It's now Week 18 of the major league baseball season and we have two injury watch's this week. The first comes to us from Minnesota where Kevin Slowey is suffering from an infected fingernail on his pitching hand. He pitches tonight at Yankee Stadium. Not the most ideal of places to return, so only keep his injury in mind. Even if he comes out and gets rocked, as long as it's not because his fingernail is bothering him, he'll make a good option in AL-only leagues. If he looks good in the start in addition to no lingering affects of the fingernail, those of you in deeper mixed leagues might want to give him a look for Week 18. The second injury watch this week comes to us from Florida where Marlins' starter Anibal Sanchez is coming off of the 60-day DL where he's been out all season so far with a shoulder injury. Sanchez is currently on a Class A rehab assignment and could return next Monday, 7/28, for a start against the Mets. There's still a 50/50 chance he'll be able to make that start. If he can stay healthy for the rest of the season, he could prove to be a sleeper down the stretch. For Week 18, however, he's best left for the deepest of NL-only leagues.

There's only one email this week from Joe over at Yodle.com.

Joe T. from Manhattan, NY writes: I would like your opinion on a few pitchers I've recently acquired, Stults (LAD), McClung and Sean Gallagher. Also, what do you think about Kobayashi or R. Soriano?  Are there any pitchers you'd look to acquire now - 2nd half pitchers or guys you think have underperformed thus far and I'd be able to buy low?

Thanks for the email, Joe! First, I'll touch on the pitchers you asked about. Stults has good-looking stats, but he's just too inexperienced and inconsistent for me to put full faith into him. He's best used as someone to plug in when the match-up is favorable or NL-only leagues. McClung started out hot, but has cooled off tremendously. In fact, the Brewers are reportedly going to split starts between McClung and Dave Bush. I'd just leave McClung alone, unless an injury thrusts him back into a rotation spot all to his own. Gallagher is probably the best option of those three. He's pitched very effectively since coming to Oakland in the Harden trade. Gallagher has pitched at least 5 innings in his last 9 starts. Still, given his not-so proven track record, like Stults, he's probably best left for favorable match-ups or AL-only leagues. If he can stay consistent, he could prove to be an asset in mixed leagues.

Regarding the two relievers you listed, neither are reliable. Kobayashi is the closer in Cleveland, so to speak, but definitely doesn't have it all to himself. The thing you have to keep in mind with Kobayashi is that he's on pace to pitch more innings this season than he ever pitched as a reliever in Japan. In Japan, 57.2 are the most he's ever pitched as a closer in a full season. This year with Cleveland, he's already pitched 46.1. On top of that, he's just too inconsistent for my taste. His last three outings are a perfect example of that. In Tampa, he pitched a perfect inning, getting the save and giving up no runs, hits or walks, while striking out one. His next outing, 6 days later against the Mariners, he gives up 3 hits and two earned runs, while striking out none. Two days later, he strikes out the side of the Angels and gets the save. That inconsistency and the fact he'll be pitching more innings this year than ever as a reliever, leads to me to believe he just won't be someone to count on. As for Soriano, I wouldn't even bother with him. His injury could plague him all season and besides, Mike Gonzalez is doing a fine job as the Braves' closer.

Here are some guys that haven't been all that impressive this season that you could target as second half values: Aaron Harang or Roy Oswalt are guys an impatient owner could be willing to sell low. Matt Cain always has a great second half, but probably won't be as easy to acquire. Randy Johnson is very motivated right now as he creeps towards 300 wins. A. J. Burnett has been rumored to be dealt to a contender, which could obviously improve his fantasy value. Then there's the always underrated Javier Vazquez. He always tends to put up good numbers in the second half. A couple of other guys that you might consider are Bronson Arroyo and Brett Myers. Arroyo is a very streaky pitcher. When he's on, he's as good as just about anyone, but when he's off, he's really off. If he gets a good run going, like he has right now, you could get good value. Myers is someone that some owners might be scared of because of his recent stint in the minors. Don't let that
detour you. Despite Myers struggles this season, he could prove to be a steal in the second half.

I hope that answers your questions, Joe. Good luck!

You're a part of this column too! Like Joe, if you have any questions you'd like answered, don't hesitate to email me with them at scottmickels@fantasyplaymakers.com. I'm more than happy to help you out and get your team's rotation pointed in the right direction. Now, without further ado, on to the two-start pitchers!

NOTE: These starts are not set in stone. They can change for any variety of reasons; managerial moves, injuries, rain-outs, etc. Please keep in mind they are probable.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

NO-BRAINERS

Felix Hernandez, SEA: @ TEX, vs. BAL
John Lackey, ANA: @ BOS, @ NYY

ADVISABLE OPTIONS

Mark Buehrle, CHW: @ MIN, @ KC
Jeremy Guthrie, BAL: @ NYY, @ SEA
Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS: vs. ANA, vs. OAK
Mike Mussina, NYY: vs. BAL, vs. ANA
Glen Perkins, MIN: vs. CHW, vs. CLE
James Shields, TB: @ TOR, vs. DET
Jered Weaver, ANA: @ BOS, @ NYY

OTHERS TO KEEP IN MIND

Dallas Braden, OAK: vs. KC, @ BOS
A. J. Burnett, TOR: vs. TB, @ TEX
Paul Byrd, CLE: vs. DET, @ MIN
R. A. Dickey, SEA: @ TEX, vs. BAL
Kevin Millwood, TEX: vs. SEA, vs. TOR
Armando Galarraga, DET: @ CLE, @ TB
Zach Greinke, KC: @ OAK, vs. CHW

TRY TO AVOID

Luis Mendoza, TEX: vs. SEA, vs. TOR
Darrell Rasner, NYY: vs. BAL, vs. ANA

INJURY WATCH

Kevin Slowey, MIN: vs. CHW, vs. CLE

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NO-BRAINERS

C. C. Sabathia, MIL: vs. CHC, @ ATL
Ben Sheets, MIL: vs. CHC, @ ATL
Carlos Zambrano, CHC: @ MIL, vs. PIT

ADVISABLE OPTIONS

Aaron Cook, COL: @ PIT, @ FLA
Tim Hudson, ATL: vs. STL, vs. MIL

OTHERS TO KEEP IN MIND

Johnny Cueto, CIN: @ HOU, @ WAS
Clayton Kershaw, LA: vs. SF, vs. ARI
Hiroki Kuroda, LA: vs. SF, vs. ARI
Ted Lilly, CHC: @ MIL, vs. PIT
Greg Maddux, SD: vs. ARI, vs. SF
John Maine, NYM: @ FLA, @ HOU
Brett Myers, PHI: @ WAS, @ STL
Glendon Rusch, COL: @ PIT, @ FLA
Todd Wellmeyer, STL: @ ATL, vs. PHI

TRY TO AVOID

Collin Balester, WAS: vs. PHI, vs. CIN
Kevin Correia, SF: @ LA, @ SD
Braden Looper, STL: @ ATL, vs. PHI
Charlie Morton, ATL: vs. STL, vs. MIL
Micah Owings, ARI: @ SD, @ LA
Ian Snell, PIT: vs. COL, @ CHC

INJURY WATCH

Anibal Sanchez, FLA: vs. NYM, vs. COL

Scott Mickels, FPM Staff Writer/Editor, Member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association