May 10, 2010

Week 6 Fantasy Pitching Planner

By Eric Mack | Senior Fantasy Writer
Follow Eric
Follow CBS Fantasy Baseball

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. The teams have if we deem their week's matchups favorable and if their week's matchups are deemed unfavorable.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Dan Haren vs LAD Monasterios
2. Edwin Jackson vs LAD Kuroda
3. Ian Kennedy at ATL Hanson
4. Rodrigo Lopez vs LAD Billingsley, at ATL Hudson
5. Cesar Valdez at ATL Kawakami

Two-starter(s): Lopez. He is a high-risk option even in the deepest of NL-only leagues still.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Valdez. He could be skipped off his Friday start after Thursday's offday, which would give a second start to Haren, who is a must-start regardless.
One-week sleeper: Kennedy. He is a solid one-start pitcher even in mixed formats now.
One-week bust: Jackson. He had a quality start last time out, despite the loss, but he is still too difficult to trust in any mixed league.

Fantasy Baseball Today

Every Monday Lauren Shehadi, Eric Mack and Orestes Destrade break down everything Fantasy Baseball LIVE at 12 p.m. ET on Fantasy Baseball Today. Get the latest injury news and lineup advice to get a leg up on the competition!

Watch LIVE every Monday, 12 p.m. ET

Atlanta Braves

1. Tommy Hanson at MIL Davis, vs ARI Kennedy
2. Tim Hudson at MIL Bush, vs ARI Lopez
3. Derek Lowe at MIL Gallardo
4. Kenshin Kawakami vs ARI Valdez?
5. Kris Medlen expected to be skipped

Two-starter(s): Hanson and Hudson. They are must-starts in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Medlen and Jair Jurrjens (hamstring, 15-day DL). Jurrjens was scheduled to return May 15, the first day eligible, but the Braves will skip his turn until May 18, which is after Fantasy Week 6 (May 10-16). Keep Jurrjens reserved in all leagues.
One-week sleeper: Hudson. He has earned must-start status in mixed leagues even as a one-starter against a potent offensive team.
One-week bust: Medlen and Jurrjens. The Braves won't need fifth starter this week and are expected to skip that turn until Jurrjens returns May 18.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Kevin Millwood vs SEA Hernandez
2. Jeremy Guthrie vs CLE Masterson
3. Brian Matusz vs CLE Talbot
4. David Hernandez vs SEA Lee, vs CLE Westbrook
5. Brad Bergesen vs SEA Rowland-Smith

Two-starter(s): Hernandez. He is a high-risk option for the deepest of leagues, despite the decent matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Millwood. He is winless and facing King Felix, but he is pitching much better than his 0-4 record suggests. The Mariners have a bad, bad offense.
One-week bust: Hernandez. It could be a decent week for the Orioles, but Hernandez is coming off his worst start of the season and is difficult to trust.

Boston Red Sox

1. Josh Beckett at DET Scherzer
2. Jon Lester at DET Porcello
3. John Lackey vs TOR Morrow
4. Daisuke Matsuzaka vs TOR Eveland
5. Clay Buchholz at DET Willis
6. Tim Wakefield vs TOR Marcum

Two-starter(s): None. The Red Sox are slotting Wakefield in a six-man rotation during a six-game week.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Dice-K. He has been getting roughed up, but he draws a favorable matchup that makes him useful in deeper leagues this week.
One-week bust: Buchholz. He has cooled off considerably and is someone to sit at Detroit if you have viable alternatives.

Chicago Cubs

1. Ryan Dempster vs PIT Maholm
2. Ted Lilly vs FLA Robertson, vs PIT Ohlendorf
3. Randy Wells vs FLA Nolasco
4. Carlos Silva vs FLA Volstad
5. Tom Gorzelanny vs PIT Burres

Two-starter(s): Lilly. He has been struggling in his past two starts, but he remains an advisable option with those matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Gorzalanny. He should be owned and active in all leagues this week, especially with the matchup against his former team.
One-week bust: Wells and Silva. They aren't pitching well enough to trust in mixed leagues this week.

Chicago White Sox

1. Mark Buehrle at KC Meche
2. Jake Peavy at KC Hochevar
3. John Danks at MIN Pavano
4. Gavin Floyd at KC Bannister
5. Freddy An. Garcia at MIN

Two-starter(s): None. The White Sox play only five games with days off Monday and Thursday.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Floyd. The days off could allow the White Sox to skip the struggling Floyd for a turn, so don't start him in any leagues amid his struggles. If Floyd is skipped, the White Sox could hand a second start to Garcia. If Garcia is skipped Tuesday (not planned right now), Danks could be a two-start pitcher. Danks is a must-start regardless amid his hot streak.
One-week sleeper: Peavy. He is coming off a great week and looks like a must-start in all leagues all over again.
One-week bust: Floyd. He is struggling and could be skipped, so don't trust him if you have alternatives.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Aaron Harang vs STL Garcia
2. Mike Leake vs STL Wainwright
3. Bronson Arroyo at PIT Ohlendorf, vs STL Penny
4. Johnny Cueto at PIT Morton
5. Homer Bailey at PIT Duke

Two-starter(s): Arroyo. He was solid his past two starts and draws one favorable matchup at Pittsburgh, but we have to keep him as a questionable option.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Cueto. He started slow but was better his last time out and draws that favorable matchup. Use him in mixed leagues again.
One-week bust: Harang. He has been great in his past three starts, but it is difficult to expect that to continue against the first-place Cardinals this week.

Cleveland Indians

1. Fausto Carmona at KC Davies
2. David Huff at KC Greinke
3. Justin Masterson at BAL Guthrie
4. Mitch Talbot at BAL Matusz
5. Jake Westbrook at KC Bannister, at BAL Hernandez

Two-starter(s): Westbrook. He is a questionable option with favorable matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Masterson. If you own him and have been looking for a chance to start him, this week at Baltimore is it.
One-week bust: Huff. He hasn't been pitching well enough to trust against the Royals ace.

Colorado Rockies

1. Ubaldo Jimenez vs WAS Hernandez
2. Greg Smith vs PHI Kendrick, vs WAS Atilano
3. Aaron Cook vs PHI Halladay, vs WAS Olsen
4. Jason Hammel (groin) vs PHI Moyer
5. Jhoulys Chacin vs WAS Lannan

Two-starter(s): Smith and Cook. They are high-risk options because of the difficult first matchup(s).
Who is getting skipped: Esmil Rogers. He is getting removed from the rotation with Hammel's expected return Wednesday.
One-week sleeper: Chacin. He is pitching great and will remain in the rotation for the forseeable future. Consider him a solid addition in any league with that matchup.
One-week bust: Smith and Cook. They are pitching too erratically to trust in most formats in a week where they have one of their starts against the potent Phillies.

Fantasy Baseball Podcasts!

Looking for reliable and entertaining Fantasy advice all season long? Our staff of Fantasy writers gets you ready each and every week, addressing pitching matchups, injuries and more. Listen now! | iTunes | Video Podcasts

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander vs NYY Sabathia
2. Max Scherzer vs BOS Beckett
3. Dontrelle Willis vs BOS Buchholz
4. Rick Porcello vs NYY Vazquez, vs BOS Lester
5. Jeremy Bonderman vs NYY Hughes
6. Brad Thomas vs NYY Mitre

Two-starter(s): Porcello. He is a questionable option in all leagues with those difficult matchups. Don't use him in mixed leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Willis. He was pulled from his start Monday night due to flu-like symptoms and will be a must-start one-start pitcher against the Red Sox, at best.
One-week sleeper: None. All Tigers starters not named Verlander should be benched this week.
One-week bust: Verlander. You absolutely shouldn't sit this ace, but you shouldn't expect a great week from him in that matchup.

Florida Marlins

1. Josh Johnson vs NYM Santana
2. Ricky Nolasco at CHC Wells, vs NYM Niese
3. Nate Robertson at CHC Lilly, vs NYM Maine
4. Anibal Sanchez vs NYM Perez
5. Chris Volstad at CHC Silva

Two-starter(s): Nolasco and Robertson. Robertson is a questionable option, while Nolasco is advisable.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Robertson. He snapped out of a two-start funk and could prove useful in deeper leagues with the double starts against two mediocre offensive teams.
One-week bust: None. All five Marlins starters could be useful in leagues this week.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt at SF Lincecum
2. Brett Myers at STL Penny, at SF Zito
3. Wandy Rodriguez at STL Lohse
4. Bud Norris at STL Carpenter
5. Felipe Paulino at SF Wellemeyer

Two-starter(s): Myers. He is an advisable option in most leagues amid his solid start to the season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Myers. You might not have noticed, but Myers is back to being a steady option for mixed formats this season. The two-start week helps.
One-week bust: Rodriguez. He is not someone to cut, but he is difficult to trust at St. Louis amid his slow start to the season.

Kansas City Royals

1. Zack Greinke vs CLE Huff
2. Gil Meche vs CHW Buehrle
3. Luke Hochevar vs CHW Peavy
4. Brian Bannister vs CLE Westbrook, vs CHW Floyd
5. Kyle Davies vs CLE Carmona

Two-starter(s): Bannister. He is a high-risk option coming off that bad start last time out.
Who is getting skipped: The
One-week sleeper: Hochevar. He is coming off a bad start, but he is 3-3 with a 3.14 ERA in seven career starts against the White Sox.
One-week bust: Bannister. He has had four quality starts and two real stinkers in six starts. The potential for a blowup game makes him too risky to trust outside of deeper AL-only formats.

Los Angeles Angels

1. Jered Weaver vs TB Price
2. Joe Saunders vs OAK Braden
3. Ervin Santana vs OAK Duchscherer
4. Joel Pineiro vs TB Garza, vs OAK Cahill
5. Scott Kazmir vs TB Niemann

Two-starter(s): Pineiro. He is a questionable option best avoided in most mixed leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Saunders. He had a better outing last time out and draws a weak offensive team.
One-week bust: Kazmir. He makes a start against his former team, but he is too erratic right now to trust in mixed formats in that tough matchup.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Clayton Kershaw at SD Garland
2. Chad Billingsley at ARI Lopez, at SD Correia
3. Hiroki Kuroda at ARI Jackson
4. Carlos Monasterios at ARI Haren, at SD LeBlanc
5. Charlie Haeger likely to be skipped

Two-starter(s): Billingsley and perhaps Monasterios. Billingsley is an advisable option, while Monasterios is questionable for one spot start, much less two. Ramon Ortiz is an option to take one of the turns, if not both.
Who is getting skipped: Likely Haeger. The knuckleballer didn't record an out in his past start and can be conveniently skipped off his start Friday after Thursday's offday. His rotation spot could be taken if Monasterios holds up in his potential spot start opportunity. John Ely could be back from the minor leagues the next time the Dodgers need a No. 5 starter May 18.
One-week sleeper: Kuroda. He had his worst outing of the year Friday, but that matchup keeps him among the advisable one-starters in mixed leagues.
One-week bust: Haeger, Monasterios, Ortiz and Ely. We cannot advise using any these in any format right now.

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Yovani Gallardo vs ATL Lowe
2. Randy Wolf vs PHI Blanton
3. Chris Narveson vs PHI Hamels
4. Doug Davis vs ATL Hanson, vs PHI Kendrick
5. Dave Bush vs ATL Hudson

Two-starter(s): Davis. He is a high-risk option despite his promising outing last time out. He has been otherwise awful this season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Bush. He really has been bad only once this season, even if he isn't that exciting of a starter in mixed formats.
One-week bust: Davis. We don't think one decent start is enough to trust him in mixed leagues yet.

Minnesota Twins

1. Francisco Liriano at NYY Burnett
2. Scott Baker at NYY Pettitte?
3. Nick Blackburn at NYY Vazquez
4. Kevin Slowey vs CHW Garcia
5. Carl Pavano vs CHW Danks

Two-starter(s): None. The Twins have only five games and don't project to skip anyone.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Slowey. He is the only Twins starters we would advise using this week.
One-week bust: Liriano. He is coming off his worst start of the season and is drawing a tough matchup at the Yankees. Reasons enough to sit him in mixed leagues.

New York Mets

1. Mike Pelfrey vs WAS Stammen
2. Johan Santana at FLA Johnson
3. Oliver Perez at FLA Sanchez
4. John Maine vs WAS Atilano, at FLA Robertson
5. Jonathon Niese vs WAS Olsen, at FLA Nolasco

Two-starter(s): Maine and Niese. They are questionable options we would consider advisable in deeper leagues with those matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Maine and Niese. They have pitched decently of late, so consider them two-start options for deeper formats.
One-week bust: Perez. He was his erratic self Sunday, making him a candidate to cut in mixed leagues. We wouldn't trust him if you have any kind of alternatives.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia at DET Verlander
2. A.J. Burnett vs MIN Liriano
3. Andy Pettitte (elbow)? vs MIN Baker
4. Phil Hughes at DET Bonderman
5. Javier Vazquez at DET Porcello, vs MIN Blackburn
6. Sergio Mitre at DET Thomas

Two-starter(s): Vazquez. He is a questionable option that you shouldn't trust in mixed leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Pettitte and perhaps Mitre or Vazquez later in the week. With Mitre starting Monday and the struggling Vazquez starting Tuesday -- and Pettitte slated to return after a one-start absence Saturday -- the Yankees could consider keeping Mitre in the rotation and yanking Vazquez. Mitre would need a quality start Monday and Vazquez would need to get beat up yet again to lose his rotation spot and two-start week. Mitre is likely one and done in the rotation if Pettitte returns and Vazquez shows improvement.
One-week sleeper: Vazquez. You need some real guts to start him in mixed leagues, but remember what Peavy did in his two-start week amid his slump? He came through. You might consider gambling on Vazquez.
One-week bust: Pettitte. He wanted to make his last start, but good outings by Mitre and Vazquez could allow the Yankees to be even more cautious in Fantasy Week 6 (May 10-16). Consider him a risky play going into the week.

Oakland Athletics

1. Ben Sheets at TEX Wilson
2. Dallas Braden at LAA Saunders
3. Justin Duchscherer (hip)? at LAA Santana
4. Trevor Cahill at TEX Lewis, at LAA Pineiro
5. Gio Gonzalez at TEX Holland

Two-starter(s): Cahill. He is a questionable option that is best avoided outside of the deepest of AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Braden. He was getting national attention for his public feud with Alex Rodriguez, but his pitching is what should earn him a spot in mixed league lineups right now. He was available in 29 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues during his perfect game Sunday.
One-week bust: Duchscherer. He is scheduled to come off the DL to start Saturday at the L.A. Angels, but you are best keeping him reserved and having him prove healthy and effective.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Roy Halladay at COL Cook
2. Cole Hamels at MIL Narveson
3. Jamie Moyer at COL Hammel
4. Joe Blanton at MIL Wolf
5. Kyle Kendrick at COL Smith, at MIL Davis

Two-starter(s): Kendrick. He is a questionable option, but those matchups on the road against good offensive clubs make him difficult to trust in mixed leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. Kendrick could be moved off his second start to keep Halladay on regular rest, but we tend to doubt the Phillies need to do that to their ace at this point of the season.
One-week sleeper: Kendrick. It has been very hard to predict when Kendrick is going to be good or bad, but if you're a gambling man, perhaps you can luck out in his two-start week.
One-week bust: Blanton. He was better his last time out, but you shouldn't trust him at Milwaukee in mixed leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Zach Duke vs CIN Bailey
2. Ross Ohlendorf vs CIN Arroyo, at CHC Lilly
3. Paul Maholm at CHC Dempster
4. Brian Burres at CHC Gorzelanny
5. Charlie Morton vs CIN Cueto

Two-starter(s): Ohlendorf. He is a questionable two-start option coming off the DL.
Who is getting skipped: Jeff Karstens. He is headed back to the bullpen, despite his great past start, and Burres will get the start Friday vs. the Cubs.
One-week sleeper: Duke. He was great against the Cardinals last time out, so a matchup against Cincy has to be considered reasonable for him.
One-week bust: Ohlendorf. We was a nice sleeper before going on the DL, but we figure you should let him prove healthy and effective before trusting him in most formats.

San Diego Padres

1. Jon Garland vs LAD Kershaw
2. Kevin Correia vs LAD Billingsley
3. Wade LeBlanc at SF Zito, vs LAD Monasterios
4. Clayton Richard at SF Cain
5. Mat Latos at SF Sanchez

Two-starter(s): LeBlanc. He is an advisable option in most leagues amid his surprising start.
Who is getting skipped: Tim Stauffer. He made a spot start Sunday for the grieving Correia and likely will slot back in relief by the time the No. 5 starter's spot comes up again May 15.
One-week sleeper: LeBlanc. His ownership remains low at just 51 percent on CBSSports.com. His hot streak makes him intriguing.
One-week bust: Correia. His brother's death forced him out of Sunday's start and we cannot be sure when he might return. It might not have to come in Fantasy Week 6 (May 10-16), so keep him reserved if you own him.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum vs HOU Oswalt
2. Barry Zito vs SD LeBlanc, vs HOU Myers
3. Matt Cain vs SD Richard
4. Jonathan O. Sanchez vs SD Latos
5. Todd Wellemeyer vs HOU Paulino

Two-starter(s): Zito. He is a must-start in all leagues amid his career revival.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. He hasn't been great of late, but his matchup keeps him among the starts in mixed leagues.
One-week bust: Wellemeyer. His matchup is intriguing, but he isn't pitching well enough to trust in most formats.

Seattle Mariners

1. Felix Hernandez at BAL Millwood
2. Cliff Lee at BAL Hernandez, at TB Garza
3. Doug W. Fister at TB Davis
4. Jason M. Vargas at TB Shields
5. Ryan Rowland-Smith at BAL Bergesen

Two-starter(s): Lee. He is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Fister. We cannot explain his hot streak, but you might as well as try to take advantage of it.
One-week bust: Rowland-Smith. He is the only Mariner starter not going well right now, which will make him the one removed from the rotation when Erik Bedard is ready later this month, perhaps.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter vs HOU Norris
2. Adam Wainwright at CIN Leake
3. Jaime Garcia at CIN Harang
4. Brad Penny vs HOU Myers, at CIN Arroyo
5. Kyle Lohse vs HOU Rodriguez

Two-starter(s): Penny. He is an advisable start amid his good start to the season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Penny. He is still not starting in 1/3 of CBSSports.com's leagues as of this writing.
One-week bust: Lohse. He is the only Cardinals starter we cannot advise using in mixed formats at this point.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields vs SEA Vargas
2. Matt Garza at LAA Pineiro, vs SEA Lee
3. David Price at LAA Weaver
4. Jeff Niemann at LAA Kazmir
5. Wade Davis vs SEA Fister

Two-starter(s): Garza. He is a must-start in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Davis or Niemann. Neither of these guys should be available, but they should be active in all leagues.
One-week bust: None. All five Rays starters should remain active in all formats.

Texas Rangers

1. Rich Harden at TOR Cecil
2. Scott Feldman at TOR Romero
3. Colby Lewis vs OAK Cahill, at TOR Morrow
4. Derek Holland vs OAK Gonzalez
5. C.J. Wilson vs OAK Sheets

Two-starter(s): Lewis. He is surprisingly a must-start in all leagues amid his career resurgence.
Who is getting skipped: Matt Harrison (biceps). He is heading to the DL.
One-week sleeper: Holland. He is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues in that matchup, especially after going 4-1 with a 0.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts and just seven walks in 38 2/3 innings in Triple-A.
One-week bust: Feldman. Last year's ace is pitching like he might be a candidate to remove from the rotation if his struggles continue. Don't trust him in mixed formats.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Shaun Marcum at BOS Wakefield
2. Ricky Romero vs TEX Feldman
3. Brandon Morrow at BOS Lackey, vs TEX Lewis
4. Brett Cecil vs TEX Harden
5. Dana Eveland at BOS Matsuzaka

Two-starter(s): Morrow. He is a questionable option that is advisable in deeper leagues amid his four-start streak that has him holding his head above water.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Morrow. His strikeout rate of late makes him a nice option in deeper leagues. He can knock out batters with the best of them.
One-week bust: Cecil. He has been a popular pickup, but this matchup makes him a risk in mixed leagues this week.

Washington Nationals

1. John Lannan (elbow) at COL Chacin
2. Livan Hernandez at COL Jimenez
3. Luis Atilano at NYM Maine, at COL Smith
4. Scott Olsen at NYM Niese, at COL Cook
5. Craig Stammen at NYM Pelfrey

Two-starter(s): Olsen and Atilano. Olsen is a questionable option worth taking a shot on in deeper leagues, while Atilano is high-risk and best off avoided in any format.
Who is getting skipped: Matt Chico. Lannan (elbow) is returning after missing a start due to injury and Chico was sent to the minors.
One-week sleeper: Olsen. He is hot right now and useful in mixed leagues if you need a stopgap two-starter.
One-week bust: Hernandez. Yes, we realize he has been unbeatable, but we cannot bring ourselves to trust him at Colorado and against their ace.

Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter . You can e-mail us your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com . Be sure to put Pitching Planner in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.