Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Philadelphia: 1 Road at NYM; 3 Road at WAS; 4 Home vs. ATL.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Home vs. SF; 4 Road at PHI.
Florida: 1 Home vs. MIL; 3 Road at STL; 3 Road at MIL.
Milwaukee: 1 Road at FLO; 3 Road at HOU; 3 Home vs. FLO.
New York Mets: 1 Home vs. PHI; 3 Road at COL; 3 Road at HOU.
Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 3 Road at OAK; 4 Home vs. TOR.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Toronto: 3 Road at CLE; 4 Road at BOS.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at KC.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Home vs. CIN; 3 Home vs. COL.
Oakland: 3 Home vs. BOS; 3 Home vs. BAL.
San Diego: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Home vs. CIN.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. PIT.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Road at TEX; 3 Road at OAK.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at PIT; 3 Home vs. SF.
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. TOR; 3 Road at TEX.
Colorado: 3 Home vs. NYM; 3 Road at LAD.
Detroit: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. LAA.
Houston: 3 Home vs. MIL; 3 Home vs. NYM.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. KC; 3 Road at NYY.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. DET; 3 Home vs. MIN.
Pittsburgh: 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Road at STL.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at TB.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Texas: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Home vs. CLE.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. SD; 3 Road at WAS.
Cincinnati: 3 Road at LAD; 3 Road at SD.
Washington: 3 Home vs. PHI; 3 Home vs. ARI.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Kansas City: 3 Road at MIN; 3 Home vs. CHW.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Road at SEA; 3 Road at DET.
San Francisco: 3 Road at ATL; 3 Road at CHC.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Tony Armas: Tue:PHI(B.Myers); Sun:ARI(B.Webb)
Josh Beckett: Tue:@OAK(K.Saarloos); Sun:TOR(G.Chacin)
A.J. Burnett: Mon:@CLE(P.Byrd); Sat:@BOS(J.Lester)
Paul Byrd: Mon:TOR(A.Burnett); Sun:@TEX(K.Millwood)
Kelvim Escobar: Mon:@SEA(F.Hernandez); Sun:@DET(N.Robertson)
Freddy Garcia: Tue:TB(C.Fossum); Sun:@KC(M.Redman)
Matt Garza: Tue:KC(M.Redman); Sun:@NYY(C.Wang)
Mark Hendrickson: Tue:CIN(E.Milton); Sun:COL(B.Kim)
Felix Hernandez?: Mon:LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:@TB(C.Fossum)???
Tim Hudson: Tue:SF(J.Schmidt); Sun:@PHI(B.Myers)
Josh Johnson: Mon:MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:@MIL(B.Sheets)
Esteban Loaiza: Mon:BOS(K.Gabbard); Sun:BAL(R.Lopez)
John Maine: Mon:PHI(J.Moyer); Sat:@HOU(J.Hirsh)
Kevin Millwood: Tue:BAL(R.Lopez); Sun:CLE(P.Byrd)
Jamie Moyer: Mon:@NYM(J.Maine); Sat:ATL(L.Cormier)
Mark Mulder: Tue:FLO(S.Olsen); Sun:PIT(I.Snell)
Brett Myers: Tue:@WAS(T.Armas); Sun:ATL(T.Hudson)
Tomo Ohka: Tue:@HOU(R.Oswalt); Sun:@FLO(S.Olsen)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:MIL(T.Ohka); Sun:NYM(S.Trachsel)
Brad Penny: Mon:CIN(C.Michalak); Sat:COL(A.Cook)
Nate Robertson: Tue:@NYY(C.Wang); Sun:LAA(K.Escobar)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:@ATL(T.Hudson); Sun:@CHC(C.Zambrano)
Ben Sheets: Mon:@FLO(Jos.Johnson); Sat:FLO(Jos.Johnson)
Brandon Webb: Mon:SD(W.Williams); Sun:@WAS(T.Armas)
Woody Williams: Mon:@ARI(B.Webb); Sun:CIN(E.Milton)
Carlos Zambrano: Tue:@PIT(P.Maholm); Sun:SF(J.Schmidt)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Gustavo Chacin: Tue:@CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:@BOS(J.Bekcett)
Casey Fossum: Tue:@CHW(F.Garcia); Sun:SEA(F.Hernandez?)
Angel Guzman: Mon:@PIT(I.Snell); Sat:SF(M.Cain)
Byung-Hyun Kim: Tue:NYM(S.Trachsel); Sun:@LAD(M.Hendrickson)
Rod Lopez: Tue:@TEX(K.Millwood); Sun:@OAK(E.Loaiza)
Eric Milton?: Tue:@LAD(M.Hendrickson); Sun:@SD(W.Williams)???
Scott Olsen: Tue:@STL(M.Mulder); Sun:@MIL(T.Ohka)
Mark Redman: Tue:@MIN(M.Garza); Sun:CHW(F.Garcia)
Ian Snell: Mon:CHC(A.Guzman); Sun:@STL(M.Mulder)
Steve Trachsel: Tue:@COL(B.Kim); Sun:@HOU(R.Oswalt)
Chien-ming Wang: Tue:DET(N.Robertson); Sun:MIN(M.Garza)

Diamond Challenge

With cost-efficient production our top priority, particularly anyone that can help with offense and saves, Nick Markakis and Seth McClung will join our squad in roster expansion. We still like most of our roster, and while McClung's very risky, we can gain the most ground in saves and like the idea of deploying him in our rotation. We suspect we'll then spend one of our remaining four moves each of the next four weeks.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:KC(J.de la Rosa)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:MIL(T.Ohka); Sun:NYM(S.Trachsel)
Pedro Martinez: No start(DL)
Chris Carpenter: Fri:PIT(Z.Duke)
Randy Johnson: Wed:DET(W.Ledezma)
Jake Peavy: Sat:CIN(K.Lohse)
Roy Halladay: Thu:@BOS(D.Wells)
Curt Schilling: Wed:OAK(B.Zito)
Brandon Webb: Mon:SD(W.Williams); Sun:@WAS(T.Armas)
Felix Hernandez?: Mon:LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:@TB(C.Fossum)???
John Lackey: Wed:@SEA(J.Woods)
Dan Haren: Sat:BAL(A.Loewen)
Francisco Liriano: No start(DL)
Seth McClung: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. SEA.

Santana, Carpenter, and Haren look like easy picks to join Oswalt, Webb, and McClung. We don't trust Felix given his inconsistent schedule and can't make any changes in the bullpen with Street still disabled.

Offensively, the addition of Markakis allows us to send Chad Tracy to join Willingham, Thome, Encarnacion, and Burrell on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(3rd lg; 49th div; 933rd overall)
Week 22: August 28-September 3

 
C	Victor Martinez		1020
C	Joe Mauer		770 
1B	Albert Pujols		2060
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	Nick Swisher		620
OF	Brad Hawpe		440
OF	Nick Markakis		400
DH	Mark Teixeira		1470 
DH	Travis Hafner		1180

SP	Johan Santana		1960
SP	Roy Oswalt		1830
SP	Chris Carpenter		1550 
SP	Brandon Webb		1030 
SP	Dan Haren		860
SP	Seth McClung		420
RP	Bobby Jenks		1150
RP	Jon Papelbon		890 
RP	J.J. Putz		890 
RP	Chris Ray		820

Total Salary for Week 22: 	29870

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

With our pitching staff cruising, we'll spend both our roster expansion and one of our remaining four moves on offense, cutting Scott Kazmir, likely done for the year, rather than the similarly expendable Scott Podsednik. Jermaine Dye finally joins our squad in the outfield while Mark Teahen gives us a backup third baseman capable of DHing for now.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:KC(J.de la Rosa)
Pedro Martinez: No start(DL)
John Smoltz: Thu:SF(M.Morris)
Roy Halladay: Thu:@BOS(D.Wells)
Curt Schilling: Wed:OAK(B.Zito)
Brandon Webb: Mon:SD(W.Williams); Sun:@WAS(T.Armas)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:TOR(G.Chacin)
Mike Mussina: No start(DL)
John Lackey: Wed:@SEA(J.Woods)
Chris Capuano: Fri:FLO(An.Sanchez)
Dan Haren: Sat:BAL(A.Loewen)
Brad Penny: Mon:CIN(C.Michalak); Sat:COL(A.Cook)
Tom Glavine: Fri:@HOU(J.Hirsh)
Scott Kazmir: No start(DL)
Francisco Liriano: No start(DL)

Santana, Sabathia, Capuanoa, and Haren will join Webb and Penny.

With McCann still hurting, Ramon Hernandez returns to the lineup. Teahen also sends Thome to the bench while Dye displaces both members of our Kearns/Rios schedule platoon.

Rotohelp.com(4rd lg; 37th div; 237th overall)
Week 22: August 28-September 3

C	Joe Mauer		770 
C	Ramon Hernandez		690
1B	Travis Hafner		1180
1B	Ryan Howard		880 
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1830
2B	Chase Utley		1190
3B	David Wright		1210 
3B	Garrett Atkins		610 
SS	Jose Reyes		1030 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		400
OF	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Matt Holliday		1040 
OF	Corey Patterson		910
OF	Jermaine Dye		840
OF	Nick Swisher		620
OF	Brad Hawpe		440 
DH	Albert Pujols		2060
DH	Mark Teahen		530

SP	Johan Santana		1960
SP	Brandon Webb		1030 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		980 
SP	Chris Capuano		870 
SP	Dan Haren		860 
SP	Brad Penny		820
RP	Bobby Jenks		1150
RP	Jon Papelbon		890
RP	Chris Ray		820
RP	Akinori Otsuka		690

Total Salary for Week 22: 	27680

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:KC(J.de la Rosa)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:MIL(T.Ohka)
Pedro Martinez: No start(DL)
Chris Carpenter: No start.
Randy Johnson: Wed:DET(W.Ledezma)
Jake Peavy: No start.
Roy Halladay: Thu:@BOS(D.Wells)
Curt Schilling: Wed:OAK(B.Zito)
Felix Hernandez?: Mon:LAA(K.Escobar)
John Lackey: Wed:@SEA(J.Woods)
Dan Haren: No start.
Francisco Liriano: No start(DL)

No moves for us to make after our purchasing spree on Friday. Santana, Oswalt, Randy, and Schilling all look like good calls, and then for cap reasons, Liriano will join Lackey to complete our rotation.

Only Wright and Swisher also sub for Encarnacion and Figgins as Victor, Kendrick, Tracy, and Burrell stay seated, along with Street and Dempster.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 202nd overall)
Week 22a: August 28-August 31

 
C	Joe Mauer		770 
C	Josh Willingham		340
1B	Travis Hafner		1180
1B	Ryan Howard		880
2B	Chase Utley		1190
2B	Ian Kinsler		400
3B	David Wright		1210
3B	Garrett Atkins		610 
SS	Felipe Lopez		1070
SS	Jose Reyes		1030
OF	Bobby Abreu		1790 
OF	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Matt Holliday		1040 
OF	Corey Patterson		910
OF	Jermaine Dye		840 
OF	Nick Swisher		620
DH	Albert Pujols		2060
DH	Mark Teixeira		1470 

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1830 
SP	Randy Johnson		1360 
SP	Curt Schilling		1070 
SP	John Lackey		940 
SP	Francisco Liriano	700
RP	J.J. Putz		890 
RP	Jon Papelbon		890
RP	Chris Ray		820
RP	Takashi Saito		750

Total Salary for Week 22a:	30000

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

With a severe need for starts overwhelming our limited bench, Brad Penny and Carlos Zambrano look like the safest bets for points down the stretch. Both join our team in roster expansion, leaving us with a single move for emergencies.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:KC(J.de la Rosa)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:MIL(T.Ohka); Sun:NYM(S.Trachsel)
Chris Carpenter: Fri:PIT(Z.Duke)
Randy Johnson: Wed:DET(W.Ledezma)
Carlos Zambrano: Tue:@PIT(P.Maholm); Sun:SF(J.Schmidt)
John Lackey: Wed:@SEA(J.Woods)
Andy Pettitte: Thu:MIL(Do.Davis)
Mike Mussina: No start(DL)
Roy Halladay: Thu:@BOS(D.Wells)
Brad Penny: Mon:CIN(C.Michalak); Sat:COL(A.Cook)
Dan Haren: Sat:BAL(A.Loewen)

Santana, Carpenter, and Haren join the three doubles.

On offense, only swapping Hermida for Granderson works given our cap problems. Victor, Tex, Ellis, Encarnacion, Barmes, Gomes, and Sullivan all stay seated.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 8th lg; 481st overall)
& Rotohelp.com(BB: 11th lg; 1014th overall)
Week 22: August 28-September 3

 
C	Joe Mauer		1710 
C	Josh Willingham		1000
1B	Lance Berkman		2860 
1B	Ryan Howard		1950
2B	Chase Utley		2270
2B	Ian Kinsler		1000
3B	David Wright		2480 
3B	Garrett Atkins		1330 
SS	Jose Reyes		2100 
SS	Felipe Lopez		1800 
OF	Jason Bay		2550
OF	Grady Sizemore		2200 
OF	Matt Holliday		2140
OF	Chad Tracy		2100 
OF	Nick Swisher		1550 
OF	Jeremy Hermida		1000
DH	Albert Pujols		3870 
DH	Travis Hafner		2680

SP	Johan Santana		3310
SP	Roy Oswalt		3200 
SP	Chris Carpenter		3140
SP	Carlos Zambrano		2860
SP	Brad Penny		1950
SP	Dan Haren		1940
RP	Bobby Jenks		2240
RP	J.J. Putz		1600
RP	Jon Papelbon		1590
RP	Chris Ray		1580

Total Salary for Week 22:	60000

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

Roy Oswalt and Brad Penny join the team as the injured Mike Mussina departs.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:KC(J.de la Rosa)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:MIL(T.Ohka); Sun:NYM(S.Trachsel)
Chris Carpenter: Fri:PIT(Z.Duke)
John Lackey: Wed:@SEA(J.Woods)
Andy Pettitte: Thu:MIL(Do.Davis)
Curt Schilling: Wed:OAK(B.Zito)
Jeremy Bonderman: Thu:@NYY(Jar.Wright)
Jose Contreras: Fri:@KC(Run.Hernandez)
Brad Penny: Mon:CIN(C.Michalak); Sat:COL(A.Cook)
Felix Hernandez?: Mon:LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:@TB(C.Fossum)???
Jered Weaver: Tue:@SEA(J.Washburn)

Santana, Oswalt, Carpenter, and Penny look great, but for cap reasons, Felix and Weaver edge Pettitte and Schilling for the last two slots.

With our three expensive starters requiring a ton of cap room, Hafner, Sizemore, and Willingham respectively replace Thome, Granderson, and ARod, who join Weeks, Zimmerman, Guillen, Kearns, and Baldelli on the bench.

Rotohelp.com(5rd lg; 115th overall)
Week 22: August 28-September 3

 
C	Joe Mauer		1710 
C	Brian McCann		1000
1B	Travis Hafner		2680
1B	Ryan Howard		1950
2B	Chase Utley		2270
3B	David Wright		2480 
3B	Garrett Atkins		1330 
SS	Jose Reyes		2100 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1000 
OF	Jason Bay		2550 
OF	Grady Sizemore		2200
OF	Matt Holliday		2140 
OF	Jermaine Dye		2070 
OF	Nick Swisher		1550
OF	Brad Hawpe		1260 
DH	Lance Berkman		2860 
DH	Josh Willingham		1000 

SP	Johan Santana		3310 
SP	Roy Oswalt		3200
SP	Chris Carpenter		3140 
SP	Brad Penny		1950
SP	Felix Hernandez		1650
SP	Jered Weaver		1500
RP	Bobby Jenks		2240
RP	J.J. Putz		1600
RP	Jon Papelbon		1590
RP	Takashi Saito		1500

Total Salary for Week 22: 	54830

Today's Fantasy Rx: For roster expansion, consider the following players automatic pickups, depending on your needs, if you don't own them: Joe Mauer, Travis Hafner, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Jermaine Dye. Superb sleeper options include Justin Morneau, Howie Kendrick, Mark Teahen, Hanley Ramirez, and Nick Markakis. Oswalt, Penny, and Zambrano top this week's list of doubles while Papelbon and Putz remain the best values in the bullpen.

For teams with money to spend, David Ortiz and Bobby Abreu respectively provide excellent four-category contributions as Ortiz only lacks steals while Abreu still hasn't hit many homers.