June 13, 2010

Week 11 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. 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 at BOS Lackey
2. Edwin Jackson at DET Galarraga
3. Dontrelle Willis at DET Porcello
4. Ian Kennedy at BOS Buchholz, at DET Scherzer
5. Rodrigo Lopez at BOS Lester

Two-starter(s): Kennedy. He is an advisable option in all leagues, having pitched quality starts in seven of his past eight.
Who is getting skipped: Willis. He will still start in Fantasy Week 11 (June 14-20), but coming off his bad outing, he is a risk.
One-week sleeper: Jackson. He starts against his former team and comes in with a 2.86 ERA in his past three starts.
One-week bust: Willis. He is getting moved back behind the other four starters, which gives him the Tigers instead of the Red Sox, but his six walks last time out make him difficult to trust.

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Atlanta Braves

1. Tommy Hanson vs TB Davis
2. Tim Hudson vs TB Shields
3. Derek Lowe vs KC Bannister
4. Kris Medlen vs KC Greinke
5. Kenshin Kawakami vs TB Price, vs KC Davies

Two-starter(s): Kawakami. He is a questionable option best left for deeper leagues, especially since he has yet to win a game this season (0-8, 4.48).
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Kawakami. He draws a tough matchup against the Rays in his first start, but if he is anything, he is due. With a 2.90 ERA in his past six starts, getting through six in all of them and a tossing a quality start in five of them, he is a nice sleeper in deeper formats.
One-week bust: Medlen. He is a bit of a question mark with his non-throwing shoulder injury and the fact he matches up against an ace. This is not a great time to trust him in smaller mixed leagues.

Baltimore Orioles

1. Kevin Millwood at SD LeBlanc
2. Chris Tillman at SF Sanchez, at SD Richard
3. Jake Arrieta at SF Martinez
4. Jeremy Guthrie at SF Lincecum
5. Brian Matusz at SD Correia

Two-starter(s): Tillman. He handled the Yankees well in his past start and draws two weaker offensive teams in pitcher parks. Even if he doesn't win, he is a candidate to pitch well and help Fantasy lineups this week.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Tillman. All three of the young arms are viable in deeper formats this week, but Tillman gets the added bonus of two starts.
One-week bust: Millwood. Going into Sunday's outing against the Mets, his ERA was a ghastly 9.53 in June. He still hasn't won this season either.

Boston Red Sox

1. Clay Buchholz vs ARI Kennedy, vs LAD Kuroda
2. Jon Lester vs ARI Lopez
3. John Lackey vs ARI Haren
4. TBD (perhaps Boof Bonser) vs LAD Ely
5. Tim Wakefield vs LAD Monasterios

Two-starter(s): Buchholz. He is a must-start in all leagues. He had his five-start winning streak snapped, but he still has a measely 1.45 ERA in those past six games.
Who is getting skipped: No. 5 starter TBD. Daisuke Matsuzaka (forearm) is on the DL and Josh Beckett (back) is not ready to return, so the Red Sox need a fill-in starter for June 18 vs. the Dodgers.
One-week sleeper: Wakefield. He is a bit risky to trust, but he tends to be a bit more befuddling against teams that don't face him much. The Dodgers in interleague play qualify in that category.
One-week bust: Bonser. The Red Sox say they don't need a replacement starter before Dice-K or Beckett are ready, so they could turn to long reliever Bonser in an emergency basis when the No. 5 starter is needed. We cannot advise Bonser because he hasn't really stretched out since coming off his rehab assignment.

Chicago Cubs

1. Ted Lilly vs LAA Weaver
2. Carlos Zambrano vs OAK Cahill, vs LAA Saunders
3. Ryan Dempster vs OAK Gonzalez
4. Randy Wells vs OAK Braden
5. Carlos Silva vs LAA Kazmir

Two-starter(s): Zambrano. He is an advisable option in all leagues now that he has stretched back out as a starter. He should be plenty capable of going deep into the game against those offenses.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Zambrano. He is available in 22 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues and is starting in just 43 percent. That should not be with this two-start week.
One-week bust: Wells. Tom Gorzelanny belongs in the rotation over Wells right now and could take that rotation spot if Wells continues to struggle the way he has in his sophomore season.

Chicago White Sox

1. John Danks at PIT Duke
2. Jake Peavy at PIT Ohlendorf
3. Mark Buehrle at WAS Martin
4. Gavin Floyd at WAS Strasburg
5. Freddy An. Garcia at PIT Lincoln, at WAS Lannan

Two-starter(s): Garcia. He is an advisable option in all leagues now, especially with those favorable matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Garcia. He is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his past three starts and viable in any format against those two bottom-feeder teams.
One-week bust: Floyd. He has had a terrible start to the season, and we would still use him in most formats amid his resurgence, but that opposing starter is a pretty tough challenge for him picking up a victory.

Cincinnati Reds

1. Aaron Harang vs LAD Kuroda, at SEA French
2. Mike Leake vs LAD Kershaw
3. Bronson Arroyo vs LAD Billingsley
4. Johnny Cueto at SEA Lee
5. Sam LeCure at SEA Hernandez

Two-starter(s): Harang. He is an advisable option amid his winning streak (3-0), especially with that favorable second matchup.
Who is getting skipped: None. Homer Bailey (shoulder) is a candidate to return, but the Reds might consider bringing him back in relief, if they choose to stick with LeCure.
One-week sleeper: Cueto. He has a 9.00 ERA in three starts in June, but the Mariners should be the cure for what ails him.
One-week bust: LeCure. We cannot be sure how long he will stay in the rotation and King Felix has been struggling, but we cannot advise using the rookie in most mixed leagues this week.

Cleveland Indians

1. Fausto Carmona at PIT Maholm
2. David Huff at PIT Karstens
3. Justin Masterson vs NYM Santana, vs PIT Lincoln
4. Mitch Talbot vs NYM Niese
5. Jake Westbrook vs NYM Dickey

Two-starter(s): Masterson. He is an advisable option with those matchups, especially since he is hot in June (2-0, 0.61).
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Masterson. He is an elite talent finding himself right now for the Indians and Fantasy owners. This is a good time to jump back on the bandwagon.
One-week bust: Huff. He draws a matchup that makes him useful in AL-only, but he really hasn't pitched consistently enough to trust in mixed formats.

Colorado Rockies

1. Ubaldo Jimenez at MIN Liriano
2. Jason Hammel vs MIL Parra
3. Jeff Francis vs MIL Gallardo
4. Aaron Cook at MIN Pavano, vs MIL Wolf
5. Jhoulys Chacin at MIN Baker

Two-starter(s): Cook. He is a questionable option with those matchups, but one you might take a chance on in deeper leagues where you want a two-start option. He is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in his past three starts.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hammel. He is a dominant 3-0 with an 0.99 ERA in his past four starts. Owned in 27 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues and active in just 15 percent, he is a nice buy-low candidate.
One-week bust: Chacin. He has lost his past three starts and five of his past six. Reasons enough to avoid him in mixed leagues against the Twins.

Detroit Tigers

1. Justin Verlander vs WAS Hernandez
2. Jeremy Bonderman vs WAS Atilano
3. Armando Galarraga vs ARI Jackson
4. Rick Porcello vs ARI Willis
5. Max Scherzer vs WAS Lannan, vs ARI Kennedy

Two-starter(s): Scherzer. His matchups and strikeout rate make him an advisable option in most leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Porcello. He is getting skipped a turn and still will get a start in Fantasy Week 11 (June 14-20). Before his past awful start, Porcello had been making progress. That is a favorable matchup, too, especially since the erratic Willis is on the mound.
One-week sleeper: Scherzer. He has averaged eight strikeouts per start since returning from the minor leagues. He draws two beatable teams that tend to strike out and not walk much.
One-week bust: Porcello. He has to be the most difficult of the Tigers starters to trust at this point. He probably has to sit in mixed leagues until he strings some quality starts together again.

Florida Marlins

1. Josh Johnson vs TEX Wilson, vs TB Price
2. Anibal Sanchez vs TEX Hunter
3. Ricky Nolasco vs TEX Feldman
4. Nate Robertson vs TB Garza
5. Chris Volstad vs TB Niemann

Two-starter(s): Johnson. He is a must-start in all leagues, even with those difficult matchups.
Who is getting skipped: Robertson. He has been skipped as the No. 5 starter and will return to the rotation June 18 or 19 against the Rays. He is merely a deeper NL-only option at this point.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. He remains suprisingly inactive in 70 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues, despite being on pace for a 15-7, 3.36 season. That is a tough matchup but Sanchez has held up well all season.
One-week bust: Nolasco. He is the anti-Sanchez. Everyone trusts Nolasco to a fault. He is a .500 pitcher with an ERA over 5.00 right now. He is still owned in 93 percent of leagues and active in a surprising 60 percent. He should sit in that many leagues.

Houston Astros

1. Roy Oswalt at KC Chen
2. Brett Myers at KC Hochevar
3. Wandy Rodriguez vs TEX Lewis
4. Brian Moehler vs TEX Harrison
5. Felipe Paulino at KC Davies, vs TEX Wilson

Two-starter(s): Paulino. He is a questionable option, but he is pitching well enough to be advisable in deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Paulino. He has made it through eight innings in each of his past three starts (1.13 ERA) and has been great through his past five (1.75). Consider him viable if you want a two-start sleeper. He was active in just 2 percent of leagues before Fantasy Week 11 (June 14-20).
One-week bust: Rodriguez. He looked like he was making progress before allowing eight earned runs for the second time in four starts. Clearly, he is difficult to trust against the offensively potent Rangers.

Kansas City Royals

1. Zack Greinke at ATL Medlen
2. Kyle Davies vs HOU Paulino, at ATL Kawakami
3. Bruce Chen vs HOU Oswalt
4. Luke Hochevar vs HOU Myers
5. Brian Bannister at ATL Lowe

Two-starter(s): Davies. He is a high-risk option even in the deepest of AL-only leagues at this point.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. There is only one Royals starter worth trusting and he has been a huge disappointment for Fantasy owners, Greinke.
One-week bust: Everyone but Greinke. You might talk yourself into trusting one of them, but all of them should be avoided if you can afford it in any format.

Los Angeles Angels

1. Scott Kazmir at CHC Silva
2. Jered Weaver at CHC Lilly
3. Joe Saunders vs MIL Wolf, at CHC Zambrano
4. Ervin Santana vs MIL Bush
5. Joel Pineiro vs MIL Narveson

Two-starter(s): Saunders. He is an advisable option in most leagues, despite some real terrible outings this season. If you throw out his two seven-run outings, his season's ERA is a paltry 3.07.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Saunders. He is available in 45 percent of leagues and inactive in 65 percent if you want a potential two-start sleeper.
One-week bust: Kazmir. He has made strides of late, but he is still not getting through six innings as he runs his historically high pitch counts.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Hiroki Kuroda at CIN Harang, at BOS Buchholz
2. Clayton Kershaw at CIN Leake
3. Chad Billingsley at CIN Arroyo
4. John Ely at BOS Bonser?
5. Carlos Monasterios (or Vicente Padilla) at BOS Wakefield

Two-starter(s): Kuroda. He is 0-3 in his past four starts, but he isn't pitching poorly enough to sit in most mixed leagues yet. Consider him at least an advisble option.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Ely or Monasterios. The Dodgers had said they would skip some of Ely's starts, but then they went and started him over the weekend. They figure to use him in Fantasy Week 11 (June 14-20) unless they want to give Monasterios another start before re-inserting Padilla (forearm), if ready after a rehab outing Sunday.
One-week sleeper: None. The top three are advisable in most leagues, while the bottom two have to be considered ...
One-week busts: Ely and Monasterios. There is the potential Ely is skipped to ease his innings load, while Monasterios could start for Ely or not at all if Padilla returns from the DL and his rehab assignment.

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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Milwaukee Brewers

1. Yovani Gallardo at COL Francis
2. Randy Wolf at LAA Saunders, at COL Cook
3. Dave Bush at LAA Santana
4. Chris Narveson at LAA Pineiro
5. Manny Parra at COL Hammel

Two-starter(s): Wolf. He is a questionable option amid his struggles. Those aren't great matchups either.
Who is getting skipped: None. Chris Capuano has been removed from the rotation, though, and will remain in long relief.
One-week sleeper: Parra. He has 18 strikeouts in his past two starts since returning to the rotation, which makes him a sleeper in deeper leagues.
One-week bust: Wolf, Bush and Narveson. They aren't pitching consistently enough to trust in most leagues right now.

Minnesota Twins

1. Francisco Liriano vs COL Jimenez
2. Nick Blackburn at PHI Blanton
3. Kevin Slowey at PHI Hamels
4. Carl Pavano vs COL Cook, at PHI Halladay
5. Scott Baker vs COL Chacin

Two-starter(s): Pavano. He has been pitching decent, but those matchups make him a questionable option to use in most leagues this week. We would avoid him if you have a good one-start option to replace him.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Pavano. There is risk here with those matchups, but he has been consistent enough to be a break-even option in deeper leagues.
One-week bust: Slowey. He is coming off a disappointing start and now will have to pitch at Philly. Sit him if you have alternatives.

New York Mets

1. Mike Pelfrey at NYY Hughes
2. Johan Santana at CLE Masterson, at NYY Sabathia
3. Jonathon Niese at CLE Talbot
4. R.A. Dickey at CLE Westbrook
5. Hisanori Takahashi at NYY Vazquez

Two-starter(s): Santana. He remains a must-start ace in all leagues through thick and thin.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Niese and Dickey. They have been great of late and draw the lowly Indians in their one-start weeks. Use them with confidence in mixed formats now.
One-week bust: Takahashi. He was good in his past start and was great last time against the Yankees, but he is a bit erratic to trust in that difficult matchup.

New York Yankees

1. CC Sabathia vs PHI Halladay, vs NYM Santana
2. A.J. Burnett vs PHI Kendrick
3. Andy Pettitte vs PHI Moyer
4. Javier Vazquez vs NYM Takahashi
5. Phil Hughes vs NYM Pelfrey

Two-starter(s): Sabathia. He remains a must-start ace in all leagues, even with those matchups against opposing aces.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Vazquez. All Yankees starters are viable in mixed leagues on a regular basis, but Vazquez has only recently returned to that status, scorching in June at 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA.
One-week bust: Burnett. He has struggled in June (0-2, 7.11) and draws the offensively potent Phillies.

Oakland Athletics

1. Ben Sheets at STL Carpenter
2. Vin Mazzaro at STL Wainwright
3. Trevor Cahill at CHC Zambrano, at STL Suppan
4. Gio Gonzalez at CHC Dempster
5. Dallas Braden at CHC Wells

Two-starter(s): Cahill. He is an advisable option in most leagues through thick and thin now.
Who is getting skipped: Braden. He gets moved back due to elbow inflammation, but he will still start in Fantasy Week 11 (June 14-20).
One-week sleeper: Cahill. He has made six consecutive quality starts, has won four of his past five starts and is owned in a mere 43 percent of CBSSports.com's league and active in just 19 percent. That number has got to be higher and closer to Brett Anderson (elbow).
One-week bust: Braden. He remains winless since his perfect game and has struggled with ankle woes and now an inflammed elbow. There are a number of reason to avoid him right now.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Roy Halladay at NYY Sabathia, vs MIN Pavano
2. Cole Hamels vs MIN Slowey
3. Joe Blanton vs MIN Blackburn
4. Jamie Moyer at NYY Pettitte
5. Kyle Kendrick at NYY Burnett

Two-starter(s): Halladay. He is a must-start in all leagues, without explanation.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. The top two starters are must-starts, while the rest of their starters are ...
One-week busts: Blanton, Moyer and Kendrick. They aren't pitching well enough to trust even in NL-only formats right now.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Zach Duke vs CHW Danks
2. Ross Ohlendorf vs CHW Peavy
3. Paul Maholm vs CLE Carmona
4. Jeff Karstens vs CLE Huff
5. Brad Lincoln vs CHW Garcia, vs CLE Masterson

Two-starter(s): Lincoln. He is a high-risk option after being unspectacular in his big-league debut. Those aren't incredibly tough matchups, though, so he could surprise us in deeper leagues. He is much better than he showed in his debut.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Maholm. He is 1-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his past four starts, all quality starts. Too bad he pitches for the Pirates, or else he could really have some nice potential for mixed Fantasy leagues.
One-week bust: Duke and Ohlendrof. They are coming off bad outings that make them too difficult to trust in mixed formats.

San Diego Padres

1. Jon Garland vs TOR Marcum, vs BAL Tillman
2. Mat Latos vs TOR Cecil
3. Kevin Correia vs TOR Romero
4. Wade LeBlanc vs BAL Matusz
5. Clayton Richard vs BAL Millwood

Two-starter(s): Garland. He is an advisable option in all leagues now, amid his career resurgence in pitcher-friendly San Diego. He is an incredible 3-0 with a 1.15 ERA in six starts at home this season.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Garland. Sure, he has been terrible on three-days rest in his career (two starts and a 10.38 ERA), but he is just too good at home not to use him in all formats. We are surprised to see he is active in just 37 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues. He remains completely unowned in 29 percent, too.
One-week bust: Correia. He has been struggling since his bereavement leave (1-2 with a 6.10 ERA). He is not trustworthy enough to use in mixed formats, although he is the lone Padres starter we can say that about right now.

San Francisco Giants

1. Tim Lincecum vs BAL Guthrie
2. Barry Zito at TOR Morrow
3. Matt Cain at TOR Litsch
4. Jonathan O. Sanchez vs BAL Tillman, at TOR Marcum
5. Joe Martinez vs BAL Arrieta

Two-starter(s): Sanchez. He remains a must-start in all leagues in his third-year starting pitcher breakout campaign (2.82 ERA).
Who is getting skipped: Todd Wellemeyer (quadriceps). He has struggled and likely won't return to the return once ready to come off the DL. Martinez will make a spot start this week, while Madison Bumgarner (6-1, 3.13) could be called up thereafter.
One-week sleeper: Martinez. He makes a spot start against the L-O's and was 5-2 with a 3.07 ERA in 11 starts in Triple-A. Consider him a sleeper in deeper formats, NL-only leagues at least.
One-week bust: None. All of the Giants' starting five are worth using this week.

Seattle Mariners

1. Cliff Lee vs CIN Cueto
2. Felix Hernandez vs CIN LeCure
3. Luke French at STL Wainwright, vs CIN Harang
4. Ryan Rowland-Smith at STL Suppan
5. Jason M. Vargas at STL Garcia

Two-starter(s): French. He is a high-risk option in his return to the Mariners' rotation, especially with the Cardinals as the first start. A bad outing could make him one and done.
Who is getting skipped: Ian Snell. His struggles have forced him back to the bullpen. Ignore him in all leagues now. French could also be sent back to the bullpen to give Rowland-Smith a second start, since Doug Fister is targeting a return of April 22 against the Cubs.
One-week sleeper: Vargas. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs since his first start of the season. Throwing out that start, he is 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA. We don't like his matchup, but he has been pitching well enough to use on a regular basis.
One-week bust: Rowland-Smith and French. We cannot be sure which pitcher will get the second start and neither is trustworthy outside of the deepest of AL-only leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter vs OAK Sheets
2. Adam Wainwright vs OAK Mazzaro
3. Jaime Garcia vs SEA Vargas
4. Jeff Suppan vs SEA Rowland-Smith, vs OAK Cahill
5. Blake Hawksworth or Adam Ottavino likely to be skipped

Two-starter(s): Wainwright and likely Suppan. Wainwright is a must-start in all leagues through thick and thin, while Suppan joins the rotation amid a four-man staff and likely picks up two starts. He is a high-risk option immediately, though.
Who is getting skipped: Likely Hawksworth and Ottavino. It is likely the Cardinals go with a four-man rotation for a couple turns because of days off Thursday and the following Monday. They won't need a No. 5 starter until late June. Suppan is getting a start against the Mariners and will remain on his regular fifth day, assuming he pitches well.
One-week sleeper: Suppan. He is a high-risk option in mixed leagues, but he is a nice sleeper in NL-only formats because of the magic pitching guru Dave Duncan has worked with him in the past.
One-week bust: Hawksworth and Ottavino. They don't figure to start and would be difficult to trust in any format, if they did.

Tampa Bay Rays

1. James Shields at ATL Hudson
2. Matt Garza at FLA Robertson
3. Jeff Niemann at FLA Volstad
4. David Price at ATL Kawakami, at FLA Johnson
5. Wade Davis at ATL Hanson

Two-starter(s): Price. He is a must-start in all leagues as a sure-fire Fantasy ace now.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Davis and Niemann. They have struggled of late, but they are worth trusting in most formats still.
One-week bust: Shields. He was hammered his last time out, which could be a function of all those innings he had pitched in May. He is a sit in mixed leagues now.

Texas Rangers

1. C.J. Wilson at FLA Johnson, at HOU Paulino
2. Tommy Hunter at FLA Sanchez
3. Scott Feldman at FLA Nolasco
4. Colby Lewis at HOU Rodriguez
5. Matt Harrison at HOU Moehler

Two-starter(s): Wilson. He has righted his season after some struggles in late May, making him an advisable option again.
Who is getting skipped: Rich Harden (gluteus). He has been placed on the DL and is expected to be replaced in the rotation by Harrison out of long relief no later than June 19, the next time the Rangers need a No. 5 starter.
One-week sleeper: Hunter. He has started 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his two starts, despite being used in just 6 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues.
One-week bust: Harrison. We cannot be sure when he will start, much less if he will start at this point. Don't consider him outside of deeper AL-only formats.

Toronto Blue Jays

1. Shaun Marcum at SD Garland, vs SF Sanchez
2. Brett Cecil at SD Latos
3. Ricky Romero at SD Correia
4. Brandon Morrow vs SF Zito
5. Jesse Litsch vs SF Cain

Two-starter(s): Marcum. He is coming off his worst start of the season, but he remains advisable in most leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None. It is very possible Litsch goes back to the minor leagues after his awful outing Sunday, though, and the Blue Jays go with a four-man rotation for two turns, due to offdays Thursday and the following Monday. Cecil, a must-start one-starter, would pick up a second start vs. the Giants if Litsch/the No. 5 spot is indeed skipped.
One-week sleeper: Cecil. He is active in only 42 percent of leagues, but he is a ridiculous 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA in his past five starts. He could pick up a second start, too.
One-week bust: Litsch. He was bad in his Triple-A rehab stint coming off Tommy John surgery and even worse in his first start in the majors. The Blue Jays need to option him back to the minors and go with new No. 5 starter for a couple turns, even if it isn't announced before your roster deadline. Avoid Litsch at all costs.

Washington Nationals

1. Stephen Strasburg vs CHW Floyd
2. John Lannan at DET Scherzer, vs CHW Garcia
3. Livan Hernandez at DET Verlander
4. Luis Atilano at DET Bonderman
5. J.D. Martin vs CHW Buehrle

Two-starter(s): Lannan. He has fallen back to being a questionable option after his past start makes him far less of a sure thing.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Hernandez. He continues to surprise us deep into the season and remains useful in mixed leagues, even if we know it will all come crashing back to reality at some point.
One-week bust: Lannan. He did have a nice little stretch going there, but his past start makes him difficult to trust in mixed leagues again.

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