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
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Ian Kennedy vs SF Bumgarner, at COL Chacin
- Barry Enight vs SF Lincecum
- Daniel Hudson vs SF Zito
- Joe Saunders at COL De La Rosa
- Rodrigo Lopez at COL Jimenez
Two-starter(s): Kennedy. He is a questionable option left for
deeper leagues against those teams. He is pitching well enough to trust
in those deep formats, though.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Kennedy. He is 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his past four starts.
That first matchup is favorable, even if the second start at Coors Field
is a bit scary.
One-week bust: Saunders. He is coming off a
promising pair of starts, but we wouldn't trust him at Colorado in mixed
formats this week.
Atlanta Braves
- Tommy Hanson at PIT Burres, vs STL Westbrook
- Tim Hudson at PIT McDonald, vs STL Lohse
- Derek Lowe (doubtful, elbow) or Kenshin Kawakami at PIT Duke
- Jair Jurrjens vs STL Wainwright
- Mike Minor vs STL Carpenter
Two-starter(s): Hanson and Hudson. They are must-start aces in
all leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps Lowe. We doubt he
starts with his sore elbow, giving another spot start to Kawakami, who
is too risky to use in any formats.
One-week sleeper:
Jurrjens. He has won back-to-back starts after a terrible outing Aug.
25. We would trust him even against the Cardinals and Wainwright.
One-week
bust: Lowe, Minor and Kawakami. Lowe is banged up, while Minor and
Kawakami are struggling too much to use outside of the deepest of
leagues.
Baltimore Orioles
- Kevin Millwood at DET Galarraga
- Jeremy Guthrie at DET Scherzer
- Chris Tillman at DET Verlander
- Brian Matusz at NYY Burnett
- Jake Arrieta at NYY Sabathia
- Brad Bergesen at NYY Nova
Two-starter(s): None. The Orioles are reportedly going with a
six-man rotation to save innings on their young arms like Arrieta down
the stretch. They were going to have to shut down Arrieta early, but a
six-man rotation might help them avoid that.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Guthrie. Although Matusz
has pitched better in August, Guthrie has won back-to-back starts and
gets to face the Tigers instead of the Yankees.
One-week bust: Matusz.
He is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA, but a one-start week against the Yankees
makes him tough to start in mixed formats. We would have liked him a lot
better if he was getting a second start next Sunday at Detroit, but the
projected six-man rotation ruins that.
Boston Red Sox
- Jon Lester vs TB Niemann, at OAK Anderson
- John Lackey at OAK Cahill
- Josh Beckett at OAK Mazzaro
- Clay Buchholz vs TB Garza
- Daisuke Matsuzaka vs TB Price
| |||
Must-starts | TM | Own% | Start% |
Ubaldo Jimenez | COL | 97 | 90 |
Jon Lester | BOS | 97 | 89 |
Roy Oswalt | PHI | 97 | 88 |
Justin Verlander | DET | 97 | 86 |
Tim Hudson | ATL | 96 | 85 |
Clayton Kershaw | LA | 97 | 81 |
Tommy Hanson | ATL | 95 | 80 |
Mat Latos | SD | 94 | 80 |
Tim Lincecum | SF | 97 | 79 |
Dan Haren | ANA | 96 | 78 |
Max Scherzer | DET | 92 | 74 |
Wandy Rodriguez | HOU | 91 | 73 |
Edwin Jackson | CHW | 88 | 72 |
Ricky Romero | TOR | 92 | 65 |
Advisables | TM | Own% | Start% |
Johnny Cueto | CIN | 93 | 64 |
Anibal Sanchez | FLA | 78 | 57 |
Shaun Marcum | TOR | 90 | 56 |
Brett Anderson | OAK | 85 | 49 |
Mike Pelfrey | NYM | 77 | 49 |
Madison Bumgarner | SF | 69 | 39 |
Jhoulys Chacin | COL | 44 | 28 |
Questionables | TM | Own% | Start% |
Yovani Gallardo | MIL | 96 | 74 |
A.J. Burnett | NYY | 88 | 56 |
Tommy Hunter | TEX | 71 | 47 |
Ian Kennedy | ARI | 62 | 39 |
Jason Vargas | SEA | 57 | 33 |
Jake Westbrook | STL | 54 | 33 |
Jordan Zimmermann | WAS | 36 | 21 |
Kevin Slowey | MIN | 68 | 19 |
Freddy Garcia | CHW | 32 | 12 |
Vicente Padilla | LA | 38 | 10 |
Nelson Figueroa | HOU | 10 | 7 |
High-risks | TM | Own% | Start% |
Jeff Niemann | TB | 85 | 34 |
Aaron Harang | CIN | 34 | 10 |
Kyle Lohse | STL | 8 | 3 |
Sean O'Sullivan | KC | 2 | 1 |
Casey Coleman | CHC | 1 | 1 |
Two-starter(s): Lester. He is a must-start ace in all leagues,
regardless of the number of starts or matchup(s).
Who is getting
skipped: None. The Red Sox are considering going with Buchholz on
three-day's rest Wednesday vs. the Rays, but could spot start Tim Wakefield against them and move back the veterans over the
weekend at Oakland. That would take away Lester's second start, but
Lester remains a must-start regardless.
One-week sleeper:
None. The Red Sox's top four starters are must-starts in all leagues,
while No. 5 above is a ...
One-week bust: Dice-K. He has
allowed four earned runs in each of his past four starts. Despite being
9-4 on the season, we wouldn't trust him against the contending Rays in
crunch time.
Chicago Cubs
- Carlos Zambrano at MIL Bush
- Ryan Dempster at MIL Wolf
- Casey Coleman vs HOU Rodriguez, at MIL Gallardo
- Carlos Silva vs HOU Figueroa
- Randy Wells vs HOU Myers
Two-starter(s): Coleman. He is a high-risk option even in the
deepest of NL-only leagues still.
Who is getting skipped: Likely
Tom Gorzelanny (hand). He is getting
skipped for Silva's DL return, but Gorzelanny could take Coleman's
second start next Sunday, though. Neither Coleman or Gorzelanny should
be used this week.
One-week sleeper: Zambrano. He is 4-0 with
a 2.25 ERA in the second half, making him a must-own, if not a
must-start, in all Fantasy leagues again.
One-week bust: Gorzelanny, Coleman and Silva. Coleman remains in the rotation for now, but he
could lose his second start if Gorzelanny proves healthy enough to
return next weekend. Silva returns from the DL, too, but he and that
pair are too risky to trust in Fantasy crunch time this week.
Chicago White Sox
- John Danks (probable, hamstring) at DET Bonderman
- Gavin Floyd at DET Porcello
- Mark Buehrle vs KC Chen
- Edwin Jackson at DET Scherzer, vs KC Davies
- Freddy Garcia (probable, back) at DET Verlander, vs KC
O'Sullivan
Two-starter(s): Jackson and Garcia. Jackson is a must-start in
all leagues, while the Garcia is a questionable option due to injury. We
like the matchups, but Garcia is a bit too risky.
Who is getting
skipped: Perhaps Garcia. He could be moved back due to his back, but
the White Sox already need to go to a banged-up Danks on three-day's
rest (due to Saturday's doubleheader). We believe Garcia and Danks will
both remain on turn, but there is some level of uncertainty.
One-week
sleeper: Jackson. He has been so good with the White Sox, he is a
must-start in all leagues regardless of the number of starts or
matchup(s). He is 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA since the trade back to the AL
Central.
One-week bust: Garcia. He left his past start early
and those matchups make him a potential two-start sleeper. We think he
pitches both games and does well, but the possibility remains he becomes
a no-start pitcher this week still.
Cincinnati Reds
- Johnny Cueto at COL Chacin, vs PIT TBD
- Bronson Arroyo at COL Cook
- Travis Wood at COL Hammel
- Homer Bailey vs PIT Maholm
- Aaron Harang at COL Jimenez, vs PIT Morton
Two-starter(s): Harang and Cueto. Harang is a high-risk option,
while Cueto is at least advisable in all formats due to that very
favorable second matchup.
Who is getting skipped: None. But
Harang could be re-evaluated on a start-to-start basis with Edinson Volquez working down in the minors to come back to start down
the stretch. Volquez was untouchable in his past start and he should go
again Monday.
One-week sleeper: Bailey. He hasn't lost a game
since May 7 and we have to doubt he and the first-place Reds will fall
to the Pirates in his start this week, even if he can't post a quality
start, which he hasn't done in his past two.
One-week bust: Harang.
He could lose his second start and that was the one that might make him
any sort of intriguing this week. Ignore him.
Cleveland Indians
- Fausto Carmona vs MIN Pavano
- Mitch Talbot vs MIN Blackburn
- Jeanmar Gomez vs MIN Slowey
- Carlos Carrasco at LAA Haren
- Justin Masterson at LAA Bell
- Josh Tomlin at LAA Kazmir
Two-starter(s): None. We expect the Indians to stick with a
six-man rotation in a six-game week. There is the potential for a
back-end starter to be skipped and hand a second start to Carrasco,
though. He would be a questionable option.
Who is getting skipped: Perhaps
Gomez. The Indians have six starters and a day off Thursday. Carrasco,
Masterson and Tomlin are certain to get starts, while Carmona and Talbot
are likely to as well. Gomez could be moved back off his start next
Sunday, if the Indians want to limit his innings down the stretch.
Carrasco would be the two-starter in that event.
One-week sleeper:
Carrasco. He was solid in Triple-A after a slow start and was very good
in his first start Sept. 1. He faces the offensively weak Angels and
could pick up a second start next Sunday, too.
One-week bust: Carmona.
He has lost six consecutive starts and we don't see that trend ending
against the Twins.
Colorado Rockies
- Ubaldo Jimenez vs CIN Harang, vs ARI Lopez
- Jhoulys Chacin vs CIN Cueto, vs ARI Kennedy
- Aaron Cook vs CIN Arroyo
- Jason Hammel vs CIN Wood
- Jorge De La Rosa vs ARI Saunders
Two-starter(s): Jimenez and Chacin. Jimenez is a must-start in
all leagues, while Chacin is an advisable option in deeper formats.
Who
is getting skipped: Esmil Rogers.
He has been demoted to the bullpen with the return of Cook.
One-week
sleeper: Chacin. Active in a mere 27 percent of CBSSports.com's
leagues, Chacin is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in his past three starts. He is
good enough to trust in any format this week, even against those
offenses.
One-week bust: Cook. He will keep pitching for his
rotation spot with Jeff Francis
(shoulder) working his way back on a rehab assignment. We wouldn't trust
Cook outside of the deepest of NL-only leagues.
Detroit Tigers
- Max Scherzer vs CHW Jackson, vs BAL Guthrie
- Justin Verlander vs CHW Garcia, vs BAL Tillman
- Jeremy Bonderman vs CHW Danks
- Rick Porcello vs CHW Floyd
- Armando Galarraga vs BAL Millwood
Two-starter(s): Scherzer and Verlander. They are must-starts in
all leagues right now.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Porcello. The sophomore has turned his season around and is
3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his past three starts. He is viable in deeper
mixed formats as a one-starter.
One-week bust: Bonderman. He
walked five his last time out and is too risky to trust outside of
deeper AL-only formats.
Florida Marlins
- Josh Johnson at WAS Lannan
- Anibal Sanchez at PHI Oswalt, at WAS Zimmermann
- Chris Volstad at PHI Blanton
- Andrew Miller at PHI Hamels
- Alex Sanabia at WAS Marquis
- Adalberto Mendez at PHI Worley
Two-starter(s): Sanchez. He is an advisable option in all
leagues, especially since he is coming off a great start and draws that
favorable second matchup.
Who is getting skipped: None. The
Marlins have a doubleheader Monday and a day off Thursday. The will go
with a six-man rotation and likely make Mendez just a spot starter with
Sanchez going in the second doubleheader game Monday and then again
Sunday.
One-week sleeper: Sanchez. He is still active in just
56 percent of leagues, despite going 4-2 with a 2.21 ERA in the second
half (2.50 ERA in August). Consider him a viable option in all formats
now.
One-week bust: Everyone not named Johnson or Sanchez. We
wouldn't trust any of the Marlins starters two through six this week.
Houston Astros
- Wandy Rodriguez at CHC Coleman, vs LAD Padilla
- Brett Myers at CHC Wells
- J.A. Happ vs LAD Kuroda
- Bud Norris vs LAD Lilly
- Nelson Figueroa at CHC Silva, vs LAD Kershaw
Two-starter(s): Rodriguez and Figueroa. Rodriguez is a
must-start, while Figueroa is a questionable option who is pitching well
enough to trust in deeper formats, mostly NL-only leagues.
Who is
getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Figueroa. Somehow
he has a 1.96 ERA in four starts since returning to the rotation. He
isn't a completely trustworthy option but his hot streak makes a
potential sleeper to take a chance on if you want a two-start pitcher in
your lineup in crunch time.
One-week bust: Norris.
Back-to-back stinkers has put him right back in the risky, even for
NL-only leagues, category.
Kansas City Royals
- Zack Greinke at MIN Duensing
- Bruce Chen at CHW Buehrle
- Kyle Davies at CHW Jackson
- Sean O'Sullivan at MIN Slowey, at CHW Garcia
- Brian Bannister at MIN Liriano
Two-starter(s): O'Sullivan. He is a high-risk option even in the
deepest of AL-only leagues.
Who is getting skipped: Bryan Bullington. He has been moved to the bullpen, where Luke Hochevar also is currently residing. Hochevar could be a
candidate to take O'Sullivan's rotation spot as soon as next
Sunday at the White Sox.
One-week sleeper: None. The Royals
are a staff full of risky options behind Greinke, who has been one of
the biggest non-injury busts of the season.
One-week bust: Bannister.
He returns to the rotation the way he left, a high-risk option not worth
the risk.
Los Angeles Angels
- Jered Weaver vs SEA Pauley
- Ervin Santana vs SEA Hernandez
- Dan Haren vs CLE Carrasco, vs SEA Vargas
- Trevor Bell vs CLE Masterson
- Scott Kazmir vs CLE Tomlin
Two-starter(s): Haren. He is a must-start in all leagues with
those matchups, especially in Fantasy crunch time.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Bell. He has posted
back-to-back quality starts against the Orioles and Mariners and draws
an equally favorable matchup against the Indians. Consider him in deeper
formats, mostly AL-only leagues.
One-week bust: Kazmir. He is
advisable in deeper formats amid his struggles, but he is easily the
fifth choice among Angels starters this week.
| ||
| ||
Player | % Change | |
1. | Aroldis Chapman, SP, Reds | 14 |
2. | Ian Kennedy, SP, Diamondbacks | 12 |
3. | Jordan Zimmermann, SP, Nationals | 12 |
4. | Koji Uehara, RP, Orioles | 12 |
5. | Jhoulys Chacin, SP, Rockies | 10 |
6. | Clay Hensley, SP, Marlins | 8 |
7. | Fernando Rodney, RP, Angels | 7 |
8. | Barry Enright, SP, Diamondbacks | 7 |
9. | Nelson Figueroa, RP, Astros | 7 |
10. | Edwin Jackson, SP, White Sox | 6 |
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Clayton Kershaw at SD Latos, at HOU Figueroa
- Chad Billingsley at SD Garland
- Ted Lilly at HOU Norris
- Hiroki Kuroda at HOU Happ
- Vicente Padilla at SD LeBlanc, at HOU Rodriguez
Two-starter(s): Kershaw and Padilla. Kershaw is a must-start,
while Padilla is a questionable option in his return as a two-start
pitcher. Those matchups make him a nice sleeper in deeper leagues,
though.
Who is getting skipped: Carlos Monasterios. He has been sent back to the bullpen with
Padilla's return.
One-week sleeper: Padilla. Other than his
last start before the DL stint, Padilla has been productive enough to
use in all leagues. We have faith he can be a solid two-start option
this week.
One-week bust: None. All five Dodgers starters are
useful in most leagues at this point.
Milwaukee Brewers
- Yovani Gallardo vs STL Westbrook, vs CHC Coleman
- Randy Wolf vs CHC Dempster
- Dave Bush vs CHC Zambrano
- Chris Narveson vs STL Lohse
- Chris Capuano vs STL Garcia
Two-starter(s): Gallardo. He is a questionable option, having
given up 22 runs in his past three starts (0-2, 12.27). We would still
start him in most formats because of the double starts, though.
Who
is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Wolf. He went
3-1 with a 3.65 ERA in August, numbers good enough to consider him
viable in mixed formats again.
One-week bust: Bush. He has had
some good starts and gets a winnable matchup, but he is a letdown
waiting to happen.
Minnesota Twins
- Carl Pavano at CLE Carmona
- Francisco Lirano vs KC Bannister
- Kevin Slowey vs KC O'Sullivan, at CLE Gomez
- Brian Duensing vs KC Greinke
- Nick Blackburn at CLE Talbot
Two-starter(s): Slowey. He is a questionable option coming off
the DL, but those matchups make him a risk worth taking in most formats.
Who
is getting skipped: Scott Baker
(elbow). He needs some rest for his sore elbow, which is fine with
Slowey returning to the rotation and Blackburn and Duensing holding up
well.
One-week sleeper: Slowey. His two-start return is
highlighted by a pair of very favorable matchups.
One-week bust: Blackburn.
If there is one Twins starter we wouldn't trust even in a bad matchup,
it would be Blackburn.
New York Mets
- R.A. Dickey at WAS Hernandez
- Mike Pelfrey at WAS Zimmermann, vs PHI Oswalt
- Jonathon Niese vs PHI Kendrick
- Jenrry Mejia vs PHI Halladay
- Dillon Gee at WAS Maya
Two-starter(s): Pelfrey. He is an advisable option in most
formats amid his season's resurgence. Despite a poor past start, he is
still 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA in his past five starts. That first matchup is
favorable, too.
Who is getting skipped: Johan Santana (pectoral). He won't start Tuesday and the Mets could
hold him out the full week at this point. There is nothing to suggest he
will start a weekend game vs. the Phillies.
One-week sleeper:
Pelfrey. His recent surge makes it easier to trust him in this two-start
week.
One-week bust: Niese. He has been giving up runs in
bunches of late, which makes him too risky to use in a one-start week
against the Phillies.
New York Yankees
- CC Sabathia vs BAL Arrieta
- A.J. Burnett vs BAL Matusz, at TEX TBD
- Javier Vazquez at TEX Wilson
- Phil Hughes at TEX Hunter
- Ivan Nova vs BAL Bergesen
Two-starter(s): Burnett. He is a questionable option amid his
awful second half, but that favorable first matchup makes him a risk
worth taking.
Who is getting skipped: Dustin Moseley. He has been moved back to the bullpen with the return
of Vazquez to the rotation.
One-week sleeper: Nova. He hasn't
pitched deep into a game yet, but that matchup makes him a useful
one-starter in deeper mixed formats.
One-week bust: Hughes. He
has been posting some real ugly games. He might surprise everyone and
dominate the Rangers, but he should be doing that on the bench in all
mixed leagues right now.
Oakland Athletics
- Trevor Cahill vs BOS Lackey
- Brett Anderson vs SEA Vargas, vs BOS Lester
- Dallas Braden vs SEA Fister
- Gio Gonzalez vs SEA French
- Vin Mazzaro vs BOS Beckett
Two-starter(s): Anderson. Even though he hasn't won since Aug. 4,
we still consider him an advisable two-start pitcher this week,
especially with that favorable first matchup.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: Anderson. We were
surprised to see he is active in less than 50 percent of CBSSports.com's
leagues. He should be active in 75 percent at least this week.
One-week
bust: Mazzaro. He has had back-to-back bad outings and he draws the
toughest matchup of the week among A's starters.
Philadelphia Phillies
- Roy Halladay at NYM Mejia
- Roy Oswalt vs FLA Sanchez, at NYM Pelfrey
- Cole Hamels vs FLA Miller
- Joe Blanton vs FLA Volstad
- Kyle Kendrick at NYM Niese
- Vance Worley vs FLA Mendez
Two-starter(s): Oswalt. He is a must-start in all leagues.
Who
is getting skipped: Perhaps Kendrick. The Phillies could choose to
skip him next weekend against the Mets to keep Oswalt and Blanton on
regular rest. Consider that likely, which adds a second start to
Blanton. He is a risky option regardless.
One-week sleeper:
Blanton. He is coming off a bad start, but he has been hot before that
and could pick up a second start. It still requires some stones to trust
him as a one-start pitcher in a smaller mixed league, though.
One-week
bust: Kendrick. He could be out of the rotation down the stretch if
Worley pitches well in game 1 of Monday's doubleheader and the Phillies
decide to keep Worley in the rotation.
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Zach Duke vs ATL TBD
- Paul Maholm at CIN Bailey
- Charlie Morton at CIN Harang
- James McDonald vs ATL Hudson
- Brian Burres vs ATL Hanson
-
Perhaps Brad Lincoln at CIN Cueto
Two-starter(s): Likely none. Because ...
Who is getting
skipped: Jeff Karstens (shoulder) is
done for the season, and Burres takes his turn Monday, but Lincoln is
likely to be recalled thereafter.
One-week sleeper: None. The
Pirates don't have a starter we would trust against the first-place
Braves or Reds.
One-week bust: All. The matchups are as bad as
the pitchers.
San Diego Padres
- Jon Garland vs SF Cain
- Mat Latos vs LAD Padilla, vs SF Bumgarner
- Clayton Richard vs SF Sanchez
- Kevin Correia vs LAD Kershaw
- Cory Luebke vs LAD Billingsley
-
Perhaps Wade LeBlanc vs SF Lincecum
Two-starter(s): Latos. He is a must-start ace in all leagues,
even amid the Padres' struggles and with him well over his career high
in innings.
Who is getting skipped: LeBlanc. Correia is taking
is turn Tuesday, but we still figure LeBlanc is the starter of choice
over the weekend in a crucial set against the Giants.
One-week
sleeper: Garland. With 13 victories and a 3.31 ERA, we are surprised
he is active in just 42 percent of leagues. The fact he is starting at
home (7-4, 2.68 there) vs. the road (6-6, 4.04) warrants using him in
mixed leagues.
One-week bust: Correia, Luebke and LeBlanc. We
wouldn't trust the Padres back-end starters amid this horrendous slump.
San Francisco Giants
- Tim Lincecum at ARI Enright, at SD TBD
- Barry Zito at ARI Hudson
- Matt Cain at SD Garland
- Jonathan Sanchez at SD Richard
- Madison Bumgarner at ARI Kennedy, at SD Latos
Two-starter(s): Lincecum and Bumgarner. Lincecum is back to being
a must-start, while Bumgarner is an advisable sleeper two-starter in
deeper leagues.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week
sleeper: Bumgarner. Save for one real bad outing two starts ago, he
has been trustworthy enough to use in all formats as a two-start pitcher.
One-week
bust: Zito. He has been getting hammered of late and the D-Backs
have a pretty potent offense.
Seattle Mariners
- Felix Hernandez at LAA Santana
- Jason Vargas at OAK Anderson, at LAA Haren
- Doug Fister at OAK Braden
- Luke French at OAK Gonzalez
- David Pauley at LAA Weaver
Two-starter(s): Vargas. He is a questionable option who is
pitching well enough to use in deeper leagues with those two-start
matchups.
Who is getting skipped: None.
One-week sleeper:
Vargas. His 3.55 ERA has been pretty steady all season, despite a
three-loss streak. Those aren't real imposing offenses.
One-week
bust: Pauley. He hasn't had a quality start in his past four. Ignore
him outside of deeper AL-only formats.
St. Louis Cardinals
- Adam Wainwright at ATL Jurrjens
- Chris Carpenter at ATL Minor
- Jaime Garcia at MIL Capuano
- Jake Westbrook at MIL Gallardo, at ATL Hanson
- Kyle Lohse at MIL Narveson, at ATL Hudson
Two-starter(s): Westbrook and Lohse. Westbrook is a questionable
option we would take a chance on in deeper leagues if you want to roll
the dice on a two-start pitcher. Lohse we wouldn't touch.
Who is
getting skipped: None. Jeff Suppan
could take Lohse's second start next Sunday, if Lohse struggles Tuesday.
One-week
sleeper: Westbrook. You throw out a bad start or two and Westbrook
has been very good for the Cardinals. He is worth the risk if you don't
lose points for losses.
One-week bust: Lohse. He has been
terrible mostly since returning from the DL and might not keep his
rotation spot.
Tampa Bay Rays
- David Price at BOS Matsuzaka
- Matt Garza at BOS Buchholz
- James Shields at TOR Cecil
- Wade Davis at TOR Romero
- Jeff Niemann at BOS Lester, at TOR Marcum
Two-starter(s): Niemann. He is struggling to the point we have to
consider him high-risk in all leagues right now.
Who is getting
skipped: None.
One-week sleeper: None. We wouldn't trust
Shields, Niemann or Davis.
One-week bust: None. The top two
are must-starts, while the bottom three aren't consistent enough to
trust in those matchups.
Texas Rangers
- Cliff Lee vs NYY Burnett
- C.J. Wilson vs NYY Vazquez
- Colby Lewis at TOR Rzepczynski
- Tommy Hunter at TOR Romero, vs NYY Hughes
- Derek Holland at TOR TBD
- Scott Feldman or Rich Harden
at TOR Marcum
Two-starter(s): Hunter. He is a questionable option worth using
in deeper leagues if you want to take a chance on a two-starter.
Who
is getting skipped: Lee. He still could start at the end of the
week, but his bad recent outings and questionable health make him too
risky to use in crunch time.
One-week sleeper: Hunter. The
matchups are challenging, but he is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in his past
three starts.
One-week bust: Lee. He was moved off his Tuesday
start and his status for the rest of the week is too uncertain.
Toronto Blue Jays
- Ricky Romero vs TEX Hunter, vs TB Davis
- Shaun Marcum vs TEX TBD, vs TB Niemann
- Brett Cecil vs TB Shields
- Marc Rzepczynski vs TEX Lewis
-
TBD (perhaps Brad Mills) vs TEX
Holland
Two-starter(s): Romero and Marcum. They are advisable options in
all leagues. We would call them must-starts, except their matchups are
pretty tough.
Who is getting skipped: Brandon Morrow. He has been shut down for the season.
One-week
sleeper: Cecil. He is beating the top contenders in the AL East
lately, including the Rays and the Yankees twice. He has posted 10
quality starts in his past 11 outings, amazing.
One-week bust: Rzepczynski
and Mills. Mills had a high ERA in Triple-A and Rzepzynski cannot be
trusted against a potent Rangers team.
Washington Nationals
- Livan Hernandez vs NYM Dickey
- John Lannan vs FLA Johnson
- Jason Marquis vs FLA Sanabia
- Jordan Zimmermann vs NYM Pelfrey, vs FLA Sanchez
-
TBD (likely Yunesky Maya) vs NYM Gee
Two-starter(s): Zimmermann. He was awesome in his past start and
looks like a questionable option worth taking the risk on in deeper
formats.
Who is getting skipped: Scott Olsen. He has been sent to the bullpen before the likely callup
of Maya.
One-week sleeper: Zimmermann. We love his talent and
those matchups are not that tough.
One-week bust: Hernandez.
The pixie dust has worn off. He is too risky to trust in any format now.
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