Burnett Goes For Two

Streamer City

The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:

American League

Wednesday, 7/4: Hector Noesi vs. BAL
Noesi has a 3.20 ERA at home this season, with five quality start in six turns.

Wednesday, 7/4: Carlos Villanueva vs. KC
The right-hander has been quite effective out of the bullpen this year, with a 3.24 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings.

Thursday, 7/5: Rick Porcello vs. MIN
Porcello has been solid in June, overcoming a bulky .386 BABIP to post a 2-1 record and 3.72 ERA.

National League

Wednesday, 7/4: Randall Delgado vs, CHC
The young hurler has had his ups and downs, but he's generally found a lot more success at home.

Thursday, 7/5: Ross Detwiler vs. SF
Detwiler has been highly effective for the Nats this year, putting up a 3.09 ERA and 1.21 ERA in 16 starts.

Total Games

American League

6: CWS, OAK, SEA, TEX
7: BAL, BOS, CLE, DET, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, TB, TOR

National League

6: NYM, PHI, STL, WAS
7: ARI, ATL, CHC, CIN, COL, HOU, LAD, MIA, MIL, PIT, SD, SF

Lefty/Righty Breakdowns

American League

BAL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
BOS: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
CLE: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CWS: 2 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
DET: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
KC: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
LAA: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIN: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
NYY: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
OAK: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
SEA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TB: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
TEX: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TOR: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
 
National League

ARI: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
ATL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CHC: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CIN: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
COL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
HOU: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
LAD: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
MIA: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
NYM: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PHI: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
PIT: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
SD: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
SF: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
STL: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
WAS: 3 vs. RHP, 3 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:

Daniel Hudson: Out indefinitely (elbow)
Joe Saunders: Out until mid-July (shoulder)
Nick Johnson: Out indefinitely (wrist)
Justin Maxwell: Out until August (ankle)
Matt Capps: Out until July (shoulder)
Andy Pettitte: Out until late August (ankle)
CC Sabathia: Out until mid-July (groin)
Brandon McCarthy: Out indefinitely (shoulder)
Brian Schneider: Out until mid-July (ankle)
Anthony Bass: Out indefinitely (shoulder)
Colby Lewis: Out until mid-July (arm)

After a few tumultuous seasons in New York, A.J. Burnett was hoping for a fresh start when he was dealt to the Pirates in February.

Fantasy owners who have been frustrated by the mercurial right-hander collectively groaned when he was lit up by the Cardinals in his third start this year for Pittsburgh, surrendering 12 runs in just 2 2/3 innings. "Same old A.J."

Except, as it turns out, that start has been the only road bump in an otherwise resurgent season for Burnett. In his 12 other turns on the rubber, he's delivered 10 quality starts and a 2.05 ERA. Only twice all season (including that disastrous outing in St. Louis) has Burnett allowed more than two runs in a start. He's working with his lowest walk rate since 2006 and he's uncorked only three wild pitches after leading the league with 25 a year ago.

Whether it's the reduced difficulty level in the National League, or strides made with new pitching coach Ray Searage, Burnett has turned a corner with his control and as a result he's on pace for a career year. He goes twice in the upcoming week, with home match-ups against the Astros and Giants, and he's a highly recommended option.

You can read more about Burnett's bounce-back in D.J. Short's Daily Dose piece from earlier today.

Going Twice…

American League

Strong Plays

Jarrod Parker: BOS (Matsuzaka), SEA (Millwood)
Jered Weaver: @CLE (Jimenez), BAL (Hammel)
Max Scherzer: MIN (Blackburn), KC (Mendoza)
Chris Sale: TEX (Oswalt), TOR (Cecil)
Doug Fister: MIN (Hendriks), KC (Teaford)
Wei-Yin Chen: @SEA (Hernandez), @LAA (Haren)
Jason Hammel: @SEA (Millwood), @LAA (Weaver)

Decent Plays

Brett Cecil: KC (Mendoza), @CWS (Sale)
Ricky Romero: KC (Teaford), @CWS (Floyd)
Roy Oswalt: @CWS (Sale), MIN (Blackburn)
Matt Moore: NYY (Garcia), @CLE (JImenez)
Kevin Millwood: BAL (Hammel), @OAK (Parker)
Ivan Nova: @TB (Shields), @BOS (Morales)
Dan Haren: @CLE (McAllister), BAL (Chen)
Zach McAllister: LAA (Haren), TB (Shields)
Ubaldo Jimenez: LAA (Weaver), TB (Moore)
Franklin Morales: @OAK (Ross), NYY (Nova)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: @OAK (Parker), NYY (Garcia)

At Your Own Risk

Freddy Garcia: @TB (Moore), @BOS (Matsuzaka)
Liam Hendriks: @DET (Fister), @TEX (Darvish)
Nick Blackburn: @DET (Scherzer), @TEX (Oswalt)
Everett Teaford: @TOR (Romero), @DET (Fister)
Luis Mendoza: @TOR (Cecil), @DET (Scherzer)

National League

Strong Plays

Jordan Zimmermann: SF (Lincecum), COL (Friedrich)
Kyle Lohse: COL (White), MIA (Zambrano)
A.J. Burnett: HOU (Keuchel), SF (Lincecum)
James McDonald: HOU (Lyles), SF (Vogelsong)
Vance Worley: @NYM (Niese), ATL (Hanson)
Jon Niese: PHI (Worley), CHC (Samardzija)
Zack Greinke: MIA (Sanchez), @HOU (Keuchel)
Chris Capuano: CIN (Cueto), @ARI (Bauer)
Johnny Cueto: @LAD (Capuano), @SD (Cashner)
Tommy Hanson: CHC (Samardzija), @PHI (Worley)

Decent Plays

Joe Kelly: COL (Francis), MIA (Sanchez)
Tim Lincecum: @WAS (Zimmermann), @PIT (Burnett)
Andrew Cashner: ARI (Bauer), CIN (Cueto)
Marco Estrada: MIA (Zambrano), @HOU (Lyles)
Anibal Sanchez: @MIL (Greinke), @STL (Kelly)
Chad Billingsley: CIN (Bailey), @ARI (Cahill)
Dallas Keuchel: @PIT (Burnett), MIL (Greinke)
Jordan Lyles: @PIT (McDonald), MIL (Estrada)
Homer Bailey: @LAD (Billingsley), @SD (Richard)
Tommy Hanson: CHC (Samardzija), @PHI (Blanton)
Trevor Bauer: SD (Cashner), LAD (Capuano)
Trevor Cahill: SD (Richard), LAD (Billingsley)

At Your Own Risk

Clayton Richard: @ARI (Cahill), CIN (Bailey)
Carlos Zambrano: @MIL (Estrada), @STL (Lohse)
Alex White: @STL (Lohse), @WAS (Strasburg)
Jeff Francis: @STL (Kelly), @WAS (Gonzalez)
Christian Friedrich: @STL (Wainwright), @WAS (Zimmermann)
Jeff Samardzija: @ATL (Hanson), @NYM (Niese)

Streamer City

The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:

American League

Wednesday, 7/4: Hector Noesi vs. BAL
Noesi has a 3.20 ERA at home this season, with five quality start in six turns.

Wednesday, 7/4: Carlos Villanueva vs. KC
The right-hander has been quite effective out of the bullpen this year, with a 3.24 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings.

Thursday, 7/5: Rick Porcello vs. MIN
Porcello has been solid in June, overcoming a bulky .386 BABIP to post a 2-1 record and 3.72 ERA.

National League

Wednesday, 7/4: Randall Delgado vs, CHC
The young hurler has had his ups and downs, but he's generally found a lot more success at home.

Thursday, 7/5: Ross Detwiler vs. SF
Detwiler has been highly effective for the Nats this year, putting up a 3.09 ERA and 1.21 ERA in 16 starts.

Total Games

American League

6: CWS, OAK, SEA, TEX
7: BAL, BOS, CLE, DET, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, TB, TOR

National League

6: NYM, PHI, STL, WAS
7: ARI, ATL, CHC, CIN, COL, HOU, LAD, MIA, MIL, PIT, SD, SF

Lefty/Righty Breakdowns

American League

BAL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
BOS: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
CLE: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CWS: 2 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
DET: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
KC: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
LAA: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIN: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
NYY: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
OAK: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
SEA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TB: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
TEX: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TOR: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
 
National League

ARI: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
ATL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CHC: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CIN: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
COL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
HOU: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
LAD: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
MIA: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
NYM: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PHI: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
PIT: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
SD: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
SF: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
STL: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
WAS: 3 vs. RHP, 3 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:

Daniel Hudson: Out indefinitely (elbow)
Joe Saunders: Out until mid-July (shoulder)
Nick Johnson: Out indefinitely (wrist)
Justin Maxwell: Out until August (ankle)
Matt Capps: Out until July (shoulder)
Andy Pettitte: Out until late August (ankle)
CC Sabathia: Out until mid-July (groin)
Brandon McCarthy: Out indefinitely (shoulder)
Brian Schneider: Out until mid-July (ankle)
Anthony Bass: Out indefinitely (shoulder)
Colby Lewis: Out until mid-July (arm)