Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati: Some people may be afraid to start him after watching him get trounced in his last start, but I'm not most people. The Pirates and Nationals certainly don't scare me, so this seems to be one of the easiest plays on the board this week if you asked me.

Todd Wellemeyer, St. Louis: He may be making just his second start after sitting out a couple games, and he may be going up against the lineups of the Mets and Cubs, but he's doing it home, where he's been terrific. He's been too strong this season not to think he won't have a couple good performances this week.

Aaron Cook, Colorado: The bad news? Both his starts this week are at Coors Field. The good news? They're against light hitting San Diego and then Florida. Can't imagine him getting touched up too badly, so his 10-5 record and 3.64 ERA are nice plays.

Rich Harden, Oakland: The matchups are no good, having to face two big-hitting teams (Angels and White Sox) on the road, but when you're 5-0 on the year with a 2.15 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 67 innings, you play him every stinkin' time he trots out there, regardless of opponent.

Tim Redding, Washington: He hasn't thrown more than 6 1/3 of an inning since the first game of the year, but you'll never believe this stat once I tell it to you ... the Nationals haven't lost in his last nine starts, and they've won 14 of his 17 outings this season! For a guy pitching for the Washington Nationals, that could very well be the most amazing thing I've heard in quite some time. I suddenly don't care that he's playing in Florida and in Cincinnati this week. He's a keeper.