By Mike Sheets
July 4, 2008 11:58am CDT

Each week, we'll profile the projected two-start pitchers for the upcoming fantasy week. Keep in mind that these are subject to change as managers adjust their rotations over the weekend.

Safe Bets

C.C. Sabathia: @ DET (Bonine); vs TB (Kazmir) – Sabathia could be in a new uniform soon, but he's handling himself well in Cleveland for the time being, going 2-0 with a 2.32 ERA and 0.90 WHIP over his last four outings. That said, it is worth noting that C.C. was hammered for nine runs in just four innings of work when he last pitched against the Tigers in April.

Ervin Santana: @ TEX (Millwood); @ OAK (Eveland) - Once his Achilles heel, pitching on the road no longer fazes Santana. He's 6-1 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 10 starts away from Angels Stadium this year. He's a safe start this week.

Cole Hamels: vs STL (Pineiro); vs ARI (Johnson) – One of the top lefties in the game, Hamels is one of the few pitchers who actually enjoys pitching in Citizens Bank Park. In 10 home starts this season, he boasts a 2.84 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. However, it's interesting to note that his K/9 rate at home is 6.0, while his road mark is 8.1.

Joe Saunders: @ TEX (Feldman); @ OAK (Duchscherer) – Saunders just keeps on winning. He leads the American League with 12 victories and hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last four starts. On top of that, he boasts a 6-2 record with a 2.05 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in eight road starts this season.

Chad Billingsley: vs ATL (Jurrjens); vs FLA (Miller) – Billinglsey's 9.3 K/9 rate this season is one of the best mark's in the league. Not only that, but he's won each of his last four starts and hasn't allowed an earned run in either of his last two outings. Billingsley needs to lower his walk rate to have more consistency, but he still carries great value.

Daisuke Matsuzaka: vs MIN (Baker); vs BAL (Cabrera) – Dice-K struggled after his initial return from the disabled list (7 ER in 1 IP), but he's since righted the ship, allowing just one earned run in his last 10 innings, covering two starts. The downside is that he boasts a 4.10 ERA and 1.61 WHIP at Fenway Park this year (2.15 ERA, 1.17 WHIP on the road).

Justin Duchscherer: vs SEA (Silva); vs LAA (Saunders) – Looking for consistency? Well, here it is. Duchscherer has allowed either one or two earned runs in each of his last seven outings. Plus, he has allowed more than two earned runs in a game this year just once, and he allowed a whopping three runs in that game. The guy just doesn't quit.

Next Best Things

Scott Kazmir: @ NYY (Ponson); @ CLE (Sabathia) – Kazmir holds a strong 2.63 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 12 starts this season, but he's been struggling of late. Over his last three starts, he holds a 5.74 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. The lefty also doesn't pitch nearly as well on the road (3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) as he does at home (1.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP).

Ricky Nolasco: @ SD (Maddux); @ LAD (Kuroda) – Nolasco has been one of this year's more pleasant surprises. He's been especially sharp of late, holding a 2.35 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over his last four starts. Nolasco has been more effective at home this season, but the Padres' lackluster offense won't be much of a threat.

Matt Garza: vs KC (Meche); @ CLE (Lee) – Garza doesn't receive a ton of hype, but he's been one of the game's top hurlers over the last few weeks, holding a 1.55 ERA and 0.69 WHIP over his last four starts. However, he's struggled away from Tropicana Field (5.09 ERA, 1.25), so you'll want to temper your expectations for this week.

Manny Parra: vs COL (Redman); vs CIN (Thompson) – At times, Parra is simply dominant. On other nights, he just doesn't have it. There's good upside here, but until he can get a handle on his 4.8 BB/9 rate, the inconsistency will continue. That said, he posted a 2.59 ERA in June and tossed six shutout innings in his first July start, so he's throwing well right now.

Greg Maddux: vs FLA (Nolasco); vs ATL (Campillo) – With Maddux, it's simple. He enjoys pitching within the confines of PETCO Park (2.45 ERA, 1.00 WHIP). On the road, he starts feeling homesick (5.71 ERA, 1.54 WHIP). With two home starts this week, it's a worthy option.

Dana Eveland: vs SEA (Washburn); vs LAA (Santana) – Eveland's 7.8 H/9 rate this season is likely something he can't sustain in the second half, but he's been sharp of late, holding a 2.42 ERA and 1.19 over his last four outings. In addition, he sports a 2.84 home ERA this year (4.14 road ERA).

Paul Maholm: vs HOU (Moehler); vs STL (Pineiro) – Maholm has registered just one win in his last four outings, but he's been throwing well (3.15 ERA, 1.20 WHIP). He holds a 3.47 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in nine starts at PNC Park this year, so he remains a solid option this week.

Odalis Perez: vs ARI (Owings); vs HOU (Hernandez) – Since returning from the disabled list, Perez have been surprisingly sharp, holding a 1.69 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. We don't expect this kind of success to continue, but the fact his K/9 rate is up to 6.0 this season (4.2 in 2007) is a good sign. Consider him a short-term option.

At Your Own Risk

Gil Meche: @ TB (Garza); vs SEA (Washburn) – After a tough April (7.81 ERA), Meche turned things around in May (3.65 ERA) and June (3.13 ERA). That said, Meche has not fared well against Tampa Bay in his career, going 1-4 with a 5.65 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in eight starts.

Pedro Martinez: @ PHI (Eaton); vs COL (Jimenez) – It's hard to say anything positive about Pedro these days. His season ERA sits at 7.39, and he's allowed 17 earned runs in his last 15 innings of work (10.20 ERA). Citizens Bank Park isn't where pitchers want to go to get things back on track.

Jose Contreras: @ KC (Davis); @ TEX (Feldman) – Contreras was at the top of his game in May (2.09 ERA), but things went south in June (6.83 ERA). Considering he boasts a 4.83 ERA away from U.S. Cellular Field this season, the bad times figure to continue this week.

Micah Owings: @ WAS (Perez); @ PHI (Hamels) – Owings went 4-0 with a 3.48 ERA in five April starts, but that seems like a very long time ago. Since then, he posted a 4.74 ERA in May and an 8.22 mark in June. There's no way he can be used in fantasy right now.

Ubaldo Jimenez: @ MIL (McClung); @ NYM (Martinez) –Jimenez's main issue continue to be his control (or lack thereof). His 7.1 K/9 rate is strong, but he simply can't be successful consistently with a 4.7 BB/9 rate. On top of that, he's 0-6 with a 6.96 ERA and 2.06 WHIP on the road this season.

Jarrod Washburn: @ OAK (Eveland); @ KC (Meche) – Yes, the 5.08 ERA and 1.54 WHIP this season are ugly. However, his 2.49 ERA over his last four starts (albeit with a dangerous 1.54 WHIP) is noteworthy. Washburn is not a mixed-league option, but he's worthwhile in AL-only play.

Jorge Campillo: @ LAD (Kuroda); @ SD (Maddux) – Campillo's 2.99 ERA and 1.09 WHIP still looks pretty, but he's been struggling lately. Over his last three starts, he sports a 5.40 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. However, facing San Diego and its pop-gun offense could help the right-hander turn things around.

Pick of the Week

Dustin McGowan: vs BAL (Cabrera); vs NYY (Ponson) – McGowan's monthly ERAs this year are trending in the wrong direction: 3.57 ERA in April; 4.33 in May; 4.99 in June; 6.00 in one July start. However, if you can use him as a matchup guy, he has value. In seven home starts this year, he boasts a 2.20 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.

Hedge Your Bets

Scott Baker: @ BOS (Matsuzaka); @ DET (Robertson) – Baker is 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA in his last four starts. But his home/road splits are worth noticing. He sports a 2.67 ERA at home, compared to a 4.58 mark on the road. With two road starts this week, Baker is anything but a sure bet.

Others

Nick Blackburn: @ BOS (Lester); @ DET (Bonine)
Andrew Miller: @ SD (Wolf); @ LAD (Billingsley)
Kevin Correia: @ NYM (Pelfrey); @ CHC (Marquis)
Daniel Cabrera: @ TOR (McGowan); @ BOS (Matsuzaka)
Mike Pelfrey: vs SF (Correia); vs COL (Redman)
Sidney Ponson: vs TB (Kazmir); @ TOR (McGowan)
Hiroki Kuroda: ATL (Campillo); vs FLA (Nolasco)
Seth McClung: vs COL (Jimenez); vs CIN (Volquez)
Mark Redman: @ MIL (Parra); @ NYM (Pelfrey)
Scott Feldman: vs LAA (Saunders); vs CHW (Contreras)
Tom Gorzelanny: vs HOU (Bracke); vs STL (Wellemeyer)
Joel Pineiro: @ PHI (Hamels); @ PIT (Maholm)
Johnny Cueto: @ CHC (Marquis); @ MIL (Parra)
Kyle Davies: vs CHW (Contreras); vs SEA (Silva)
Carlos Silva: @ OAK Duchscherer); @ KC (Davies)
Adam Eaton: vs NYM (Martinez); vs ARI (Petit)
Eddie Bonine: vs CLE (Sabathia); vs MIN (Blackburn)
Runelvys Hernandez: @ PIT (Van Benschoten); @ WAS (Perez)
Luis Mendoza: vs LAA (Santana); vs CHW (Danks)
John Van Benschoten: vs HOU (Hernandez); vs STL (Lohse)

Two-Start Notes

John Van Benschoten may not receive two starts, depending on when Ian Snell and Phil Dumatrait return from the DL.

C.C. Sabathia would receive only one start if the Indians push back Cliff Lee and start him on Tuesday instead of Sabathia. Should that happen, Lee would get two starts.

Justin Verlander will get two starts if the Tigers keep him on regular rest.

Roy Oswalt could two-step if he returns Tuesday as planned and stays on regular rest.

Jair Jurrjens could start twice instead of Jorge Campillo if the Braves keep him on regular rest.