Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 2 Home vs. TOR; 2 Road at BAL; 3 Road at TB.
Chicago White Sox: 2 Home vs. MIN; 3 Road at DET; 3 Road at KC.
Florida: 2 Road at WAS; 2 Home vs. NYM; 3 Home vs. CIN.
Los Angeles Angels: 2 Home vs. SEA; 2 Home vs. CLE; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Milwaukee: 2 Home vs. LA; 2 Road at HOU; 3 Road at SF.
Minnesota: 2 Road at CHW; 2 Home vs. KC; 3 Road at DET.
New York Mets: 2 Road at PHI; 2 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. WAS.
Philadelphia: 2 Home vs. NYM; 2 Home vs. COL; 3 Road at ATL.
San Diego: 2 Home vs. SF; 2 Home vs. LA; 3 Road at ARI.
San Francisco: 2 Road at SD; 2 Home vs. ARI; 3 Home vs. MIL.
Texas: 2 Home vs. OAK; 2 Road at TB; 3 Road at NYY.
Toronto: 2 Road at BOS; 2 Home vs. NYY; 3 Home vs. BAL.
Washington: 2 Home vs. FLO; 2 Home vs. ATL; 3 Road at NYM.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 2 Road at COL; 2 Road at SF; 4 Home vs. SD.
Atlanta: 2 Road at HOU; 2 Road at WAS; 3 Home vs. PHI.
Baltimore: 2 Home vs. DET; 2 Home vs. BOS; 3 Road at TOR.
Chicago Cubs: 2 Road at CIN; 2 Road at STL; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Colorado: 2 Home vs. ARI; 2 Road at PHI; 3 Home vs. LAD.
Houston: 2 Home vs. ATL; 2 Home vs. MIL; 3 Road at STL.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 2 Road at MIL; 2 Road at SD; 3 Road at COL.
New York Yankees: 2 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at TOR; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Pittsburgh: 2 Home vs. STL; 2 Road at CIN; 3 Road at CHC.
St. Louis: 2 Road at PIT; 2 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. HOU.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cincinnati: 2 Home vs. CHC; 2 Home vs. PIT; 3 Road at FLO.
Cleveland: 2 Road at KC; 2 Road at LAA; 3 Road at SEA.
Kansas City: 2 Home vs. CLE; 2 Road at MIN; 3 Home vs. CHW.
Seattle: 2 Road at LAA; 2 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. CLE.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Detroit: 2 Road at BAL; 2 Home vs. CHW; 3 Home vs. MIN.
Oakland: 2 Road at TEX; 2 Road at SEA; 3 Road at LAA.
Tampa Bay: 2 Road at NYY; 2 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. BOS.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Bronson Arroyo: Tue:TOR(R.Halladay); Sun:@TB(M.Hendrickson)
Pedro Astacio: Tue:OAK(J.Blanton); Sun:@NYY(Ra.Johnson)
Joe Blanton: Tue:@TEX(P.Astacio); Sun:@LAA(K.Gregg or K.Escobar)
David Bush: Mon:@BOS(C.Schilling); Sat:BAL(E.Bedard)
Paul Byrd: Mon:SEA(A.Sele); Sat:OAK(D.Haren)
Chris Capuano: Mon:LAD(Od.Perez); Sat:@SF(M.Morris)
Roger Clemens: Mon:ATL(T.Hudson); Sat:@STL(M.Mulder)
Gary Glover: Tue:LAD(E.Dessens); Sun:@SF(Je.Williams)
Kevin Gregg?: Tue:SEA(J.Moyer); Sun:OAK(J.Blanton)?
Roy Halladay: Tue:@BOS(B.Arroyo); Sun:BAL(S.Ponson)
Dan Haren: Mon:@TEX(C.Park); Sat:@LAA(P.Byrd)
Livan Hernandez: Tue:FLO(B.Moehler); Sun:@NYM(V.Zambrano)
Tim Hudson: Mon:@HOU(R.Clemens); Sat:PHI(R.Wolf)
Randy Johnson: Tue:TB(M.Hendrickson); Sun:TEX(P.Astacio)
Brian Lawrence: Tue:SF(Je.Williams); Sun:@ARI(S.Estes)
Cliff Lee: Mon:@KC(Z.Greinke): Sat:@SEA(A.Sele)
Mark Mulder: Mon:@PIT(Da.Williams); Sat:HOU(R.Clemens)
Tomo Ohka: Mon:FLO(D.Willis); Sat:@NYM(K.Ishii)
Jake Peavy: Mon:SF(B.Tomko); Sat:@ARI(B.Webb)
Mark Prior: Tue:@CIN(B.Claussen); Sun:PIT(J.Fogg)
Brad Radke: Tue:@CHW(O.Hernandez); Sun:@DET(N.Robertson)
Nate Robertson: Tue:@BAL(S.Ponson); Sun:MIN(B.Radke)
Curt Schilling: Mon:TOR(Da.Bush); Sat:@TB(R.Bell)
Brett Tomko: Mon:@SD(J.Peavy); Sat:MIL(C.Capauno)
Jerome Williams: Tue:@SD(B.Lawrence); Sun:MIL(G.Glover)
Dontrelle Willis: Mon:@WAS(T.Ohka); Sat:CIN(M.Belisle)
Randy Wolf: Mon:NYM(K.Ishii); Sat:@ATL(T.Hudson)
Kerry Wood: Mon:@CIN(M.Belisle); Sat:PIT(Da.Williams)
Jaret Wright: Mon:TB(R.Bell); Sat:TEX(C.Park)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Brandon Backe: Tue:ATL(J.Thomson); Sun:@STL(M.Morris)
Denny Bautista: Tue:CLE(S.Elarton); Sun:CHW(O.Hernandez)
Erik Bedard: Mon:DET(Jas.Johnson); Sat:@TOR(Da.Bush)
Matt Belisle: Mon:CHC(K.Wood); Sat:@FLO(D.Willis)
Rob Bell: Mon:@NYY(Jar.Wright); Sat:BOS(C.Schilling)
Shawn Chacon: Mon:ARI(B.Webb); Sat:LAD(Od.Perez)
Brandon Claussen: Tue:CHC(M.Prior); Sun:@FLO(B.Moehler)
Jose Contreras: Mon:MIN(K.Lohse); Sat:@KC(Z.Greinke)
Elmer Dessens?: Tue:@MIL(G.Glover); Sun:@COL(J.Francis)?
Scott Elarton: Tue:@KC(De.Bautista); Sun:@SEA(J.Moyer)
Shawn Estes: Tue:@COL(J.Francis); Sun:SD(B.Lawrence)
John Thomson: Tue:@HOU(B.Backe); Sun:PHI(V.Padilla)
Josh Fogg: Tue:STL(M.Morris); Sun:@CHC(M.Prior)
Jeff Francis: Tue:ARI(S.Estes); Sun:LAD(E.Dessens or B. Penny)
Zach Greinke: Mon:CLE(Cl.Lee); Sat:CHW(J.Contreras)
Mark Hendrickson: Tue:@NYY(Ra.Johnson); Sun:BOS(B.Arroyo)
Orlando Hernandez: Tue:MIN(B.Radke); Sun:@KC(De.Bautista)
Kaz Ishii: Mon:@PHI(R.Wolf); Sat:WAS(T.Ohka)
Jason Johnson: Mon:@BAL(E.Bedard); Sat:MIN(K.Lohse)
Kyle Lohse: Mon:@CHW(J.Contreras); Sat:@DET(Jas.Johnson)
Brian Moehler: Tue:@WAS(L.Hernandez); Sun:CIN(B.Claussen)
Matt Morris: Tue:@PIT(J.Fogg); Sun:HOU(B.Backe)
Jamie Moyer: Tue:@LAA(K.Gregg); Sun:CLE(S.Elarton)
Vicente Padilla: Tue:NYM(V.Zambrano); Sun:@ATL(J.Thomson)
Chan Ho Park: Mon:OAK(D.Haren); Sat:@NYY(Jar.Wright)
Odalis Perez: Mon:@MIL(C.Capuano); Sat:@COL(S.Chacon)
Sidney Ponson: Tue:DET(N.Robertson); Sun:@TOR(R.Halladay)
Aaron Sele: Mon:@LAA(P.Byrd); Sat:CLE(Cl.Lee)
Brandon Webb: Mon:@COL(S.Chacon); Sat:SD(J.Peavy)
David Williams: Mon:STL(M.Mulder); Sat:@CHC(K.Wood)
Victor Zambrano: Tue:@PHI(V.Padilla); Sun:WAS(L.Hernandez)

Diamond Challenge

We opted not to add Dontrelle Willis this week due to our questionable offense and currently acceptable group of starters. At this point we want to save our moves to address our weakest areas.

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Tue:TB(M.Hendrickson); Sun:TEX(P.Astacio)
Johan Santana: Wed:KC(J.Lima)
Jason Schmidt: Thu:ARI(Ru.Ortiz)
Pedro Martinez: Thu:@FLO(A.Leiter)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:MIL(B.Sheets)
Roger Clemens: Mon:ATL(T.Hudson); Sat:@STL(M.Mulder)
Ben Sheets: Wed:@HOU(R.Oswalt)
Mark Mulder: Mon:@PIT(Da.Williams); Sat:HOU(R.Clemens)
Jake Peavy: Mon:SF(B.Tomko); Sat:@ARI(B.Webb)
Rich Harden: Thu:@SEA(R.Franklin)
Oliver Perez: Wed:@CIN(P.Wilson)
A.J. Burnett: Fri:CIN(A.Harang)
Josh Beckett: Wed:NYM(A.Heilman)

With four doubles and fairly solid singles for Santana and Burnett, this selections seems surprisingly easy.

We'll deploy Reed as Podsednik joins Morneau, Iguchi, and Reyes on the bench, but we own just enough cap room to run David Wright over Kevin Mench. While both hitters continue to struggle, Wright at least should play every day, giving him more immediate upside than Mench.

Rotohelp.com(4th lg; 44th div; 998th overall)
Week 3: April 18-April 25

C	Victor Martinez		860
C	John Buck		390
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310
1B	Travis Hafner		810
2B	Brian Roberts		960
2B	Marcus Giles		950
3B	Melvin Mora		1270
3B	Troy Glaus		830
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	1130
SS	Clint Barmes		400
OF	Carl Crawford		1560 
OF	Jim Edmonds		1250
OF	Adam Dunn		1110
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110
OF	Matt Holliday		630 
OF	Jeremy Reed		400
UT	Albert Pujols		1930 
UT	David Wright		800

SP	Randy Johnson		1980
SP	Johan Santana		1710
SP	Roger Clemens		1280 
SP	Mark Mulder		1060
SP	Jake Peavy		1030
SP	A.J. Burnett		830
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250
RP	Octavio Dotel		1240
RP	B.J. Ryan		950
RP	Guillermo Mota		950

Total Salary for Week 3: 	29980

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Tue:TB(M.Hendrickson)
Johan Santana: Wed:KC(J.Lima)
Jason Schmidt: Thu:ARI(Ru.Ortiz)
Pedro Martinez: Thu:@FLO(A.Leiter)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:MIL(B.Sheets)
Roger Clemens: Mon:ATL(T.Hudson)
Ben Sheets: Wed:@HOU(R.Oswalt)
Mark Mulder: Mon:@PIT(Da.Williams)
Jake Peavy: Mon:SF(B.Tomko)
Rich Harden: Thu:@SEA(R.Franklin)
Oliver Perez: Wed:@CIN(P.Wilson)
Josh Beckett: Wed:NYM(A.Heilman)

No starts: Burnett.

The breakdown of these starts makes our decision very simple: one we dismiss Pedro due to the Marlins' overall effectiveness, road start, and the reasonable chance of a postponement, Randy, Santana, Schmidt, Clemens, Peavy, and Beckett emerge as obvious plays.

Our pitching rotation requires the need for significant additional cap room, and with Morneau, Giles, and Podsednik all hurting, we'll deploy Mench for Pujols, leaving Edmonds in the lineup and Jose Reyes on the bench.

Rotohelp.com(7th lg; 313th overall)
Week 3a: April 18-April 21

C	Victor Martinez		860
C	John Buck		390
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310
1B	Travis Hafner		810
2B	Brian Roberts		960
2B	Tadahito Iguchi		750 
3B	Melvin Mora		1270
3B	Troy Glaus		830
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	1130
SS	Clint Barmes		400
OF	Carl Crawford		1560 
OF	Jim Edmonds		1250 
OF	Adam Dunn		1110
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110 
OF	Matt Holliday		630
OF	Jeremy Reed		400
UT	Todd Helton		1740 
UT	Kevin Mench		580

SP	Randy Johnson		1980
SP	Johan Santana		1710 
SP	Jason Schmidt		1510 
SP	Roger Clemens		1280 
SP	Jake Peavy		1030
SP	Josh Beckett		820
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250
RP	Octavio Dotel		1240
RP	B.J. Ryan		950
RP	Guillermo Mota		950

Total Salary for Week 3a 	29810

Fantasy Baseball & Budget Baseball
(Same game = same rosters and moves for both teams)

We nearly cut Guillermo Mota for Brandon Lyon, but despite the Marlins' newfound affinity for complete games, Mota still possesses more upside than Lyon, so we'll watch this season shake out for one more week before making any moves.

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Tue:TB(M.Hendrickson); Sun:TEX(P.Astacio)
Jason Schmidt: Thu:ARI(Ru.Ortiz)
Pedro Martinez: Thu:@FLO(A.Leiter)
Johan Santana: Wed:KC(J.Lima)
Ben Sheets: Wed:@HOU(R.Oswalt)
Jake Peavy: Mon:SF(B.Tomko); Sat:@ARI(B.Webb)
Oliver Perez: Wed:@CIN(P.Wilson)
A.J. Burnett: Fri:CIN(A.Harang)
Josh Beckett: Wed:NYM(A.Heilman)
Dan Haren: Mon:@TEX(C.Park); Sat:@LAA(P.Byrd)

The home starts of Santana, Burnett, and Beckett look like good pulls alongside the three doubles.

Injuries and ineffectiveness leave us with only activating Drew and Reed for Podsednik and Mench as a logical move. Morneau, Giles, Barmes, and Podsednik remain injured, we have no room to deploy Ensberg, and then the general struggles of Buck, Mench, and Kearns result in our failure to use about 1500 of cap space.

Rotohelp.com(4th lg; 658th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(11th lg; 1623rd overall)
Week 3: April 18-April 25

C	Victor Martinez		1800 
C	J.D. Closser		1000
1B	Todd Helton		3460
1B	Travis Hafner		1870
2B	Brian Roberts		1850
2B	Orlando Hudson		1540
3B	Eric Chavez		2740
3B	Hank Blalock		2240
SS	Rafael Furcal		2430 
SS	Clint Barmes		1000 
OF	J.D. Drew		2490
OF	Miguel Cabrera		2420
OF	Carl Crawford		2120 
OF	Matt Holliday		1470
OF	Jason Lane		1000 
OF	Jeremy Reed		1000
DH	Albert Pujols		3700
DH	Troy Glaus		2460

SP	Randy Johnson		3330
SP	Johan Santana		3090
SP	Jake Peavy		2090 
SP	A.J. Burnett		1900 
SP	Josh Beckett		1730
SP	Dan Haren		1070
RP	Octavio Dotel		2440
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	2630
RP	B.J. Ryan		2060
RP	Guillermo Mota		1940

Total Salary for Week 3: 	58550

Today's Fantasy Rx: While anyone who rostered pitchers like Schilling, Wood, and Prior at the start of the season should be eager to deploy their aces, exercise some caution if you somehow own any of this formerly injured trio. I see at least ten doubles I like more than Wood or Prior, and around eight as good as Schilling, so take advantage of any opportunity to deploy more consistently effective pitchers or even a closer like Miguel Batista before considering these starters.

Given the impressive number of intriguing doubles, you also should feel free to make your first purchase this week, especially with relatively inexpensive options like Dontrelle Willis and Bronson Arroyo looking like strong bets for a couple wins.