Today's Fantasy Rx

We modified these ratings slightly since posting our team-by-team LPR scores in January. By reworking the A-Z and a-z ratings, we wanted to be able to easily identify effective starters rather than looking for truly dominant performers, of which we only found a few pitchers in any of the previous few seasons.

1 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2003.
2 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2002.
3 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2001.

QA score for starts: up to 5 total points, one for each statistical goal, to any starter who pitches at least 5 innings and fulfills any of the following skill qualifications: K>=IP-2, BB<=IP/3, H<=IP, HR<=1, and G-F>=1.00. Any starter who doesn't reach any of the required statistical goals or fails to pitch 5 innings earns a 0 QA score.

QA score for relief outings: up to 5 total points, one for each statistical goal, to any reliever who retires at least one batter and fulfills any of the following skill qualifications: K>=IP, BB=0, H<=IP, HR=0, and G-F>=1.00. Any reliever who doesn't reach any of the required statistical goals or fails to retire a batter earns a 0 QA score.

Note: Starters must pitch in five games before scoring DOM or DIS ratings; relievers must appear in no less than 10 games before earning DOM/DIS consideration. All pitchers are evaluated as relievers aside from those who both reached 5 starts in a given season and qualified for DOM or DIS ratings.

A - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2002 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2001 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2002 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2001 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2002 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2001 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2002 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2001 relief outings

We've included the five most recent 2003 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through May 8th.

123
None.

12
ABXY - Odalis Perez(34452)

While he isn't quite matching his effectiveness from early last season, Perez is one of the safest NL starters to own. He plays half his game in an excellent pitchers' park while leaving potential wins in the hands of the best bullpen in the game. Unfortunately he owns a 1-2 record thanks to the Dodgers' terrible offense, but if you're looking for qualitative help or sim league help, make every effort to obtain Perez.

13
ABCXZ - Kevin Brown(33554)

Although I'm not convinced he'll avoid the DL all year and he longer appears the dominant ace from a few years ago, nothing in his stats indicates Brown won't remain one of the most effective starters in the game while healthy.

23
ABCXY - Roy Oswalt(24344)
BCYZ - Randy Johnson(4404)

abcxyz - Billy Wagner(3434334554)
bcyz - Jason Isringhausen
bcyz - Robb Nen

While Nen won't exceed this level due to his injury, the other four pitchers all posses good chances to reach a 123 score in the relatively near future. Izzy's delayed return might keep him from ascending until after the All-Star break, but we're confident in the performances of Oswalt and Wagner, as well as the likelihood Randy will return at his usual level of excellence.

1
ABXY - Mark Prior(54534)
ABX - Adam Eaton(54404)
X - Mark Redman(33344)
Shawn Chacon(35432)

Chacon simply owns too much downside for me to recommend him at this time, and Prior's performance likely leaves him untouchable in nearly every league. However Eaton and Redman both look quite good, and while their injuries makes them questionable acquisitions, you also should be able to add them cheaply right now. I don't expect long-term problems in either case, so see if you can grab either pitcher at a discount.

2
ABCXY - Matt Morris(34354)
ABX - Woody Williams(34244)
ABY - Kevin Millwood(03434)

Abcyz - Byung-Hyun Kim(45252)

Cabxyz - John Smoltz(5343224553)
bxyz - Steve Reed(3235135335)
axy - Joe Borowski(5535344343)
cz - Jay Witasick

Morris and Williams look capable of carrying the Cardinals' pitching to the playoffs, and while the inconsistency of Kim and Millwood concerns me, both pitchers should remain extremely effective for the rest of the year whenever healthy.

3
ABCYZ - Brian Lawrence(45030)
ABCX - Javier Vazquez(43434)
BCYZ - Greg Maddux(33352)
BCX - Al Leiter(34333)
CXZ - Brad Penny(43233)

bcxyz - Scott Stewart(4233455235)
acy - Rheal Cormier(5125444444)
cxz - Jeff Fassero(4455332535)
cyz - Jose Mesa(2244343332)
c - Grant Roberts

The only starter here that doesn't overly interest me is Maddux, however the consistency of Leiter, the upside and limited downside of Lawrence and Leiter, and the outright dominance of Vazquez' 69:8 K:BB make each of them excellent pitchers to deploy in any league.

A
BCXYZ - Curt Schilling(43451)
BXy - Carlos Zambrano(24443)
XYz - Kip Wells(44443)
BX - Jason Schmidt(23344)
XZ - Darren Dreifort(35354)
Xb - Zach Day(45344)
X - Jeff D'Amico(33444)
X - Jeff Suppan(44333)
X - Matt Kinney(24443)
X - Brett Myers(13443)
Horacio Ramirez(21543)
Kerry Wood(42432)
Darren Oliver(04043)

Everyone here aside from Oliver ranks among the best and most promising starters in the league, and even the Pittsburgh Jeffs should sustain their success for the foreseeable future. Schilling, Schmidt, Drefort, Kinney, Myers, and Wood appear to possess the most upside here, although Horacio Ramirez's quick development also impressed me.

B
XY - Matt Clement(54433)
Xz - Miguel Batista(30343 as starter)
C - Wade Miller(43024)
Y - A.J. Burnett(4444)
Ben Sheets(32433)
Jake Peavy(31443)

Although Clement and Batista look capable of excelling under nearly any conditions, the other three healthy starters here have demonstrated much more downside, especially considering the questionable control of Miller and Peavy. They're good pitchers, but I wouldn't rank them among the league's best starters.

C
X - Shane Reynolds(53043)
Pedro Astacio(503)
Steve Trachsel(32423)

Zbxy - Terry Adams(4343243301)
ax - Rocky Biddle(1345534443)
ax - Denny Reyes(5433554242)
a - Juan Cruz(4132453552)

The only great picks here are Reynolds and Biddle, however we like the potential of all these pitchers aside from perhaps Reyes.

X
Ycz - Vincente Padilla(43430)
Y - Randy Wolf(53333)
Brett Tomko(34433)
Tony Armas, Jr.(31443)
Russ Ortiz(34333)
Jae Seo(03335)
Hideo Nomo(33332)

Surprisingly I like this group of starters better than those with B or C ratings. All seven of these, particularly the Phillies and Tomko thanks to their respective offenses, should approach double-digit value, and a staff comprised of four or five of these starters also should fair well in every category.

Y
Orlando Hernandez.

Z
None.

a
bcxyz - Octavio Dotel(5453443445)
bcxyz - Paul Quantrill(3544432234)
bcxyz - Paul Shuey(2534342443)
bcxy - Mark Guthrie(5344430143)
bcxz - Braden Looper(3354323444)
bcyz - Jose Jimenez(3212444354)
bxyz - Joey Eischen(3404444352)

Most of these six relievers only have one minor skill problem keeping them from the top of the list, and usually they either have a risky G-F ratio or a slightly elevated walk rate. Neither of those reasons should keep you from owning these players in any standard league.

bcy - Armando Benitez(4435431435)
bcz - Scott Strickland(4345424343)
bxy - Eric Gagne(4554443444)
bxy - Ricky Stone(1443444554)
bxy - Scott Williamson(3435334435)
bxy - Tim Worrell(2534335344)
cxz - Graeme Lloyd(2424443435)
cxz - Felix Rodriguez(3341553442)

While these eight pitchers haven't displayed quite as much long-term consistency as the previous sextet, only Stone and FRod possess even mild downside; these four closers also all rank among the top eight in the league.

bc - Mike Myers(0445534440)
bx - Matt Herges(3434445343)
by - Luis Vizcaino(4243445444)
by - Darren Holmes(4255503550)
by - Mike Koplove(1244454340)
by - Tim Spooneybarger(4252355304)
by - Armando Almanza(3432424312)
bz - Scott Sauerbeck(3542440450)
cz - Kyle Farnsworth(3245524525)
cz - Dave Weathers(4345232345)

Herges, Koplove, Spooneybarger, and Farnsworth are the true high upside guys here, however Vizcaino looks quite good over the past few weeks. Frankly everyone here qualifies as decent roster filler, although Holmes and Weathers possess more upside than the lefty specialists.

x - Tom Martin(5504554554)
x - Javier Lopez(5352545455)
x - Joe Nathan(4442444344)
x - Jung Bong(4433552443)
x - T.J. Tucker(5555341334)
x - Brad Lidge(2454423543)
x - John Foster(3313344544)
x - Troy Brohawn(5334243524)
Oscar Villarreal(4443252453)
Cal Eldred(2554250345)
Julian Tavarez(432405333)

These eleven starters are the solid relievers who've only emerged this season. None of them is a team's primary saves' option, and only Nathan, Tucker, Lidge, and Eldred likely even rank among their respective squad's top three options. However all these pitchers, even Javier Lopez, have displayed respectable skills this year, and they all possess at least a little value in the deeper NL leagues.

b
cz - Danny Graves(23353)
cz - John Riedling(0 as starter)
y - Chris Reitsma(41)
Carl Pavano(25403)
Jeff Austin(332)

All five of these guys show some potential as starters, but I can't recommend any of them right now in 4x4 leagues as even though Pavano might be useful at home, you can't risk running the Reds' starters at the GAB.

cxyz - Roberto Hernandez(3544333304)
cyz - Mike Remlinger(4355332441)
cyz - Todd Jones(4423443322)
cyz - Ray King(3435243400)
cyz - Mike Williams(3302532433)
cyz - Antonio Alfonseca(525)

Jones' downside doesn't even make him worth rostering on the road, however the other five pitchers all possess intriguing roto potential, especially in standard leagues, as they all own good skills and pitch in short relief roles that can facilitate the accumulation of both saves and vultured wins.

cy - Trevor Hoffman
cz - Steve Kline(0443220320)
cz - Mike Lincoln
C - Brian Fuentes(3433544233)
y - Jason Middlebrook(43)
y - Mike Crudale(232)
y - Hector Mercado(3112)
y - Dave Coggin
y - Jayson Durocher
Brian Boehringer(3544422432)
Justin Speier(3444224423)
Carlos Silva(2333434534)
Toby Borland(24243)
Gene Stechschulte

Kline and Crudale might be the best options for saves in St. Louis, however while only half of the remaining pitchers here aren't on the DL, I don't see logical rationale for deploying any of them.

c
z - Josh Fogg(2530)
Nelson Cruz(31130)

x - Curt Leskanic(3324334335)
y - Chad Zerbe(43243244)
z - Joe Beimel(5324233530)
z - Dan Miceli(3303333543)
z - Jason Christiansen
z - Kevin Walker
Dan Plesac(2335004044)
Jesse Orosco(2440424043)
Scott Eyre(3255313432)
Dave Veres(23333)
Allen Levrault(122)
John Franco

Although none of these pitchers is risk-free, Leskanic, Beimel, and even Eyre and Zerbe are relatively safe players to own in extremely deep leagues.

x
Guillermo Mota(4235233554)
Kent Mercker(3230435454)
Mike Stanton(2324335443)
Luis Ayala(4233344323)
Jaret Wright(4333534123)
Pete Munro(3333423204)

I expect Mota to head up this list next week as he's performing among the best relievers in baseball. Stanton and Ayala are ownable, however while Wright has the most immediate upside here, he also posssess the greatest degree of risk.

y
Mike DeJean(3434525332)
Matt Mantei(3253352525)
Jaime Cerda(443323432)
Brandon Puffer(32344)

DeJean and Mantei are perfectly acceptable closers, but neither Cerda nor Puffer merit ownership in nearly any league.

z
Paul Wilson(04202)

While I still see some upside here, GAB gives him far too much immediate downside to deploy in the near future.

Tomorrow, like every Sunday, we'll post our preview of the coming week's games and our CDM challenge lineups.

Today's Fantasy Rx: While Lidle and Ponson jumped out at me from yesterday's article, I'm similarly impressed by the performances of Eaton and Redman in the NL. Unfortunately their injuries limit my enthusiasm, although a couple other pitchers today jump out at me. Odalis Perez looks like a solid bargain in most leagues, and while I doubt you can acquire Javier Vazquez in 5x5 leagues, he's received little press for an excellent season thus far, making him an intriguing target anywhere that doesn't count strikeouts. Among the rest of the demonstrably-skilled younger starters listed above, Brad Penny leads a group of post-hype, post-injury pitchers at the beginning of promising stretches in their respective careers.