by Gerrit Ritt

Updated: April 22, 2008, 1:12 PM EST 1 comment

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The aces for the Red Sox, Padres, Cubs, Diamondbacks and several other teams hit the mound a pair of times this week, which should make for some quality strikeout totals and possibly a lot less offense around the league.

Check out all the rest of the big names who are going twice this stanza.

Top Two-Start Pitchers of the Week

Josh Beckett, Boston: He missed his first start of the year, then came back and got shelled in his first appearance. After that, though, Beckett's won two straight, including an eight-inning outing against the Yankees last Thursday. He's always a force for strikeouts, of course, so he's an easy play no matter what kind of league you're in.

Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs: The Big Z has put together two solid starts in his last three games, beating the Astros and Reds while striking out 12 in 14 innings. This week, he'll face the Mets and Nationals, the latter of which should be a relatively easy outing. The Mets will be no cupcake game, but it's not often Zambrano gets shelled, so I wouldn't worry about it all that much. Ride the big man this week.

Brandon Webb, Arizona: The ace of the D-Backs' staff has given up just four runs in four games this season. He's scheduled against the weak-hitting Giants and at San Diego's Petco Park. This should be a huge week for him and his owners.

Felix Hernandez, Seattle: King Felix gets Baltimore and Oakland this go around. If I owned him, I'd more than happy to see those two teams on the schedule. Lock him up.

Jake Peavy, San Diego: The game's best pitcher through the season's first three weeks, Peavy has been a beast against any and all foes that come in his path. Having to pitch at Minute Maid Park in Houston isn't a great thing, but the Astros aren't exactly killing the ball right now, so I wouldn't be phased by that. You'll be happy he gets the Diamondbacks at Petco later in the week. He's an automatic play any week, but this looks to be as solid a week as any.

Sleepers

Micah Owings, Arizona: Owings didn't get the two starts last week he was scheduled for, so this week he'll make up for that. He's been impressive this season, so you definitely don't wanna be sleeping on starting him. His 2.26 ERA through three starts should be enough for you already, but 19 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings should make him even more enticing. Games against the Giants and at Petco should be the final straw. Start him.

Hong-Chih Kuo, Los Angeles Dodgers: He hasn't pitched more than four innings in a game thus far this year, yet he hasn't given up but one run either. In just over 10 innings in three appearances, Kuo has a miniscule 0.84 ERA and an amazing 14 strikeouts. He'll get the Pirates at home in his first game, which could be a bit of a challenge, since the Bucs are hitting the ball well, but he should be able to keep them at bay for five or six innings before going to Atlanta the following weekend.

C.C. Sabathia has been a colossal disappointment this season, pitching to a ridiculous 13.50 ERA through four games. (Matt Sullivan / Getty Images)

Potential Disappointments

C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland: Sabathia obviously hasn't been setting the world on fire quite yet this year. Giving up NINE runs in back to back games will do that to anybody! His 13.50 ERA through four games is about as ugly as it gets, so stay away if you can. Let him prove he can't people out first.

Justin Verlander, Detroit: Verlander hasn't been much better than Sabathia this season, allowing at least four runs in all four games he's started thus far. His 7.03 ERA is nowhere near Verlander like, and neither are his 14 strikeouts in nearly 19 innings. He needs to get himself on track soon if the Tigers expect to do anything in '08.

Roy Oswalt, Houston: As a frequent Oswalt owner, I'm a little unnerved by what I've seen out of him in his first four starts. He's 1-3 with a 6.65 ERA and only 10 strikeouts in nearly 18 innings of work. That's unacceptable for an ace like him. Games against San Diego and St. Louis should be able to turn things around a little, but I've personally lost a little trust in him and actually sat him last week for the first time I can remember.

Other Two-Start Pitchers

AL East

Baltimore: Adam Loewen (@ sea, @ cws)
Boston: Clay Buchholz (TEX, TB)
New York: Chien-Ming Wang (@ cws, @ cle)
Tampa Bay: James Shields (TOR, BOS)
Toronto: Shaun Marcum (DET, @ kc); Jesse Litsch (@ tb, @ kc)

AL Central

Chicago: Jose Contreras (NYY, BAL)
Cleveland: Paul Byrd (BOS, @ min)
Detroit: Armando Galarraga (@ tor, LAA)
Kansas City: Gil Meche (CLE, TOR)
Minnesota: Livan Hernandez (@ oak, @ tex)

AL West

Los Angeles: Jered Weaver (@ bos, @ det)
Oakland: Joe Blanton (MIN, @ sea)
Seattle: Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista (KC, @ laa)
Texas: Kason Gabbard (@ bos, MIN); Vincente Padilla (@ det, MIN)

NL East

Atlanta: Tim Hudson, John Smoltz (WAS, @ nym)
Florida: Mark Hendrickson, Ricky Nolasco (@ pit, @ mil)
New York Mets: John Maine, Nelson Figueroa (@ chc, ATL)
Philadelphia: Kyle Kendrick, Brett Myers (@ col, @ pit)
Washington: Matt Chico, John Lannan (@ atl, CHC)

NL Central

Cincinnati: Josh Fogg, Edinson Volquez (LAD, @ sf)
Houston: Brandon Backe (SD, @ stl)
Milwaukee: Dave Bush, Carlos Villanueva (STL, FLA)
Pittsburgh: Matt Morris, Paul Maholm (FLA, PHI)
St. Louis: Adam Wainwright, Kyle Lohse (@ mil, HOU)

NL West

Colorado: Mark Redman, Jeff Francis (PHI, @ lad)
Los Angeles: Brad Penny (PIT, @ atl)
San Diego: Juston Germano (@ hou, SD)
San Francisco: Kevin Correia, Barry Zito (@ ari, CIN)