As you set your fantasy lineups for week one remember that there are 43 starting pitchers this week who will start twice. I've broken these 43 pitchers into three categories. There are 19 "must start" pitchers, nine solid options, and 15 risky hurlers throwing twice. For the record, since there is only one game tonight featuring the Braves and the Phillies, and it's a Sunday night game, you'll find that in most weekly leagues Derek Lowe and Brett Myers (tonight's starters) will only have one start in week one, even though they'll be starting twice in their teams first seven games.
Tim Lincecum looks to have a cake walk first week as he faces Milwaukee and San Diego. While Paul Maholm, Ian Snell, John Lannan and Scott Olsen have some of the toughest two-start schedules as they face tough teams in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Florida.
Must Start
Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks - Webb is at home versus Colorado and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Dan Haren, Diamondbacks - Haren is at home versus Colorado and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jair Jurrjens, Braves - Jurrjens is on the road at Philadelphia and gets Washington at home.
Josh Beckett, Red Sox - Beckett has tough matchups at home versus Tampa Bay and on the road against the Los Angeles Angels. But, he's still Josh Beckett. He's the ace of that staff.
Carlos Zambrano, Cubs - Zambrano is on the road against Houston and Milwaukee.
Ryan Dempster, Cubs - Dempster is on the road against Houston and Milwaukee.
Cliff Lee, Indians - Lee is pitching at Texas but at home versus Toronto.
Ricky Nolasco, Marlins - Nolasco has two home starts. The first is against the Nationals while the second is against the Mets.
Josh Johnson, Marlins - Johnson gets the Nationals and the Mets at home this week.
Roy Oswalt, Astros - Oswalt doesn't have easy matchups but he's home against the Chicago Cubs and on the road against the Cardinals.
Francisco Liriano, Twins - Liriano gets the Mariners at home and the White Sox on the road.
Johan Santana, Mets - Santana is on the road for both starts as he faces Cincinnati and then the Marlins.
C.C. Sabathia, Yankees - Sabathia is pitching at Baltimore and then at Kansas City. Smiles for all Sabathia owners.
Tim Lincecum, Giants - Lincecum gets Milwaukee at home and the has to pitch in San Diego.
Felix Hernandez, Mariners - Hernandez is pitching at Minnesota and then at home against the Athletics.
Erik Bedard, Mariners - Bedard is pitching at Minnesota and then at home against the Athletics.
Adam Wainwright, Cardinals - Wainwright is pitching at home twice. Once versus the Pirates and once against the Astros.
James Shields, Rays - Shields faces two aces this week. The first one will be Beckett at Boston and then he'll have to pitch at Baltimore against Guthrie.
Roy Halladay, Blue Jays - You just don't bench Halladay. But, he has two tough matchups this week against Verlander as Detroit comes to town and Cliff Lee on the road in Cleveland.
Solid Starts
Mark Buehrle, White Sox - Buehrle gets both Kansas City and Minnesota at home.
Aaron Harang, Reds - Tough luck for Harang who has to face off against Johan Santana in his first game. But at least his second matchup is Ian Snell and the Pirates.
Justin Verlander, Tigers - Pitching at Toronto against Halladay won't be as much fun as his home start against Texas.
Joe Saunders, Angels - Saunders gets Oakland at home. But then he has to face Beckett and the Red Sox Lineup next.
Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers - Has to face Peavy at San Diego and then Webb at Arizona. A lesser pitcher would be instantly benched.
Randy Wolf, Dodgers - Wolf doesn't have to face double aces this week, but pitching at San Diego and Arizona will be an early test.
Jake Peavy, Padres - Peavy gets to pitch at home twice this week against the Dodgers and the Giants.
Chris Young, Padres - Young also gets the Dodgers and the Giants at home, but he has to pitch against Lincecum.
Kyle Lohse, Cardinals - Lohse gets good matchups against the Pirates and then the Astros.
Risky Business
Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles - Not only does Guthrie have to face the Yankees and the Rays, but he has to face Sabathia and Shields. What fun.
Aaron Cook, Rockies - Cook is pitching at Arizona and at home against the Phillies.
Wandy Rodriguez, Astros - He gets two home starts, but they're against the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis.
Gil Meche, Royals - Meche travels to the White Sox and then has the pleasure of hosting the Yankees and C.C. Sabathia.
Dustin Moseley, Angels - Gets two home starts against Oakland and Boston.
Jeff Suppan, Brewers - Suppan gets to face Lincecum and the Giants and Dempster and the Cubs. Ouch!
Nick Blackburn, Twins - Blackburn gets Seattle and then the White Sox at home.
Dallas Braden, Athletics - Braden pitches at Los Angeles and then at home against the Mariners.
Trevor Cahill, Athletics - Cahill pitches at Los Angeles and then at home against the Mariners.
Paul Maholm, Pirates - St. Louis and Cincinnati are no easy tasks for Maholm in week one.
Ian Snell, Pirates - Not only does Snell fact the Cardinals and the Reds, but he does both on the road.
Kevin Millwood, Rangers - Millwood goes against Cleveland and Detroit this week.
David Purcey, Blue Jays - Purcey gets two home starts against Detroit and the Cleveland.
John Lannan, Nationals - Not only is Lannan pitching for the Nationals, but he has to face Nolasco and the Marlins and then Lowe and the Braves.
Scott Olsen, Nationals - Same for Olsen except he faces Johnson from Florida and Jurrjens from Atlanta.
