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Two Start Pitchers :: Week 6
by Scott Mickels
Published: May 11, 2012, 10:39 pm
 This week I've got a record number of Injury Watch's to get to, so let's get right to it. First we head to Baltimore where the Orioles' Jason Hammel is dealing with soreness in his knee. He's going to throw off of a mound on Saturday to see how his knee responds. If that goes well, he will make his start either Monday or Tuesday against the Yankees. Keep an eye on his situation over the weekend before committing to him next week.
Next, we make our way to Anaheim where the Angel's Dan Haren is being bothered by stiffness in his lower back. Back injuries tend to linger so this is definitely something Haren owners will want to pay close attention to. He has struggled in his last two starts so the back stiffness he's experiencing could be partly to blame. I'd be apprehensive about using him next week, but I do understand those of you in AL-only and deeper mixed leagues really may have no choice. On the bright side, he does have two favorable matchups next week.
Let's switch to the National League and to the Steel City where Pittsburgh's Erik Bedard is suffering from back spasms. The spasms were such a problem he was forced from his last start after only one inning. As a result, he's listed as day-to-day. This too is a situation that needs to be monitored over the weekend. If he's good to go, consider him someone to keep in mind in standard leagues.
We now head to the Mile High City where the Rockies' Jeremy Guthrie is returning to the club's rotation after being activated from the 15-day DL. He had been dealing with a sprained right shoulder, but after a bullpen session, simulated game and a minor league rehab start over the last week, the Rockies are happy with what they've seen from Guthrie and have him slated to start Tuesday at San Francisco. He's been hit-or-miss this season, so is probably best left for NL-only or deeper mixed leagues.
From Denver, we now go to St. Louis where the Cardinals' Kyle Lohse is experiencing  soreness in his hamstring. He suffered the strain during his last start against the Diamondbacks. The team will monitor his status over the weekend, but the injury doesn't seem to be serious. Provided he doesn't re-aggravate it before his next start, feel free to use Lohse as you would normally heading into Week 6.
Now let's head over to beautiful San Diego where the Padres' Tim Stauffer is recovering from a triceps injury. After a bullpen session and a few minor league rehab starts, the Padres are confident with what they've seen from Stauffer and have him set to make his season debut either Monday or Tuesday against the Nationals. Consider Stauffer a serviceable option in deep standard leagues.
Finally, we go to San Francisco where the Giants' Ryan Vogelsong is dealing with tightness in his back. He received an injection in his back to help relieve the tightness, but the Giants don't believe this to be serious. He's expected to make his next scheduled start Monday at home against the Rockies. Vogelsong has pitched fairly well this season and makes a nice option this week in most leagues.
Now, on to what we all came here for, the Two-Start Pitchers! Of course, if you have any pitching questions, or now any fantasy football questions, don't hesitate to email me with them at scottmickels@fantasyplaymakers.com. 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 Jake Peavy, CHW: vs. DET, @ CHC
David Price, TB: @ TOR, vs. ATL
C. C. Sabathia, NYY: @ BAL, vs. CIN
ADVISABLE OPTIONS Henderson Alvarez, TOR: vs. TB, vs. NYM
Jon Lester, BOS: vs. SEA, @ PHI
Colby Lewis, TEX: vs. KC, @ HOU
Brandon Morrow, TOR: vs. TB, vs. NYM
Drew Smyly, DET: @ CHW, vs. PIT
OTHERS TO KEEP IN MIND Josh Beckett, BOS: vs. SEA, @ PHI
Wei-Yin Chen, BAL: vs. NYY, @ WAS
Bartolo Colon, OAK: @ ANA, @ SF
John Danks, CHW: vs. DET, @ CHC
Derek Lowe, CLE: @ MIN, vs. MIA
Jeff Niemann, TB: @ TOR, vs. ATL
Ivan Nova, NYY: @ BAL, vs. CIN
Ervin Santana, ANA: vs. OAK, @ SD
Max Scherzer, DET: @ CHW, vs. PIT
Jason Vargas, SEA: @ BOS, @ COL
TRY TO AVOID Blake Beavan, SEA: @ BOS, @ COL
Bruce Chen, KC: @ TEX, vs. ARI
Jeanmar Gomez, CLE: @ MIN, vs. MIA
Jason Marquis, MIN: vs. Cle, @ MIL
Carl Pavano, MIN: vs. CLE, @ MIL
Tyson Ross, OAK: @ ANA, @ SF
INJURY WATCH Jason Hammel, BAL: vs. NYY, @ WAS
Dan Haren, ANA: @ OAK, @ SD NATIONAL LEAGUE NO-BRAINERS Zack Greinke, MIL: @ NYM, vs. MIN
Clayton Kershaw, LA: vs. ARI, vs. STL
Cliff Lee, PHI: vs. HOU, vs. BOS
Anibal Sanchez, MIA: vs. PIT, @ CLE
Stephen Strasburg, WAS: vs. SD, vs. BAL
ADVISABLE OPTIONS Johnny Cueto, CIN: @ ATL, @ NYY
Ryan Dempster, CHC: @ STL, vs. CHW
Yovani Gallardo, MIL: @ NYM, vs. MIN
Tim Hudson, ATL: vs. CIN, @ TB
Ian Kennedy, ARI: @ LA, @ KC
Tim Lincecum, SF: vs. COL, vs. OAK
Jake Westbrook, STL: vs. CHC, @ LA
OTHERS TO KEEP IN MIND Anthony Bass, SD: @ WAS, vs. ANA
Chad Billingsley, LA: vs. ARI, vs. STL
Joe Blanton, PHI: vs. HOU, vs. BOS
Kevin Correia, PIT: @ MIA, @ DET
Randall Delgado, ATL: vs. CIN, @ TB
Ross Detwiler, WAS: vs. SD, vs. BAL
Dillon Gee, NYM: vs. MIL, @ TOR
Josh Johnson, MIA: vs. PIT, @ CLE
Paul Maholm, CHC: @ STL, vs. CHW
Wade Miley, ARI: @ LA, @ KC
Alex White, COL: @ SF, vs. SEA
TRY TO AVOID Homer Bailey, CIN: @ ATL, @ NYY
Miguel Batista, NYM: vs. MIL, @ TOR
Lucas Harrell, HOU: @ PHI, vs. CHW
Aneury Rodriguez *, HOU: @ PHI, vs. TEX
INJURY WATCH Erik Bedard, PIT: @ MIA, @ DET
Jeremy Guthrie, COL: @ SF, vs. SEA
Kyle Lohse, STL: vs. CHC, @ LA
Tim Stauffer, SD: @ WAS, vs. ANA
Ryan Vogelsong, SF: vs. COL, vs. OAK
* = this pitcher's two-start status is questionable. Want to see which pitcher is more valuable? Try Fantasy Playmaker's IntelliStats!
 Scott Mickels, FPM Staff Writer/Editor, Member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, All-Around Nice Guy
Support FPM! You can send your questions and comments to Scott at scottmickels@fantasyplaymakers.com
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