Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method of identifying highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. While we have not changed this system since last season, feel free to refer to this key for a complete description of the codes. We have included the five most recent 2006 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through August 16th. Pitchers with no QA scores have not pitched this year, so do not roster any of them unless you see someone ready to return to the majors.

1
2A - C.C. Sabathia(02455)
ABCXYZ - Johan Santana(42454)
AXax - Francisco Liriano(34440)
ABX - Jeremy Bonderman(34344)
Justin Verlander(35223)

23abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(5554424345)
abcxyz - Akinori Otsuka(4423445443)
abcxyz - Juan Rincon(3454135552)
abxyz - Scot Shields(4243445234)
abcx - J.J. Putz(4335443252)
Cax - Dennys Reyes(4453555353)
x - Jeremy Accardo(2231254333)

2
ABY - Felix Hernandez(54443)
BXY - Roy Halladay(33334)
B - Josh Beckett(53253)
X - Kevin Millwood(32333)
Y - Bartolo Colon(34340)

3bcyz - Julian Tavarez(3233543134)
abcxyz - B.J. Ryan(4343044544)
abxy - Huston Street(4155444534)
abxy - Justin Duchscherer(2444435443)
aby - Todd Jones(5554553255)

3
ABCY - A.J. Burnett(50045)
ACXZ - Curt Schilling(33243)
BCZ - Randy Johnson(30254)
CZ - Freddy Garcia(43334)

abcxyz - Kiko Calero(5340344535)
abxyz - Mike Timlin(3323414453)
Travis Harper(2344521542)
Kevin Gregg(4343433422)

A
BY - Rich Harden(44400)
CZ - Jake Westbrook(34353)
B - Erik Bedard(43444)
X - Mike Mussina(55345)
X - Joe Saunders(43450)
Jered Weaver(22314)

Inconsistent control leaves Saunders a far riskier options than his fellow Angels' starters, however feel free to run him in standard AL leagues.

B
CX - Cory Lidle(33503)
XY - Kelvim Escobar(35452)
Jose Contreras(42343)
John Lackey(44032)
Jae Weong Seo(10242)
Barry Zito(23311)

Y - Hector Carrasco(3424405222)
a - Scott Downs(4340554234)

C
Nate Robertson(33434)
Odalis Perez(00023)
Z - Carl Pavano

Za - Joe Kennedy(4324245055)

X
Dan Haren(34553)
James Shields(33454)
Luke Hudson(44330)

While I don't consider him a particularly impressive pitcher right now, Shields possesses plenty of long-term upside and at least won't hurt you for the moment. Consider him a definite keeper anywhere under $5.

Y
Esteban Loaiza(02433)

Z
Mark Buehrle(21414)
David Wells(00421)

a
bcxyz - Joe Nathan(4544454554)
bcxyz - Francisco Rodriguez(3424355335)
bcxy - Kyle Farnsworth(5445342554)
bcxy - Mike MacDougal(4434005445)
bxy - Bobby Jenks(4532344354)
xy - Manny Delcarmen(4343244422)
b - Ambiorix Burgos(5522445233)
x - Pat Neshek(4333445545)
x - Mark Lowe(4343354445)
x - Jon Papelbon(3445403445)
x - Brandon League(2554433545)
x - Joe Nelson(4353334444)
x - Scott Feldman(4443343434)
x - Wes Littleton(4442453343)
x - Fausto Carmona(3553033442)
Shawn Camp(2454453424)
Matt Smith(5224234443)
Fernando Cabrera(4425421243)
Matt Thornton(5543322433)
Rafael Perez(3355143402)

Several rookie pitchers definitely deserve their placement here, and Neshek and Lowe even stand out from Boston's dominant young duo. Now that Nelson appears lodged in the Royals' save mix, his value could continue to rise over the balance of the year.

b
cyz - Rafael Betancourt(4334433232)
xyz - Ron Villone(3243324342)
cz - Octavio Dotel(3)
yz - Rudy Seanez(2424534303)
y - George Sherrill(2244345410)
y - Tim Byrdak(4144032343)
y - David Riske(1243532423)
y - Jay Witasick(2332123)
Scott Sauerbeck(4312324504)

Dotel's finally healthy, so anyone in keeper leagues should target him for a few bucks in the hope of landing a potential closer after he lands somewhere like Tampa or Arizona next year.

c
xz - Todd Williams(3541344315)
yz - Dustin Hermanson
x - J.C. Romero(3004323345)
z - Brendan Donnelly(4345443310)
z - LaTroy Hawkins(2323441514)
z - Keith Foulke(4133353313)
Dan Miceli(4433231535)
Mike Myers(3523234043)
Brian Meadows(2322222223)

x
y - Justin Speier(4454534441)
y - Fernando Rodney(3423435234)
C.J. Wilson(3445334533)
Rafael Soriano(2452454322)
Joel Zumaya(3244334252)
Joaquin Benoit(3452530333)
Craig Hansen(3533523224)
Sean Green(3333333433)

y
z - Jason Frasor(2532333350)
Neal Cotts(3513354121)
Ron Flores(3552302352)
Chris Ray(5323234133)
Marco Carvajal

z
Rodrigo Lopez(30343)

Javier Lopez(4524050333)

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 2006.
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 2005.
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 2004.

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. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

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. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

Starters must pitch in five games before earning any of the following 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 reached both 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 2006 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 relief outings

We'll continue tomorrow with this week's NL LPR article.

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Sun:CHW(J.Vazquez)
Roy Oswalt: Sat:@MIL(D.Bush)???
Pedro Martinez: No start(DL)
Chris Carpenter: Sun:@CHC(Jua.Mateo)
Randy Johnson: Sat:@BOS(J.Beckett)
Jake Peavy: No start.
Roy Halladay: Sun:@BAL(E.Bedard)
Mark Buehrle: No start.
Curt Schilling: Sun:NYY(M.Mussina)
Felix Hernandez: Fri:@LAA(Jer.Weaver)
John Lackey: Sat:SEA(J.Washburn)
Dan Haren: No start.
Francisco Liriano: No start(DL)

Oswalt's questionable to pitch more than a few innings, and Randy seems far too risky to run here, so we'll deploy the other six. Street flips for Dempster with the Cardinals coming to town.

The extra cap room lets us put Pujols in the lineup, along with Travis Hafner, which sends Tex and Tracy to join Victor and Swisher on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 208th overall)
Week 20b: August 18-August 20

 
C	Joe Mauer		770 
C	Josh Willingham		340 
1B	Travis Hafner		1180
1B	Ryan Howard		880
2B	Chase Utley		1190
2B	Howie Kendrick		750
3B	David Wright		1210
3B	Garrett Atkins		610
SS	Felipe Lopez		1070
SS	Jose Reyes		1030 
OF	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Chone Figgins		1350 
OF	Matt Holliday		1040 
OF	Pat Burrell		1040
OF	Corey Patterson		910
OF	Jermaine Dye		840 
DH	Albert Pujols		2060
DH	Edwin Encarnacion	600 

SP	Johan Santana		1960
SP	Chris Carpenter		1550
SP	Roy Halladay		1230 
SP	Curt Schilling		1070 
SP	Felix Hernandez		960 
SP	John Lackey		940 
RP	Huston Street		1300
RP	J.J. Putz		890 
RP	Jon Papelbon		890
RP	Chris Ray		820

Total Salary for Week 20b:	29860

Today's Fantasy Rx: With Brad Wilkerson done for the year, both Freddy Guzman and eventually Jason Botts should see plenty of playing time in Texas. Both rookies appear quite likely to open next season as big league starters, and given Guzman's SB upside in 2007, consider him a bargain anywhere in single digits.