April 11, 2010

Week 2 Fantasy Pitching Planner

By Eric Mack | Senior Fantasy Writer
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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. The means we consider them a recommended start. The means we suggest you consider a replacement option.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Dan Haren at LAD Kuroda
2. Edwin Jackson at SD Garland
3. Ian Kennedy at LAD Kershaw, at SD Young
4. Rodrigo Lopez at LAD Billingsley
5. TBD, likely Kris Benson (or Billy Buckner) at SD Correia

Two-starter(s): Kennedy. He is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues, especially off his solid first start and with that favorable second matchup in a pitcher's park.
Who is getting skipped: No. 5 TBD. The D-Backs finally need a No. 5 starter April 17 and will go with Benson if he gets through Monday's start in Triple-A well. If not, Buckner or Kevin Mulvey are fallback options. We expect to see Benson.
One-week sleeper: Kennedy. He is a bit undervalued at this point and is a nice option in mixed formats.
One-week bust: Lopez. He was great in start No. 1, but you should only use him in deeper NL-only leagues at the Dodgers.

Atlanta Braves

1. Jair Jurrjens at SD Correia, vs COL Smith
2. Tommy Hanson at SD Richard
3. Tim Hudson at SD Latos
4. Derek Lowe vs COL Hammel
5. Kenshin Kawakami vs COL Jimenez

Two-starter(s): Jurrjens. He is a must-start in all leagues at this point. His early spring soreness was overblown, apparently.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hudson. We cannot figure out why he is not active in 31 percent of leagues still. He is a lock-down ace.
One-week bust: Kawakami. The fringe starter for mixed leagues is someone to reserve in that matchup.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Kevin Millwood at OAK Braden
2. Jeremy Guthrie vs TB Garza, at OAK Duchscherer
3. Brian Matusz vs TB Niemann, at OAK Anderson
4. Brad Bergesen vs TB Price
5. David Hernandez at OAK Sheets

Two-starter(s): Guthrie and Matusz. Guthrie is a questionable option best left for AL-only leagues, while Matusz is an advisable option in all formats.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hernandez is a useful one-start stopgap in deeper mixed formats against a punchless A's offense.
One-week bust: Bergesen. He cannot be trusted against the Rays this week outside of the deepest of AL-only formats.

Boston Red Sox

1. Josh Beckett vs TB Davis
2. Jon Lester at MIN Pavano, vs TB Garza
3. John Lackey at MIN Slowey
4. Tim Wakefield at MIN Liriano
5. Clay Buchholz vs TB Shields

Two-starter(s): Lester. He remains an advisable option in all leagues despite his so-so spring and first start.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Wakefield. He is more useful in mixed leagues than his ownership suggests, as always.
One-week bust: Buchholz. If there is a Red Sox starter that represents an unknown, it is Buchholz at this point. He will be pitching for his rotation spot for the next couple of weeks until Daisuke Matsuzaka (neck) works his way back off a rehab assignment.

Chicago Cubs

1. Carlos Zambrano vs MIL Suppan
2. Ryan Dempster vs MIL Davis, vs HOU Oswalt
3. Randy Wells vs MIL Bush
4. Carlos Silva vs HOU Paulino
5. Tom Gorzelanny vs HOU Rodriguez

Two-starter(s): Dempster. He is a must-start option in all leagues off his first great start.
Who is getting skipped: Gorzelanny. He is sliding back to keep the Cubs' top starters on regular rest, but he still gets a nod before the end of Fantasy Week 2 (April 12-18).
One-week sleeper: Wells. His start suggests last season was no fluke. He is a solid option in all leagues.
One-week bust: Silva. You shouldn't trust one of the most hittable pitchers in the major leagues at this point.

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Chicago White Sox

1. Mark Buehrle at CLE Talbot
2. Jake Peavy at TOR Tallet, at CLE Westbrook
3. Gavin Floyd at TOR Romero, at CLE Carmona
4. John Danks at TOR Morrow
5. Freddy An. Garcia at TOR Eveland

Two-starter(s): Peavy and Floyd. They are must-starts in all leagues with those matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Garcia. The White Sox top four are must-starts, while Garcia's matchup makes him an intriguing stopgap, too.
One-week bust: None. We like the White Sox's matchups too much to consider anyone risky here.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Aaron Harang at FLA Johnson
2. Johnny Cueto at FLA Nolasco, at PIT Ohlendorf
3. Bronson Arroyo at FLA Robertson, at PIT Maholm
4. Homer Bailey at FLA Volstad
5. Mike Leake at PIT Duke

Two-starter(s): Cueto and Arroyo. They are advisable options in all formats at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Leake. He draws the Pirates in his second start and should prove useful in deeper leagues.
One-week bust: None. All Reds starters look useful this week.

Cleveland Indians

1. Jake Westbrook vs CHW Peavy
2. Fausto Carmona vs TEX Harden, vs CHW Floyd
3. Justin Masterson vs TEX Wilson
4. David Huff vs TEX Lewis
5. Mitch Talbot vs CHW Buehrle

Two-starter(s): Carmona. He is a questionable option due to those matchups, but we suggest you use him in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Carmona. He walked six in his season debut, but he gave up just one hit.
One-week bust: Huff. He was solid in his first start, but don't get lured in against the Rangers in Fantasy Week 2 (April 12-18).

Colorado Rockies

1. Ubaldo Jimenez at ATL Kawakami
2. Greg Smith vs NYM Maine, at ATL Jurrjens
3. Aaron Cook vs NYM Niese
4. Jorge De La Rosa vs NYM Pelfrey
5. Jason Hammel at ATL Lowe

Two-starter(s): Smith. We wouldn't trust him outside of the deepest of NL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Cook. He is better than he showed in his first start and draws a winnable matchup for mixed leagues.
One-week bust: Smith. He isn't trustworthy enough to use in those matchups yet.

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander at SEA Snell
2. Max Scherzer vs KC Hochevar, at SEA Rowland-Smith
3. Dontrelle Willis vs KC Bannister
4. Rick Porcello vs KC Davies
5. Jeremy Bonderman at SEA Hernandez

Two-starter(s): Scherzer. He is a must-start in all leagues with those matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Willis. He was solid in his first start and draws the most favorable matchup of the week.
One-week bust: None. The only questionable option is Bonderman, but he was good in his first start and draws the weak Mariners offense, albeit against their ace.

Florida Marlins

1. Josh Johnson vs CIN Harang
2. Ricky Nolasco vs CIN Cueto, at PHI Halladay
3. Nate Robertson vs CIN Arroyo, at PHI Hamels
4. Chris Volstad vs CIN Bailey
5. Anibal Sanchez at PHI Moyer

Two-starter(s): Nolasco and Robertson. Nolasco is an advisable option, while Robertson is a questionable one that is useful in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Robertson. He was strong in his first start and draws a two-start week with a favorable first matchup.
One-week bust: Sanchez. We cannot be sure what to expect from Sanchez at this point, especially against the offensively potent Phillies.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt at CHC Dempster
2. Wandy Rodriguez at STL Wainwright, at CHC Gorzelanny
3. Brett Myers at STL Penny
4. Bud Norris at STL Lohse
5. Felipe Paulino at CHC Silva

Two-starter(s): Rodriguez. He remains an advisable option in most leagues, even with those matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Norris. If you're going to take a shot on one of the Astros' risky bottom three, this is the one we would choose.
One-week bust: Myers. He wasn't great in his Astros debut and draws the offensively potent Cardinals in start No. 2.

Monday By the Numbers: Al Melchior examines BABIP trends that forecast potential long-term trends

Tuesday Fantasy Update: Audio | Video Sliders: Scott White highlights his risers and fallers

Wednesday Fantasy Update: Audio | Video LIVE writer chat: Our writers answer your questions about prospects, rotations, lineups and much more every Wednesday Dear Mr. Fantasy: Scott White touches on some of the hot topic issues facing owners By the Numbers: Al Melchior breaks down compelling Fantasy data to assist owners in predicting future production

Thursday Fantasy Update: Audio | Video

Friday Prospects Report: Eric Mack spotlights top prospects on the brink of making an impact in Fantasy Hitting Planner: Scott White analyzes the state of all 30 lineups and shares his top sleepers for the week

Saturday Splitsville: Jeff Lippman highlights some statistical splits that owners should take advantage of

Sunday Fantasy Update: Audio | Video Pitching Planner: Eric Mack addresses all 30 rotations and highlights two-start pitchers LIVE writer chat: Scott White spends 90 minutes fielding your questions every Sunday at 5 p.m. ET

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Kansas City Royals

1. Zack Greinke at MIN Baker
2. Gil Meche at MIN Blackburn
3. Luke Hochevar at DET Scherzer, at MIN Pavano
4. Brian Bannister at DET Willis
5. Kyle Davies at DET Porcello

Two-starter(s): Hochevar. He is a questionable option, but his solid first start makes us suggest you trust him in deeper leagues in his two-start week.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hochevar. This could be a breakthrough year for the former first-round pick.
One-week bust: Meche. We cannot be sure what to expect from this injury-risk veteran, especially against a tough Twins opponent.

Los Angeles Angels

1. Jered Weaver at TOR Marcum
2. Joe Saunders at TOR Tallet
3. Ervin Santana at NYY Pettitte, at TOR Romero
4. Joel Pineiro at NYY Vazquez
5. Scott Kazmir at NYY Hughes

Two-starter(s): Santana. He is a questionable option we would likely leave on the bench due to his bad first start and tough matchup at the Yankees.
Who is getting skipped: Matt Palmer. He is out of the rotation now that Kazmir is slated to return Thursday.
One-week sleeper: Saunders. He is not an arm that wows you, but he has a favorable matchup that makes him advisable in mixed leagues.
One-week bust: Kazmir. He returns from the DL against the Yankees. Let him prove healthy and effective before trusting him.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Clayton Kershaw vs ARI Kennedy, vs SF Zito
2. Chad Billingsley vs ARI Lopez
3. Hiroki Kuroda vs ARI Haren
4. Vicente Padilla vs SF Wellemeyer
5. Charlie Haeger vs SF Lincecum

Two-starter(s): Kershaw. Despite his bad first outing, this potential Fantasy ace has to remain active. We call him advisable but he is really more of a must-start for Fantasy owners.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Kuroda. He is quietly one of the steadier starters in the NL. We would use him in all leagues with confidence in his third season.
One-week bust: Padilla and Haeger. There is little reason to trust these guys outside of the deepest of NL-only leagues.

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Yovani Gallardo at WAS Lannan
2. Randy Wolf at WAS Hernandez
3. Doug Davis at CHC Dempster, at WAS Marquis
4. Dave Bush at CHC Wells
5. Jeff Suppan at CHC Zambrano

Two-starter(s): Davis. He is a questionable option you likely can get some use out of in deeper leagues as a one-week fill-in.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Davis. Those are not great matchups and Davis had a bad first start, but we could see him being useful as a stopgap.
One-week bust: Suppan. We wouldn't trust him in any format coming off the DL.

Minnesota Twins

1. Kevin Slowey vs BOS Lackey
2. Francisco Liriano vs BOS Wakefield
3. Scott Baker vs KC Greinke
4. Nick Blackburn vs KC Meche
5. Carl Pavano vs BOS Lester, vs KC Hochevar

Two-starter(s): Pavano. He is a questionable option we say you should trust in deeper leagues, especially with his solid first start and favorable second start in Fantasy Week 2 (April 12-18).
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Blackburn. He is useful in all leagues with that favorable matchup.
One-week bust: None. We see all Twins starters as viable options in any format this week.

New York Mets

1. Johan Santana at STL Carpenter
2. John Maine at COL Smith, at STL Wainwright
3. Jonathon Niese at COL Cook
4. Mike Pelfrey at COL De La Rosa
5. Oliver Perez at STL Garcia

Two-starter(s): Maine. He is a high-risk option in any format with those two tough road matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pelfrey. If you have to take a chance on a non-Santana Mets starter, the choice has to be Pelfrey. Even he is a risk in that matchup, though.
One-week bust: Maine. Don't get lured in by double starts. This could be a two-loss week for him.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia vs TEX Harrison
2. A.J. Burnett vs TEX Feldman
3. Andy Pettitte vs LAA Santana, vs TEX Harden
4. Javier Vazquez vs. LAA Pineiro
5. Phil Hughes vs. LAA Kazmir

Two-starter(s): Pettitte. He is an advisable option in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hughes will make his season debut Thursday and is solid start in any league.
One-week bust: Vazquez. He got off to the start fickle Yankees fans feared, so he is a candidate to sit in leagues where you have viable alternatives until he proves effective with the Yankees. He will. Be patient.

Oakland Athletics

1. Ben Sheets vs BAL Hernandez
2. Dallas Braden vs BAL Millwood
3. Justin Duchscherer at SEA Rowland-Smith, vs BAL Guthrie
4. Brett Anderson at SEA Fister, vs BAL Matusz
5. Gio Gonzalez at SEA Vargas

Two-starter(s): Duchscherer and Anderson. Duchscherer is a questionable option we say you should use because of his matchups. Anderson is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Duchscherer. He wasn't effective in his first start, but we like his potential and his matchups are very favorable.
One-week bust: None. All five A's starters are useful options in mixed leagues against the Mariners and Orioles this week.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Roy Halladay vs FLA Nolasco
2. Cole Hamels vs WAS Marquis, vs FLA Robertson
3. Kyle Kendrick vs WAS Stammen
4. J.A. Happ vs WAS Olsen
5. Jamie Moyer vs FLA Sanchez

Two-starter(s): Hamels. He is a must-start in all leagues at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Kendrick. He wasn't great in his first start, but that favorable matchup makes him useful in mixed leagues again.
One-week bust: Moyer. He lucked out with run support in his first start for a victory, but he is merely an NL-only option this week.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Zach Duke vs CIN Leake
2. Ross Ohlendorf at SF Zito, vs CIN Cueto
3. Paul Maholm at SF Cain, vs CIN Arroyo
4. Charlie Morton at SF Sanchez
5. Daniel McCutchen expected to be skipped

Two-starter(s): Ohlendorf and Maholm. Ohlendorf is a questionable option, while Maholm is high-risk at this point.
Who is getting skipped: McCutchen. He is expected to be sent to the minors, since the Pirates won't need a No. 5 starter in Fantasy Week 2 (April 12-18).
One-week sleeper: Duke and Ohlendorf. Solid starts make them useful in deeper leagues, although their matchups could be a bit more favorable.
One-week bust: Maholm, Morton and McCutchen. We wouldn't trust these guys in mixed leagues, especially the skipped McCutchen.

San Diego Padres

1. Chris R. Young vs ARI Kennedy
2. Jon Garland vs ARI Jackson
3. Kevin Correia vs ATL Jurrjens, vs ARI Benson
4. Clayton Richard vs ATL Hanson
5. Mat Latos vs ATL Hudson

Two-starter(s): Correia. He is a questionable option, but many might consider him in mixed leagues since those starts are at home. There are likely better options available to you, though.
Who is getting skipped: Young. He is banged up and isn't expected to start until the next time the Padres need a fifth starter April 18 vs. Arizona. Consider him risky, especially since his shoulder has been dicey for the past few years.
One-week sleeper: Garland. His matchup at home is favorable enough to use him in deeper leagues.
One-week bust: Young. He was great in his first start, but there is no telling if he will actually be able to make his next start at this point.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum at LAD Haeger
2. Barry Zito vs PIT Ohlendorf, at LAD Kershaw
3. Matt Cain vs PIT Maholm
4. Jonathan O. Sanchez vs PIT Morton
5. Todd Wellemeyer at LAD Padilla

Two-starter(s): Zito. He is an advisable option in deeper leagues due to his solid first start and that matchup against the Pirates.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Zito. Maybe this might be the year he actually gets off to a good start and wins 15 games again.
One-week bust: Wellemeyer. He wasn't great in his first start and he could be skipped Friday after a Thursday off day if the Giants choose to keep their top four on regular rest. Cain would pick up a second start in that event. Cain is a must-start, one-starter, regardless.

Seattle Mariners

1. Felix Hernandez vs DET Bonderman
2. Ian Snell vs DET Verlander
3. Ryan Rowland-Smith vs OAK Duchscherer, vs DET Scherzer
4. Doug W. Fister vs OAK Anderson
5. Jason M. Vargas vs OAK Gonzalez

Two-starter(s): Rowland-Smith. He is a questionable option coming off his mediocre first start.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Rowland-Smith. That favorable first matchup can make him a sleeper in deeper leagues in his two-start week.
One-week bust: Snell. We wouldn't be lured in by him in mixed leagues at this point.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter vs NYM Santana
2. Adam Wainwright vs HOU Rodriguez, vs NYM Maine
3. Brad Penny vs HOU Myers
4. Kyle Lohse vs HOU Norris
5. Jaime Garcia vs NYM Perez

Two-starter(s): Wainwright. He is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Garcia. He should be owned in mixed leagues right now and is available in over 70 percent of leagues as of this writing. That shouldn't be.
One-week bust: Lohse. All of the Cardinals starters are useful this week, but if you had to pick one to not use, it would have to be Lohse at this point.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields at BOS Buchholz
2. Matt Garza at BAL Guthrie, at BOS Lester
3. Jeff Niemann at BAL Matusz
4. David Price at BAL Bergesen
5. Wade Davis at BOS Beckett

Two-starter(s): Garza. He is a must-start in all leagues after his great first start.
Who is getting skipped: None. Davis could be moved off his start at Boston after Thursday's off day, but we have no information suggesting that will be the case right now.
One-week sleeper: Niemann. He left his first start early but should be able to start Tuesday at Baltimore. He might even pick up a second start if the Rays suddenly decide to skip rookie Davis at Boston.
One-week bust: Davis. He drew the Yankees and now will get the Red Sox. We like his potential and mixed league viability, but his disappointing first start makes him a candidate to sit in any format you have a viable alternative.

Texas Rangers

1. Scott Feldman at NYY Burnett
2. Rich Harden at CLE Carmona, at NYY Pettitte
3. C.J. Wilson at CLE Masterson
4. Colby Lewis at CLE Huff
5. Matt Harrison at NYY Sabathia

Two-starter(s): Harden. Despite his disappointing Rangers debut, he is still an advisable option in most leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Wilson and Lewis. They draw the beatable Indians and are coming off great first starts. Use them with confidence in any league as sleepers.
One-week bust: Harrison. He draws a tough matchup and the Yankees ace, reasons enough to sit him outside of deeper AL-only leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Shaun Marcum vs LAA Weaver
2. Brian Tallet vs CHW Peavy, vs LAA Saunders
3. Ricky Romero vs CHW Floyd, vs LAA Santana
4. Brandon Morrow vs CHW Danks
5. Dana Eveland vs CHW Garcia

Two-starter(s): Tallet and Romero. Tallet is a high-risk option, while Romero is a questionable option with those matchups, despite a great first start.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Romero. He is intriguing enough to trust in those matchups in deeper leagues.
One-week bust: Tallet, Morrow and Eveland. Don't be lured in by Tallet's first start and two-start Fantasy Week 2 (April 12-18), especially with those matchups. Morrow and Eveland are best avoided outside of AL-only leagues, too.

Washington Nationals

1. John Lannan vs MIL Gallardo
2. Livan Hernandez vs MIL Wolf
3. Jason Marquis at PHI Hamels, vs MIL Davis
4. Craig Stammen at PHI Kendrick
5. Scott Olsen at PHI Happ

Two-starter(s): Marquis. He is a high-risk option in any format with those matchups.
Who is getting skipped: Garrett Mock. He didn't last long in the rotation and gives way to Olsen on Thursday.
One-week sleeper: None. The Phillies and Brewers should wear out the Nationals pitching staff.
One-week bust: All. Re-Tweet the above.

Fantasy Week 2 (April 12-18)

Pitch a question

MSG Adcock, Iraq: Texas says they stand by RP Frank Francisco, should I? Jon Rauch, Leo Nunez and Chad Qualls are all available.

Emack: You have to go with Rauch at this point. The Twins famously play a lot of close games with their pitching and defense setup. Rauch is off to a great start and is a must-start in all leagues now. I might consider temporary Rangers closer Neftali Feliz a must-get, too. And thanks for defending our freedoms, so we can play these games here. We sincerely appreciate the work you do.

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.