by Gerrit Ritt, FOXSports.com

Updated: May 9, 2008, 5:43 PM EST Comment

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Cliff Lee, Cleveland: He only has the best record, the best ERA and one of the best strikeout ratios in all of baseball this season. And to think, he was on the DL and in the minors most of last year. The turnaround is remarkable, and he'll get to face a Yankees team without Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada this week. He's as good as they get in fantasy right now, so no reason not to play him at this point.

Aaron Harang, Cincinnati: Despite the 1-4 record, Harang is still one of the better fantasy pitchers going. His ERA is under 3.00, his strikeouts are high and the WHIP is strong as well. He does have to face the hard-hitting Cubs this week, as well as the Mets, but he's proven he can get just about anybody out.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston: One of the better strikeout pitchers in the game throwing for one of the best teams in the game makes him an automatic start when going twice in a week. Not that he isn't an automatic start at any other point, either, but you know what I mean.

Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels: He's a perfect 5-0, his ERA sits at 2.48, his WHIP is 0.98, his strikeout rate is pretty solid and he gets to throw in K.C. this week. All of that seems like a winning combination in my book.

Chris Young, San Diego: One of the most underrated pitchers in baseball in my opinion. He strikes people out, his ERA is always strong and he'll throw at home against the Rockies this week, who aren't hitting well yet this season. If only he pitched more innings, he'd be the perfect fantasy stud.

Sleepers

Max Scherzer, Arizona: The rookie sensation for the D-Backs is a veritable strikeout machine, but can he stay on the mound enough innings against the Pirates and Cubs to get you enough to make it worth your time? It's the youngster's first two-start week of his short career, but his talent is easily worth a roll of the dice. His potential is abolutely through the roof.

Jonathan Sanchez, San Francisco: There aren't many pitchers in the majors with a better strikeout rate this season, and his overall game is coming around well, too. He'll be at Pittsburgh, then at home against the Phillies, which is good for him to get that lineup at a tougher hitters park than the one in Philadelphia. The numbers on this kid keep getting better and better, which has me picking him up in just about every league I can grab him.

Zack Greinke, Kansas City: I actually like him better than teammate Brian Bannister, who also has a two-start week for the Royals. His numbers recently have been better, and he has more strikeout potential as well. He'll get two home starts, which will have him more comfortable and able to throw stress free. Look for a couple solid starts.

Scott Olsen, Florida: He's become the ace of this staff again, and he wants to keep the job for a while. I like his home matchup against the Brewers, and a road game in Washington is even better. Be sure to get him in your lineup, as I like his week better than most others going.

Potential Disappointments

Randy Johnson, Arizona: He's been a disaster thus far, allowing six runs in two of his last three starts, which has his ERA roaming just under the 5.00 mark. The strikeouts are great, but he's only pitching an average of five innings a night, so the Ks aren't nearly as great as they could be. The Cubs have been a patient and high-scoring team this season, which could create more problems for the Big Unit in his second start of the week.

A.J. Burnett, Toronto: He's also big in the strikeout department, but the rest of the numbers just haven't been there. His ERA is climbing with every start, and his teammates aren't giving him much help at the plate, either. He'll go against the red-hot Rays this week as well as a road game in Cleveland, which is never a fun place to throw. I'd stay away from him, unless you really need 10-14 extra strikeouts.

Oliver Perez, New York Mets: Was supposed to be one of the Mets' top starters, but it hasn't worked out that way recently. The team has lost four of the last five games he's started, and he's dropped to 2-2 on the year because of that. He hasn't pitched more than six innings in a game all season long. So even though his strikeouts are decent, there aren't nearly enough innings in the week to really make them count. His matchups are decent this week, but not great, meaning I'd still recommend you keep your distance if you can.

Other Two-Start Pitchers

AL East

Baltimore: Garrett Olson, Matt Albers (@ oak, @ kc)
Boston: Tim Wakefield (@ det, @ min)
New York: Andy Pettitte (CLE, @ det)
Tampa Bay: Jason Hammel (@ tor, LAA)
Toronto: Dustin McGowan (CWS, @ cle)

AL Central

Chicago: Javier Vazquez (@ tor, @ sea); Gavin Floyd (MIN, @ sea)
Detroit: Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson (BOS, NYY)
Kansas City: Brain Bannister (LAA, BAL)
Minnesota: Nick Blackburn (@ cws, BOS)

AL West

Oakland: Dana Eveland (BAL, @ tex)
Seattle: Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista (TEX, CWS)
Texas: Kevin Millwood, Sidney Ponson (@ sea, OAK)

NL East

Atlanta: Jair Jurrjens (SD, @ pit)
Philadelphia: Jamie Moyer, Adam Eaton (@ ari, @ sf)
Washington: Shawn Hill (@ hou, FLA)

NL Central

Chicago: Ryan Dempster (@ cin, ARI)
Houston: Shawn Chacon (WAS, @ lad)
Milwaukee: Jeff Suppan (@ fla, STL)
Pittsburgh: Tom Gorzelanny (SF, ATL)
St. Louis: Joel Pineiro, Braden Looper (@ col, @ mil)

NL West

Colorado: Ubaldo Jimenez, Mark Redman (STL, @ sd)
Los Angeles: Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda (NYM, HOU)