Week 6 Pitching Planner

We go around baseball's pitching staffs and Fantasy's two-start pitcher options every Sunday of the season in the weekly Pitching Planner.

Staff reflections

Arizona Diamondbacks: Max Scherzer makes his first major league start at the beginning of a two-start week. He is a must-own in all leagues now, but don't listen to that Mickey Mouse network when they say he is a better option than aces Ben Sheets and Daisuke Matsuzaka. He has lightning stuff, sure, but rookie pitchers are going to be streaky options. Consider him a solid start this week in all formats, though. ... Hot-and-cold Randy Johnson is also a two-start pitcher, an advisable one in deeper leagues despite a couple of tough matchups. ... Micah Owings, Brandon Webb and Dan Haren are one-start pitchers in the seven-game week.

Who would've thought you'd be potentially getting saves from John Smoltz this season? (US Presswire)

Atlanta Braves: Jair Jurrjens is an advisable two-start pitcher in all leagues, especially with those matchups vs. the Padres and at the Pirates. ... Tim Hudson, Jo-Jo Reyes and Tom Glavine each follow with one start, while the No. 5 spot May 10 will likely be filled by Chuck James. ... James is nothing more than an NL-only option at this point, but he will likely remain in the rotation long term, since John Smoltz (shoulder) will return in the bullpen and Mike Hampton (pectoral) might be out for the season and was contemplating retirement. ... Rafael Soriano (elbow) might return this week, but he is too risky to use in any Fantasy league.

Baltimore Orioles: Garrett Olson and Brian Burres are two-start pitcher options best left for deeper leagues. ... Jeremy Guthrie, Daniel Cabrera and Steve Trachsel are one-starters in a seven-game week. ... Radhames Liz is a must-watch prospect in Triple-A of late. He could take Trachsel's rotation spot sometime in May.

Boston Red Sox: Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield are two-start pitchers. ... Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester follow as one-start options in a seven-game week.

Chicago Cubs: Ryan Dempster is a two-start pitcher option for deeper leagues. ... Rich Hill has been demoted to the minors, so drop him in most leagues at this point. Yet another erratic lefty letting you down. ... Jon Lieber assumes the No. 5 starter role Wednesday and his top contender makes him a sleeper in deeper mixed leagues and a must-add in NL-only formats. ... Carlos Zambrano, Lieber, Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis are one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Sean Marshall remains in long relief and isn't a candidate for the rotation at this point, because Lieber gets the first crack at it.

Chicago White Sox: Javier Vazquez and Gavin Floyd are two-start pitchers. ... Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Jose Contreras are one-start options in the seven-game week.

Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Cueto slots ahead of Aaron Harang and is a two-start pitcher. ... Harang could also get a second start if the Reds decide to skip No. 5 starter Matt Belisle on Friday after a Thursday offday. ... Belisle is a risky option for the deepest of leagues, while Harang should be active in all formats with or without the second start. ... Edinson Volquez and Bronson Arroyo are certain one-start pitchers in a six-game week.

Cleveland Indians: Fausto Carmona is a two-start pitcher. ... Cliff Lee, Paul Byrd, C.C. Sabathia and Aaron Laffey follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week.

Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez and Mark Redman are risky two-start pitcher options. ... Ace Jeff Fancis, No. 5 starter Jorge De La Rosa and Aaron Cook follow as one-starters in a seven-game week.

Detroit Tigers: Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson are two-start pitchers. ... Robertson could be pitching for his rotation spot, since rookie Armando Galarraga has been so good in replacing Dontrelle Willis (knee). ... Willis had a setback on his rehab assignment and now won't be a candidate to return until late May at this point. Galarraga's rotation spot is safe for at least a few more turns. ... Justin Verlander and Kenny Rogers are one-starters in the seven-game week.

Florida Marlins: Scott Olsen is a two-start pitcher. ... Andrew Miller is likely pitching for his rotation spot Sunday. If he falters again, top prospect Chris Volstad could be called upon to replace him as soon as this week. ... Volstad has been dominant in Double-A: 3-0, 2.61 and a .215 batting-average against. ... Burke Badenhop follows Olsen and is another option to be replaced by Volstad if he struggles Wednesday. ... Hendrickson and Ricky Nolasco are one-start pitchers follow Miller, Olsen and Badenhop in the six-game week.

Houston Astros: Shawn Chacon moves up a day to be a two-start pitcher. ... No. 5 starter Jack Cassel was sent down to the minors already and is expected to be replaced by Wandy Rodriguez (groin) the next time that turn comes up May 10. ... Rodriguez could make a rehab start Monday and return Saturday, but reserve in him in all leagues this week still. ... Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe and Chris Sampson are one-start pitchers in the six-game week.

Kansas City Royals: Brett Tomko and Brian Bannister are two-start pitchers. ... Tomko has been a candidate to be replaced by Triple-A starter Kyle Davies (3-1, 1.80), so his second start could be in jeopardy if he falters against the Angels. ... John Bale (arm) was nearly ready to come off the DL, but he broke his hand punching a hotel door. Cut and ignore him in all leagues, especially since he will likely return in relief. ... Zack Greinke, Luke Hochevar and Gil Meche follow with one start apiece in the seven-game week. ... Hochevar (2-1, 4.86) is another candidate to be replaced by Davies, but he has been better of late.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Ervin Santana is a two-start pitcher. ... Rookie Nick Adenhart follows. He struggled in his first start and is expected to get two more starts. He should be much better on regular rest in his second start. ... Jered Weaver, Jon Garland and Joe Saunders are one-starters in the six-game week. ... John Lackey (triceps) is not expect to return to the rotation until Fantasy Week 7 (May 12-18). Keep him reserved in all formats and take the flier right after the Week 6 (May 5-11) roster deadline if he is available in your shallow league. He is a must-start in all formats when healthy.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Chad Billingsley is a two-start pitcher. ... Days off Thursday and the following Monday could allow No. 5 starter Esteban Loaiza to be skipped in the rotation this week. ... Hiroki Kuroda would get a second start if Loaiza is indeed skipped. ... Loaiza's struggles are noteworthy because of elite 20-year-old phenom Clayton Kershaw's dominance in Double-A: 1.11 ERA and a .197 batting-average against. ... Take that Kershaw flier now, because he could be up by the end of Fantasy Week 7 (May 12-18). Kershaw has not allowed an earned run in his past three starts (18 Ks in 19 1/3 innings).

Milwaukee Brewers: Jeff Suppan is a two-start pitcher. ... Yovani Gallardo (knee) is likely out for the season after tearing his ACL. ... Dave Bush returns from the minors to start Wednesday and is a solid add in deeper leagues, especially since he will be a regular rotation member on one of the better contenders in baseball. ... Carlos Villanueva and Manny Parra are much more more solid Fantasy options since they are no longer pitching for their rotation spots. They are one-starters this week, along with ace Ben Sheets.

Minnesota Twins: Nick Blackburn is the lone two-start pitcher in the six-game week. ... Livan Hernandez is sure to follow as a one-start option, but Scott Baker (groin) left his Saturday start early and is questionable for Thursday. ... Baker could be moved back and slotted May 10 if Kevin Slowey returns Thursday in his place. ... Slowey should return Thursday or Saturday regardless, so consider him a decent option in deeper formats, especially AL-only leagues. ... Boof Bonser is a one-starter, but Baker's status is in question at this point. ... Francisco Liriano is struggling in Triple-A so it is unlikely he is the candidate to replace Baker if Baker needs a DL stint. ... Glen Perkins (2-1, 2.97) and Kevin Mulvey (2-3, 3.82) are pitching much better and could be better stopgap options as the No. 5 starter in the coming weeks. ... Phil Humber (1-3, 5.40) looks like a bust from the Johan Santana trade and has been demoted to the bullpen in Triple-A.

New York Mets: Struggling Oliver Perez is a two-start pitcher. ... No. 5 starter Nelson Figueroa, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana follow as one-start options in the six-game week. ... Figueroa reslots after being skipped last week and is a candidate to skip in Fantasy Week 7 (May 12-18) again.

New York Yankees: Andy Pettitte is a two-start pitcher. ... Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Darrell Rasner and Kei Igawa are likely to follow as one-start options in a six-game week. ... Rasner likely slots Friday after making his season debut Sunday, while Igawa is expected to join the rotation. ... Phil Hughes (rib) is out a couple of months and Ian Kennedy has been demoted to the minors. Yet another example of the erratic nature of young pitching. It is exciting but difficult to trust over the course of a full season.

Oakland Athletics: Dana Eveland is tentatively scheduled to be a two-start pitcher, but Rich Harden is making a Class A rehab start Tuesday, May 6 and could be a candidate to take Eveland's second start Sunday, May 11 at Texas. ... Days off Thursday and the following Monday make it less likely the A's will rush Harden back, so keep him reserved in all formats this week. ... Justin Duchscherer, Joe Blanton, Chad Gaudin and Greg Smith are one-start options in the six-game week. ... It not clear who will lose their rotation spot with the return of Harden, but this week could decide things. Smith was going to be the rookie sent out, but he has been pitching well.

Philadelphia Phillies: Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton are two-start pitchers. ... Kyle Kendrick, Brett Myers and Cole Hamels follow as one-start options in the seven-game week.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Zach Duke is a two-start pitcher after moving up a day to Tuesday. ... Tom Gorzelanny (back) will have his turn skipped Tuesday and he will likely re-slot as a one-start pitcher Saturday the next time the No. 5 starter's spot is needed. ... Phil Dumatrait, Paul Maholm and Ian Snell follow Duke as one-start options in the six-game week.

San Diego Padres: Chris Young is a two-start pitcher. ... Randy Wolf, Justin Germano, Jake Peavy and Greg Maddux follow as one-start pitchers in the six-game week. ... Clay Hensley (should) is on a Triple-A rehab assignment, but he has been working as a reliever and is not a candidate to replace the struggling Germano. ... Shawn Estes is the more likely candidate to replace Germano if the Padres decide to make a move after this week. Estes is 4-2 with a 3.67 ERA in Triple-A, coming off Tommy John elbow surgery.

San Francisco Giants: Jonathan Sanchez is a two-start pitcher. ... Pat Misch, Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum follow as one-start options. ... Cain left his last start early with a hamstring issue, but he is expected to make his start Thursday at this point. ... The No. 5 starter's spot is up again Saturday and demoted reliever Barry Zito remains the most likely option to take that turn. He is a high-risk option for the deepest of leagues, especially since he has yet to work a game in relief and has had a long layoff. ... Kevin Correia (oblique) and Noah Lowry (elbow) won't be ready until at least June.

Seattle Mariners: Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista are two-start pitchers. ... Aces Erik Bedard, Felix Hernandez and soft-tosser Carlos Silva follow as one-start options in the seven-game week.

St. Louis Cardinals: Joel Pineiro and Braden Looper are two-start pitchers. ... Ace Adam Wainwright, Kyle Lohse and Todd Wellemeyer are one-start options in the seven-game week. ... Mark Mulder (shoulder) has been bad in his recent rehab starts and isn't close to be truly ready for a return. Wellemeyer's rotation spot is safe for at least a couple more weeks.

Tampa Bay Rays: Andy Sonnanstine retain his rotation spot amid Scott Kazmir's (elbow) return. Sonnanstine is the team's lone two-start pitcher. ... Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson, James Shields and Kazmir follow as one-starters in the six-game week. ... Jason Hammel was sent to the bullpen upon Kazmir's return.

Texas Rangers: Kevin Millwood and recently hot Sidney Ponson are two-start pitchers. ... Vicente Padilla follows as a one-starter. ... Kason Gabbard (back) made a rehab start Saturday and is expected to return to the rotation Thursday at Seattle. ... Scott Feldman is likely to go back to the bullpen or Triple-A after his spot start Sunday. ... A.J. Murray was decent Saturday and should remain the No. 5 starter to open the homestand Friday vs. the A's.

Toronto Blue Jays: Dustin McGowan and A.J. Burnett are two-start pitchers. ... Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch and Roy "Complete Game (usually a loss)" Halladay follow as one-starters in the seven-game week.

Washington Nationals: Shawn Hill is the lone-start pitcher. ... Odalis Perez, rookie John Lannan, Matt Chico and Tim Redding follow as one-starters in a six-game week.

Fantasy Week 6 (May 5-11)