Week 10 Pitching Planner

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Week 10 Pitching Planner

June 4, 2006 By Eric Mack Fantasy Writer Tell Eric your opinion!

We take you around the staffs for the week in our Sunday Fantasy Baseball Pitching Planner. This week's matchups AL early NL early AL late NL late BOS@NYY WAS@ATL SEA@LAA ATL@HOU TOR@BAL CHC@HOU BAL@MIN CHC@CIN LAA@TB SD@MIL TB@KC SD@MIL MIN@SEA CIN@STL CLE@CHW FLA@SD OAK@CLE PIT@COL OAK@NYY LAD@COL DET@CHW PHI@ARI DET@TOR PHI@WAS TEX@KC NYM@LAD TEX@BOS NYM@ARI FLA@SF PIT@SF The Royals and Mariners finish their four-game weekend series on Monday, June 5. The following teams play seven games this week: Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, N.Y. Yankees, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, N.Y. Mets, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Texas, Toronto and Washington. Texas and Boston are playing a doubleheader Saturday, June 10 as the result of adding a makeup game for a May 13 rainout. That means Boston will have eight games on the schedule this week. Bold denotes four-game series. Two-start pitchers This week's two-start pitchers Must-start options Brandon Webb vs. PHI Lidle vs. NYM Trachsel Pedro Martinez at LAD Lowe at ARI Cruz Mike Mussina vs. BOS Beckett vs. OAK Harden Tim Hudson vs. WAS Hernandez at HOU Nieve Carlos Zambrano at HOU Nieve at CIN Claussen Jake Peavy at MIL Bush vs. FLA Moehler Josh Beckett at NYY Mussina vs. TEX John Rheinecker Scott Kazmir vs. LAA Santana at KC Elarton Barry Zito at CLE Westbrook at NYY Wang Francisco Liriano at SEA Hernandez vs. BAL Bedard Freddy Garcia vs. DET Robertson vs. CLE Westbrook Kevin Millwood at KC Elarton at BOS Wells Chris Capuano vs. SD Hensley vs. STL Marquis Felix Hernandez vs. MIN Liriano at LAA Weaver Advisable options Cole Hamels at ARI Cruz at WAS Hill Livan Hernandez at ATL Hudson vs. PHI Lidle Noah Lowry vs. FLA Moehler vs. PIT Maholm Kerry Wood at HOU Buchholz at CIN Milton Nate Robertson at CHW Garcia at TOR Taubenheim Chien-Ming Wang vs. BOS Pauley vs. OAK Zito Jake Westbrook vs. OAK Zito at CHW Garcia Jeff Suppan vs. CIN Claussen at MIL Bush Brett Tomko vs. NYM Soler at COL Cook Questionable options Daniel Cabrera vs. TOR Lilly at MIN Silva Aaron Cook vs. PIT Snell vs. LAD Tomko Jeff Weaver at TB Shields vs. SEA Hernandez Erik Bedard vs. TOR Taubenheim at MIN Liriano Dave Bush vs. SD Peavy vs. STL Suppan Ted Lilly at BAL Cabrera vs. DET Miner Cory Lidle at ARI Webb at WAS Hernandez Clay Hensley at MIL Capuano vs. FLA Olsen Shawn Hill at ATL Ramirez vs. PHI Hamels Eric Milton at STL Carpenter vs. CHC Wood Paul Maholm at COL Francis at SF Lowry Horacio Ramirez vs. WAS Hill at HOU Buchholz Brandon Claussen at STL Suppan vs. CHC Zambrano Juan Cruz vs. PHI Hamels vs. NYM Martinez High-risk options Roy Oswalt? vs. CHC Zambrano vs. ATL Hudson Gil Meche vs. KC Wood at LAA Lackey Taylor Buchholz vs. CHC Wood vs. ATL Ramirez Ian Snell at COL Cook at SF Morris Brian Moehler at SF Lowry at SD Peavy Scott Elarton vs. TEX Millwood vs. TB Kazmir Mike Wood at SEA Meche vs. TB Waechter Ty Taubenheim at BAL Bedard vs. DET Robertson Staff reflections Arizona Diamondbacks: The D-Backs' doubleheader this weekend opens a hole for a TBD on Wednesday. It will likely be Russ Ortiz (calf) coming off the DL. Consider Ortiz a high-risk starter in deeper NL-only leagues at this point. Make him prove he's capable of being consistent before considering him anything more than a flier in mixed leagues. Atlanta Braves: The Braves are coming off a doubleheader, too, without a day off. They will need someone in a start Wednesday and the team's official game notes Sunday listed John Smoltz as the starter on three day's rest. Smoltz threw 110 pitches Saturday, while John Thomson had back-to-back stinkers in his 81-pitch outing in the nightcap. Baltimore Orioles: Daniel Cabrera is among the returning two-start pitchers off the DL this week, but he has been a high-risk play all season. Also, the O's have a decision to make with their No. 5 starter between prospect Adam Loewen and Bruce Chen on Thursday. Our site lists the opening at TBD, but we think Loewen gets another look. Consider Chen a high-risk start in deeper AL-only leagues until a decision is finalized. Loewen would be a decent option if he gets the nod. Boston Red Sox: Rookie David Pauley will get another chance in the rotation against the Yankees (Chien-Ming Wang). If he pitches well, and David Wells (knee) cannot return from the DL on Sunday, June 11, Pauley could be a two-start pitcher. He would obviously be high-risk. We think Wells does make the June 11 start vs. Texas and listed it as such in the Probable Pitchers report. Also, by the way, the Red Sox's doubleheader Saturday will need someone to fill the nightcap assignment. It cannot be Wells, who is only eligible to return June 11. Pauley could be asked to pitch on three day's rest, but it's more likely another spot starter is summoned, perhaps Abe Alvarez or Lenny DiNardo (15-day DL, neck). Chicago Cubs: We have listed for Kerry Wood as a two-start pitcher for the third consecutive week. He has yet to pitch on a regular fifth day since returning from shoulder surgery. He was recently moved back to Tuesday and will have to also start Sunday because the Cubs do not have an off day to play with. Mark Prior (15-day DL: Shoulder, on rehab assignment) won't be a candidate to return Sunday, June 11, because he needs two more rehab starts. Consider Wood a decent option in most Fantasy leagues, because he figures to get at least one start, but we don't advise you holding your breath on him actually making that second start. Colorado Rockies: Aaron Cook was scheduled to pitch Monday and be a two-start pitcher, but the team's official website lists Monday as a TBD on their probable pitchers report. That might be a typo. We don't know of anything holding Cook out of action at this point. Check his player updates before your roster deadline. Detroit Tigers: The loss of Mike Maroth (15-day DL: elbow) for at least two months opens a hole in their rotation, which will be filled by Zach Miner at this point. If he falters, Triple-A starters Jordan Tata and Wil Ledezma would be the first fallback options. Flamethrower Joel Zumaya looks like he's caught in the Pitch-22: Good enough to start, too good as a reliever. Consider Miner a flier in AL-only leagues at this point. He's not a prospect on the level of Zumaya or Tata. Houston Astros: Roy Oswalt was moved out of his start Sunday, apparently due to his sore shoulder. It's unclear whether he is getting moved back to Monday for a possible two-start week skipped. We say he gets moved back, but you obviously have to proceed with caution. Check his player updates before your roster deadline. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: The return of Bartolo Colon (shoulder) could come next Sunday in place of Jeff Weaver at the earliest. We do not project that happening at this point. Colon's final rehab start is Tuesday. We will know more at that point. Consider starting Colon in deeper AL-only formats only out of desperation. The Angels might choose to bring Colon back the following Tuesday, June 13, in place of young Jered Weaver. Both Weavers will be pitching for their rotation spots this week with John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Ervin Santana fully established in the rotation. Someone could be dealt for a bat. Los Angeles Dodgers: Jae Seo is heading for the bullpen, swapping places with Odalis Perez. Seo shouldn't start this week, but consider stashing him in NL-only leagues because the Dodgers could merely be showcasing Perez for a trade. Consider Perez a stopgap starter for deeper NL formats this week. Milwaukee Brewers: The June 7 hole in the rotation is likely to be filled by recent call-up Zach Jackson, but no decision has been announced. We left it as a TBD in our Probable Pitchers report. Consider Jackson, a prospect acquired in the Lyle Overbay trade, a stopgap option in deeper NL-only leagues this week. New York Mets: Alay Soler could be getting his third and final start with the big club Monday. John Maine (finger) figures to return from a 15-day DL/rehab assignment to start Wednesday. He should take the No. 5 starter's spot. Also, Pedro Martinez could start on regular rest Sunday, bumping Soler from a second start in the week. Oakland Athletics: No official decision has been made, but we project Esteban Loaiza (shoulder) making his return from the rotation in place of Kirk Saarloos on Wednesday of this week. Consider Loaiza a tad more intriguing as a stopgap starter option in deeper AL-only leagues. Saarloos figures to move back to the bullpen. Philadelphia Phillies: The return of Cole Hamels (shoulder) comes in time for him being a two-start pitcher this week. We consider the injury-risk phenom a must-start at this point. San Francisco Giants: The Saturday doubleheader left a hole in the Giants rotation, which figures to be filled by Brad Hennessey on Wednesday. Consider the spot starter an emergency option for deeper NL-only leagues. The fact he was used in relief Sunday could affect his availability. The hole likely moves Jason Schmidt out of a Tuesday-Sunday two-start week unless the Giants decide to move Noah Lowry back a day. That cannot be anticipated at this point. Consider Schmidt a solid single-start option in any league. St. Louis Cardinals: The return of Chris Carpenter (back) takes away some of the sting of Albert Pujols' 15-day DL loss to an oblique injury. Consider Carpenter a must-start in all leagues off the DL, but remember he will be getting far less run support. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Jamie Shields was moved out of his two-start week Sunday and it should happen to him again next week as Scott Kazmir figures to start Tuesday and next Sunday on regular rest. The Devil Rays considered moving Kazmir up because of his rain-shortened outing last time out, but he's still listed as the Tuesday starter. Texas Rangers: A doubleheader next Saturday against the Red Sox in Boston will necessitate a spot starter from the Rangers. It's unlikely they use Kevin Millwood on three day's rest, so they will go with reliever John Wasdin in a spot start. Consider him an option in the deepest of AL-only leagues out of desperation. Pitch a question Sean Johnston: I started the season with Chris Carpenter, John Lackey, Jeremy Bonderman, Cliff Lee, Jon Garland and Matt Clement. I've since turned Garland into Scott Podsednik (score) and Clement into Bill Hall to make way for Kerry Wood and Cole Hamels. Lee has been poor, Carpenter is MIA with a bursa sac inflamation, Wood is questionable and Hamels is now on the DL. Lackey and especially Bonderman have been inconsistent. Despite all of this, I'm still remaining somewhat competitive in my 12-team Head-to-Head points league (third place in a six-team division). However, the Wood/Hamels/Carpenter disaster all took place just a few days ago. Should I succumb to the panic and try to make some pitching moves? Coming out of the draft, I thought I had the best staff on paper. My other half says hold your ground; I dealt Cliff Lee early last season and he ended up winning 18. Emack: Carpenter, Hamels and perhaps Wood could all get two starts this week. Stick tight. Jason Ricard, Moosup, Conn.: My pitchers for this week are Curt Schilling, John Smoltz, Francisco Liriano and either Mark Buehrle or Little Weaver. The one time I sat Buehrle he pitched a complete game; once again he has a tough match up. Should I sit him and start Jered Weaver? Emack: Jered Weaver has the better matchup (at TB -- Seth McClung) over Buehrle (vs. CLE -- C.C. Sabathia). Sabathia has a better chance to be a winner over Buehrle, so go with Jered. He will be pitching for his rotation spot with Bartolo Colon returning to the rotation in one of the Weaver's next turn (Sunday, June 11 or Tuesday, June 13). You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball pitching questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Pitching Planner in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.