Down the Stretch

Here's what's going on in the upcoming week:

Two-Start Pitchers

American League

The Good Ones
Jon Lester - TB (Edwin Jackson), TOR (Jesse Litsch)
Javier Vazquez - TOR (A.J. Burnett), DET (Chris Lambert)
Jered Weaver - NYY (Carl Pavano), SEA (Jarrod Washburn)
Jon Garland - NYY (Alfredo Aceves), SEA (Felix Hernandez)
Felix Hernandez - TEX (Dustin Nippert), @LAA (Jon Garland)
Dana Eveland - @DET (Nate Robertson), TEX (Dustin Nippert)
A.J. Burnett - @CHW (Javier Vazquez), @BOS (Paul Byrd)
Nick Blackburn - KC (Brain Bannister), @BAL (Jeremy Guthrie)

The Others
Radhames Liz - CLE (Fausto Carmona), MIN (Glen Perkins)
Jeremy Guthrie - CLE (Jeremy Sowers), MIN (Nick Blackburn)
Clayton Richard - TOR (Jesse Litsch), DET (Zach Miner)
Brian Bannister - @MIN (Nick Blackburn), @CLE (Jeremy Sowers)
Carl Pavano - @LAA (Jered Weaver), TB (Edwin Jackson)
Greg Smith - @DET (Zach Miner), TEX (Scott Feldman)
Edwin Jackson - @BOS (Jon Lester), @NYY (Carl Pavano)
Dustin Nippert - @SEA (Felix Hernandez), @OAK (Dana Eveland)
Jesse Litsch - @CHW (Clayton Richard), @BOS (Jon Lester)

National League

The Good Ones
Jorge Campillo - COL (Livan Hernandez), @NYM (Oliver Perez)
Ryan Dempster - @STL (Kyle Lohse), @HOU (Randy Wolf)
Edinson Volquez - @MIL (Dave Bush), @ARI (Yusmeiro Petit)
Randy Wolf - PIT (Ross Ohlendorf), CHC (Ryan Dempster)
Joe Blanton - FLA (Anibal Sanchez), MIL (Dave Bush)
Tim Lincecum - ARI (Yusmeiro Petit), @SD (Cha Seung Baek)
Kyle Lohse - CHC (Ryan Dempster), @PIT (Ian Snell)
Yusmeiro Petit - @SF (Tim Lincecum), CIN (Edinson Volquez)

The Others
Livan Hernandez - @ATL (Jorge Campillo), LAD (Greg Maddux)
Anibal Sanchez - @PHI (Joe Blanton), WAS (Collin Balester)
Brandon Backe - PIT (Ian Snell), CHC (Carlos Zambrano)
Greg Maddux - @SD (Cha Seung Baek), @COL (Livan Hernandez)
Dave Bush - CIN (Edinson Volquez), @PHI (Joe Blanton)
Jeff Suppan - CIN (Josh Fogg), @PHI (TBA)
Oliver Perez - WAS (John Lannan), ATL (Jorge Campillo)
Ian Snell - @HOU (Brandon Backe), STL (Kyle Lohse)
Cha Seung Baek - LAD (Greg Maddux), SF (Tim Lincecum)
Wade LeBlanc - LAD (Hiroki Kuroda), SF (Barry Zito)
Barry Zito - ARI (Doug Davis), @SD (Wade LeBlanc)

Possible Streamers

American League

Tuesday, 9/9 - Nick Blackburn vs. KC - A lot of things work in Blackburn's favor here. You only need to know two: 1. He's been excellent at home this season (6-3, 2.95 ERA) 2. He's facing the Royals.

Tuesday, 9/9 - Dustin Nippert @ SEA - Don't be scared off by his 6.95 ERA. Last time he faced the Mariners, he tossed seven shutout innings and picked up his first win of the season. He'll get his second on Tuesday.

Thursday, 9/11 - Greg Smith vs. TEX - Smith is coming off a gem and will face an injury-plagued Rangers lineup. We're thinking he'll be solid for a second straight outing and his 7-14 record has kept him on the waiver wire in most leagues. Pick him up. Try him out.

National League

Saturday, 9/13 - Josh Johnson vs. WAS - If he's still available in your league, stop reading this column. Go get him. Johnson is 4-0 with a 3.25 ERA since he returned from Tommy John surgery and should definitely continue to roll against the Nationals.

Monday, 9/8 - Yusmeiro Petit @ SF - His last start against the Cardinals went awry, but we'll blame that on his 10 days of rest prior to the outing. With the exception of that debacle, Petit hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start this season. Yet, he's available in most leagues. We like his chances against the Giants.

Total Games
American League
8: CLE, TOR
7: BAL, BOS, CHW, KC, LAA, OAK
6: DET, MIN, NYY, SEA, TB, TEX

National League
7: HOU, MIL, PHI, PIT, SD, SF
6: ARI, ATL, CHC, CIN, COL, FLA, LAD, STL
5: NYM, WAS

Right vs. Lefty Match-ups

American League
Baltimore - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Boston - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Chicago White Sox - 7 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Cleveland - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties, 1 Undecided
Detroit - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Kansas City - 3 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties, 1 Undecided
Los Angeles Angels - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties
Minnesota - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
New York Yankees - 6 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties
Oakland - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Seattle - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Tampa Bay - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Texas - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Toronto - 4 vs. Righties, 3 vs. Lefties, 1 Undecided

Notes:

The White Sox face seven right-handers this week.
Good For:Jermaine Dye (.306 vs. RHP), Ken Griffey Jr. (.272)
Bad For:Juan Uribe (.231), Paul Konerko (.221)

The Indians will see six righties this week.
Good For: Nobody important.
Bad For:Asdrubal Cabrera (.215 vs. RHP), Travis Hafner (.197), Victor Martinez (.253)

The Yankees will take on six righties this week.
Good For:Alex Rodriguez (.324 vs. RHP), Johnny Damon (.325), Xavier Nady (.324)
Bad For:Richie Sexson (.178), Robinson Cano (.257)

National League
Arizona - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Atlanta - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Chicago Cubs - 5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Cincinnati - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Colorado -5 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Florida - 5 vs. Righties, 0 vs. Lefties, 1 Undecided
Houston - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Los Angeles Dodgers - 2 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Milwaukee - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
New York Mets - 1 vs. Righties, 4 vs. Lefties
Philadelphia - 6 vs. Righties, 1 vs. Lefties
Pittsburgh - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
San Diego - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
San Francisco - 5 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
St. Louis - 4 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties
Washington - 3 vs. Righties, 2 vs. Lefties

Notes:

The Cubs are facing five right-handers in the upcoming week.
Good For:Aramis Ramirez (..291 vs. RHP), Ryan Theriot (.315)
Bad For:Kosuke Fukudome (.257), Henry Blanco (.246)

The Phillies will get six righties this week.
Good For:Ryan Howard (.256 vs. RHP), Greg Dobbs (.299), Chase Utley (.303)
Bad For:Jimmy Rollins (.259), Jayson Werth (.255)

The Injury Bug

For the latest on injuries around the league, check out the constantly-updated Rotoworld Injury Page

Howie Kendrick - 2B - Return mid-September
Macier Izturis - SS - Out for season
Kaz Matsui - 2B - Return September 8
Felipe Paulino - RP - Return September?
Sean Gallagher - SP - Return September 5
Frank Thomas - DH - Out for season
Charlie Morton - SP - Return late September
Brian Barton - OF - Return mid-September
Jeff Kent - 2B - Return mid-September
Takasi Saito - RP - Return mid-September
Rafael Furcal - SS - Return mid-September
Travis Hafner - DH - Return mid-September
Kevin Gregg - RP - Return mid-September
Billy Wanger - RP - Return September 9
Ambiorix Burgos - RP - Return mid-September
Todd Jones - RP - Likely out for season

Waiver Wired

Check out Patrick Dahl's Waiver Wired column for advice on this week's best pickups.

American League
1. Shaun Marcum
2. Shin-Soo Choo
3. Daric Barton
4. Brandon Morrow
5. Kila Ka'aihue

National League
1. Todd Wellemeyer
2. Johnny Cueto
3. Chris Dickerson
4. Chris Volstad
5. John Baker