Week 7 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. 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 TOR Morrow
2. Edwin Jackson at FLA Volstad, vs TOR Eveland
3. Ian Kennedy vs SF Wellemeyer
4. Rodrigo Lopez vs SF Lincecum
5. Billy Buckner at FLA Johnson, vs TOR Marcum

Two-starter(s): Jackson and Buckner. They are high-risk options even in the deepest of NL-only leagues at this point. Many more might take a shot on the erratic Jackson, but they probably shouldn't.
Who is getting skipped: Cesar Valdez. He is headed to the bullpen for the recall of Buckner.
One-week sleeper: Kennedy. He is listed as the team's sleeper every week. Eventually Fantasy will catch up and consider him a must-start. He has had just one bad start in eight this season.
One-week bust: Jackson. He made some progress but took another significant step back the last time out -- too difficult to trust.

Atlanta Braves

1. Tommy Hanson vs CIN Leake
2. Tim Hudson at PIT Ohlendorf
3. Derek Lowe vs NYM Pelfrey, at PIT Morton
4. Kris Medlen vs NYM Santana, at PIT Duke
5. Kenshin Kawakami vs CIN Harang

Two-starter(s): Lowe and Medlen. They are questionable options that might qualify as sleepers in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Jair Jurrjens (hamstring). He had another setback and could be out for a while now.
One-week sleeper: Lowe. He has had a bad start to the season, but the Mets are struggling, the Pirates are awful and Lowe was better last time out.
One-week bust: Medlen. He remains in the rotation and can stretch out, but we cannot be sure he will go long enough to qualify for a victory in either start.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Kevin Millwood vs KC Greinke, at WAS Lannan
2. Jeremy Guthrie at TEX Harden
3. Brian Matusz at TEX Feldman
4. David Hernandez at WAS Olsen
5. Brad Bergesen vs KC Davies, at WAS Stammen

Two-starter(s): Bergesen and Millwood. They are questionable options that should be left for deeper leagues only at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Bergesen. He has won three consecutive starts and doesn't face matchups all that daunting. He might even be worth a look in mixed leagues.
One-week bust: Matusz. He snapped out of his funk, but we don't advise you using him in mixed leagues at Texas.

Boston Red Sox

1. Josh Beckett at NYY Sabathia, at PHI Halladay
2. John Lackey at PHI Hamels
3. Jon Lester vs MIN Liriano
4. Clay Buchholz vs MIN Baker
5. Daisuke Matsuzaka at NYY Hughes, at PHI Kendrick

Two-starter(s): Dice-K and perhaps Beckett. They are questionable options in those matchups. Beckett is trying to come back from injury, while Dice-K has had just one good start and isn't entirely trustworthy yet.
Who is getting skipped: Tim Wakefield. He is insurance in case Beckett's back doesn't loosen up.
One-week sleeper: Buchholz. He was better his last time out and draws perhaps the only favorable matchup of the week for the Red Sox.
One-week bust: Dice-K and Beckett. We hate their matchups, but they haven't been consistent enough to trust anyway.

Chicago Cubs

1. Ryan Dempster at PHI Blanton
2. Ted Lilly at TEX Lewis
3. Randy Wells vs COL Cook, at TEX Holland
4. Carlos Silva vs COL Chacin, at TEX Wilson
5. Tom Gorzelanny at PHI Moyer

Two-starter(s): Wells and Silva. They are questionable options because of their matchups and better left for NL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Carlos Zambrano. He remains wasted and worthless.
One-week sleeper: Lilly. He has improving and is still a risk worth taking at Texas.
One-week bust: Wells and Silva. They are coming off good outings but those matchups make them less intriguing in mixed leagues, especially with so many two-start pitcher options this week.

Chicago White Sox

1. Mark Buehrle vs LAA Saunders
2. Jake Peavy vs LAA Santana
3. Gavin Floyd vs FLA Nolasco
4. Freddy An. Garcia at DET Porcello, vs FLA Volstad
5. John Danks at DET Verlander, vs FLA Johnson

Two-starter(s): Danks and Garcia. Danks is a must-start, while Garcia remains a questionable option, despite his recent resurgence.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Garcia. He has been good enough of late to consider using him in deeper leagues if you want to take a chance on a two-start pitcher.
One-week bust: Buehrle and Floyd. They aren't pitching well enough to trust in this one-start week.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Aaron Harang at ATL Kawakami
2. Bronson Arroyo at CLE Westbrook
3. Johnny Cueto vs MIL Bush, at CLE Carmona
4. Homer Bailey vs MIL Gallardo, at CLE Huff
5. Mike Leake at ATL Hanson

Two-starter(s): Cueto and Bailey. Cueto is a must-start, while Bailey remains a questionable option, depite a good last start.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Arroyo. He has been much better of late and draws a favorable matchup.
One-week bust: Bailey. Many picked him back up after his impressive last start, but we need to see him string some together before we can trust him in mixed leagues.

Cleveland Indians

1. Fausto Carmona at TB Niemann, vs CIN Cueto
2. David Huff at TB Price, vs CIN Bailey
3. Justin Masterson vs KC Meche
4. Mitch Talbot vs KC Hochevar
5. Jake Westbrook vs CIN Arroyo

Two-starter(s): Carmona and Huff. Carmona is advisable, while Huff has to be considered high-risk.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Talbot. He is rolling and not getting his due in most mixed Fantasy leagues. That's a good matchup, obviously.
One-week bust: Westbrook. He is coming off an encouraging outing, but we don't think that's enough to consider him a real option for mixed leagues yet.

Colorado Rockies

1. Ubaldo Jimenez at HOU Oswalt
2. Jeff Francis at KC Davies
3. Aaron Cook at CHC Wells, at KC Greinke
4. Jhoulys Chacin at CHC Silva
5. Jason Hammel at KC Bannister
6. Greg Smith? at HOU Paulino

Two-starter(s): Cook. He is a questionable option because he is just so inconsistent from start-to-start this season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Francis. He came off the DL nicely Sunday and draws a favorable matchup.
One-week bust: Chacin. After those first two great starts, that last one has to concern you.

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander vs CHW Danks, at LAD Kuroda
2. Rick Porcello vs CHW Garcia, at LAD Ely
3. Jeremy Bonderman at OAK Braden
4. Dontrelle Willis at OAK TBD
5. Armando Galarraga at LAD Billingsley

Two-starter(s): Verlander and Porcello. Verlander is a must-start, while Porcello is a questionable option amid his poor start to his sophomore season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Bonderman. He has strung some good starts together and that A's offense isn't that threatening.
One-week bust: Porcello. We cannot explain his struggles but we do know he is tough to trust in mixed leagues right now, even with the two starts.

Florida Marlins

1. Josh Johnson vs ARI Buckner, at CHW Danks
2. Ricky Nolasco vs CHW Floyd
3. Anibal Sanchez at STL Garcia
4. Nate Robertson at STL Wainwright
5. Chris Volstad vs ARI Jackson, at CHW Garcia

Two-starter(s): Johnson and Volstad. Johnson is a must-start, while Volstad is an advisable option amid a quietly effective streak and some decent matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. He has been pitching well enough to trust in mixed leagues, even at the Cardinals.
One-week bust: Robertson. This is a Marlins back-end starter we wouldn't advise against the Cards.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt vs COL Jimenez
2. Brett Myers vs TB Garza
3. Wandy Rodriguez at LAD Ely, vs TB Niemann
4. Bud Norris at LAD Kuroda, vs TB Price
5. Felipe Paulino vs COL Smith?

Two-starter(s): Rodriguez and Norris. They are questionable options that have shown flashes, but their lack of consistency make them more of NL-only options at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Rodriguez. We can see you taking a chance on him due to the premium you paid to get him on Draft Day.
One-week bust: Myers. He has been pitching even better than we even thought, but this matchup this week makes him a candidate to sit.

Kansas City Royals

1. Zack Greinke at BAL Millwood, vs COL Cook
2. Gil Meche at CLE Masterson
3. Luke Hochevar at CLE Talbot
4. Brian Bannister vs COL Hammel
5. Kyle Davies at BAL Bergesen, vs COL Francis

Two-starter(s): Greinke and Davies. Greinke remains a must-start, while Davies is a questionable option best left for the deepest of leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Davies. Those matchups aren't all that imposing, so he could be useful in deeper leagues. He has had one really bad start but he has been otherwise fairly effective.
One-week bust: Hochevar. His matchup will lure people in, but you have to avoid him after the past two stinkers he has posted.

Los Angeles Angels

1. Jered Weaver at TEX Wilson, at STL Carpenter
2. Scott Kazmir at TEX Holland, at STL Lohse
3. Joe Saunders at CHW Buehrle
4. Ervin Santana at CHW Peavy
5. Joel Pineiro at STL Penny

Two-starter(s): Weaver and Kazmir. Weaver is a must-start, while Kazmir is a questionable option that is best avoided with those difficult matchups if you have viable alternatives.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Saunders and Santana. They have gotten their early season funks out of their system and that White Sox offense really hasn't been a tough matchup yet.
One-week bust: Pineiro. He is getting a start against his old team, one that could put his two-start surge to an end, we say.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Clayton Kershaw vs SD Correia
2. Chad Billingsley vs DET Galarraga
3. Hiroki Kuroda vs HOU Norris, vs DET Verlander
4. John Ely vs HOU Rodriguez, vs DET Porcello
5. Ramon Ortiz vs SD Garland

Two-starter(s): Kuroda and Ely. Kuroda is a must-start ace right now, while Ely is an advisable option already.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Ely. He has been outstanding since giving up some early runs in his major league debut. His 13-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio is impressive.
One-week bust: Ortiz. The journeyman who started the season in long relief cannot be trusted even if the Padres offense doesn't scare you.

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Yovani Gallardo at CIN Cueto, at MIN Slowey
2. Randy Wolf at PIT Burres
3. Chris Narveson at PIT Maholm
4. Dave Bush at MIN Blackburn
5. Manny Parra at CIN Bailey, at MIN Pavano

Two-starter(s): Gallardo and Parra. Gallardo is a must-start, while Parra is a potential sleeper for deeper leagues going forward.
Who is getting skipped: Doug Davis. He has a heart issue and is headed for the DL.
One-week sleeper: Wolf. He is a solid option in that matchup despite a disappointing start to the season.
One-week bust: Parra. We like his potential but pick him up as a stashee this week to beat the rush. Don't start him immediately, though.

Minnesota Twins

1. Francisco Liriano at BOS Lester
2. Scott Baker at BOS Buchholz
3. Kevin Slowey at TOR Eveland, vs MIL Gallardo
4. Carl Pavano at TOR Marcum, vs MIL Suppan?
5. Nick Blackburn vs MIL Bush

Two-starter(s): Slowey and Pavano. We consider both advisable options in mixed leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pavano. He has made four strong starts in a row and is underappreciated still in Fantasy.
One-week bust: Baker. He is a bit banged up and draws one of the tougher matchups of the week.

New York Mets

1. Johan Santana at ATL Medlen, vs NYY Sabathia
2. Mike Pelfrey at ATL Lowe, vs NYY Hughes
3. John Maine at WAS Atilano
4. Hisanori Takahashi vs NYY Vazquez
5. TBD (Tobi Stoner or R.A. Dickey ) at WAS Hernandez

Two-starter(s): Santana and Pelfrey. Santana is a must-start, while Pelfrey is headed in the wrong direction after a strong start to the season and is a questionable option best left for NL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Oliver Perez and Jonathon Niese (hamstring). Perez is going to stay in the bullpen and Niese is headed to the DL, perhaps for a while.
One-week sleeper: None. There is no trustworthy starter outside of Santana right now for the Mets or Fantasy owners.
One-week bust: Everyone not named Santana. Takahashi has the potential to surprise, but it is not going to happen against the Yankees in his first major-league start.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia vs BOS Beckett, vs NYM Santana
2. A.J. Burnett vs TB Davis
3. Andy Pettitte vs TB Shields
4. Javier Vazquez vs NYM Takahashi
5. Phil Hughes vs BOS Matsuzaka, at NYM Pelfrey

Two-starter(s): Sabathia and Hughes. They are must-starts in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Vazquez. He is getting a start this week still, though. He was much better last time out.
One-week sleeper: Vazquez. He draws the lowly Mets in the Subway Series against a 35-year-old who has never started a major league game.
One-week bust: None. All five of the Yankees starters should be active in all leagues.

Oakland Athletics

1. Ben Sheets vs SEA Hernandez, vs SF Sanchez
2. Dallas Braden vs DET Bonderman
3. TBD (likely Vin Mazzaro) vs DET Willis
4. Trevor Cahill vs SF Zito
5. Gio Gonzalez vs SEA Rowland-Smith, vs SF Cain

Two-starter(s): Sheets and Gonzalez. They are advisable options in most leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Justin Duchscherer (hip). He looks headed for yet another season-ending surgery.
One-week sleeper: Gonzalez. He hasn't been great lately but he faces two teams that are not threatening offensively.
One-week bust: Mazzaro. We are not sure he is the one getting the recall, so use him at your own risk in deeper AL-only formats.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Roy Halladay vs PIT Duke, vs BOS Beckett
2. Cole Hamels vs BOS Lackey
3. Joe Blanton vs CHC Dempster
4. Jamie Moyer vs CHC Gorzelanny
5. Kyle Kendrick vs PIT Morton, vs BOS Matsuzaka

Two-starter(s): Halladay and Kendrick. Halladay is a must-start, while Kendrick is a questionable option best avoided outside of NL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Moyer. He proved in Colorado he really doesn't have to pitch well to pick up victories with this team.
One-week bust: Kendrick. He is not consistent enough to consider when you have so many two-start pitcher options available to you this week.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Zach Duke at PHI Halladay, vs ATL Medlen
2. Ross Ohlendorf vs ATL Hudson
3. Paul Maholm vs MIL Narveson
4. Brian Burres vs MIL Wolf
5. Charlie Morton at PHI Kendrick, vs ATL Lowe

Two-starter(s): Duke and Morton. They are high-risk options in all leagues. Heck, Morton's 9.19 ERA is a cruel joke.
Who is getting skipped: None. Morton is headed out of the rotation with one more stinker perhaps, though.
One-week sleeper: Ohlendorf. He is the only Pirates pitcher worth owning in a mixed league right now.
One-week bust: Duke. He is technically the team's ace, but he is too erratic to consider outside of deeper NL-only formats, especially with that tough first matchup.

San Diego Padres

1. Jon Garland at LAD Ortiz
2. Kevin Correia at LAD Kershaw
3. Wade LeBlac at SEA Lee
4. Clayton Richard vs SF Cain, at SEA Rowland-Smith
5. Mat Latos vs SF Sanchez, at SEA Hernandez

Two-starter(s): Richard and Latos. They are advisable options in most leagues amid their hot streaks.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Latos. He is riding an 18-inning scoreless streak and facing some punchless offensive teams.
One-week bust: Correia. Somehow he is the one Padres starter struggling right now. Don't use him in mixed leagues in that matchup.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum at ARI Lopez
2. Barry Zito at OAK Cahill
3. Matt Cain at SD Richard, at OAK Gonzalez
4. Jonathan O. Sanchez at SD Latos, at OAK Sheets
5. Todd Wellemeyer at ARI Kennedy

Two-starter(s): Cain and Sanchez. They are must-starts in all leagues with those favorable matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. He probably is owned and active in most leagues anyway, but the Padres and A's make him more of a must-start this week than most.
One-week bust: Wellemeyer. He is coming off one of his best starts of the season, but the D-Backs offense is a bit dangerous to trust him in mixed leagues when there are so many two-start options available to us.

Seattle Mariners

1. Felix Hernandez at OAK Sheets, vs SD Latos
2. Cliff Lee vs SD LeBlanc
3. Ryan Rowland-Smith at OAK Gonzalez, vs SD Richard
4. Doug W. Fister vs TOR Cecil
5. Jason M. Vargas vs TOR Romero

Two-starter(s): Hernandez and Rowland-Smith. King Felix is an obvious must-start, while Rowland-Smith is high-risk even in the deepest of AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. Rowland-Smith could be in danger of pitching himself out of the rotation, though.
One-week sleeper: Fister and Vargas. They continue to be surprisingly effective for the Mariners and Fantasy owners, even in mixed formats.
One-week bust: Rowland-Smith. Ian Snell likely should be in the rotation over Rowland-Smith at this point.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter vs WAS Lannan, vs LAA Weaver
2. Adam Wainwright vs FLA Robertson
3. Jaime Garcia vs FLA Sanchez
4. Brad Penny vs LAA Pineiro
5. Kyle Lohse vs WAS Stammen, vs LAA Kazmir

Two-starter(s): Carpenter and Lohse. Carpenter is an obvious must-start, while Lohse is a questionable option best left for deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Penny. He is 7-for-7 in quality starts this season and should be active in most formats until he proves otherwise.
One-week bust: Lohse. He isn't quite trustworthy enough to go with since there are likely so many better two-start pitcher options available to you.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields at NYY Pettitte
2. Matt Garza at HOU Myers
3. Jeff Niemann vs CLE Carmona, at HOU Rodriguez
4. David Price vs CLE Huff, at HOU Norris
5. Wade Davis at NYY Burnett

Two-starter(s): Niemann and Price. They are must-starts in all leagues this week.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. All of the Rays starters are advisable options in all leagues regardless of the matchup(s) at this point.
One-week bust: Davis. We would still start him with confidence, but he pitching like the Rays No. 5 stater and draws the toughest opponent.

Texas Rangers

1. C.J. Wilson vs LAA Weaver, vs CHC Silva
2. Rich Harden vs BAL Guthrie
3. Scott Feldman vs BAL Matusz
4. Colby Lewis vs CHC Lilly
5. Derek Holland vs LAA Kazmir, vs CHC Wells

Two-starter(s): Wilson and Holland. Wilson is a must-start, while Holland is at least an advisable option after his spectacular season debut.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Holland. There has had to be a rush for his services already, but we say start him in all formats right now.
One-week bust: Feldman. He draws a good matchup, but he is just pitching so unimpressively we have to consider him a sit in mixed leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Shaun Marcum vs MIN Pavano, at ARI Buckner
2. Brett Cecil at SEA Fister
3. Ricky Romero at SEA Vargas
4. Brandon Morrow at ARI Haren
5. Dana Eveland vs MIN Slowey, at ARI Jackson

Two-starter(s): Marcum and Eveland. Marcum is hot and a must-start option, while Eveland is high-risk.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Morrow. He had a stinker start early last week, but he rebounded nicely Sunday and should strike out a lot of batters against the aggressive and young D-Backs.
One-week bust: Eveland. Not that you would use Eveland, but it is important to note he is the only Blue Jays starter we see as a sit this week.

Washington Nationals

1. Livan Hernandez vs NYM TBD
2. Scott Olsen vs BAL Hernandez
3. John Lannan at STL Carpenter, vs BAL Millwood
4. Craig Stammen at STL Lohse, vs BAL Bergesen
5. Luis Atilano vs NYM Maine

Two-starter(s): Lannan and Stammen. They are high-risk options in all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Olsen and Atilano. They are going well enough to consider in deeper leagues, especially Olsen with that matchup.
One-week bust: Hernandez. He has been great this year, despite our continued efforts to suggest he is going to derail. He will be starting on three day's rest against the Mets on Wednesday. He is 0-4 with a 4.80 ERA on short rest in his career, in case you need yet another reason to anticipate a sudden decline.

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