With the recent additions to major league ball teams due to the expansion of rosters there aren't that many two-start pitchers next week. And there are still a few situations up in the air. The landscape could change rather quickly as teams decide if they want to run with a six-man rotation or keep things normal with five starters.
Not only has Pedro Martinez looked great in his early starts but he gets to face the Nationals and the Mets next week. He would be a great two-start add, and he's only owned in 33% of fantasy leagues.
There are 35 total two-start pitchers for week 23. Make sure you get your rosters set by 12:35 PM ET as the Cubs and Pirates play first on Monday.
Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
On Thursday in Philadelphia, one of the game's best pitchers from years past squared off against arguably the game's best pitcher of today. Who would win the battle of old versus new? It turns out fantasy owners were the big winners.
Tim Lincecum struck out 11 batters, which isn't even close to a season high for the kid, and walked one over seven innings while allowing two runs, but all that got him was a loss.
Pedro Martinez, making his fifth start with the Phillies, moved to 3-0 on the strength of a nine-strikeout, no-walk performance. He threw 62 of his 87 pitches for strikes and looked completely dominant after a first-inning homer by Eugenio Velez.
Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.
Now that the hands are dealt -- expect for one or two more this month -- we can examine the pennant races to come.
There wasn't much point in assessing the races until after Friday's non-waiver trade deadline, when we know what we're dealing with. Some important pieces will change hands after they clear waivers this month, but they probably won't be difference-makers.
Before we get to the predictions, though, let's talk about one trade that didn't happen.
It's either feast or famine in week 17 of the fantasy baseball season. There are 14 must starts and 24 pitchers who are risky business. The guys in the middle aren't as numerous.
There are 50 pitchers who are starting twice this week. Make sure to get your lineups set by 7:05 PM ET on Monday night.
Must Start Jair Jurrjens, Braves - Tuesday at FLA (R. Nolasco) and Sunday vs LAD (C. Billingsley) Josh Beckett, Red Sox - Monday vs OAK (T. Cahill) and Saturday at BAL (J. Berken) Clay Buchholz, Red Sox - Tuesday vs OAK (V. Mazzaro) and Sunday at BAL (R. Hill) Carlos Zambrano, Cubs - Monday vs HOU (W. Rodriguez) and Saturday at FLA (A. Miller) Mark Buehrle, White Sox - Tuesday at MIN (S. Baker) and Sunday vs NYY (C. Sabathia) Ricky Nolasco, Marlins - Tuesday vs ATL (J. Jurrjens) and Sunday vs CHC (R. Dempster)
NEW YORK -- Yeah, he was nervous, he admitted with a shy smile. Ricky Romero was pitching against the Yankees, in front of more than 46,000 people on a perfect summer day in the Bronx. The Blue Jays' 24-year-old rookie left-hander was fired up and throwing way too hard, which is why he darn near Yahtzeed* the scorecard in the first inning.
"I was excited, I'm not going to lie," Romero said when the Jays' 7-6 victory was over and he'd improved to 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA in his last seven starts. "Packed house, pitching against the Yankees -- I was overthrowing. And that is something that has just not been me. Not this year, at least."
Not for the past month, for sure. In that time, Romero has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.
There are 47 pitchers in fantasy Week 14 getting two starts. In an unusual turn of events, they are pretty evenly partitioned between "must starts," "solid starts" and "risky business".
I love Matt Cain this week. He gets two home starts and gets very, very favorable pitching matchups. If he doesn't get two wins and put up impressive strikeout totals and a low ERA, I'll answer questions every Friday afternoon from here on out in a live chat.
First pitch on Monday is at 1:05 PM ET. Make sure you get your rosters set early.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.
After yet another poor Stream Team start, this one a no-strikeout, two-HR allowed head-scratcher from Vin Mazzaro, I was in the dumps. Three straight stinkers left me with a pretty bad success rate. Luckily, Joe Blanton came out and locked the Mets down by scattering four hits through 7.1 innings, allowing no runs while striking out five batters. He also gave the Stream Team our first win! Who should we stream as we play for our second victory?
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
There are times where you see a possible gem sitting on the waiver wire, but you decide to wait. Your gut is pleading with you that he's legit. You just don't want to make a trade-off, dumping one of your struggling stars for the "new flavor."
This time, please know Ricky Romero is more than a new flavor.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
Max Scherzer, the 24-year-old fireballer for the Diamondbacks, has worlds of talent. He also takes a step back every time you think he's finally hitting his groove. This past week, he was a two-start pitcher in the fantasy baseball world. His first start was pure gold (that's gold, Jerry!). He threw 7 shutout innings and struck out 10 before getting chased in the eighth inning -- after allowing a few earned runs. He followed that up with an absolute catastrophe on Sunday. The light-hitting Braves touched him up for 10 hits and 8 earned runs in only 3 2/3 innings.
Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.
You Oughta Know ... That there have only been two complete-game shutouts pitched in the American League this year, and Zack Greinke owns both of them. Remarkably, Greinke did it again on Monday night, blanking the White Sox on six hits, striking out 10 and walking none.
In six starts this season, Greinke is 6-0 with an 0.40 earned-run average. In 45 innings, he's allowed 30 hits, with eight walks and 54 strikeouts.
Greinke has pitched well every time out, but he called this one "my favorite game of the year, if not ever."
With the recent additions to major league ball teams due to the expansion of rosters there aren't that many two-start pitchers next week. And there are still a few situations up in the air. The landscape could change rather quickly as teams decide if they want to run with a six-man rotation or keep things normal with five starters.
Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in 
NEW YORK -- Yeah, he was nervous, he admitted with a shy smile. 
There are 47 pitchers in fantasy Week 14 getting two starts. In an unusual turn of events, they are pretty evenly partitioned between "must starts," "solid starts" and "risky business".
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Starting Five
