Fantasy Baseball 2012 Starting Pitcher Weekly: Week 2 Injuries and Matchups

Welcome to the Week 2 edition of starting pitcher weekly!

Prior to each week, it is important to know a few key items about starting pitchers for the upcoming week including injuries, two-start hurlers, matchups we want to capitalize on and matchups that are best avoided. 

In the matchups sections, we will focus on under-the-radar pitching assignments.  Obviously, everyone knows that they should start Roy Halladay against the Pirates.  The focus here will be identifying potential unseen opportunity.

Injuries

Tim Hudson

Hudson made his first rehab start for Low A Rome and threw three pain-free innings.  Hudson appears to be on track for an early May return.

David Huff

Huff is back throwing but is headed to AAA once he is rehabilitated.

Doug Fister

Fister is headed for the DL after leaving his first start of the season in the fourth inning with a costochondral (side) strain.

Felipe Paulino

Paulino threw a bullpen Wednesday in working his way back from elbow soreness.

Ted Lilly

Lilly went six innings in a rehab start for Rancho Cucamonga, giving up seven runs.

Clayton Kershaw

Kershaw had to leave his first start early with flu symptoms, but should be OK moving forward.

Scott Baker

Baker had to be pulled from his first rehab start after 11 pitches and is scheduled for an MRI.

Michael Pineda

The Yankees have said that Pineda is unlikely to see action in the month of April as he battles shoulder soreness.

A.J. Burnett

Things are looking more positive for Burnett as the team is hoping for a return from his eye injury sometime in April.

Tim Stauffer

Stauffer is headed to the DL with a triceps problem.

Dustin Moseley

Moseley will go to the DL with a strained right shoulder.

Good Matchups

April 9: Ivan Nova vs. the Orioles

Nova looks to halt the Yankees' three-game slide to start the season again an underwhelming Orioles offense.  He’s been effective against the O’s in the past, going 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA.

April 9: Brandon Beachy vs. the Astros

Beachy has been dominating at times in his young career, and an early-season matchup against Houston should set up nicely for him.  Look for strikeouts approaching double-digits in this one.

April 10: Daniel Bard vs. the Blue Jays

Bard will make his season debut against the Blue Jays Tuesday night in Toronto.  He has a favorable pitching matchup against Kyle Drabek, who has been shaky early in his career.  Expect six strong innings and a win for Bard.

April 10: Trevor Cahill vs. the Padres

Cahill will get the start in San Diego and goes up against Edison Volquez, who faced control problems in his Opening Day start.  Cahill should come out on top with a low-WHIP type game.

Bad Matchups

April 11: James Shields vs. the Tigers

Shields was rocky in his first start of the season and has the misfortune of facing Justin Verlander and the Tigers in start No. 2.  In leagues with an innings cap, this may be a good time to leave the Rays righty on the pine.

April 11: Jake Arrieta vs. the Yankees

Arrieta opened the season with a strong showing against the Twins.  However, in his second start, he faces the much stronger Yankees lineup and their ace CC Sabathia.  The outlook isn’t good on this one.

April 13: R.A. Dickey vs. the Phillies

Dickey makes his second start of the season against the Phillies and Cliff Lee.  Dickey has never won in Citizens Bank Park and historically he has been far less effective in the cold air of the early season.

Two-Start Pitchers

In weekly lineup formats, the following two-start pitchers project to be productive in both starts and give you an opportunity to maximize you innings effectively.  They should be started in most formats.

• Cole Hamels
• Anibal Sanchez
• C.J. Wilson
• Jhoulys Chacin
• Chris Sale
• Shaun Marcum
• Ivan Nova
• Brandon Beachy
• Yu Darvish
• Matt Moore

• Clayton Kershaw
• Tommy Hanson
• Neftali Feliz

Until next week!