Week 3 Pitching Planner

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We go around baseball's rotations every Sunday in the weekly Fantasy Baseball Pitching Planner. You will want to read closely this week, because a number of postponements have juggled the rotations.

Staff reflections

Arizona Diamondbacks: Manager Bob Melvin will decide after a Monday bullpen session whether Randy Johnson (back) is ready to join the rotation or needs one more minor league rehabilitation start. "Right now it's literally 50-50," Melvin said. Johnson is too risky to start in Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22). He would likely take the second start of Edgar Gonzalez (Saturday) or Micah Owings (Sunday). Owings has less experience, but he's pitching better than Gonzalez and is the bigger prospect. Consider Owings a two-start sleeper in deeper leagues and own him in long-term keeper formats. The No. 5 spot is down to him and Gonzalez, who we expect to be removed for the Big Unit.

Atlanta Braves: They will line up Chuck James (Monday), John Smoltz (Tuesday), Kyle Davies (Wednesday), Mark Redman (Thursday) and Tim Hudson (Friday). James and Smoltz are must-start two-start pitchers. Hudson is a solid one-starter, while Davies and Redman are risky even for the deepest of NL-only leagues.

Baltimore Orioles: A steady rain postponed Sunday's game between Baltimore and Kansas City. Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie was supposed to make his first start for the Orioles on Sunday. Because of the rainout, Guthrie will be skipped in the rotation when Baltimore opens a three-game series in Tampa Bay on Monday. The O's will go with Adam Loewen, Steve Trachsel and Erik Bedard in Tampa and Daniel Cabrera will open the series vs. Toronto. With a day off Thursday, the No. 5 starter's spot won't come up until April 24 vs. Oakland. Guthrie could make that start, but consider him a middle reliever for Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22). Loewen and Trachsel will be two-start pitcher options for deeper leagues, while Bedard and Cabrera are solid one-starters. Jaret Wright (15-day DL, shoulder) should remained reserved in all formats.

Boston Red Sox: After Sunday's rainout, the Red Sox are lining up Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Curt Schilling and then Julian Tavarez in their rotation this week, barring another rainout Monday morning at 10 a.m. on Patriots Day (very possible). Beckett will likely get a two-start week regardless, because he could move to Tuesday. Dice-K will get a two-start week, barring a rainout. All of the other starters will go once. Tavarez is a risky start in all Fantasy leagues, because he will move around to keep the others on regular rest. Schilling is a solid start with one outing, while Wakefield is more of a risk. Beckett and Dice-K are must-start two-start pitchers.

Chicago Cubs: All five starters will go in succession, including risky two-start pitchers Jason Marquis and Wade Miller.

Chicago White Sox: All five starters will go in succession after Monday's day off. Jon Garland is the lone two-start pitcher.

Cincinnati Reds: All five starters will go in succession, including high-risk two-start pitchers Eric Milton and Matt Belisle. Belisle is hot, but we still don't trust the No. 5 starter just yet. Use at your own risk.

Cleveland Indians: All five starters will go in succession after Monday's day off. Jake Westbrook is the lone two-start pitcher.

Colorado Rockies: Rodrigo Lopez (elbow inflammation) was moved back to Wednesday, so the Rockies will go with a rotation of Jeff Francis (Monday), Jason Hirsh (Tuesday), Lopez, Josh Fogg (Thursday) and Aaron Cook (Friday). Francis (coming off a suspension) and Hirsh are two-start options in deeper leagues.

Detroit Tigers: No. 5 starter Chad Durbin won't be skipped this week, according to MLB.com, despite an off day Thursday that would allow it. Manager Jimmy Leyland prefers to give his front-end starters an extra day of rest this time of year. Justin Verlander (Monday and Sunday) will be the lone two-start pitcher, a must-start one in all leagues.

Florida Marlins: Saturday's rainout has reset the Marlins' rotation. They will go with Anibal Sanchez (Monday), Sergio Mitre (Tuesday), Dontrelle Willis (Wednesday), Rick Vanden Hurk (Thursday) and Scott Olsen (Friday). Sanchez is a must-start two-start pitcher in most leagues. Mitre is a high-risk two-starter in the deepest of NL-only leagues. Willis is a solid one-starter, while a struggling Olsen and the rookie Vanden Hurk, who relieved Olsen on Sunday, are risky one-starters.

Houston Astros: A rainout Sunday has reshuffled the Astros rotation. Wandy Rodriguez will go Monday, followed by Roy Oswalt, Chris Sampson and Woody Williams. Brian Moehler is the probable fill-in starter for the TBD on Friday for Jason Jennings (forearm), who will miss a couple of starts. Rodriguez is a two-start pitcher option in deeper leagues, while Oswalt is a must-start two-start pitcher in all formats. Sampson loses his two-start Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22), but is a sleeper in deeper leagues as a rookie. Williams is an option in deeper NL-only leagues, while Moehler is a high-risk option in the deepest of those formats. Jennings has to be reserved in all lineups at this point.

Kansas City Royals: A steady rain postponed Sunday's game between Baltimore and Kansas City. Zack Greinke, the scheduled starter Sunday, was pushed back to Monday at Detroit. Everyone else in the Kansas City rotation also was backed up a day, according to AP, meaning Jorge De La Rosa will start Tuesday and Gil Meche will go Wednesday. Brandon Duckworth (Friday) could be skipped in the rotation, because of an off day Thursday. Greinke is a two-start pitcher sleeper for Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22). He is talented and has been off to an impressive start to the season. De La Rosa could also be a two-start pitcher, if Duckworth is indeed skipped. Consider both of them risky options. Meche will be a one-start option for deeper leagues, while Perez is a high-risk one-starter for the deepest of AL-only leagues.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: A rainout Sunday likely moves Ervin Santana to Monday morning in Boston on Patriots Day, which could also be affected by weather. Jered Weaver (shoulder) is slated to return the following game, while Joe Saunders could be moved back to keep John Lackey on regular rest Wednesday. Saunders will remain in the rotation until Bartolo Colon (shoulder, might return next weekend) and Kelvim Escobar (elbow) are both ready, but he could be skipped this week. Dustin Moseley is likely out of rotation at this point. Santana, Weaver, Lackey are solid starts in all leagues for Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22). Santana and Weaver are two-start pitchers, barring a Monday rainout (very possible). Weaver's two-start week is tentative on rain and Saunders being skipped. Saunders is a risky start and Moseley should be avoided at this point. Colon could return over the weekend, perhaps Friday on regular rest, but he has to be re-evaluated after a Sunday rehab start before that's finalized. Consider him only in the deepest of AL-only leagues, but take the flier now before it's too late.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Brad Penny will slide up ahead of Brett Tomko, who will start Tuesday. Both are two-start pitchers for Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22), but Penny is a must start while Tomko is high risk. Jason Schmidt is fine to make his start this week after returning from a tweaked hamstring and getting beat up his last time out. Use him if needed in any league.

Milwaukee Brewers: All five starters will go in succession, including two-start pitchers Chris Capuano and Dave Bush. They are decent starts in most leagues.

Minnesota Twins: Despite a day off Monday, the Twins will not skip anyone in their struggling rotation to keep Johan Santana on regular rest. Ramon Ortiz is the lone two-starter, but a risky one in the deepest of AL-only leagues.

New York Mets: With a rainout Sunday, the Mets will go John Maine (Monday), Oliver Perez (Tuesday), Tom Glavine (Wednesday), Orlando Hernandez (Thursday) and Mike Pelfrey (Friday). Maine will be a useful two-start pitcher for Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22), assuming there are no rainouts Monday and Tuesday in Philly. Perez will get two starts for deeper Fantasy league lineups, too, barring a rainout. Glavine loses his two-start week, but is still a solid option in deeper leagues, as are one-starters Pelfrey and El Duque.

New York Yankees: What a mess. Carl Pavano (elbow) and Mike Mussina (hamstring) both went on the DL on Sunday. Chase Wright will get the call for a two-start week and Darrell Rasner will start Wednesday. Chien-Ming Wang (hamstring) will make a rehab start Thursday with Tuesday, April 24 as a possible return date. Jeff Karstens will make a rehab start Monday and could be the prime candidate to come off the DL on Saturday at Boston. That's a risky return start for a risky rookie pitcher. Wright is a risky two-starter, especially since he would be working a second start in Fenway next Sunday.

Oakland Athletics: With days off Monday and Thursday, the A's have just five games. Chad Gaudin and Dan Haren are listed as the starters for the early week two-game series, while Joe Blanton and Rich Harden are sure to start over the weekend. The Sunday starter could be Gaudin or Joe Kennedy. Gaudin is a risky two-start pitcher. Esteban Loaiza (shoulder, neck) hasn't been throwing, so he's out until at least early May at this point.

Philadelphia Phillies: Sunday's rainout likely pushes Freddy Garcia's (biceps) rotation return to Monday vs. the Mets, according to MLB.com. Adam Eaton, Jamie Moyer, Brett Myers and Cole Hamels will slide back a day. Garcia and Eaton are potential two-start pitchers for Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22). Use them in deeper leagues. Myers and Hamels remain solid one-starters, while Moyer is always a risk -- even in deeper leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Steady rain and a forecast calling for wintry weather later in the day caused the Pirates to call off their scheduled doubleheader against the Giants on Sunday. The Pirates will open with Ian Snell in St. Louis with No. 5 SP Tony Armas moving back to Friday, April 20. Tom Gorzelanny, Paul Maholm and Zach Duke will pitch Tuesday-Thursday. Snell and Gorzelanny will get two starts in Fantasy Week 3 (April 16-22). Maholm and Duke are talented one-starters, but their sub-.500 record keeps them out of the must-start category. Armas is a high-risk one-starter.

San Diego Padres: All five starters will go in succession, including two-starters Clay Hensley and Greg Maddux. Use them in deeper leagues.

San Francisco Giants: Steady rain and a forecast calling for wintry weather later in the day caused the Pirates to call off their scheduled doubleheader against the Giants on Sunday. The Giants rotation will line up as Barry Zito, Matt Cain, Matt Morris, Noah Lowry and Russ Ortiz. Zito and Cain are must-start two-start pitchers, while Morris and Lowry are useful one-starters in deeper leagues. Ortiz is a high-risk option for the deepest of NL-only leagues at this point.

Seattle Mariners: After a Monday day off, all five starters will go in succesion, including Jeff Weaver. The projected matchup for Sunday will be Jeff vs. Jered Weaver, assuming the Angels skip Saunders this week. Have to like Jered in that matchup. Jeff is a high-risk option for the deepest of AL-only leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals: All five starters will go in succession, including two-start pitchers Anthony Reyes and Adam Wainwright. Use Wainwright as a must-start option in all leagues, while Reyes is more of a risky option for deeper leagues.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: With a day off Thursday, No. 5 starter Edwin Jackson could be skipped this week. Consider him a risky option in deeper AL-only leagues, because he might not make a start. James Shields will be a deeper AL-only two-start option, while Casey Fossum could be too if Jackson is skipped or moved back.

Texas Rangers: With a day off Monday, Robinson Tejeda will be the lone two-start pitcher. Kameron Loe will serve as the No. 5 starter Saturday for the injured Jamey Wright (shoulder). Use Loe in the deepest of AL-only leagues at this point, although he had a great spring and might surprise.

Toronto Blue Jays: After a day off Monday, all five starters will go in succession, meaning Gustavo Chacin will be the lone two-start pitcher. Consider him viable in deeper leagues.

Washington Nationals: With a rainout Sunday, the Nats will push rookie Matt Chico back to Monday, when they start a two-game series vs. the Braves. That could be affected by weather, too. Jerome Williams (probable two-start still) will follow, while Jason Bergmann could be moved back. John Patterson and Shawn Hill will follow, while Bergmann will likely get one start during the week regardless. All Nationals starters are risky options, especially in leagues where losses are penalized.

Week 3 (April 16-22)

This week's matchups
AL early	AL late	NL early	NL middle	NL late
MIN@SEA	SEA@LAA	NYM@PHI	NYM@FLA	WAS@FLA
LAA@OAK	OAK@TEX	ATL@WAS	PHI@WAS	ARI@SF
KC@DET	TOR@BAL	MIL@CIN	PIT@MIL	PIT@LAD
BAL@TB	CLE@TB	SD@CHC	CHC@ATL	ATL@NYM
CLE@NYY	NYY@BOS	FLA@HOU	HOU@CIN	PHI@CIN
BOS@TOR	CHW@DET	PIT@STL	STL@SF	STL@CHC
TEX@CHW	MIN@KC	SF@COL	LAD@COL	HOU@MIL
		LAD@ARI	ARI@SD	SD@COL
Boston and L.A. Angels wrap up a four-game series from Week 2 on Monday.
Bold denotes a four-game series. Italics denote a two-game series.
The following teams play seven games this week: Boston and the entire NL.
The following teams play five games this week: Oakland.

Two-start pitchers

This week's probable two-start pitchers
Must-start options
Josh Beckett	vs. LAA Santana	vs. NYY Karstens?
Justin Verlander	vs. KC Greinke	vs. CHW Garland
Daisuke Matsuzaka	at TOR Chacin	vs. NYY Wright
Roy Oswalt	vs. FLA Mitre	at MIL Bush
Matt Cain	at COL Hirsh	vs. ARI Owings
John Smoltz	at WAS Williams	at NYM Perez
Ervin Santana	at BOS Beckett	vs. SEA Ramirez
Brad Penny	at ARI Gonzalez	vs. PIT Snell
Adam Wainwright	vs. PIT Gorzelanny	at CHC Miller
Chuck James	at WAS Chico	at NYM Maine
Anibal Sanchez	at HOU Rodriguez	vs. WAS Chico
Advisable options
Jered Weaver?	at OAK Gaudin	vs. SEA? Weaver
Barry Zito	at COL Francis	vs. ARI Gonzalez
Chris Capuano	at CIN Milton	vs. HOU Rodriguez
Ian Snell	at STL Reyes	at LAD Penny
Dave Bush	at CIN Belisle	vs. HOU Oswalt
John Maine	at PHI Garcia	vs. ATL James
Jon Garland	vs. TEX Tejeda	at DET Verlander
Greg Maddux	at CHC Miller	at COL Hirsh
Jeff Francis	vs. SF Zito	vs. SD Hensley
Jake Westbrook	at NYY Wright	at TB Shields
Freddy Garcia	vs. NYM Maine	at CIN Milton
Questionable options
Zack Greinke	at DET Verlander	vs. MIN Ortiz
Anthony Reyes	vs. PIT Snell	at CHC Marquis
Gustavo Chacin	vs. BOS Matsuzaka	at BAL Trachsel
Oliver Perez	at PHI Eaton	vs. ATL Smoltz
Adam Loewen	at TB Shields	vs. TOR Towers
Clay Hensley	at CHC Marquis	at COL Francis
Micah Owings	vs. LAD Tomko	at SF Cain
Jason Hirsh	vs. SF Cain	vs. SD Maddux
Robinson Tejeda	at CHW Garland	vs. OAK Gaudin
Adam Eaton	vs. NYM Perez	at CIN Belisle
Chase Wright	vs. CLE Westbrook	at BOS Matsuzaka
High-risk options
Ramon Ortiz	at SEA Weaver	at KC Greinke
Matt Belisle	vs. MIL Bush	vs. PHI Eaton
Tom Gorzelanny	at STL Wainwright	at LAD Tomko
James Shields	vs. BAL Loewen	vs. CLE Westbrook
Brett Tomko	at ARI Owings	vs. PIT Gorzelanny
Jason Marquis	vs. SD Hensley	vs. STL Reyes
Jeff Weaver	vs. MIN Ortiz	at LAA Weaver?
Edgar Gonzalez?	vs. LAD Penny	at SF Zito
Wandy Rodriguez	vs. FLA Sanchez	at MIL Capuano
Steve Trachsel	at TB Fossum	vs. TOR Chacin
Sergio Mitre	at HOU Oswalt	vs. WAS Williams
Wade Miller	vs. SD Maddux	vs. STL Wainwright
Chad Gaudin	vs. LAA Weaver	at TEX Tejeda
Matt Chico	vs. ATL James	at FLA Sanchez
Jerome Williams	vs. ATL Smoltz	at FLA Mitre
Eric Milton	vs. MIL Capuano	vs. PHI Garcia

Pitch a question

Rob Reimer: I was wondering which is a better strategy with two unproven players: To start a two-start pitcher or a closer? The pitchers are Micah Owings and Jason Frasor. Is one strategy better than the other? What do you suggest with these two players for Week 3?

Emack: It depends on the scoring system. This one is decided by circumstances. There is a chance Owings doesn't get a second start if Randy Johnson returns over the weekend. Also, Frasor might not be a no-brainer closer. Shaun Marcum got the save Sunday. Start Owings if losses are not penalized in your scoring system.

Andrea: Up until yesterday Rick Vanden Hurk was listed as a two-start pitcher and now it says he's a one-starter and it is against the Mets. If he is for sure only starting once. I was going to throw Jason Frasor in for, hopefully, some bonus saves. Which is true, one start or two?

Emack: Sanchez is starting Monday, so Vanden Hurk has been moved to Thursday. Vanden Hurk was used in relief Sunday, too, so he might not last long in his start against the Mets. Sit him this week. Too many things working against him in his one start.