Jorge

Sosa

Avoid Sosa. He was 1-5 with a 5.60 ERA in nine starts before being sent to Triple-A, but there’s no sense bringing Jeremi Gonzalez back on three days’ rest and risking an injury to your most effective starter.

Jason Standridge is now scheduled to start Saturday.

No value.

Manager Lou Piniella said the six-man rotation next week will be Victor Zambrano, Chad Gaudin and Sosa at Oakland, and Joe Kennedy, Rob Bell and Jeremi Gonzalez at Seattle. Sosa had been scheduled to pitch against the Mariners. With Sosa unavailable in relief, the team plans to add an arm within the next few days. Todd Williams, Evan Rust and Josh Parker are candidates.

Manager Lou Piniella said the five-man starting rotation for next week’s homestand was Victor Zambano, Doug Waechter and Sosa on Tuesday through Thursday against Seattle, and Rob Bell and Jeremi Gonzalez the first two games of the weekend series against Oakland.

It was the first time he had worked more than six innings as a starter. Sosa has been terrific, but he’s still going to lose his rotation spot after Mike Hampton and John Thomson return.

They’ve been short outings for the most part, but Sosa has a 2.25 ERA in his 11 starts. He’s worth using in mixed leagues while starting.

Sosa will need to do better next time if he wants to stay ahead of Horacio Ramirez and remain the Braves’ fifth starter. He’s still worth owning in fantasy leagues.

It doesn’t happen often, but Bobby Cox handled this situation badly. Putting Sosa in the rotation over Horacio Ramirez only to yank him after one bad start was a Lou Piniella move. Sosa will likely work in middle relief the rest of the season. He still has some value in NL-only leagues.

Sosa will join the pen and pitch in the middle innings. Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan has gotten plenty of mileage out of lesser talents. Sosa, though, doesn’t need to be owned in NL-only leagues right now.