. One-week sleeper: Johnson, Zito and Sadowski. Johnson is hot and available in 25 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues, while Zito has been decent and is drawing a struggling opposing starter in Wellemeyer. Sadowski tossed six shutout innings in his major league debut and draws a winnable matchup this week. Consider him in NL-only formats. One-week bust: None. All of the Giants starters look viable in any formats this week.
Two-starter(s): Morrow. His tough matchups make him a questionable option at this point. Who is getting skipped: None. Even if they choose to skip Vargas or Olson this week, the No. 5 spot will be needed by Saturday, July 4. Erik Bedard was going to return in Fantasy Week 13 (June 29-July 5), but the Mariners have decided he will work a simulated game Tuesday. He could return in the final week before the All-Star break or be held out until late July at this point. Track his progress this week and don't trust him in your active lineup. One-week sleeper: Morrow. His matchups look unwinnable, but he is talented enough to be decent through five innings in both outings against the AL Beast leaders. Consider him in AL-only formats. One-week bust: Washburn, Vargas and Olson. We don't like their matchups this week. In fact, Hernandez is really the only truly advisable option among Mariners starters this week.
Two-starter(s): Thompson and Carpenter. Carpenter is a must-start in all leagues, whhile Thompson is questionable and best left for the deepest of NL-only leagues. Who is getting skipped: None. Kyle Lohse isn't likely to return in Fantasy Week 13 (June 29-July 5), but Thompson and the struggling Wellemeyer will be pitching for their rotation spots. One-week sleeper: Pineiro. He has remade himself and draws the Reds' young right-hander in a winnable matchup. One-week bust: Thompson and Wellemeyer. We wouldn't trust these guys outside of the deepest of NL-only leagues at this point.
Two-starter(s): Niemann. He faces a tough matchup Monday and could be a candidate to be skipped later in the week at Texas. Consider him a questionable option. Who is getting skipped: None. But Niemann could be skipped to keep Garza from going on two extra day's rest, due to off days Thursday and the following Monday. Niemann's status will be determined after his Monday start. Garza is a must-start, with or without the second start. One-week sleeper: Kazmir. He wasn't eye-popping in his DL return, but he is intriguing enough to trust in deeper formats even with that tough outing in that hitter's park in Texas. One-week bust: Niemann. He faces Halladay and might be a candidate to skip at Texas. The tough matchups are reason enough to avoid him in mixed formats.
Two-starter(s): Padilla. He is a sleeper for deeper leagues, despite facing a pair of top contenders. Who is getting skipped: None. A day off Thursday would allow the Rangers to skip Holland or Hunter over the weekend to move Feldman and Millwood up on regular rest. We cannot project that move at this point, though. Consider that reason enough to avoid Holland and Hunter. One-week sleeper: Padilla. He has been pitching well enough to trust in deeper mixed leagues even in those matchups. One-week bust: Holland and Hunter. We don't like their matchups or the fact they could be skipped over the weekend.
Two-starter(s): Halladay and likely Richmond. Halladay is a advisable two-start returnee in all leagues, while Richmond is a sleeper to pick up a second start if the Blue Jays choose to skip their No. 5 starter. Who is getting skipped: Cecil. The Blue Jays have sent down Brad Mills and could go with a four-man rotation for a couple of turns. The No. 5 spot won't come up in Fantasy Week 13 (June 29-July 5), so Cecil could be held out until July 7 at Tampa Bay. One-week sleeper: Romero. He has a tough matchup, but the right-hander has posted five consecutive quality starts and is dramatically underowned at just 56 percent. One-week bust: Tallet. He has been a bit difficult to project week-to-week, but a one-start week at the Yankees is not a time to trust him outside of AL-only leagues.
Two-starter(s): Olsen. Olsen is returning from the DL for a two-start week against two live NL East contenders. He is a risky option off the DL. The Nats were going to go with a four-man rotation, but the demotion of Shairon Martis slots Craig Stammen back in the rotation Tuesday and pushes Zimmermann off what could have been a two-start week. Who is getting skipped: None. The Nationals were going to skip their No. 5 starter, but they decided to leave Stammen in the rotation and demote Martis instead. One-week sleeper: Lannan. We are not excited by his matchup, but he has pitched very well of late. One-week bust: Olsen. We wouldn't trust him off the DL, especially since his Triple-A rehab numbers were so bad: 5.68 ERA and a .345 BAA. Those are Triple-A hitters and not the Hanley Ramirez-led Marlins or Chipper Jones-led Braves.
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