Week 24 Pitching Planner

We go around baseball's rotations and Fantasy Baseball's two-start pitchers every Sunday of the season in the Pitching Planner.

Staff reflections

Arizona Diamondbacks: Manager Bob Melvin had not said who would start next Tuesday's game at San Franciso, but the team's game notes Sunday listed Edgar Gonzalez as the starter. No. 4 starter Micah Owings starts Friday after a Thursday off day and likely won't be skipped unless Gonzalez has a great start Tuesday. Livan Hernandez is the team's lone two-start pitcher unless Gonzalez earns that second start over the struggling Owings.

Atlanta Braves: The Braves chose Buddy Carlyle over Jo-Jo Reyes to start Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Carlyle won't be a two-start pitcher unless the Braves choose to skip No. 4 starter Lance Cormier over the weekend. Tim Hudson is a must-start two-start pitcher.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles decided Sunday to shut down LHP Erik Bedard for the season. Bedard, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 26, has a strained muscle in his right side. Also, LHP Garrett Olson, who left Thursday's game against Boston with stiffness in his forearm, will miss his next start, manager Dave Trembley said. The Orioles purchased the contract of RHP Victor Santos from the Cincinnati Reds and Victor Zambrano from the Pirates as rotation replacements. Santos, who went 1-4 in 32 games with the Reds this season, is expected to start Tuesday and Zambrano could start in Olson's place Friday. Jon Leicester received his second major league start Saturday, the first with the Orioles, and will remain in the rotation at this point. Santos and Daniel Cabrera are two-start pitchers, but Cabrera might face a suspension for his behavior Friday night in Boston. Consider Santos and Cabrera high-risk AL-only options at this point.

Boston Red Sox: They have set up their rotation to have Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling to pitch the weekend series vs. the Yankees. Dice-K has been struggling and should no longer be considered a must-start, especially in that matchup. He has stunk against the Yankees. Curt Schilling is a solid two-start pitcher, even with a tough matchup over the weekend.

Chicago Cubs: Ted Lilly (14-7) will start Monday's makeup game against St. Louis in Wrigley Field, opposing Joel Pineiro (4-2). A doubleheader Saturday necessitates a six-man rotation and Sean Marshall or rookie Kevin Hart will be reslotted either in the doubleheader or Thursday at Houston. Carlos Zambrano could be held out to open the series in St. Louis. He's a one-starter either way. Lilly and Jason Marquis will be two-start pitchers during the Cubs' eight-game week.

Chicago White Sox: Mark Buehrle will miss his start Tuesday to get some rest and Gavin Floyd will take his turn before John Danks returns from his one-start rest Tuesday. Buehrle should pitch over the weekend vs. the L.A. Angels, but that's a tough matchup. Jose Contreras is a candidate to move out of the rotation again, if Floyd and Danks pitch well. Either Floyd or Danks could be a two-start pitcher, but it looks like a Buehrle weekend return would mean a six-man rotation during a six-game week, assuming Contreras doesn't get moved off his start.

Cincinnati Reds: All five starters will work in succession, including probable two-start pitcher Matt Belisle.

Cleveland Indians: A day off Thursday would allow the Indians to skip No. 5 starter Aaron Laffey, but we won't see that happening because of the Tigers series to follow the weekend series. They likely would much rather hold out Tuesday starter Paul Byrd to open the Tigers series Monday night. Fausto Carmona is a must-start two-start pitcher.

Colorado Rockies: RHP Taylor Buchholz threw to hitters on the side Saturday. He's day-to-day with inflammation of his right elbow. "I think he'll be in play come Monday," manager Clint Hurdle said. He won't be a candidate to be the No. 5 starter Wednesday, though. The team purchased the contract of LHP Mark Redman from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday and he is a rumored candidate to start Wednesday. Hurdle said the Rockies will start RHP Ubaldo Jimenez against Philadelphia on Monday and then LHP Franklin Morales on Tuesday. Those two talented rookies will be two-start pitchers.

Detroit Tigers: RHP Jair Jurrjens, on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, will start one of the games of Tuesday's doubleheader with Texas. Kenny Rogers is the team's lone two-start pitcher -- although he could be held back a day in lieu of Tuesday's other doubleheader starter, Chad Durbin, to pitch in the Indians series early next week. Durbin would be a two-start pitcher in that event, making him a slightly more intriguing option in deeper leagues.

Florida Marlins: LHP Scott Olsen was pushed back to Monday instead of starting against the Phillies on Saturday. He will be the team's lone two-start pitcher unless Tuesday starter Sergio Mitre is slotted ahead of him next Sunday. Mitre could also be moved up if Rick VandenHurk is skipped or struggling Dontrelle Willis misses his start Saturday.

Houston Astros: According to MLB.com: Brandon Backe, not Matt Albers, will start Tuesday's opener against the Cubs, followed by rookie Troy Patton on Wednesday. Woody Williams and Roy Oswalt will then take their regular turns Thursday and Friday, respectively, with Wandy Rodriguez filling Saturday's slot on eight days' rest. That means Albers, who was originally scheduled to start Tuesday, will head to the bullpen for a temporary stay. He'll be joined there by rookie Juan Gutierrez, who had once been a contender for Wednesday's rotation spot. Backe is the team's lone two-start pitcher, but he could definitely lose that second start Sunday to a re-slotting of Albers.

Kansas City Royals: Rookie Billy Buckner is slated to be the team's lone two-start pitcher, but he could be moved back if the team goes with a six-man rotation in a six-game week. Brandon Duckworth, Leo Nunez and perhaps rookie Luke Hochevar could be No. 6 starter candidates down the stretch. Consider them all high-risk options this week.

L.A. Angels of Anaheim: Manager Mike Scioscia hasn't decided where he will slot RHP Bartolo Colon in the rotation following his final rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday. The 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner, who hasn't pitched since July 23 because of elbow irritation, gave up three runs and five hits over six innings with four strikeouts and no walks. He topped out at 94 mph. "There are some scenarios to look at if you're going to keep six guys in your rotation, but certainly not at the expense of disrupting some guys who are throwing the ball very well right now," Scioscia said. "Maybe some guys won't get as many starts as some other guys, but I'm probably not leaning toward that." The most likely return of Colon comes in place of Ervin Santana on Friday at the White Sox. Joe Saunders is slated to be a two-start pitcher, but he could pitch himself out of the rotation or the Angels could merely slot Colon in as a sixth starter in the six-game week. We think Colon starts and the Angels don't go with a six-man rotation, so expect Saunders to be pitching for his rotation spot when he starts Tuesday.

Los Angeles Dodgers: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitcher Esteban Loaiza.

Milwaukee Brewers: Claudio Vargas is off the DL, but he will not return to the rotation at this point. Carlos Villanueva remains in the rotation Monday and will be a two-start pitcher, assuming he doesn't pitch himself back to the bullpen in favor of Vargas or get skipped in the weekend series vs. Cincinnati (both unlikely). Consider Villanueva a sleeper for deeper leagues at this point.

Minnesota Twins: According to MLB.com, the Twins will stick with a five-man rotation for the rest of the season, so Kevin Slowey will be a long reliever out of the bullpen. Manager Ron Gardenhire said there is still a possibility Slowey or Nick Blackburn could get a start, but for now both will remain in the bullpen. Boof Bonser is the team's lone two-start pitcher, but he is a risky option because of his struggles and the fact he could be moved back or skipped over the weekend. The Twins have an offday Thursday and Slowey could be a candidate to take Bonser's turns if he struggles again Monday.

New York Mets: Manager Willie Randolph said RHP Orlando Hernandez (sore right foot) probably will start Tuesday against Atlanta, but that could change if he has any setbacks. Mike Pelfrey is out of the rotation and El Duque is back in. Oliver Perez is a two-start pitcher, albeit amid struggles and with tough matchups.

New York Yankees: Manager Joe Torre said Roger Clemens could make his next start next weekend in Boston. The Rocket last pitched Sept. 3 before receiving a cortisone shot in his right elbow. Consider him a risky start. Mike Mussina will make a spot start Wednesday, meaning the Yankees will go with a six-man rotation (assuming Clemens' return Sunday) in a six-game week and not have any two-start pitchers.

Oakland Athletics: RHP Rich Harden, on the disabled list since July 8 because of a strained shoulder, threw a 30-pitch, two-inning simulated game Saturday using fastballs and changeups. "It went well," he said. Manager Bob Geren added: "I saw it and heard it. It was a very positive session." There is no timetable for another simulated game or for Harden's return. All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Joe Blanton and Dallas Braden.

Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Cole Hamels threw 45 tosses in the outfield before the game Saturday. Hamels (14-5, 3.50), who has been sidelined since Aug. 16 with a strained left elbow, is also scheduled to throw before Sunday's game. Hamels hopes to return to the rotation within two weeks. RHP John Ennis started Saturday and the struggling Adam Eaton was pushed back to Tuesday against Colorado, so he can face the Mets next weekend. Kyle Lohse and Eaton are the team's two-start pitchers.

Pittsburgh Pirates: LHP Zach Duke, the Pirates' opening-day starter, will be used out of the bullpen the rest of the season. He hasn't pitched in the majors since late June because of elbow inflammation. Duke allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings for Double-A State College during his fourth and final rehabilitation start Thursday. RHP Bryan Bullington, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft, will start Tuesday night against Milwaukee despite allowing five runs in three innings Thursday against St. Louis. LHP Paul Maholm (lower back discomfort) did some light throwing, but his return remains uncertain. He hasn't started since Aug. 28. He could take Tony Armas' second start next weekend in Houston. Consider Maholm and tentative two-starter and Armas too risky to use in any Fantasy leagues during crunch time.

San Diego Padres: Jake Peavy is a must-start two-start pitcher. The No. 5 spot, which comes up Saturday, Sept. 15 vs. the Giants, is TBD. Jack Cassel, Brett Tomko, Clay Hensley and Wil Ledezma (in that order) are the candidates but too risky to use in any Fantasy leagues.

San Francisco Giants: The Giants have all but decided to shut down LHP Noah Lowry for the remainder of the season. Lowry, a 14-game winner this year, is nursing a mild strain in his elbow but said he has experienced no pain and is trying not to worry about whether he'll take the mound again in 2007 and focus on getting healthy. "With Noah, there is some minor irritation there," manager Bruce Bochy said. "At this point we feel we should back him off. Could we pitch him? Sure. But we feel it's in our best interest to give him some rest. There's a very small outside chance (of him pitching again). I think Noah's had a great year -- 14 wins before we shut him down." Jonathan Sanchez will remain in the rotation in Lowry's spot. Rookie Tim Lincecum is the team's lone two-start pitcher, but it is possible the Giants choose to slide him back to save the innings on his arm. Kevin Correia could pick up a second start on regular rest over the weekend, or rookie Pat Misch could be a spot start option.

Seattle Mariners: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Horacio Ramirez and struggling Jarrod Washburn.

St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Brad Thompson, slated to start Sunday, could remain in a six-man rotation this week, which is necessatited by a Saturday doubleheader in an eight-game week. RHP Anthony Reyes, bumped to the bullpen after working only one inning in his last start on Saturday, worked the seventh and eighth and allowed a run on two hits. The rain kept him from going for a three-inning save, which would have been the first of his career. He likely remains in the bullpen. Joel Pineiro and Mark Mulder are the team's two-start pitchers, but the weekend series could change after their starts early in the week.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Scott Kazmir and Andy Sonnanstine. There is the potential the Devil Rays slot a No. 6 starter or make some stretch changes with prospects like Jeff Niemann.

Texas Rangers: The Rangers remain stuck in last place, but the starts for Texas' young pitchers are big as they try to impress for next year. RHP Edinson Volquez and LHP Kason Gabbard are among the young candidates for rotation spots next spring. Volquez threw six innings of two-hit shutout ball in Friday night's win over Oakland. "To those guys, every start is like the World Series," pitching coach Mark Connor said. Kameron Loe (elbow) is the likely No. 6 starter necessitated after Tuesday's doubleheader started by Vicente Padilla and Brandon McCarthy. Padilla is the team's likely two-start pitcher, but it could very easily be McCarthy, too, since they both start in that Tuesday doubleheader.

Toronto Blue Jays: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Roy Halladay and Shaun Marcum.

Washington Nationals: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitcher Shawn Hill. There could be changes, though, as the Nationals might choose to take a look at young talents.

Fantasy Week 24 (Sept. 10-16)

Two-start pitchers

Pitch a question

Jim R., Chester, NH: Playoffs begin next week, and we can start three SPs. Our Head-to-Head league rules dictate during the playoffs, we average any points earned by a two-start pitcher, so that each team essentially has the same number of starts for the week. My decision comes down to Jon Lester's one start vs. Tampa Bay or Ted Lilly's average score after facing the Cards twice -- once at home and once on the road. If he tanks it one time, the average comes way down.

Emack: Well, in a standard league, Lilly has averaged just over 16 Fantasy points per start (29 starts) this year. In Lester's eight starts, he's averaged over 13. Although we like Lester's matchup much better, Lilly is a very big reason you still care about Fantasy Baseball this time of year. Start Lilly on principle and the fact he's averaged more points per start (although check your league's scoring system to be sure Lester doesn't trump him in points per start). That's how we would settle this decision.

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 do not guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.