By Danny Goldin
June 26, 2009 3:30pm CDT

Each week, we'll profile the projected two-start pitchers for the upcoming fantasy week (June 29-July 5). Keep in mind that these are subject to change if managers adjust their rotations over the weekend due to injuries or inclement weather.

SAFE BETS

Dan Haren (ARZ): at CIN (B. Arroyo); at COL (U. Jimenez) - While it may not always translate to a win, Haren continues to deal every fifth day. All but one of his 15 outings this year have been quality starts, and he's fanned nearly a batter an inning along the way. He's an obvious must-start regardless of the matchup, so take the two starts as an added bonus.

Jon Lester (BOS): at BAL (J. Berken); vs SEA (B. Morrow) - Lester got on track in a big way after a rough start to the year with three-straight one-run, double-digit-strikeout performances from late-May to mid-June, and has looked good, but not great, in two starts against mediocre Florida and Washington lineups since. He should look more great than good against two offenses both in the bottom-10 of runs scored this month and has a chance to go 2-0 on the week against two far from reliable pitchers.

Roy Halladay (TOR): vs TB (M. Garza); at NYY (J. Chamberlain) - I'd proceed with caution with almost any other pitcher in their first start since coming off the DL, but you just don't get that sense of uneasiness with Halladay. His groin is apparently fully healed, and even against two fine offenses within the division, expect Roy to get right back on track toward challenging Zack Greinke in the race for the AL Cy Young Award.

Matt Garza (TB): at TOR (R. Halladay); at TEX (V. Padilla) - Garza has a tough matchup against Halladay to kick off the week, but the ace of Tampa Bay's staff has reached must-start status, regardless of the matchup, at this point. He's been dominant over both Toronto (1.99 ERA, 1.06 WHIP in six starts) and Texas (1.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP in four starts) over his young career. Keep in mind, however, that Scott Kazmir's likely return from the DL could throw a kink into the Rays' pitching schedule.

Johan Santana (NYM): at MLW (M. Burns); at PHI (J. Blanton) - In what should come as no surprise whatsoever to anyone that's followed this man's career, Santana has gotten back to his ace-like form after a rough two-game stretch in the middle of the month. The fact that he's logged no more than three strikeouts in June is certainly annoying, but he remains one of the best in the game and will almost surely buck that trend against Milwaukee to open the week.

Gavin Floyd (CWS): at CLE (C. Pavano); at KC (L. Hochevar) - It's pretty shocking Floyd is able to make this section of the column given how truly atrocious he was to start the year, but that's what happens when your in the midst of a seven-game quality start streak. Floyd has allowed a mere one earned run each of his past four starts, the first of which came against Cleveland, and neither pitching matchup is too scary.

Chris Carpenter (STL): vs SF (R. Johnson); at CIN (B. Arroyo) - Sure, I did write about Carp in the installment in my 'Selling High' column this week, but that's not to say he isn't still one of the top weekly plays whenever he's healthy. There's no reason to think he won't continue to deal in either of his turns this upcoming week.

Roy Oswalt (HOU): at SD (J. Geer); at SF (T. Lincecum) - Oswalt's season has been a disappointment for the most part, but he's still shown plenty of flashes of his ace-like self and is coming off a gem against the Royals. Expect him to dominate to of the league's weaker offenses at each of their pitcher-friendly ball parks.

Tim Lincecum SF: vs. STL (B. Thompson); vs. HOU (R. Oswalt) - Do you really need us to give you a statistical reason to start this kid? In four starts against Houston in his career he has a 0.79 ERA, and he is 3-0 in his career against the Cardinals.

NEXT BEST THINGS

Ubaldo Jimenez (COL): at LAD (R. Wolf); vs ARZ (D. Haren) - Jimenez has come into his own this season and has won three of his last four games. He's lasted through at least six innings in all 11 of his starts since May and has racked up the strikeout numbers as a result. The Dodgers have averaged a mere 3.7 runs per game this month, and Jimenez dominated the Diamondbacks back in his first start of the season.

Joba Chamberlain (NYY): vs SEA (B. Morrow); vs TOR (R. Halladay) - Joba has been good but not great all year long, with fine strikeouts numbers and a viable 3.81 ERA, though the 1.41 WHIP needs to come down. He has a tough matchup against a solid Toronto offense with their ace back on the mound, but should be able to muster a win against Morrow and the Mariners.

Nick Blackburn (MIN): at KC (L. Hochevar); vs DET (R. Porcello) - Blackburn is on a streak of seven-straight quality starts. He's lasted at least eight innings in his past three starts and has made it through at least seven in eight of his past nine, plus he was dominant against both Kansas City (2.35 ERA, 0.91 WHIP in two starts) and Detroit (2.75 ERA, 0.97 WHIP in three starts) last season. Still, I can't help but always feel a bit nervous going with a guy that is such a complete lack of a strikeout threat, as he logs just one strikeout every 2.5 innings, and he did have by far his worst start of the season this year back at the beginning of May against the Tigers.

Rich Harden (CHC): at PIT (Z. Duke); vs MLW (B. Looper) - Harden has struggled with his control over his past two starts and also hasn't been his typical strikeout-dominant self with just five in 10.1 innings. Still, he remains a guy that I trust whenever he's healthy, and as far as we know there's nothing physically wrong with him right now, so expect him to turn things around against two manageable lineups. The only time he faced either since coming to the Cubs was when he allowed one run with just five baserunners and 10 strikeouts in six innings against Milwaukee in his first start this season.

Zach Duke (PIT): vs CHC (R. Harden); at FLA (A. Miller) - He's had a few rough outings along the way, but it's been smooth sailing for the most part this season for Duke and he's lasted at least six innings in 14 of his 15 starts, 11 of which have been the 'quality' variety. He looks like a guy that should remain pretty effective all year long, as long as you're not looking for strikeouts, as he's fanned less than one better every other inning.

Ted Lilly (CHC): at PIT (R. Ohlendorf); vs MLW (M. Burns) - Don't let Lilly's rough outing against Detroit scare you away, as he's been one of the more consistent pitchers in the league in every category since joining the Cubs in 2007. Look for Lilly to get back on track with two very winnable games against mediocre offenses and unreliable pitchers.

Randy Johnson (SF): at STL (C. Carpenter); vs HOU (B. Moehler) - Randy's overall ERA is still a bit lofty at 4.68, but he's been very effective over his past seven starts, four of which he's yielded no more than one run, and has gone 4-1 over the span. Expect the lengthy lefty to continue his nice run against two beatable offenses.

Kenshin Kawakami (ATL): vs PHI (J. Blanton); at WAS (C. Stammen) - Kawakami was cruising against the Yankees in his last start with a perfect game through three innings before a come-backer off his neck knocked him out of the game, but he's fine and expected to remain right on schedule in the rotation. He's been great since getting acclimated to the majors following a rough April, having failed to surrender any more than three earned runs in his 10 starts the past two months. He beat the Phillies in May and should have a good chance to log a win against the Nationals.

Vin Mazzaro (OAK): vs DET (R. Porcello); at CLE (C. Pavano) - This 22-year-old has logged a 2.56 ERA and 1.07 WHIP since getting the call at the beginning of the month and has looked like a man mature beyond his years. He's lasted at least six innings in all five of his starts and has shown excellent control to go along with decent strikeout numbers. I expect him to get the better of Detroit's Porcello, and you can expect a win at Cleveland the way Pavano's been getting rocked of late.

Joe Saunders (LAA): at TEX (S. Feldman); vs BAL (R. Hill) - Saunders continues to get the job done for the Angels, and while he never draws the most excitement among fantasy owners, you can't argue the help he's given with a fine 8-4 record, 3.66 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. Still, you have to be a bit worried about a guy pitching in Texas who finds strikeouts so tough to come by.

AT YOUR OWN RISK

Fernando Nieve (NYM): at MLW (B. Looper); at PHI (J. Moyer) - Nieve does not have the track record to explain his phenomenal success since joining the Mets' starting rotation this month, but he's simply been too good to ignore through his first three starts, going 3-0 while allowing just three total runs and surrendering no more than four hits in any outing, all three of which he lasted at least six innings. Still, be ready for at least somewhat of a falloff soon, as he continues to display shaky control, and I worry about how he'll fair in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park.

Joe Blanton (PHI): at ATL (K. Kawakami); vs NYM (J. Santana) - Blanton has been quite effective over his past six starts and is coming off a 10-strikeout outing against the Rays, but it may be best to avoid him this week. He's been shelled to the tune of 13 runs in his two starts against the Braves this year and is scheduled to face the Mets with Santana on the mound.

Luke Hochevar (KC): vs MIN (N. Blackburn); vs CWS (G. Floyd) - The first overall pick from 2006 has been pretty effective this month with quality starts in three of his four outings. Still, you can't feel too comfortable entrusting him with two turns, as he got rocked two starts ago against Arizona, was awful in May, and sports a terribly weak K/9 ratio of 3.76. He also faces two effective pitchers that are each currently on seven-game quality start streaks, so a win could be tough to come by.

Randy Wolf (LAD): vs COL (U. Jimenez); at SD (W. LeBlanc) - Sure, Wolf has a great matchup at San Diego against LeBlanc, but it's tough to trust him at this time. He's been rocked in three of his past five outings and was unable to make it out of the fourth inning in his last start. In those five starts, he's fanned just 13 batters in 26.2 innings and best deserves to be on the bench, if owned at all, at this point.

Sean O'Sullivan (LAA): at TEX (V. Padilla); vs BAL (J. Berken) - O'Sullivan has been a fine option for the Angels over his first two starts, but he simply does not have enough of a track record, nor the above-average stuff, to merit much trust. He does have a nice matchup against Baltimore, but such an unproven pitcher taking the mound in Texas could be frightening.

Vicente Padilla (TEX) : vs LAA (S. O'Sullivan); vs TB (M. Garza) - Padilla has been pretty effective of late, but he just seems like one of those guys that always let you down right when you thought you could trust him. The Angels and Rays are both in the top-six of runs scored in June.

Brandon Morrow (SEA): at NYY (J. Chamberlain); at BOS (J. Lester) - Morrow is still young and has the stuff to one day be a dominant pitcher, whether it be as a starter or closer, though you simply can't take the risk of having him active in your lineup this week, not against two of the league's most dangerous lineups with two of their better starters on the mound.

PICK OF THE WEEK
Ricky Nolasco (FLA): vs WAS (C. Stammen); vs PIT (R. Ohlendorf) - Nolasco has been superb since straightening things out in the minors and looks poised to make a second-half run similar to that of last year. He's 2-0 in his last three starts, having yielded just three earned runs over eighteen innings while issuing a mere two walks and striking out 21. He should continue his dominance against two weak offenses and have a chance to improve to 4-0 in the post-minor-league-stint era of his season against two weaker starters.

HEDGE YOUR BETS

Rick Porcello (DET): at OAK (V. Mazzaro); at MIN (N. Blackburn) - The 20-year-old has gotten the job done with great success the past two months, but I still have my doubts for Porcello this season. He's allowed just three earned runs over his past two starts, but you can add on another two that came unearned, and you'd think that he would have been tagged for a whole lot more considering he surrendered a double-digit total of baserunners in each game despite failing to make it through the sixth inning each time. Porcello will continue to be placed on a strict pitch count somewhere in the 80s or 90s, making it tough to believe he can continue to maintain the pace he's set with eight wins in 14 starts thus far. He fails to record many strikeouts, I question whether he'll be the better prospect on the mound in Oakland, and he'll have a tough time handling Minnesota's lefties.

OTHERS

Carl Pavano (CLE): vs CWS (G. Floyd); vs OAK (V. Mazzaro)
Craig Stammen (WAS): at FLA (R. Nolasco); vs ATL (K. Kawakami)
Jason Berken (BAL): vs BOS (J. Lester); at LAA (S. O'Sullivan)
Braden Looper (MLW): vs NYM (F. Nieve); at CHC (R. Harden)
Brad Thompson (STL): vs SF (R. Johnson); at CIN (M. Owings)
Josh Geer (SD): vs HOU (R. Oswalt); vs LAD (H. Kuroda)
Clayton Richard (CWS): at CLE (C. Lee); at KC (B. Bannister)
Brian Bannister (KC): vs MIN (S. Baker); vs CWS (C. Richard)
Rich Hill (BAL): vs BOS (J. Smoltz); at LAA (J. Saunders)
Ross Ohlendorf (PIT): vs CHC (T. Lilly); at FLA (R. Nolasco)
Bronson Arroyo (CIN): vs ARZ (D. Haren); vs STL (C. Carpenter)
Mike Burns (MLW): vs NYM (J. Santana); at CHC (T. Lilly)
Jonathan Sanchez (SF): at STL (C. Carpenter); vs HOU (B. Moehler)
Wade LeBlanc (SD): vs HOU (B. Moehler); vs LAD (R. Wolf)

TWO-START NOTES

- Detroit has an off-day on Thursday, and thus can opt to skip Alfredo Figaro's scheduled Friday start. If they do, everyone would move up a day, and Armanda Galarraga would get a second start on the week. He'd make for an average play against Oakland and Minnesota.

- If the Dodgers skip Eric Milton on Friday following a day off, Chad Billingsley would receive a second start for the week and make for an excellent play at home versus Colorado and at San Diego.

- The Blue Jays can afford to skip Brad Mills' turn on Friday, which would result in a two-start week for Scott Richmond. Still, he'd be a mediocre play at best against the Rays and Yankees.