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Eric Mack

Week 13 Fantasy Pitching Planner

By | Senior Fantasy Writer


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 at CIN Arroyo, at COL Jimenez
  2. Jon Garland at CIN Cueto
  3. Doug Davis at CIN Harang
  4. Max Scherzer at COL De La Rosa
  5. TBD, perhaps Yusmeiro Petit at COL Cook
This week's two-start pitchers
Must-start options TM Own% Start%
Tim Lincecum SF 98 92
Johan Santana NYM 98 90
Jon Lester BOS 97 90
Dan Haren ARI 97 88
Roy Halladay TOR 97 63
Roy Oswalt HOU 97 87
Ted Lilly CHC 97 85
Chris Carpenter STL 96 84
Gavin Floyd CHW 92 78
Rich Harden CHC 96 73
Ricky Nolasco FLA 89 73
Nick Blackburn MIN 78 63
Advisable options TM Own% Start%
Joba Chamberlain NYY 95 77
Ubaldo Jimenez COL 90 72
Joe Saunders ANA 94 72
Zach Duke PIT 87 68
Rick Porcello DET 82 64
Randy Wolf LA 84 60
Randy Johnson SF 75 52
Joe Blanton PHI 59 36
Questionable options TM Own% Start%
Bronson Arroyo CIN 64 37
Scott Richmond TOR 63 30
Fernando Nieve NYM 40 28
Brandon Morrow SEA 51 25
Kenshin Kawakami ATL 40 22
Brian Bannister KC 30 19
Vicente Padilla TEX 26 17
Carl Pavano CLE 36 15
Ross Ohlendorf PIT 23 14
Jeff Niemann TB 25 12
Luke Hochevar KC 22 12
Braden Looper MIL 20 11
Clayton Richard CHW 18 9
Brett Anderson OAK 16 5
Mike Hampton HOU 10 2
Brad Thompson STL 6 4
Sean O'Sullivan ANA 5 3
High-risk options TM Own% Start%
Rich J. Hill BAL 12 5
Scott Olsen WAS 9 2
Josh Geer SD 3 2
Mike Burns MIL 2 1
Jason Berken BAL 1 1
Josh Banks SD 2 1

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.

Atlanta Braves

  1. Derek Lowe vs PHI Hamels
  2. Jair Jurrjens vs PHI Carrasco
  3. Javier Vazquez at WAS Detwiler
  4. Tommy Hanson at WAS Lannan
  5. Kenshin Kawakami vs PHI Blanton, at WAS Olsen

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.

Baltimore Orioles

  1. Jeremy Guthrie at LAA Lackey
  2. Bradley Bergesen vs BOS Beckett
  3. Rich J. Hill vs BOS Smoltz, at LAA Saunders
  4. Jason Berken vs BOS Lester, at LAA O'Sullivan
  5. David Hernandez at LAA Palmer

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.

Boston Red Sox

  1. Josh Beckett at BAL Bergesen
  2. Jon Lester at Berken, vs SEA Morrow
  3. John Smoltz at BAL Hill
  4. Tim Wakefield vs SEA Hernandez
  5. Brad Penny vs SEA Olson

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.

Chicago Cubs

  1. Carlos Zambrano vs MIL Suppan
  2. Ryan Dempster vs MIL McClung
  3. Rich Harden at PIT Duke, vs MIL Looper
  4. Ted Lilly at PIT Ohlendorf, vs MIL Burns
  5. Randy Wells at PIT Vasquez

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.

Chicago White Sox

  1. Mark Buehrle at KC Chen
  2. John Danks at KC Greinke
  3. Gavin Floyd at CLE Pavano, at KC Hochevar
  4. Clayton Richard at CLE Lee, at KC Bannister
  5. Jose Contreras at CLE Sowers

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.

Cincinnati Reds

  1. Aaron Harang vs ARI Davis
  2. Bronson Arroyo vs ARI Haren, vs STL Carpenter
  3. Johnny Cueto vs ARI Garland
  4. Micah Owings vs STL Thompson
  5. Homer Bailey vs STL Pineiro

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.

Cleveland Indians

  1. Cliff Lee vs CHW Richard
  2. Carl Pavano vs CHW Floyd
  3. Jeremy Sowers vs CHW Contreras
  4. David Huff vs OAK
  5. Tomo Ohka vs OAK Cahill

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

Colorado Rockies

  1. Aaron Cook vs ARI TBD
  2. Ubaldo Jimenez at LAD Wolf, vs ARI Haren
  3. Jason Marquis at LAD Billingsley
  4. Jason Hammel at LAD Kershaw
  5. Jorge De La Rosa vs ARI Scherzer

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.

Detroit Tigers

  1. Justin Verlander at OAK Braden
  2. Edwin Jackson at MIN Liriano
  3. Rick Porcello at OAK Anderson, at MIN Blackburn
  4. Armando Galarraga at OAK Gonzalez
  5. Expected to be recalled Luke French at MIN Slowey

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.

Florida Marlins

  1. Ricky Nolasco vs WAS Olsen, vs PIT Ohlendorf
  2. Josh Johnson vs WAS Detwiler
  3. Chris Volstad vs PIT Morton
  4. Andrew Miller vs PIT Duke
  5. Sean West vs WAS Zimmermann

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.

Houston Astros

  1. Roy Oswalt at SD Geer, at SF Lincecum
  2. Wandy Rodriguez at SD Correia
  3. Mike Hampton at SD Banks, at SF Johnson
  4. Felipe Paulino at SF Sadowski
  5. Brian Moehler at SD Silva
  6. 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.

Top 10 Pitchers Added
Player % Change
1. Fernando Nieve, SP, NYM 35
2. Homer Bailey, SP, CIN 17
3. Kevin Correia, SP, SD 14
4. Leo Nunez, RP, FLA 14
5. Ricky Romero, SP, TOR 13
6. Aaron Cook, SP, COL 12
7. J.P. Howell, RP, TB 10
8. Joel Pineiro, SP, STL 10
9. Vicente Padilla, SP, TEX 10
10. Ricky Nolasco, SP, FLA 9

Kansas City Royals

  1. Zack Greinke vs CHW Danks
  2. Gil Meche vs MIN Perkins
  3. Brian Bannister vs MIN Baker, vs CHW Richard
  4. Luke Hochevar vs MIN Blackburn, vs CHW Floyd
  5. Bruce Chen vs CHW Buehrle

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.

Los Angeles Angels

  1. John Lackey vs BAL Guthrie
  2. Jered Weaver at TEX Millwood
  3. Joe Saunders at TEX Feldman, vs BAL Hill
  4. Matt Palmer vs BAL Hernandez
  5. Sean O'Sullivan at TEX Padilla, vs BAL Berken

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.

Los Angeles Dodgers

  1. Chad Billingsley vs COL Marquis
  2. Randy Wolf vs COL Jimenez, at SD Banks
  3. Clayton Kershaw vs COL Hammel
  4. Hiroki Kuroda at SD Geer
  5. Eric Milton at SD Gaudin

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.

Milwaukee Brewers

  1. Yovani Gallardo vs NYM Pelfrey
  2. Jeff Suppan at CHC Zambrano
  3. Braden Looper vs NYM Nieve, at CHC Harden
  4. Mike Burns vs NYM Santana, at CHC Lilly
  5. Seth McClung at CHC Dempster

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.

Minnesota Twins

  1. Kevin Slowey vs DET Figaro
  2. Scott Baker at KC Bannister
  3. Francisco Liriano vs DET Jackson
  4. Nick Blackburn at KC Hochevar, vs DET Porcello
  5. Glen Perkins at KC Meche

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.

New York Mets

  1. Johan Santana at MIL Burns, vs PHI Blanton
  2. Mike Pelfrey at MIL Gallardo
  3. Livan Hernandez at PHI Happ
  4. Tim Redding at PIT Maholm
  5. Fernando Nieve at MIL Looper, at PHI Moyer

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.

New York Yankees

  1. CC Sabathia vs SEA Vargas
  2. A.J. Burnett vs TOR Tallet
  3. Andy Pettitte vs SEA Washburn
  4. Joba Chamberlain vs SEA Morrow, vs TOR Richmond
  5. Chien-Ming Wang vs TOR Halladay

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.

Oakland Athletics

  1. Dallas Braden vs DET Verlander
  2. Trevor Cahill at CLE Ohka
  3. Vin Mazzaro at CLE Huff
  4. Brett Anderson vs DET Porcello, at CLE Pavano
  5. Gio Gonzalez vs DET Galarraga

Week 13 Start 'em/Sit 'em
Start 'em TM
1 Tommy Hanson ATL
2 John Smoltz BOS
3 Nick Blackburn MIN
4 Aaron Cook COL
5 Hiroki Kuroda LAD
Sit 'em TM
1 Dallas Braden OAK
2 Francisco Liriano MIN
3 Mike Pelfrey NYM
4 Matt Palmer LAA
5 Eric Milton LAD

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.

Philadelphia Phillies

  1. Cole Hamels at ATL Lowe
  2. Joe Blanton at ATL Kawakami, vs NYM Santana
  3. Jamie Moyer vs NYM Nieve
  4. J.A. Happ vs NYM Hernandez
  5. TBD, perhaps Carlos Carrasco vs ATL Jurrjens

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.

Pittsburgh Pirates

  1. Zach Duke vs CHC Duke, at FLA Miller
  2. Paul Maholm vs NYM Redding
  3. Ross Ohlendorf vs CHC Lilly, at FLA Nolasco
  4. Charlie Morton at FLA Volstad
  5. Virgil Vasquez vs CHC Wells

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.

San Diego Padres

  1. Kevin Correia vs HOU Rodriguez
  2. Chad Gaudin vs LAD Milton
  3. Josh Geer vs HOU Oswalt, vs LAD Kuroda
  4. Walter Silva vs HOU Moehler
  5. Josh Banks vs HOU Hampton

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.

San Francisco Giants

  1. Tim Lincecum at STL Thompson, vs HOU Oswalt
  2. Matt Cain at STL Wainwright
  3. Randy Johnson at STL Carpenter, vs HOU Hampton
  4. Barry Zito at STL Wellemeyer
  5. Ryan Sadowski vs HOU Paulino

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.

Seattle Mariners

  1. Felix Hernandez at BOS Wakefield
  2. Jarrod Washburn at NYY Pettitte
  3. Brandon Morrow at NYY Chamberlain, at BOS Morrow
  4. Jason M. Vargas at NYY Sabathia
  5. Garrett Olson at BOS Penny

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.

St. Louis Cardinals

  1. Chris Carpenter vs SF Johnson, at CIN Arroyo
  2. Adam Wainwright vs SF Cain
  3. Joel Pineiro at CIN Bailey
  4. Todd Wellemeyer vs SF Zito
  5. Brad Thompson vs SF Lincecum, at CIN Owings

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.

Tampa Bay Rays

  1. James Shields at TOR Romero
  2. Scott Kazmir at TEX Holland
  3. Matt Garza at TOR Richmond
  4. David Price at TEX Hunter
  5. Jeff Niemann at TOR Halladay, at TEX Padilla

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.

Texas Rangers

  1. Kevin Millwood vs LAA Weaver
  2. Vicente Padilla vs LAA O'Sullivan, vs TB Niemann
  3. Scott Feldman vs LAA Saunders
  4. Derek Holland vs TB Kazmir
  5. Tommy Hunter vs TB Price

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.

Toronto Blue Jays

  1. Roy Halladay vs TB Niemann, at NYY Wang
  2. Ricky Romero vs TB Shields
  3. Scott Richmond vs TB Garza, at NYY Chamberlain
  4. Brian Tallet at NYY Burnett
  5. Brett Cecil skipped, perhaps for two turns

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.

Washington Nationals

  1. John Lannan vs ATL Hanson
  2. Scott Olsen at FLA Nolasco, vs ATL Kawakami
  3. Jordan Zimmermann at FLA Johnson
  4. Ross Detwiler vs ATL Vazquez
  5. Craig Stammen at FLA West

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.

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.

 
 
 
Player News
Nate Adcock
Adcock to compete for rotation spot
Nate Adcock, RP, KC
3:06 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports Nate Adcock was with the Royals last season after being a Rule 5 draft pick from the Pirates. Adcock, who made three spot starts and mostly worked in long relief, will be a rotation candidate in spring training. He went to the Arizona Fall League to throw more innings. Adcock, however, could go back to the minors if he fails to land a job in March. He had not pitched above Class A before last season.
Analysis: Adcock went 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA in six starts in the Arizona Fall League. His most encouraging stat line was his 23 strikeouts to four walks in 24 1/3 innings. Adcock was never a dominant pitcher in the minors, so even if he wins a rotation spot this spring, consider him at best an AL-only Fantasy option.

Jacob Turner
Tigers still evaluating Turner
Jacob Turner, SP, DET
2:59 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports Jacob Turner might have the highest ceiling among the handful of candidates for Detroit's vacant fifth starter spot, but prudence might dictate he smooth out some rough edges for a half-season in the minors. GM Dave Dombrowski recently cited lefties Andy Oliver, Drew Smyly, Duane Below, Casey Crosby and Adam Wilk as among the contenders for the rotation along with Turner, who would make it an all-right-handed starting staff were he to emerge this spring. "I feel comfortable if Below or Wilk were the No. 5 starter, that they could do a job for us out there," Dombrowski said. "But unless something really surprises me, they don't have the overall upside of a Jacob Turner, who I'm not really sure is ready or not. I don't know if we'll know that until we get down there (to Florida), see him perform and also see some of those other guys perform."
Analysis: Turner had some command issues and didn't pitch off his fastball enough in three cameo starts for the Tigers last season, but the most glaring fault was an inability to stop even the slowest runners from stealing bases on him. "First of all, (Turner) has quality stuff and is going to be a tremendous big-league pitcher," Dombrowski said. "I don't have a question about that. This guy is really good. But last year, if you were watching us at the big-league level, you would have said, 'There's no way this guy could be ready.' I've seen guys who get a cup of coffee at the big league level, guys for whom the game moved real fast. And they come back to pitch very well. But I'm interested in seeing where some of those young guys are in their development, and whether they can step forward to do the job." Turner could be worth a late-round Fantasy flier in deeper formats on Draft Day, so continue to track his progress.

Drew Smyly
Smyly has Tigers smiling
Drew Smyly, SP, DET
2:56 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports SP prospect Drew Smyly, Detroit's second choice in the 2010 draft, has a solid chance to make the Tigers' roster in a multi-pitcher battle for the club's fifth rotation spot. GM Dave Dombrowski tagged Smyly, who pitched better at Double-A than he did in high Class A, is "one guy I'm interested in seeing because I've not seen much of him. He's only been in the organization one year, but some people in our minor league system feel he's ready to pitch in the big leagues right now."
Analysis: Smyly was 7-3 with a 2.58 ERA for Lakeland (Class A), then went 4-3 with a 1.18 ERA in eight games for Erie (Double-A). "He not only pitched well in the minors last year," Dombrowski said, "but he went to international competition (Pan American Games) and was the No. 1 pitcher on that team. In general, when you look at guys who've been successful in international competition, the majority of them end up pitching in the big leagues the next year." Although he has just one minor-league season under his belt, Smyly could move fast because he is more polished than a high-school draftee since he pitched in the SEC. The only real concern is that Smyly has had health issues in the past, but it appears his talent might get him to the majors sooner than many may think. He remains a viable long-term Fantasy keeper, but if he wins a rotation spot out of camp, then consider Smyly more of an AL-only Fantasy option to start his career.

Michael Brantley
Brantley considered starting LF
Michael Brantley, LF, CLE
2:48 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports OF Michael Brantley will go to training camp as the starter in left field, according to manager Manny Acta. Brantley finished the 2011 season on the disabled list because of a hand injury that resulted in surgery on Aug. 23 to remove a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Acta said Brantley will be ready to resume baseball activities in spring training.
Analysis: In 451 at bats last year, Brantley batted .266 with seven home runs, 46 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Brantley was a good contact hitter in the minors, but he never really hit for power. He had some speed on the base paths, which he could provide for Fantasy owners. But we aren't sure yet how much offensive upside he has, so consider Brantley at best a late-round Fantasy flier in mixed leagues.

Billy Hamilton
Hamilton to remain at SS
Billy Hamilton, SS, CIN
2:45 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports Reds prospect Billy Hamilton will continue to play exclusively as shortstop this season. Hamilton played some second base his first two years in the organization. "Good shortstops are hard to find," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said.
Analysis: With Hamilton's speed, Fantasy owners wish he was in the majors this season. However, he hasn't played past Class A, so Hamilton still has some work to do before making it to the majors. The Reds are going to give Zack Cozart his chance to start at shortstop in 2012, and if we are lucky, we might see Hamilton when rosters expand in September. He totaled 103 stolen bases in 2011 and has 165 stolen bases in 247 minor-league games. Hamilton remains a long-term Fantasy keeper.

Jorge De La Rosa
Rockies won't 'push' De La Rosa
Jorge De La Rosa, SP, COL
2:38 PM
News: The Denver Post reports while the Rockies are pleased with Jorge De La Rosa's progress, they will continue to be cautious with him. De La Rosa, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery last summer, is already throwing in bullpen sessions. "He is way ahead, but we are not going to push him," GM Dan O'Dowd said. "There's a difference between being ahead and being major-league sharp. Our goal is not just getting De La Rosa back to the big leagues, our goal is getting De La Rosa back to where he can get outs at the big-league level."
Analysis: De La Rosa is expected to progress to facing live hitters in mid-March, as long as he avoids all setbacks. When camp breaks, De La Rosa will stay in extended spring training and continue his rehab by working against minor league hitters. Trainer Keith Dugger said that if all goes well, De La Rosa could begin a 30-day minor league rehab assignment in late April or May. De La Rosa, who will be 31 on April 5, went 34-24 for the Rockies with a 4.49 ERA and 434 strikeouts in 436 2/3 innings since being obtained from the Royals in April 2008. De La Rosa is merely a draft-and-stash option on Draft Day.

Todd Helton
Helton admits 'days are numbered'
Todd Helton, 1B, COL
2:33 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports Rockies 1B Todd Helton, 38, had a nice comeback season in 2011, hitting .302 with 14 homers and 69 RBI in 124 games along with a .385 on-base percentage and .466 slugging percentage. Helton is under contract for two more seasons, at which point he will be 40. Regardless of whether he plays beyond 2013, Helton, who has had lower back soreness in recent seasons, knows his days on the field are winding down. "I try to enjoy it more," he said. "When you're not hurting out there, it's fun, but when you get older and you creak a little bit more, your body hurts a little bit more, and it's a young man's game. I realize my days are numbered, but I'm enjoying every one of them."
Analysis: The Rockies kept Jason Giambi in the fold, so he will continue to spell Helton, who played 124 games in 2011. We can't expect Helton to play a full season anymore and he even senses that. He still hits for a decent average and gets on base, but he doesn't have the power numbers to compete at such a deep Fantasy position. Leave Helton for the later rounds of deep Fantasy formats.

Rafael Betancourt
Betancourt ready for closer's job
Rafael Betancourt, RP, COL
2:28 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports Rockies RP Rafael Betancourt will bring the same mindset to his new role this season. He will begin the year as the Rockies closer, the first time in his career Betancourt has ever began a season closing. He went 8 for 9 in save situations after he became the closer in August, taking over for the since-traded Huston Street when Street was on the disabled list. "Even when I started closing last year, I didn't change anything," Betancourt said. "I didn't change my routine or anything when I came to the games. I just try to get three outs or however many I need to finish the game. That's all that's in my mind. I'm not thinking about, 'Oh, I'm the closer now.' All I'm thinking about is going into the game and finishing.".
Analysis: In the past two seasons, Betancourt has an astounding strikeouts to walks ratio of 10.1 to 1 -- 162 strikeouts and 16 walks in 124 2/3 innings. He seems to have the makeup to be a dominant closer, but we will have to see how he handles the full-time role when the season begins. Consider Betancourt more of a No. 2 Fantasy RP on Draft Day.

Jhoulys Chacin
GM not happy with Chacin
Jhoulys Chacin, SP, COL
2:24 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports the Rockies are hoping Jhoulys Chacin, 24, can be more consistent this season and come closer to reaching his potential after a 2011 season when he tailed off in mid-June after a strong start. But Chacin's offseason workouts have disappointed general manager Dan O'Dowd, who believes Chacin needs to lose weight because the excess pounds affect the balance in his delivery and cause his fastball command to suffer. Chacin spent much of the winter working out in his native Venezuela after working out in Tucson previously. On Feb. 9, Chacin reportedly weighed 226 pounds but anticipates being close to the 218 pounds he was last spring when he reports to spring training on Feb. 19. O'Dowd said, "I would say he could have worked a little harder this winter. I am not really happy about that. I don't think it will be an issue by the time he gets to camp. But it has to be to a point where he has maturity and discipline and realizes that this is his career."
Analysis: Chacin went 8-7 with a 3.16 ERA in 18 pre-All Star break starts last year and went 3-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 13 starts after the break. Chacin struggled with walks in the second half and was much more hittable down the stretch than he was early in the season. The Rockies seemed to have found a way for Chacin to be a little more consistent on the mound. Now, he just has to buy into the program. He still hasn't hit the prime of his career, so the fact Chacin is already flashing signs of dominance is encouraging. He just has to maintain it over the entire season. Look to Chacin as a mid-round Fantasy option on Draft Day.

Marlon Byrd
Prospect hot on Byrd's heels
Marlon Byrd, CF, CHC
2:19 PM
News: The Sports Xchange reports CF Marlon Byrd is the expected starter in center field for Chicago, with hot prospect Brett Jackson expected to open the season at Triple-A Iowa. The 34-year-old Byrd, entering the final year of his contract, batted only .198 with runners in scoring position last year, including .118 with the bases loaded. He missed six weeks of the season after being hit in the face with a pitch last May in Boston and hit only nine home runs, his lowest total since he hit five with Washington in 2006. If Jackson gets off to a hot start in the minor leagues, it's possible the Cubs will look to trade Byrd.
Analysis: After returning to the lineup in early July following the incident in which he was hit in the face, Byrd hit a disappointing .255 with a .311 OBP and .691 OPS in his final 75 games. You have to give Byrd credit for returning to action, however. That showed a lot of courage. Unfortunately, the Cubs are building toward the future, so Jackson could be brought to the majors quickly if he gets off to a hot start at Triple-A. Fantasy owners can leave Byrd mostly for NL-only Fantasy formats on Draft Day.

 
 
 
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