The July 4th holiday gives many folks an excuse to take a day off from work and enjoy an extra-long weekend. It's one of the highlights of summer.
Baseball players will get no such luxury. Only two clubs (the Phillies and Pirates) get a day off next week, so there will be plenty of baseball, and -- as such -- plenty of two-start pitchers. Below you can find the full list, which includes tons of strong options, especially in the American League.
Enjoy the holiday, everyone.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysMatt Harrison: BAL, OAK (Cahill)
Colby Lewis: BAL (Jakubauskas), OAK (Moscoso)
Felix Hernandez: @OAK (Cahill), @LAA (Haren)
Michael Pineda: @OAK (Moscoso), @LAA (Pineiro)
Trevor Cahill: SEA (Hernandez), @TEX (Harrison)
CC Sabathia: @CLE (Carrasco), TB (Shields)
A.J. Burnett: @CLE (Tomlin), TB (Price)
Scott Baker: TB (Shields), @CWS (Peavy)
Dan Haren: DET (Verlander), SEA (Hernandez)
Justin Verlander: @LAA (Haren), @KC (Chen)
Jake Peavy: KC (Chen), MIN (Baker)
Mark Buehrle: KC (Paulino), MIN (Duensing)
Decent PlaysBrandon Morrow: @BOS, @CLE (Tomlin)
Guillermo Moscoso: SEA (Pineda), @TEX (Lewis)
Brian Duensing: TB (Price), @CWS (Buehrle)
Joel Pineiro: DET (Furbush), SEA (Pineda)
Bruce Chen: @CWS (Peavy), DET (Verlander)
Felipe Paulino: @CWS (Buehrle), DET (Furbush)
Charlie Furbush: @LAA (Pineiro), @KC (Paulino)
Carlos Carrasco: NYY (Sabathia), TOR (Cecil)
Chris Jakubauskas: @TEX (Lewis), @BOS (Beckett)
At Your Own RiskBrett Cecil: @BOS (Lackey), @CLE (Carrasco)
Josh Tomlin: NYY (Burnett), TOR (Morrow)
National LeagueStrong PlaysJordan Zimmermann: CHC (Dempster), COL (Jimenez)
Chris Carpenter: CIN (Cueto), ARI (Hudson)
Tim Lincecum: SD (Stauffer), NYM (Pelfrey)
Tim Stauffer: @SF (Lincecum), @LAD (de la Rosa)
Shaun Marcum: ARI (Hudson), CIN (Cueto)
Wandy Rodriguez: @PIT (Karstens), @FLA (Volstad)
Johnny Cueto: @STL (Carpenter), @MIL (Marcum)
Tommy Hanson: COL (Jimenez), @PHI (Lee)
Daniel Hudson: @MIL (Marcum), @STL (Carpenter)
Decent PlaysTom Gorzelanny: CHC, COL (Cook)
Barry Zito: SD (Richard), NYM (Capuano)
Clayton Richard: @SF (Zito), @LAD (Lilly)
Paul Maholm: HOU (Myers), CHC
Vance Worley: @FLA (Nolasco), ATL (Lowe)
Mike Pelfrey: @LAD (de la Rosa), @SF (Lincecum)
Randy Wolf: ARI (Duke), CIN (Volquez)
Chris Capuano: @LAD (Lilly), @SF (Zito)
Rubby de la Rosa: NYM (Pelfrey), SD (Stauffer)
Ted Lilly: NYM (Capuano), SD (Richard)
Brett Myers: @PIT (Maholm), @FLA (Nolasco)
Chris Volstad: PHI (Hamels), HOU (Rodriguez)
Ricky Nolasco: PHI (Worley), HOU (Myers)
Ubaldo Jimenez: @ATL (Hanson), @WAS (Zimmermann)
Edinson Volquez: @STL (Westbrook), @MIL (Wolf)
Ryan Dempster: @WAS (Zimmerman), @PIT (Correia)
Zach Duke: @MIL (Wolf), @STL (Westbrook)
Derek Lowe: COL (Cook), @PHI (Worley)
At Your Own RiskJake Westbrook: CIN (Volquez), ARI (Duke)
Aaron Cook: @ATL (Lowe), @WAS (Gorzelanny)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American LeagueWednesday, 7/6: Tyler Chatwood vs. DETThe young righty has allowed only one run in 14 innings over his last two starts. He'll have a hard time maintaining that success with an ugly K/BB ratio, but you might as well try and ride this out.
Wednesday, 7/6: Wade Davis @ MINDavis had pitched well over his past few starts and should be able to keep it rolling at Target Field.
Friday, 7/8: Nick Blackburn @ CWSBlackburn owns a 3.44 career ERA against the White Sox, and US Cellular is one of the few road parks where he has a good track record.
National LeagueWednesday, 7/6: Charlie Morton vs. HOUAfter struggling in his past couple outings, Morton got some extra rest and should be strong against the Astros.
Wednesday, 7/6: Dustin Moseley @ SFMoseley carries a 3.03 ERA into this favorable match-up.
Thursday, 7/7: Homer Bailey @ MILBailey had pitched very well prior to a two-month injury layoff. See if he can get it going again in Milwaukee.
The July 4th holiday gives many folks an excuse to take a day off from work and enjoy an extra-long weekend. It's one of the highlights of summer.
Baseball players will get no such luxury. Only two clubs (the Phillies and Pirates) get a day off next week, so there will be plenty of baseball, and -- as such -- plenty of two-start pitchers. Below you can find the full list, which includes tons of strong options, especially in the American League.
Enjoy the holiday, everyone.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysMatt Harrison: BAL, OAK (Cahill)
Colby Lewis: BAL (Jakubauskas), OAK (Moscoso)
Felix Hernandez: @OAK (Cahill), @LAA (Haren)
Michael Pineda: @OAK (Moscoso), @LAA (Pineiro)
Trevor Cahill: SEA (Hernandez), @TEX (Harrison)
CC Sabathia: @CLE (Carrasco), TB (Shields)
A.J. Burnett: @CLE (Tomlin), TB (Price)
Scott Baker: TB (Shields), @CWS (Peavy)
Dan Haren: DET (Verlander), SEA (Hernandez)
Justin Verlander: @LAA (Haren), @KC (Chen)
Jake Peavy: KC (Chen), MIN (Baker)
Mark Buehrle: KC (Paulino), MIN (Duensing)
Decent PlaysBrandon Morrow: @BOS, @CLE (Tomlin)
Guillermo Moscoso: SEA (Pineda), @TEX (Lewis)
Brian Duensing: TB (Price), @CWS (Buehrle)
Joel Pineiro: DET (Furbush), SEA (Pineda)
Bruce Chen: @CWS (Peavy), DET (Verlander)
Felipe Paulino: @CWS (Buehrle), DET (Furbush)
Charlie Furbush: @LAA (Pineiro), @KC (Paulino)
Carlos Carrasco: NYY (Sabathia), TOR (Cecil)
Chris Jakubauskas: @TEX (Lewis), @BOS (Beckett)
At Your Own RiskBrett Cecil: @BOS (Lackey), @CLE (Carrasco)
Josh Tomlin: NYY (Burnett), TOR (Morrow)
National LeagueStrong PlaysJordan Zimmermann: CHC (Dempster), COL (Jimenez)
Chris Carpenter: CIN (Cueto), ARI (Hudson)
Tim Lincecum: SD (Stauffer), NYM (Pelfrey)
Tim Stauffer: @SF (Lincecum), @LAD (de la Rosa)
Shaun Marcum: ARI (Hudson), CIN (Cueto)
Wandy Rodriguez: @PIT (Karstens), @FLA (Volstad)
Johnny Cueto: @STL (Carpenter), @MIL (Marcum)
Tommy Hanson: COL (Jimenez), @PHI (Lee)
Daniel Hudson: @MIL (Marcum), @STL (Carpenter)
Decent PlaysTom Gorzelanny: CHC, COL (Cook)
Barry Zito: SD (Richard), NYM (Capuano)
Clayton Richard: @SF (Zito), @LAD (Lilly)
Paul Maholm: HOU (Myers), CHC
Vance Worley: @FLA (Nolasco), ATL (Lowe)
Mike Pelfrey: @LAD (de la Rosa), @SF (Lincecum)
Randy Wolf: ARI (Duke), CIN (Volquez)
Chris Capuano: @LAD (Lilly), @SF (Zito)
Rubby de la Rosa: NYM (Pelfrey), SD (Stauffer)
Ted Lilly: NYM (Capuano), SD (Richard)
Brett Myers: @PIT (Maholm), @FLA (Nolasco)
Chris Volstad: PHI (Hamels), HOU (Rodriguez)
Ricky Nolasco: PHI (Worley), HOU (Myers)
Ubaldo Jimenez: @ATL (Hanson), @WAS (Zimmermann)
Edinson Volquez: @STL (Westbrook), @MIL (Wolf)
Ryan Dempster: @WAS (Zimmerman), @PIT (Correia)
Zach Duke: @MIL (Wolf), @STL (Westbrook)
Derek Lowe: COL (Cook), @PHI (Worley)
At Your Own RiskJake Westbrook: CIN (Volquez), ARI (Duke)
Aaron Cook: @ATL (Lowe), @WAS (Gorzelanny)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American LeagueWednesday, 7/6: Tyler Chatwood vs. DETThe young righty has allowed only one run in 14 innings over his last two starts. He'll have a hard time maintaining that success with an ugly K/BB ratio, but you might as well try and ride this out.
Wednesday, 7/6: Wade Davis @ MINDavis had pitched well over his past few starts and should be able to keep it rolling at Target Field.
Friday, 7/8: Nick Blackburn @ CWSBlackburn owns a 3.44 career ERA against the White Sox, and US Cellular is one of the few road parks where he has a good track record.
National LeagueWednesday, 7/6: Charlie Morton vs. HOUAfter struggling in his past couple outings, Morton got some extra rest and should be strong against the Astros.
Wednesday, 7/6: Dustin Moseley @ SFMoseley carries a 3.03 ERA into this favorable match-up.
Thursday, 7/7: Homer Bailey @ MILBailey had pitched very well prior to a two-month injury layoff. See if he can get it going again in Milwaukee.
Total Games
American League7: BAL, BOS, CLE, CWS, DET, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR
National League6: PHI, PIT
7: ARI, ATL, CHC, CIN, COL, FLA, HOU, LAD, MIL, NYM, SD, SF, STL, WAS
Lefty/Righty Breakdown
American LeagueBAL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
BOS: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
CWS: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CLE: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
DET: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
KC: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
LAA: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
MIN: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
NYY: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
OAK: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
SEA: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TB: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TEX: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TOR: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
National LeagueARI: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
ATL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CHC: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CIN: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
COL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
FLA: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
HOU: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAD: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
MIL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
NYM: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
PHI: 6 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
PIT: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SD: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
SF: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
STL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
WAS: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
The Infirmary
You can get a full listing of injured players at Rotoworld's
Injury Page, but here's the latest on a few prominent players who have been out of action:
Carlos Zambrano: Out until late July
Shin-Soo Choo: Out until late August
John Danks: Out indefinitely
Delmon Young: Out until late July
Ryan Madson: Out until mid-July
Jose Tabata: Out until late July
Erik Bedard: Out until mid-July
Jonathan Sanchez: Out indefinitely