The All-Star break is over and focus now turns to the stretch run. At this point, contending major-league clubs and fantasy owners alike are directing their attention toward the postseason and the battle for positioning that will take place over the next couple months.
Below you'll find your first second-half helping of two-start pitchers, streamers and team-by-team match-ups. Note that the Twins play eight games, and they're all scheduled against righties (good news for
Jim Thome, if he can get into the lineup, and
Joe Mauer). In the NL, the Braves draw seven righties, which will hopefully help
Jason Heyward get on track.
Please check back throughout the weekend for updated two-start pitcher listings, as the rotation retooling that takes place at the break can cause things to shift around.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysAlexi Ogando: @LAA (Chatwood), TOR (Cecil)
Michael Pineda: @TOR (Cecil), @BOS (Wakefield)
Scott Baker: CLE (Masterson), DET (Penny)
Justin Masterson: @MIN (Baker), CWS (Jackson)
Mark Buehrle: @KC (Duffy), @CLE (Carmona)
Decent PlaysBrett Cecil: SEA (Pineda), @TEX (Ogando)
Jeff Niemann: NYY (Burnett), @KC (Paulino)
Bartolo Colon: @TB, OAK (Moscoso)
Guillermo Moscoso: @DET (Porcello), @NYY (Colon)
Francisco Liriano: CLE (Tomlin), DET (Porcello)
A.J. Burnett: @TB (Niemann), OAK (Gonzalez)
Tyler Chatwood: TEX (Ogando), @BAL
Rick Porcello: OAK (Moscoso), @MIN (Baker)
Tim Wakefield: @BAL, SEA (Pineda)
At Your Own RiskDanny Duffy: CWS (Buehrle), TB
Fausto Carmona: @MIN (Swarzak), CWS (Duffy)
National LeagueStrong PlaysTom Gorzelanny: @HOU (Lyles), @LAD (Billingsley)
Ryan Vogelsong: LAD (Billingsley), MIL (Gallardo)
Cliff Lee: @CHC (Lopez), SD (Stauffer)
Yovani Gallardo: @ARI (Collmenter), @SF (Vogelsong)
Chad Billingsley: @SF (Vogelsong), WAS (Gorzelanny)
Randy Wolf: @ARI, @SF (Cain)
Anibal Sanchez: SD (Stauffer), NYM (Gee)
Ubaldo Jimenez: ATL (Beachy), @ARI (Collmenter)
Brandon Beachy: @COL (Jimenez), @CIN (Bailey)
Decent PlaysKyle McClellan: @NYM (Gee), @PIT (McDonald)
Tim Stauffer: @FLA (Sanchez), @PHI (Lee)
James McDonald: CIN (Bailey), STL (McClellan)
Dillon Gee: STL (McClellan), @FLA (Sanchez)
Chris Capuano: FLA (Hand), @FLA (Hand)
Brad Hand: @NYM (Capuano), NYM (Capuano)
Jason Hammel: ATL (Lowe), @ARI
Derek Lowe: @COL (Hammel), @CIN (Leake)
Josh Collmenter: MIL (Gallardo), COL (Jimenez)
At Your Own RiskJordan Lyles: WAS (Gorzelanny), @CHC (Lopez)
Homer Bailey: @PIT (McDonald), ATL (Beachy)
Rodrigo Lopez: PHI (Lee), HOU (Lyles)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American LeagueWednesday, 7/20: Carl Pavano vs. CLEThe veteran right-hander has completed seven or more innings in six of his seven starts since the beginning of June and owns a 2.68 ERA over that span.
Wednesday, 7/20: Bruce Chen vs. CWSChen owns a 3.56 ERA this year and should be able to handle Chicago's struggling lineup at home.
Friday, 7/22: John Lackey vs. SEALackey has been a huge disappointment overall but he's a capable option in the right match-ups and this one qualifies.
National LeagueTuesday, 7/19: Rubby de la Rosa @ SFThe rookie has mostly looked sharp in big-league action thus far, striking out 44 hitters in 45 2/3 innings with a 3.74 ERA.
Friday, 7/22: Carlos Zambrano vs. HOUBig Z hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his past four starts.
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 All-Star break is over and focus now turns to the stretch run. At this point, contending major-league clubs and fantasy owners alike are directing their attention toward the postseason and the battle for positioning that will take place over the next couple months.
Below you'll find your first second-half helping of two-start pitchers, streamers and team-by-team match-ups. Note that the Twins play eight games, and they're all scheduled against righties (good news for
Jim Thome, if he can get into the lineup, and
Joe Mauer). In the NL, the Braves draw seven righties, which will hopefully help
Jason Heyward get on track.
Please check back throughout the weekend for updated two-start pitcher listings, as the rotation retooling that takes place at the break can cause things to shift around.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysAlexi Ogando: @LAA (Chatwood), TOR (Cecil)
Michael Pineda: @TOR (Cecil), @BOS (Wakefield)
Scott Baker: CLE (Masterson), DET (Penny)
Justin Masterson: @MIN (Baker), CWS (Jackson)
Mark Buehrle: @KC (Duffy), @CLE (Carmona)
Decent PlaysBrett Cecil: SEA (Pineda), @TEX (Ogando)
Jeff Niemann: NYY (Burnett), @KC (Paulino)
Bartolo Colon: @TB, OAK (Moscoso)
Guillermo Moscoso: @DET (Porcello), @NYY (Colon)
Francisco Liriano: CLE (Tomlin), DET (Porcello)
A.J. Burnett: @TB (Niemann), OAK (Gonzalez)
Tyler Chatwood: TEX (Ogando), @BAL
Rick Porcello: OAK (Moscoso), @MIN (Baker)
Tim Wakefield: @BAL, SEA (Pineda)
At Your Own RiskDanny Duffy: CWS (Buehrle), TB
Fausto Carmona: @MIN (Swarzak), CWS (Duffy)
National LeagueStrong PlaysTom Gorzelanny: @HOU (Lyles), @LAD (Billingsley)
Ryan Vogelsong: LAD (Billingsley), MIL (Gallardo)
Cliff Lee: @CHC (Lopez), SD (Stauffer)
Yovani Gallardo: @ARI (Collmenter), @SF (Vogelsong)
Chad Billingsley: @SF (Vogelsong), WAS (Gorzelanny)
Randy Wolf: @ARI, @SF (Cain)
Anibal Sanchez: SD (Stauffer), NYM (Gee)
Ubaldo Jimenez: ATL (Beachy), @ARI (Collmenter)
Brandon Beachy: @COL (Jimenez), @CIN (Bailey)
Decent PlaysKyle McClellan: @NYM (Gee), @PIT (McDonald)
Tim Stauffer: @FLA (Sanchez), @PHI (Lee)
James McDonald: CIN (Bailey), STL (McClellan)
Dillon Gee: STL (McClellan), @FLA (Sanchez)
Chris Capuano: FLA (Hand), @FLA (Hand)
Brad Hand: @NYM (Capuano), NYM (Capuano)
Jason Hammel: ATL (Lowe), @ARI
Derek Lowe: @COL (Hammel), @CIN (Leake)
Josh Collmenter: MIL (Gallardo), COL (Jimenez)
At Your Own RiskJordan Lyles: WAS (Gorzelanny), @CHC (Lopez)
Homer Bailey: @PIT (McDonald), ATL (Beachy)
Rodrigo Lopez: PHI (Lee), HOU (Lyles)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American LeagueWednesday, 7/20: Carl Pavano vs. CLEThe veteran right-hander has completed seven or more innings in six of his seven starts since the beginning of June and owns a 2.68 ERA over that span.
Wednesday, 7/20: Bruce Chen vs. CWSChen owns a 3.56 ERA this year and should be able to handle Chicago's struggling lineup at home.
Friday, 7/22: John Lackey vs. SEALackey has been a huge disappointment overall but he's a capable option in the right match-ups and this one qualifies.
National LeagueTuesday, 7/19: Rubby de la Rosa @ SFThe rookie has mostly looked sharp in big-league action thus far, striking out 44 hitters in 45 2/3 innings with a 3.74 ERA.
Friday, 7/22: Carlos Zambrano vs. HOUBig Z hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his past four starts.
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 League5: OAK
6: BAL, BOS, CWS, DET, KC, LAA, SEA, TEX, TOR
7: CLE, NYY, TB
8: MIN
National League6: CHC, CIN, HOU, LAD, PHI, PIT, SD, SF, STL, WAS
7: ARI, ATL, COL, FLA, MIL, NYM
Lefty/Righty Breakdown
American LeagueBAL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
BOS: 6 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
CWS: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CLE: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
DET: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
KC: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
LAA: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
MIN: 8 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
NYY: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
OAK: 4 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SEA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TB: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TEX: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TOR: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
National LeagueARI: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
ATL: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
CHC: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CIN: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
COL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
FLA: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
HOU: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAD: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
MIL: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
NYM: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PHI: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
PIT: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SD: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SF: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
STL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
WAS: 4 vs. RHP, 2 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:
Chipper Jones: Out until late July
Jon Lester: Out until late July
Mitch Talbot: Out until late July
Fausto Carmona: Returning this week
Charles Blackmon: Out until late August
Jose Reyes: Out until late July
Alex Rodriguez: Out until late August
Placido Polanco: Out indefinitely
Pat Burrell: Out indefinitely
John Jaso: Out until early August