The upcoming week provides an opportunity for some lesser-known rookies to shine on the two-start stage. As we move toward the final portion of the season, many clubs are slotting youngsters into their rotation, either with hopes of providing a late-season contention boost or with an eye toward the future. The list of fresh hurlers scheduled to toe the rubber twice includes
Henderson Alvarez,
Garrett Richards and
Henry Sosa.
Of the three, the only one that can be confidently recommended is Alvarez of the Blue Jays, who was solid in his big-league debut and will face the weak-hitting Mariners and A's. Richards has a bright future but he struggled against the Yankees in his first start for the Angels and things won't get much easier with a home nod against the Rangers on deck. Meanwhile, Sosa will see how his live fastball plays against the Cubs and Giants.
With a relatively thin offering of top-flight options, especially in the AL, you might be inclined to take a flier on one of these unproven arms. All three will certainly be worth monitoring going forward. And if you're looking for more of a sure thing, well, there's always
Cliff Lee.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysBrandon Morrow: @SEA (Vargas), @OAK (Moscoso)
Alexi Ogando: @LAA (Richards), @CWS (Peavy)
Decent PlaysHenderson Alvarez: @SEA (Pineda), @OAK (Gonzalez)
Derek Holland: @LAA (Chatwood), @CWS (Danks)
Wade Davis: @BOS (Bedard), SEA (Pineda)
Michael Pineda: TOR (Alvarez), @TB (Davis)
Guillermo Moscoso: BAL (Tillman), TOR (Morrow)
Gio Gonzalez: BAL (Hunter), TOR (Alvarez)
A.J. Burnett: @KC (Francis), @MIN (Blackburn)
Tyler Chatwood: TEX (Holland), BAL (Hunter)
Rick Porcello: MIN (Liriano), CLE (Jimenez)
Ubaldo Jimenez: @CWS (Floyd), @DET (Porcello)
Erik Bedard: TB (Davis), @KC (Francis)
Tommy Hunter: @OAK (Gonzalez), @LAA (Chatwood)
At Your Own RiskNick Blackburn: @DET (Verlander), NYY (Burnett)
Francisco Liriano: @DET (Porcello), NYY (Hughes)
Garrett Richards: TEX (Ogando), BAL (Reyes)
Jeff Francis: NYY (Burnett), BOS (Bedard)
National LeagueStrong PlaysJake Westbrook: @PIT (McDonald), @CHC (Lopez)
Madison Bumgarner: @ATL (Hudson), @HOU (Lyles)
Cory Luebke: NYM (Niese), FLA (Sanchez)
Cliff Lee: ARI (Collmenter), @WAS (Detwiler)
Yovani Gallardo: LAD (Billingsley), @NYM (Dickey)
Mike Leake: @WAS (Detwiler), @PIT (McDonald)
Tommy Hanson: SF (Sanchez), ARI (Collmenter)
Tim Hudson: SF (Bumgarner), ARI (Marquis)
Decent PlaysRoss Detwiler: CIN (Leake), PHI (Lee)
Aaron Harang: NYM (Dickey), FLA (Hensley)
James McDonald: STL (Westbrook), CIN (Leake)
R.A. Dickey: @SD (Harang), MIL (Gallardo)
Randy Wolf: LAD (Lilly), @NYM (Capuano)
Chad Billingsley: @MIL (Gallardo), @COL (Millwood)
Ted Lilly: @MIL (Wolf), @COL (Rogers)
Anibal Sanchez: @COL (Chacin), @SD (Luebke)
Clay Hensley: @COL (Millwood), @SD (Harang)
Josh Collmenter: @PHI (Lee), @ATL (Hanson)
At Your Own RiskJonathan Sanchez: @ATL (Hanson), @HOU (Sosa)
Henry Sosa: CHC (Lopez), SF (Sanchez)
Kevin Millwood: FLA (Hensley), LAD (Billingsley)
Rodrigo Lopez: @HOU (Sosa), STL (Westbrook)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American LeagueWednesday, 8/17: Alfredo Simon @ OAKSimon was roughed up by the Blue Jays in his last turn, but has been fairly reliable in favorable match-ups.
Wednesday, 8/17: Brandon McCarthy vs. BALOn the flip side, you've got McCarthy, who has been absolutely fantastic as of late, particularly at home.
Friday, 8/19: Freddy Garcia @ MINWith a 3.16 ERA, Garcia has been surprisingly effective. He should have no trouble with the light-hitting Twins at Target Field.
National LeagueWednesday, 8/17: Mike Minor vs. SFThe talented young lefty will look to straighten things out at home against the Giants.
Wednesday, 8/17: Dillon Gee @ SDGee will look to build on his 10-3 record in Petco Park.
Friday, 8/19: Homer Bailey @ PITBailey has been struggling as of late, but might be able to get back on track against the fledgling Pirates.
The upcoming week provides an opportunity for some lesser-known rookies to shine on the two-start stage. As we move toward the final portion of the season, many clubs are slotting youngsters into their rotation, either with hopes of providing a late-season contention boost or with an eye toward the future. The list of fresh hurlers scheduled to toe the rubber twice includes
Henderson Alvarez,
Garrett Richards and
Henry Sosa.
Of the three, the only one that can be confidently recommended is Alvarez of the Blue Jays, who was solid in his big-league debut and will face the weak-hitting Mariners and A's. Richards has a bright future but he struggled against the Yankees in his first start for the Angels and things won't get much easier with a home nod against the Rangers on deck. Meanwhile, Sosa will see how his live fastball plays against the Cubs and Giants.
With a relatively thin offering of top-flight options, especially in the AL, you might be inclined to take a flier on one of these unproven arms. All three will certainly be worth monitoring going forward. And if you're looking for more of a sure thing, well, there's always
Cliff Lee.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysBrandon Morrow: @SEA (Vargas), @OAK (Moscoso)
Alexi Ogando: @LAA (Richards), @CWS (Peavy)
Decent PlaysHenderson Alvarez: @SEA (Pineda), @OAK (Gonzalez)
Derek Holland: @LAA (Chatwood), @CWS (Danks)
Wade Davis: @BOS (Bedard), SEA (Pineda)
Michael Pineda: TOR (Alvarez), @TB (Davis)
Guillermo Moscoso: BAL (Tillman), TOR (Morrow)
Gio Gonzalez: BAL (Hunter), TOR (Alvarez)
A.J. Burnett: @KC (Francis), @MIN (Blackburn)
Tyler Chatwood: TEX (Holland), BAL (Hunter)
Rick Porcello: MIN (Liriano), CLE (Jimenez)
Ubaldo Jimenez: @CWS (Floyd), @DET (Porcello)
Erik Bedard: TB (Davis), @KC (Francis)
Tommy Hunter: @OAK (Gonzalez), @LAA (Chatwood)
At Your Own RiskNick Blackburn: @DET (Verlander), NYY (Burnett)
Francisco Liriano: @DET (Porcello), NYY (Hughes)
Garrett Richards: TEX (Ogando), BAL (Reyes)
Jeff Francis: NYY (Burnett), BOS (Bedard)
National LeagueStrong PlaysJake Westbrook: @PIT (McDonald), @CHC (Lopez)
Madison Bumgarner: @ATL (Hudson), @HOU (Lyles)
Cory Luebke: NYM (Niese), FLA (Sanchez)
Cliff Lee: ARI (Collmenter), @WAS (Detwiler)
Yovani Gallardo: LAD (Billingsley), @NYM (Dickey)
Mike Leake: @WAS (Detwiler), @PIT (McDonald)
Tommy Hanson: SF (Sanchez), ARI (Collmenter)
Tim Hudson: SF (Bumgarner), ARI (Marquis)
Decent PlaysRoss Detwiler: CIN (Leake), PHI (Lee)
Aaron Harang: NYM (Dickey), FLA (Hensley)
James McDonald: STL (Westbrook), CIN (Leake)
R.A. Dickey: @SD (Harang), MIL (Gallardo)
Randy Wolf: LAD (Lilly), @NYM (Capuano)
Chad Billingsley: @MIL (Gallardo), @COL (Millwood)
Ted Lilly: @MIL (Wolf), @COL (Rogers)
Anibal Sanchez: @COL (Chacin), @SD (Luebke)
Clay Hensley: @COL (Millwood), @SD (Harang)
Josh Collmenter: @PHI (Lee), @ATL (Hanson)
At Your Own RiskJonathan Sanchez: @ATL (Hanson), @HOU (Sosa)
Henry Sosa: CHC (Lopez), SF (Sanchez)
Kevin Millwood: FLA (Hensley), LAD (Billingsley)
Rodrigo Lopez: @HOU (Sosa), STL (Westbrook)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American LeagueWednesday, 8/17: Alfredo Simon @ OAKSimon was roughed up by the Blue Jays in his last turn, but has been fairly reliable in favorable match-ups.
Wednesday, 8/17: Brandon McCarthy vs. BALOn the flip side, you've got McCarthy, who has been absolutely fantastic as of late, particularly at home.
Friday, 8/19: Freddy Garcia @ MINWith a 3.16 ERA, Garcia has been surprisingly effective. He should have no trouble with the light-hitting Twins at Target Field.
National LeagueWednesday, 8/17: Mike Minor vs. SFThe talented young lefty will look to straighten things out at home against the Giants.
Wednesday, 8/17: Dillon Gee @ SDGee will look to build on his 10-3 record in Petco Park.
Friday, 8/19: Homer Bailey @ PITBailey has been struggling as of late, but might be able to get back on track against the fledgling Pirates.
Total Games
American League6: BAL, CWS, CLE, DET
7: BOS, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR
National League6: CHC, CIN, COL, HOU, NYM, PHI, PIT, WAS
7: ARI, ATL, FLA, LAA, MIL, SD, SF, STL
Lefty/Righty Breakdown
American LeagueBAL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
BOS: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CWS: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CLE: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
DET: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
KC: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAA: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
MIN: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
NYY: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
OAK: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SEA: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TB: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
TEX: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TOR: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
National LeagueARI: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
ATL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CHC: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CIN: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
COL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
FLA: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
HOU: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAD: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIL: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
NYM: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PHI: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
PIT: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SD: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SF: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
STL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
WAS: 5 vs. RHP, 1 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:
Jair Jurrjens: Out until late August
Matt Lindstrom: Out indefinitely
Juan Nicasio: Out for the season
Hanley Ramirez: Out until late August
Scott Baker: Out indefinitely
Chris Narveson: Out indefinitely
Chase Headley: Out until September
Alex Cobb: Out for the season