Week 14 Fantasy Pitching Planner

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 vs FLA Nolasco
2. Jon Garland vs SD Silva, vs FLA West
3. Doug Davis vs SD Correia, vs FLA Johnson
4. Max Scherzer vs SD Gaudin
5. Yusmeiro Petit vs FLA Miller

Two-starter(s): Garland and Davis. Garland has been brutal, so consider him no better than questionable, while Davis has posted three consecutive quality starts and is a sleeper for deeper leagues, despite a 3-8 record.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Davis. He is walking batters at an alarming rate, but has allowed just two earned runs in his past three starts (21 innings).
One-week bust: Garland. Even his two starts aren't intriguing enough to trust him in what has been a disaster year.

Atlanta Braves

1. Derek Lowe at COL Jimenez
2. Jair Jurrjens at CHC Wells, at COL Marquis
3. Javier Vazquez at CHC Dempster, at COL Hammel
4. Kenshin Kawakami at CHC Zambrano
5. Tommy Hanson at COL Cook

Two-starter(s): Jurrjens and Vazquez. They have tough matchups but are at least advisable in all leagues still. This is a real good pitching staff.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hanson. At 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, he should be starting in more than just 56 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues.
One-week bust: Kawakami. With Tim Hudson working his way back, Kawakami is pitching for his rotation spot for the next few weeks. He hasn't be great and faces a tough matchup.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Jeremy Guthrie at SEA Bedard
2. Bradley Bergesen at SEA Washburn, vs TOR Mills
3. Rich J. Hill vs TOR Romero
4. David Hernandez at SEA Vargas
5. Jason Berken vs TOR Cecil

Two-starter(s): Bergesen and perhaps Guthrie. Bergesen has had quality starts in six of his past seven starts, allowing just four earned runs in 6 1/3 in the one non-quality start in that span. He is trustworthy in any format.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Berken. His next turn is Friday after the day off, but skipping his turn would allow the Orioles to get an extra start out of Guthrie before the break.
One-week sleeper: Bergesen. Look at what he has done of late. Those matchups are no overwhelming either.
One-week bust: Berken. He might not make a start and hasn't been good anyway.

Boston Red Sox

1. Josh Beckett vs OAK Braden, vs KC Chen
2. Jon Lester vs KC Bannister
3. John Smoltz vs OAK Anderson, vs KC Meche
4. Tim Wakefield vs OAK Cahill
5. Brad Penny vs KC Hochevar

Two-starter(s): Smoltz and Beckett. Smoltz is advisable, despite his slow start. His matchups are too intriguing. Beckett is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: All five starters are advisable options in all leagues in those matchups.
One-week bust: None. We don't see a reason to sit any Red Sox starter this week.

Chicago Cubs

1. Carlos Zambrano vs ATL Kawakami
2. Ryan Dempster vs ATL Vazquez, vs STL Wellemeyer
3. Ted Lilly vs STL Carpenter
4. Rich Harden vs STL Thompson
5. Randy Wells vs ATL Jurrjens, vs STL Wainwright

Two-starter(s): Wells and Dempster. Dempster is an advisable option, while Wells has tougher matchups and is more of a questionable option.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Cubs have a Thursday off day, but they still play seven games next week due to the Sunday doubleheader.
One-week sleeper: Wells. He has been outstanding in his past three starts, so you might be inclined to overlook his tough matchups.
One-week bust: Lilly. We would still advise using him in deeper leagues, but his matchup is the toughest one among Cubs starters this week.

Chicago White Sox

1. Mark Buehrle vs CLE Sowers, at MIN Baker
2. John Danks at MIN Liriano
3. Gavin Floyd at MIN Blackburn
4. Clayton Richard vs CLE Huff
5. Jose Contreras vs CLE Laffey

Two-starter(s): Buehrle. He has been outstanding and is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. But the White Sox are slotting No. 5 starter Richard on short rest Thursday to line up their weekend series vs. the Twins with Danks, Floyd and Buehrle.
One-week sleeper: Contreras. Whatever he did back in the minors, it worked. He is useful in any format amid his hot streak and in that matchup.
One-week bust: Richard. He is a shaky No. 5 starter on regular rest, so we cannot think he will be any less risky on short rest.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Aaron Harang at PHI Happ, at NYM Pelfrey
2. Bronson Arroyo at NYM Nieve
3. Johnny Cueto at PHI Hamels, at NYM Santana
4. Micah Owings at PHI Moyer
5. Homer Bailey at PHI Lopez

Two-starter(s): Cueto and Harang. They have tough matchups, but they likely have to remain active in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Owings. Three of his past four starts have been quality. He is a sleeper despite facing the Phillies.
One-week bust: Arroyo. His opposing pitcher will entice you, perhaps, but he cannot be trusted amid his recent struggles.

Cleveland Indians

1. Cliff Lee at DET Porcello
2. Carl Pavano at DET Jackson
3. Jeremy Sowers at CHW Buehrle, at DET Galarraga
4. David Huff at CHW Richard
5. Aaron Laffey (off the DL) at CHW Contreras

Two-starter(s): Sowers. He has regressed again and is a high-risk option even for deeper AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Huff. He is coming off a quality start and faces a rookie going on three-day's rest.
One-week bust: Sowers. We wouldn't trust him in any league this week.

Colorado Rockies

1. Aaron Cook vs ATL Hanson
2. Ubaldo Jimenez vs ATL Lowe
3. Jason Marquis vs WAS Stammen, vs ATL Jurrjens
4. Jason Hammel vs WAS Zimmermann, vs ATL Vazquez
5. Jorge De La Rosa vs WAS Detwiler

Two-starter(s): Marquis and Hammel. They are advisable options in any league with one favorable matchup and one unfavorable one.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Marquis, Hammel and De La Rosa. For a guy we could consider a must-start option this week, Marquis is only starting in 51 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues. Hammel is a lot better than we could have imagined in Colorado and is useful in deeper leagues of late. De La Rosa has won three consecutive starts, too, and draws a favorable matchup.
One-week bust: None. We see value in all of the Rockies starting pitchers this week. How many times has that been said in Fantasy Baseball history?

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander vs KC Chen
2. Edwin Jackson vs CLE Pavano
3. Rick Porcello vs CLE Lee
4. Armando Galarraga vs KC Meche, vs CLE Sowers
5. Luke French vs KC Greinke

Two-starter(s): Galarraga or Verlander. The Tigers have an off day Thursday and could choose to slot their ace one more time before the break if they want to skip Galarraga's second turn next Sunday. Verlander is a must-start regardless of the number of starts, while Galarraga would be a sleeper if you see him getting two starts. We cannot be sure at this point, so use Galarraga at your own discretion.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Galarraga. He gets one start Monday, but his second turn could be handed to Verlander on regular rest. If we ran the Tigers, we would use the All-Star on Sunday and the first game after the break, but the Tigers might choose to allow him to rest some.
One-week sleeper: Galarraga. He takes a two-start win streak into his potential two-start week, so consider him in deeper formats if you want to cross your fingers on a second start. There likely won't be an announcement on the Tigers' weekend plans until after Galarraga starts.
One-week bust: French. He earned another start, but that matchup is not one we would trust at this point.

Florida Marlins

1. Josh Johnson at SF Zito, at ARI Davis
2. Ricky Nolasco at ARI Haren
3. Chris Volstad at SF Sadowski
4. Andrew Miller at ARI Petit
5. Sean West at SF Cain, at ARI Garland

Two-starter(s): West and Johnson. West is a questionable option, especially facing Cain in the first start, while Johnson is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Miller. He draws a very favorable matchup and is coming off a quality start victory.
One-week bust: None. We see value in all of the Marlins starting five this week, to varying degrees.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt vs WAS Stammen
2. Wandy Rodriguez vs PIT Morton
3. Mike Hampton vs PIT Vasquez, vs WAS Zimmermann
4. Russ Ortiz vs WAS Olsen
5. Felipe Paulino vs WAS Lannan
6. Brian Moehler vs PIT Maholm

Two-starter(s): Hampton. He was solid off the DL and has favorable matchups -- popular as a waiver claim for Fantasy Week 14 (July 6-12).
Who is getting skipped: None. The Astros are using a six-man rotation in their seven-game week. There is a chance they bump it back to five, which could give Moehler another start.
One-week sleeper: Hampton. If his return start wasn't intriguing enough, just focus your decision on his favorable matchups. He really hasn't been that bad after a bad May.
One-week bust: Paulino and Ortiz. They were brutal in their past starts and are candidates to return to the bullpen amid the Astros' current six-man rotation. Ignore the fact they are currently slated to face the lowly Nationals. They might not start at all.

Kansas City Royals

1. Zack Greinke at DET French
2. Gil Meche at DET Galarraga, at BOS Smoltz
3. Brian Bannister at BOS Lester
4. Luke Hochevar at BOS Penny
5. Bruce Chen at DET Verlander, at BOS Beckett

Two-starter(s): Meche and Chen.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Meche. He has lost three consecutive starts and is active in only 42 percent of leagues, but he was quality last time out (despite the loss) and isn't facing the toughest opposing pitchers even if his opposing teams are dangerous matchups.
One-week bust: Chen. He hasn't been bad, but you would be hard-pressed to find two more unappealing matchups in any week. Now is not the time to trust the resurfaced Chen.

Los Angeles Angels

1. John Lackey vs TEX Padilla, vs NYY Pettitte
2. Jered Weaver vs TEX Millwood, vs NYY Sabathia
3. Ervin Santana vs TEX Hunter
4. Joe Saunders vs NYY Chamberlain
5. vacant

Two-starter(s): Weaver and Lackey. Weaver has tough matchups, but he remains advisable in any league. Lackey picks up a second start since the Angels chose to skip their No. 5 starter after Thursday's off day.
Who is getting skipped: No. 5 spot. Sean O'Sullivan was sent to the minors and he will remain there through the All-Star break and the brief week after it.
One-week sleeper: None. We would use the top two starters in all leagues, but the others are much more risky right now.
One-week bust: Saunders and Santana. It is a rare week we have this many risky Angels starters, but their recent performance and matchups make them difficult to trust.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Chad Billingsley at MIL Burns
2. Randy Wolf at NYM Hernandez
3. Clayton Kershaw at NYM Pelfrey, at MIL Gallardo
4. Hiroki Kuroda at NYM Perez
5. TBD, perhaps Jeff Weaver at MIL McClung

Two-starter(s): Kershaw. He is at least advisable in all leagues at this point.
Who is getting skipped: No. 5 spot. But it will slot the next time the Dodgers need it July 11.
One-week sleeper: Kuroda. He hasn't been great of late, but the Mets are not scoring runs and Perez has been as shaky as any pitcher has seen this season.
One-week bust: No. 5 starter TBD. We think it will be Weaver taking the spot start in place of Eric Milton (back, 15-day DL), but once we say it is Weaver, they will go with James McDonald, a prospect or a trade acquisition. Ignore all of the candidates at this point, unless you are using them as relievers.

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Yovani Gallardo vs STL Wainwright, vs LAD Kershaw
2. Jeff Suppan vs STL Wellemeyer
3. Braden Looper vs STL Pineiro
4. Mike Burns vs LAD Billingsley
5. Seth McClung vs LAD TBD

Two-starter(s): Gallardo. He is a must-start ace in all leagues, even in those matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None. But McClung or Burns (less likely) could be candidates to be removed from the rotation for a potential return of Manny Parra from the minor leagues.
One-week sleeper: Suppan. He is coming off a solid start and opposes a pitcher who has been mostly a disappointment in the first half.
One-week bust: McClung. He might not start, and if he does, we cannot advise him against the Dodgers in any format.

Minnesota Twins

1. Scott Baker vs NYY Sabathia, vs CHW Buehrle
2. Nick Blackburn vs CHW Floyd
3. Francisco Liriano vs CHW Danks
4. Glen Perkins vs NYY Burnett
5. Anthony Swarzak vs NYY TBD (perhaps Mitre)

Two-starter(s): Baker. He has tough matchups, but he is advisable in deeper leagues. He was 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA and .213 batting-average against in June, a season resurgence.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Baker. He is only starting in 60 percent of leagues still. That should be higher.
One-week bust: Perkins and Swarzak. They will be difficult to trust against the Yankees outside of deeper AL-only leagues.

New York Mets

1. Johan Santana vs CIN Cueto
2. Mike Pelfrey vs LAD Kershaw, vs CIN Harang
3. Livan Hernandez vs LAD Wolf
4. Oliver Perez vs LAD Kuroda
5. Fernando Nieve vs CIN Arroyo

Two-starter(s): Pelfrey. He is perhaps an advisable option coming off his promising last start after weeks of struggles. Be advised, though, the Mets are not scoring any runs of late.
Who is getting skipped: None. Nieve could be moved back a day or out of the rotation altogether next week, but no replacement option is imminent. They have chosen Tim Redding for relief, perhaps because he gives the Mets a potential setup man more than Nieve would.
One-week sleeper: Pelfrey. He is the only Mets pitcher without a cold tag on CBSSports.com presently. He is only starting in 43 percent of leagues, but he is coming off 7 2/3 shutout innings.
One-week bust: Hernandez, Perez and Nieve. They are not pitching well enough to overcome the Mets' utter lack of offense right now. Don't use them if you can avoid it.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia at MIN Baker, at LAA Lackey
2. A.J. Burnett at MIN Perkins
3. Andy Pettitte vs TOR Romero, at LAA Weaver
4. Joba Chamberlain at LAA Saunders
5. TBD, likely Sergio Mitre at MIN Swarzak

Two-starter(s): Pettitte and Sabathia. Pettitte is advisable, while Sabathia is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. The Yankees need a new No. 5 starter with Chien-Ming Wang on the DL. They say Phil Hughes and Alfredo Aceves are not options out of the bullpen, since they are not stretched out. Mitre is a potential option from the minors, coming off Tommy John elbow surgery.
One-week sleeper: No. 5 starter TBD. We likely won't have an official word until after your lineup deadline. But you will want to take a flier on Hughes, because they will likely stretch him out to return to the rotation after the All-Star break. Mitre is only an option in deeper AL-only leagues this week and would likely be a one-and-done starter if he does get the call.
One-week bust: Chamberlain. He has a winnable matchup, but he hasn't been pitching winnable baseball at this point. Consider him a risky play in any format.

Oakland Athletics

1. Dallas Braden at BOS Beckett, at TB Shields
2. Trevor Cahill at BOS Wakefield
3. Vin Mazzaro at TB Garza
4. Brett Anderson at BOS Smoltz, at TB Niemann
5. Gio Gonzalez skipped

Two-starter(s): Anderson and Braden. They are questionable options better left for deeper leagues -- their matchups are pretty unfavorable. Braden has been so darned consistent, though, you might want to start him in mixed formats.
Who is getting skipped: Gonzalez. The A's will go with a four man rotation in the final week before the break. He will be working out of the bullpen in the weekend series at Tampa Bay.
One-week sleeper: Braden. Has had only one bad start all year. He could be at risk for having two this week, but his performance could convince you to use him if you need a two-start pitcher.
One-week bust: Anderson. He has been better recently -- and isn't opposing staff aces -- but the offensive potential of his opponents make him difficult to advise this week. We still like Anderson's potential long-term, though.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Cole Hamels vs CIN Cueto, vs PIT Ohlendorf
2. Joe Blanton vs PIT Duke
3. Jamie Moyer vs CIN Owings
4. J.A. Happ vs CIN Harang, vs PIT Vasquez
5. Rodrigo Lopez vs CIN Bailey

Two-starter(s): Hamels and Happ. They are advisable options in all leagues at this point. Hamels, despite a bad last outing, remains a must-start in most formats.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Blanton. He has been much better than his 58 percent owership suggests.
One-week bust: Lopez. He might have been solid in his return against the lowly Mets, but we cannot advise starting him in any mixed formats yet. The potent Phillies could make him a winner in the second half, though -- assuming they don't add a front-line starter before the trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Zach Duke at PHI Blanton
2. Paul Maholm at HOU Moehler
3. Ross Ohlendorf at PHI Hamels
4. Charlie Morton at HOU Rodriguez
5. Virgil Vasquez at HOU Hampton, at PHI Happ

Two-starter(s): Vasquez or perhaps Maholm. Vasquez is high-risk, especially since he could be skipped over the weekend. Maholm, who was beat up last time out, is a questionable option as a one-starter -- and he would have to face Philly in a second start.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Vasquez. A Thursday off day could allow the Pirates to skip his turn to slot first-half surprise Maholm one more time on the final Sunday before the break. We might not know that until after Vasquez's outing Monday at Houston.
One-week sleeper: Maholm. His one matchup is decent and could get two starts. We still wouldn't trust him in a standard mixed league, though.
One-week bust: Vasquez. He starts at a hitter's park in Houston and might be skipped off a potential second start. Two good reasons to ignore him in all formats still.

San Diego Padres

1. Kevin Correia at ARI Davis, at SF Zito
2. Chad Gaudin at ARI Scherzer
3. Josh Geer at SF Lincecum
4. Walter Silva at ARI Garland, at SF Cain
5. Josh Banks at SF Johnson?

Two-starter(s): Silva and Correia. Correia is coming off a terrible start after a long hot streak, which makes him a questionable option. He was looking like an advisable one before that. Silva is a high-risk option even in the deepest of NL-only leagues, regardless of the matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Correia. The favorable matchups certainly can help you look past his bad last outing. Start him in deeper mixed leagues even.
One-week bust: Geer. It wouldn't take much for us to call Lincecum's opposing Padres pitcher a bust. We wouldn't start any Padres against that lights-out ace.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum vs SD Geer
2. Matt Cain vs FLA West, vs SD Silva
3. Randy Johnson (questionable, shoulder) vs SD Banks
4. Barry Zito vs FLA Johnson, vs SD Correia
5. Ryan Sadowski vs FLA Volstad

Two-starter(s): Cain and Zito. Cain is a must-start ace in all leagues, regardless of the matchup(s). Zito is a questionable option who hasn't pitched well enough to trust in mixed formats this week.
Who is getting skipped: None. Johnson might head to the 15-day DL after he left his Sunday start with shoulder trouble. He went back out and was throwing 79 mph fastballs -- unheard of stuff right there. Kevin Pucetas could be an option to take Johnson's rotation spot, if a DL stint is necessary.
One-week sleeper: Sadowski. His career is off to a 13-inning scoreless steak. He faces a fellow rookie at home in a pitcher's park. We think Sadowski will come back to earth, but you might want to ride the wave while the riding is good.
One-week bust: Johnson and Zito. They look like high-risk options, even if their matchups are inviting.

Seattle Mariners

1. Felix Hernandez vs TEX Holland
2. Erik Bedard vs BAL Guthrie, vs TEX Padilla
3. Jarrod Washburn vs BAL Bergesen, vs TEX Millwood
4. Jason M. Vargas vs BAL Hernandez
5. Brandon Morrow or Garrett Olson vs TEX Felman

Two-starter(s): Washburn and Bedard. They are questionable options, mostly due to the tough second matchup(s), but risks worth taking in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Likely Olson. The Mariners are slotting Vargas on Wednesday, so the No. 5 starter's spot will be between Morrow and Olson this week. We don't see them using a six-man rotation. Morrow looks like he might have clinched the starting job with his effort Sunday vs. the Red Sox.
One-week sleeper: Washburn. He is one of the more underrated veteran pitchers in Fantasy this season. His first matchup is great, too.
One-week bust: Vargas, Olson and Morrow. We are still not certain which one is out, although Vargas is already listed for Wednesday. We would have thought Vargas would have been the one sent to the bullpen, though.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter at CHC Lilly
2. Adam Wainwright at MIL Gallardo, at CHC Wells
3. Joel Pineiro at MIL Looper
4. Todd Wellemeyer at MIL Suppan
5. Brad Thompson at CHC Harden

Two-starter(s): Wainwright. He is a must-start in all leagues regardless of the matchup(s).
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pineiro. He doesn't have a favorable matchup, but he has been pitching favorably. Five consecutive quality starts should give you confidence in him.
One-week bust: Wellemeyer and Thompson. They are not trustworthy and face two potent offenses.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields vs TOR Mills, vs OAK Braden
2. Scott Kazmir vs TOR Tallet
3. Matt Garza vs OAK Mazzaro
4. David Price vs TOR Halladay
5. Jeff Niemann vs OAK Anderson

Two-starter(s): Shields. He is a must-start in all leagues regardless of the matchup(s).
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Niemann. He has been on-and-off in alternating starts, but he draws a favorable matchup. Consider him in mixed formats this week.
One-week bust: Price. He was brutal last time out and draws Halladay. It is a good time to give the disappointing rookie a breather.

Texas Rangers

1. Kevin Millwood at LAA Weaver, at SEA Washburn
2. Vicente Padilla at LAA Lackey, at SEA Bedard
3. Scott Feldman at SEA Morrow
4. Derek Holland at SEA Hernandez
5. Tommy Hunter at LAA Santana

Two-starter(s): Millwood and Padilla. Millwood is at least advisable, while Padilla is a sleeper for deeper formats.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Padilla. He has tough matchups, but the teams he is facing don't really have threatening power lineups.
One-week bust: Holland and Hunter. They are coming off victories, but we don't like their matchups. Santana is struggling, though.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Roy Halladay vs TB Price
2. Ricky Romero at NYY Pettitte, at BAL Hill
3. Brian Tallet at TB Kazmir
4. Brett Cecil at BAL Berken?
5. Brad Mills at TB Shields, at BAL Bergesen

Two-starter(s): Romero and Mills. Romero is a must-start rookie in all leagues right now. Mills is a high-risk option best left for the deepest of AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Romero. Despite being an AL ROY front-runner, he is only starting in 58 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues. That should be at least 75 percent.
One-week bust: Mills. We wouldn't trust many rookie pitchers in those matchups. Mills is definitely not one of them at this point.

Washington Nationals

1. John Lannan at HOU Paulino
2. Scott Olsen at HOU Ortiz
3. Jordan Zimmermann at COL Hammel, at HOU Hampton
4. Ross Detwiler at COL De La Rosa
5. Craig Stammen at COL Marquis, at HOU Oswalt

Two-starter(s): Stammen and Zimmermann. Stammen is high-risk, while Zimmermann is a sleeper for deeper leagues amid his resurgence.
Who is getting skipped: None. Stammen is on a start-to-start basis right now.
One-week sleeper: Olsen. His velocity is back after being on the DL. He draws a favorable matchup to boot.
One-week bust: Detwiler. He is coming off a rocking and heads to the Rockies. That is a bad combo for the rookie. Don't trust him this week in any format.

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.