AMERICAN LEAGUE RECOMMENDED TWO-START PITCHERS
Fausto Carmona (@CHW, K.C.) – Carmona rebounded from a tough outing against the White Sox and threw a gem against Minnesota in his last start. The Indians’ right-hander allowed only two runs in 7 2/3 innings of work to earn his 15th victory of the season.
Paul Byrd (@CHW, K.C.) – This is a lean week for AL pitchers, but it’s hard to argue with Byrd’s success this season. Byrd has won five of his last seven starts and has given up more than three runs in only two of those contests.
Roy Halladay (@DET, BAL) – During most weeks, Halladay would be the first pitcher I’d suggest, but the right-hander has struggled in his last three starts. Still, Halladay’s 14-7 record and 3.94 ERA are good enough for you to remain confident in the Blue Jays’ ace.
Joe Blanton (@SEA, TEX) – It seems Blanton has recovered from a bad stretch and is pitching with more control. Blanton has won three of his last five games for the A’s, surrendering only nine runs during that time.
FORGET THEM
Kyle Davies (MIN, @CLE) – Davies has pitched better of late but that 5.81 ERA is still too high to be taking a chance on this late in the season.
Jarrod Washburn (OAK, T.B.) – Hey, just because the Mariners are in the thick of the AL wild-card race doesn’t mean you should go blindly with all of their starting pitchers. Washburn has lost his last three games and was charged with six runs in one of those starts against Toronto.
Vicente Padilla (@DET, @OAK) – Padilla has had some decent starts in the last few games, but do you really want to go with a pitcher that sports a 6.01 ERA? I didn’t think so.
NATIONAL LEAGUE RECOMMENDED TWO-START PITCHERS
Jake Peavy (@LAD, S.F.) – Peavy was awful in his last outing against Arizona, but so what? Prior to that start, the Padres’ right-hander had won four of his last five games, while giving up only six runs.
Ted Lilly (STL, @STL) – Lilly has been the victim of some bad run support in recent games, but is still viable option. Lilly has won 14 games for the Cubs this season and his 3.85 ERA remains good enough for the stretch run.
Yovani Gallardo (@PIT, CIN) – Gallardo is looking more like the stud pitcher everyone anticipated when he was inserted into the Brewers’ rotation. In his last two starts, Gallardo has allowed only two runs in 14 innings en route to a pair of victories.
Kevin Correia (ARI, @S.D.) – Correia made 51 relief appearances before replacing the injured Russ Ortiz in the rotation. Correia has won his last three games, allowing five runs and just one walk.
FORGET THEM
Sergio Mitre (WAS, @COL) – Mitre has been downright inept over his last seven starts. The Marlins right-hander has surrendered 32 runs in that time and looks lost on the mound.
Mark Mulder (@CIN, CHC) – Mulder was shelled during his first start in more than a year. The Pirates racked up six earned runs against Mulder in only four innings.
Tim Redding (@FLA., ATL) – Redding injured his right arm in the third inning last Wednesday against the Florida Marlins and is expected to miss the next 7-10 days.
QUICK HITS
For those fantasy owners who had the foresight to pick up Clay Buchholz during the last month, I congratulate you. The Red Sox rookie hurler no-hit the Baltimore Orioles last week and collected a whack of points during a pivotal part of the season.
San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is finally starting to show why he was the first overall selections of the Florida Marlins back in 2000. Gonzalez has smacked 26 home runs for the Padres this season, which is a feat in itself considering he plays half his games at Petco Park.
The Orioles received some bad news when ace Erik Bedard stopped throwing, increasing the likelihood that the AL strikeout leader will soon be done for the season with a strained muscle near his right rib cage. Prior to his setback, the Canadian lefty was having a breakout season, sporting a 13-5 record with a terrific 3.16 ERA.