Week 25 Pitching Planner

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

Staff reflections

Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Micah Owings, 0-2 in his past four starts, will be back in the rotation next Tuesday against San Francisco after being skipped a turn. He threw 50 pitches in a side session before the opener of a series against the Dodgers. He could be a two-start pitcher if the team chooses to use him over Edgar Gonzalez over the weekend in the Dodgers series. Brandon Webb is a must-start two-start pitcher regardless.

Atlanta Braves: Atlanta reliever Buddy Carlyle hyperextended his right elbow while swinging the bat in the fourth inning in his last start. He was removed from the game after throwing his warmup pitches when he came out for the fifth. Jo-Jo Reyes is expected to be used as the No. 5 starter this week, which makes him a sleeper two-start pitcher for deeper leagues. John Smoltz is a must-start two-start pitcher in all leagues.

Baltimore Orioles: LHP Kurt Birkins started Saturday in place of RHP Victor Zambrano, because the Orioles want Zambrano to be available out of the bullpen. RHP Daniel Cabrera was suspended for six games for throwing a pitch at the head of Boston's Dustin Pedroia on Sept. 7 and his part in the bench-clearing dustup that followed. Cabrera appealed his suspension and will start Monday. He will be in New York early this week, so it is likely his appeal will be heard and he won't be a two-start pitcher. Victor Zambrano could take his second start. Jon Leicester will be a two-start pitcher, but one useful only in the deepest of AL Fantasy leagues.

Boston Red Sox: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitcher Tim Wakefield.

Chicago Cubs: LHP Ted Lilly is 2-0 with a 3.20 ERA in three September starts. He threw 107 pitches in six innings Saturday, working on three days' rest. Manager Lou Piniella dismissed the notion RHP Steve Trachsel, Thursday's starter, might be worked into the rotation in the final two weeks. Piniella said he'll go with Carlos Zambrano, Jason Marquis, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill the rest of the way. "We can go with a four-man rotation," Piniella said, "and that's what we'll probably do." The four-man rotation means Rich Hill and Carlos Zambrano are both two-start pitchers. Trachsel and Sean Marshall should be ignored in all leagues.

Chicago White Sox: After losing nine straight decisions as a starter, Jose Contreras is 3-0 in his last four starts. "This is a guy we're going to count on," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "If he keeps throwing the ball the way we know he can throw the ball and sets himself mentally more than physically, we'll be fine with him." John Danks will remain out of the rotation, while Javier Vazquez and Gavin Floyd will be the team's two-start pitchers this week.

Cincinnati Reds: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, who is a must-start in all leagues.

Cleveland Indians: LHP Jeremy Sowers, who is expected to start a game in the Sept. 26 doubleheader in Seattle, pitched six shutout innings for Double-A Akron on Friday night against Trenton in the Eastern League championship series. He began the season in Cleveland's rotation, but was 1-6 with a 6.93 ERA in 12 starts before being sent to Buffalo in June. He was sent to Akron after the Bisons' season ended so he could keep his arm stretched out. In C.C. Sabathia (17-7), Fausto Carmona (16-8) and Paul Byrd (15-6), the Indians are baseball's only team with three 15-game winners. With Aaron Laffey, Sunday's starter, expected to be skipped this week, Byrd and Jake Westbrook will be two-start pitchers.

Colorado Rockies: A Tuesday doubleheader necessitates a six-man rotation. Mark Redman and Denny Bautista will be the No. 5 and 6 starters. Jeff Francis is an advisable two-start pitcher.

Detroit Tigers: With the team expected to stick with a four-man rotation this week, Kenny Rogers and Justin Verlander will be two-start pitchers. Jair Jurrjens is the likely No. 4 starter over Chad Durbin behind Nate Robertson. Durbin will work out of the bullpen in the Indians series.

Florida Marlins: Manager Fredi Gonzalez hasn't made a decision on who will start Tuesday in Atlanta. "I need to give it more time," he said. Gonzalez will start RHP Byung-Hyun Kim on Monday in Atlanta and start either LHP Chris Seddon or RHP Daniel Barone on Tuesday. We slotted Seddon on Tuesday, giving him another shot. He is a tentative two-start pitcher, but he will have to pitch well. Byung-Hyun Kim will be a two-start pitcher regardless.

Houston Astros: All five starters will work in succession, including probable two-start pitcher Matt Albers and Woody Williams. They are risky options because the out-of-contention Astros could slot some younger arms to evaluate them for 2008.

Kansas City Royals: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Kyle Davies and Gil Meche.

L.A. Angels of Anaheim: Manager Mike Scioscia wouldn't commit to whether RHP Bartolo Colon would be able to make his second consecutive start since coming off the 15-day DL. Colon started Friday, taking the loss against the White Sox in his first start since coming off the DL on Sept. 9. He threw 99 pitches over 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs and eight hits. "There's obviously some stiffness you're going to have to work through," Scioscia said. "Well make a decision on the rotation in the next day or two." Ervin Santana would get the start in Colon's place and it is at home, where Santana is much better this season. Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey are must-start two-start pitchers this week.

Los Angeles Dodgers: A Tuesday doubleheader might mean the Dodgers need a six-man rotation, although it is possible Chad Billingsley or David Wells are brought back on short rest for the weekend series in Arizona. Billingsley is likely to be a two-start pitcher over Wells if the Dodgers slot a No. 6 starter Saturday. Wells could also be a two-start pitcher, though, if one of those two Tuesday doubleheader starters are brought back on short rest. We think that's likely because the opponent is the division-leading D-Backs.

Milwaukee Brewers: Manager Ned Yost has adjusted the team's rotation for its next series at Houston. After RHP Yovani Gallardo pitches the opener, RHP Ben Sheets will pitch the second game, switching with RHP Dave Bush, who'll start the series finale. That makes Sheets a two-start pitcher along with Gallardo.

Minnesota Twins: Manager Ron Gardenhire said RHP Carlos Silva felt good after testing his groin Saturday and the team will make a decision Sunday about whether Silva will make his next scheduled start Tuesday. The Twins are considering pushing the start back to next weekend. "We have to be careful with this," Gardenhire said. "It doesn't make any sense to put him back out there and have him hurt it again." The Twins have removed struggling Boof Bonser from the rotation, but he could slot in Tuesday again. Bonser was replaced by Kevin Slowey, who is scheduled to start Monday against the Rangers, and is a tentative two-start pitcher. Slowey would lose his second start if Bonser slots Tuesday and then Silva slots back in over the weekend.

New York Mets: Orlando Hernandez (foot) is out for his start Monday, which will be taken by Brian Lawrence. That spot will be a two-start pitcher spot, so Lawrence, Mike Pelfrey or El Duque could pitch over the weekend. John Maine is a must-start two-start pitcher.

New York Yankees: There were reports the Yankees would stick with a six-man rotation, which means no one will be a two-start pitcher. Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Andy Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang, Roger Clemens and Mike Mussina should each get one start.

Oakland Athletics: RHP Rich Harden, close to returning from the DL after recovering from a strained right shoulder, is scheduled to throw a side session Sunday. He pitched a simulated game Thursday and is slated for another Tuesday. The A's have him penciled in to pitch the 23rd at Cleveland and the 29th at home during the season's final weekend against the Angels. He threw 52 pitches -- just fastballs and changeups -- in a simulated game as part of his recovery from a shoulder injury. "Right now I feel great and I would love to get a couple of games in," Harden said. "And if not, I still feel great." He threw mostly between 80 and 95 percent for his simulated outing, and even a few pitches at 100 percent. "I think it's just good to see him on the mound and see him strong and healthy," manager Bob Geren said. Harden figures to be on a pitch count, so consider him a risky option for the deepest of AL-only leagues. Dan Haren is a possible two-start pitcher, but only if the A's decide to skip No. 5 starter Lenny DiNardo.

Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Cole Hamels threw a bullpen session and manager Charlie Manuel said he will start during the team's upcoming three-game series at St. Louis. Hamels has been out with a strained elbow. Hamels is a two-start sleeper, assuming he starts Tuesday as we project. Kyle Kendrick figures to be a two-start pitcher regardless.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Manager Jim Tracy said John Van Benschoten will start in San Diego on Monday, replacing Tony Armas. Van Benschoten, recalled from the minors on Sept. 4, went 0-5 in seven starts for Pittsburgh between June 15 and July 28. Tracy said Armas will pitch out of the bullpen. Van Benschoten and Tom Gorzelanny are two-start pitchers.

San Diego Padres: With 16 games left in the season, the Padres' No. 4 and 5 starters have six more combined starts, including tonight when RHP Brett Tomko makes his first start for San Diego. But after Tomko's solid start, manager Bud Black is not making any commitments about who will make the starts in those two slots -- although Tomko likely earned another one. "This is a performance-driven game," Black said. "I don't want the guys pitching while looking over their shoulders, but I have to do what's best for the team." Beyond the club's top three starters -- Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Greg Maddux -- the Padres have struggled in the second half of the season with the other two starting pitching spots. With no off days left in the regular season, Black does not have the option of skipping either of the two spots while moving up one of his other starters on three days rest. The Padres will skip RHP Justin Germano's next scheduled start, Monday against Pittsburgh. "Justin is going to take a step back," Black said. "It might be a good time for him. Now's the time for him to catch his breath. He's going to miss his turn and we'll re-evaluate it." Rookie Jack Cassel will take his place and could be a two-start pitcher if he does well. Maddux will be a two-start pitcher regardless.

San Francisco: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Kevin Correia and Jonathan Sanchez.

Seattle Mariners: Despite lasting just 1 1/3 innings Thursday night, RHP Jeff Weaver will remain in Seattle's rotation. Weaver got a no-decision in Seattle's 8-7 comeback win. He was rattled for five runs and six hits by the Devil Rays, his fourth straight poor start. Weaver hasn't lasted beyond the fifth since Aug. 23, which was his last victory. "We're going to stay where we are right now," Seattle manager John McLaren said. Miguel Batista and Weaver will be two-start pitchers.

St. Louis Cardinals: Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper will start on regular rest the rest of the season, bumping back the other candidates. "Probably the best thing to do is let it lie like that," manager Tony La Russa said. Anthony Reyes, Kip Wells and Brad Thompson are the three candidates for two starts Monday and Tuesday before Wainwright and Looper go Wednesday and Thursday. One, or perhaps two, of them will be two-start pitcher options -- but we cannot recommend any of them. Reyes is a decent gamble in deeper leagues, though.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: All five starters figure to work in succession, including probable two-start pitcher Edwin Jackson. We have to warn you, though, because a prospect could be slotted into the rotation to evaluate for 2008.

Texas Rangers: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Edinson Volquez and Kevin Millwood.

Toronto Blue Jays: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitcher Dustin McGowan.

Washington Nationals: All five starters will work in succession, including two-start pitchers Tim Redding and Joel Hanrahan. RHP John Patterson had surgery Friday on a nerve in his right arm. Patterson went 1-5 with a 7.47 ERA in seven starts this season. He went on the DL on May 6. LHP Micah Bowie is going to St. Louis to have surgery to repair a sports hernia and will be put on the 60-day DL.

Fantasy Week 25 (Sept. 17-23)

Two-start pitchers

Pitch a question

Matthew Prall, Ringwood, N.J.: I have the finals of my league next week and I have two two-start pitchers in Javier Vazquez and Adam Wainwright and two one-start pitchers in Brad Penny and Felix Hernandez. I can choose two of the four to start. I know the one-start pitchers are stronger pitchers but the two-start have more potential for scoring. Who should I start?

Emack: Wainwright doesn't look like a two-start pitcher at this point, so leave him out of the mix. Also, Penny might be a candidate to pitch on short rest Sunday. So we say start Hernandez and Penny. Leave Vazquez and Wainwright on the bench. It's the time of the year to stick with your best and let them win or lose things for you.

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.