Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Chicago Cubs: 4 Home vs. PIT; 3 Road at ATL.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Road at BOS; 4 Home vs. CLE.
Minnesota: 3 Road at TB; 4 Home vs. DET.
New York Mets: 3 Home vs. ATL; 4 Home vs. LAD.
Washington: 3 Home vs. STL; 4 Road at COL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Road at FLO; 4 Home vs. STL.
Cleveland: 3 Road at TOR; 4 Road at CHW.
Colorado: 3 Road at SD; 4 Home vs. WAS.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Road at MIL; 4 Road at NYM.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. HOU; 4 Road at FLO.
Pittsburgh: 4 Road at CHC; 3 Road at CIN.
St. Louis: 3 Road at WAS; 4 Road at ARI.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Detroit: 3 Home vs. SEA; 4 Road at MIN.
Florida: 3 Home vs. ARI; 4 Home vs. PHI.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Home vs. TOR.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Road at NYM; 3 Home vs. CHC.
Boston: 3 Home vs. CHW; 3 Home vs. KC.
Cincinnati: 3 Home vs. SF; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Houston: 3 Road at PHI; 3 Road at MIL.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. NYY; 3 Road at BOS.
Milwaukee: 3 Home vs. LAD; 3 Home vs. HOU.
New York Yankees: 3 Road at KC; 3 Road at BAL.
San Francisco: 3 Road at CIN; 3 Home vs. SD.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Oakland: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Road at TB.
San Diego: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Road at SF.
Seattle: 3 Road at DET; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Texas: 3 Road at OAK; 3 Road at SEA.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at LAA.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Bronson Arroyo: Tue:SF(M.Morris); Sun:PIT(V.Santos)
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:SEA(J.Woods); Sun:@MIN(J.Santana)
Boof Bonser: Mon:@TB(T.Corcoran); Sat:DET(N.Robertson)
David Bush: Mon:LAD(G.Maddux); Sun:HOU(A.Pettitte)
Roger Clemens: Mon:@PHI(C.Hamels); Sat:@MIL(T.Ohka)
Adam Eaton: Tue:@OAK(K.Saarloos); Sun:@SEA(J.Woods)
Jon Garland: Mon:@BOS(Ju.Tavarez); Sat:CLE(C.Sabathia)
Roy Halladay: Tue:CLE(J.Sowers); Sun:@LAA(Jer.Weaver)
Aaron Harang: Mon:SF(B.Hennessey); Sat:PIT(P.Maholm)
Mark Hendrickson: Tue:@MIL(D.Davis); Sun:@NYM(S.Trachsel)
Greg Maddux: Mon:@MIL(D.Bush); Sat:@NYM(O.Hernandez)
Matt Morris: Tue:@CIN(B.Arroyo); Sun:SD(W.Williams)
Mike Mussina: Tue:@KC(J.de la Rosa); Sun:@BAL(H.Penn???)
Andy Pettitte: Tue:@PHI(R.Wolf); Sun:@MIL(D.Bush)
Nate Robertson: Mon:SEA(J.Washburn); Sat:@MIN(B.Bonser)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:@TOR(S.Marcum); Sat:@CHW(J.Garland)
Johan Santana: Tue:@TB(J.Seo); Sun:DET(J.Bonderman)
John Smoltz: Tue:@NYM(D.Williams); Sun:CHC(Ju.Mateo)
Steve Trachsel: Mon:ATL(C.James); Sun:LAD(M.Hendrickson)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:@BOS(K.Gabbard); Sun:CLE(J.Sowers?)
Chien-ming Wang: Mon:@KC(L.Hudson); Sat:@BAL(A.Loewen?)
Jarrod Washburn: Mon:@DET(N.Robertson); Sat:TEX(R.Tejeda)
Jered Weaver: Mon:BAL(R.Lopez); Sun:TOR(R.Halladay)
Woody Williams: Mon:COL(J.Fogg); Sun:@SF(M.Morris)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:ARI(C.Vargas); Sun:PHI(R.Wolf)
Carlos Zambrano: Mon:PIT(P.Maholm); Sat:@ATL(C.James)
Barry Zito: Mon:TEX(R.Tejeda); Sun:@TB(J.Seo?)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that do not count qualitative stats:
Pedro Astacio: Tue:STL(J.Suppan); Sun:@COL(J.Francis)
Tim Corcoran: Mon:MIN(B.Bonser); Sat:OAK(E.Loaiza)
Josh Fogg: Mon:@SD(W.Williams); Sat:WAS(Ra.Ortiz)
Jeff Francis: Tue:@SD(C.Young); Sun:WAS(P.Astacio)
Enrique Gonzalez: Mon:@FLO(B.Moehler); Sun:STL(J.Suppan)
Cole Hamels: Mon:HOU(R.Clemens); Sat:@FLO(Y.Petit?)
Luke Hudson: Mon:NYY(C.Wang); Sun:@BOS(K.Jarvis?)
Chuck James: Mon:@NYM(S.Trachsel); Sat:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Paul Maholm: Mon:@CHC(C.Zambrano); Sat:@CIN(A.Harang)
Jason Marquis: Mon:@WAS(Ra.Ortiz); Sat:@ARI(B.Webb)
Juan Mateo: Tue:PIT(V.Santos); Sun:@ATL(J.Smoltz)
Ramon Ortiz: Mon:STL(J.Marquis); Sat:@COL(J.Fogg)
Victor Santos: Tue:@CHC(Ju.Mateo); Sun:@CIN(B.Arroyo)
Jae Seo?: Tue:MIN(J.Santana); Sun:OAK(B.Zito)?
Jeremy Sowers?: Tue:@TOR(R.Halalday); Sun:@CHW(J.Vazquez)?
Jeff Suppan: Tue:@WAS(P.Astacio); Sun:@ARI(En.Gonzalez)
Robinson Tejeda: Mon:@OAK(B.Zito); Sat:@SEA(J.Washburn)
Jake Woods: Tue:@DET(J.Bonderman); Sun:TEX(A.Eaton)

Diamond Challenge

With Street still disabled, we are adding Takashi Saito to replace Papelbon for the week. Otsuka appears equally valid and costs slightly less, however Saito enjoys a much more favorable schedule this month. The Indians' road trip to Toronto and Chicago also prompted us to purchase Grady Sizemore as both Pat Burrell and Chad Tracy depart our team.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Tue:@TB(J.Seo); Sun:DET(J.Bonderman)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:@MIL(B.Sheets)
Pedro Martinez: No start(DL)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:@WAS(B.Traber)
Randy Johnson: Wed:@KC(Run.Hernandez)
Jake Peavy: Fri:@SF(M.Cain)
Roy Halladay: Tue:CLE(J.Sowers); Sun:@LAA(Jer.Weaver)
Curt Schilling: Sat:KC(M.Redman)???
Brandon Webb: Sat:STL(J.Marquis)
Felix Hernandez: No start.
John Lackey: Tue:BAL(K.Benson)
Dan Haren: Fri:@TB(J.Shields)
Francisco Liriano: No start(DL)
Seth McClung: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Home vs. OAK.

Carpenter, Randy, and Haren edge Lackey for the three slots along side Santana, Halladay, and McClung.

Sizemore allows us to bench Swisher while Willingham, Thome, Encarnacion, and Street stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(4th lg; 48th div; 935th overall)
Week 23: September 4-September 10

 
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	Grady Sizemore		1070
OF	Matt Holliday		1040 
OF	Brad Hawpe		440
OF	Nick Markakis		400
DH	Mark Teixeira		1470 
DH	Travis Hafner		1180

SP	Johan Santana		1960
SP	Chris Carpenter		1550 
SP	Randy Johnson		1360 
SP	Roy Halladay		1230
SP	Dan Haren		860
SP	Seth McClung		420
RP	Bobby Jenks		1150 
RP	J.J. Putz		890 
RP	Chris Ray		820 
RP	Takashi Saito		750

Total Salary for Week 23: 	29910

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

We will add Saito here, benching Papelbon and cutting Francisco Liriano.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Tue:@TB(J.Seo); Sun:DET(J.Bonderman)
Pedro Martinez: No start(DL)
John Smoltz: Tue:@NYM(D.Williams); Sun:CHC(Ju.Mateo)
Roy Halladay: Tue:CLE(J.Sowers); Sun:@LAA(Jer.Weaver)
Curt Schilling: Sat:KC(M.Redman)???
Brandon Webb: Sat:STL(J.Marquis)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:@TOR(S.Marcum); Sat:@CHW(J.Garland)
Mike Mussina: Tue:@KC(J.de la Rosa); Sun:@BAL(H.Penn???)
John Lackey: Tue:BAL(K.Benson)
Chris Capuano: Wed:LAD(D.Lowe)
Dan Haren: Fri:@TB(J.Shields)
Brad Penny: Thu:@NYM(Ol.Perez)
Tom Glavine: Wed:ATL(O.Villareal?)
Francisco Liriano: No start(DL)

Haren is the safest bet to join our five doubles, comfortably outdistancing Lackey and Penny.

The problems of Patterson and Hernandez led us to deploy McCann and Kearns while Thome and Rios will remain seated. We really want to run Scott Podsednik against the Jays and Indians but simply cannot find the cap room.

Rotohelp.com(3rd g; 347th div; 195th overall)
Week 23: September 4-September 10

C	Joe Mauer		770 
C	Brian McCann		460 
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	Jermaine Dye		840 
OF	Austin Kearns		700
OF	Nick Swisher		620
OF	Brad Hawpe		440 
DH	Albert Pujols		2060
DH	Mark Teahen		530

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	John Smoltz		1240 
SP	Roy Halladay		1230 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		980
SP	Mike Mussina		940
SP	Dan Haren		860 
RP	Bobby Jenks		1150
RP	Chris Ray		820 
RP	Takashi Saito		750
RP	Akinori Otsuka		690

Total Salary for Week 23: 	27790

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Tue:@TB(J.Seo)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
Pedro Martinez: No start(DL)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:@WAS(B.Traber)
Randy Johnson: Wed:@KC(Run.Hernandez)
Jake Peavy: No start.
Roy Halladay: Tue:CLE(J.Sowers)
Curt Schilling: No start.
Felix Hernandez: No start.
John Lackey: Tue:BAL(K.Benson)
Dan Haren: No start.br> Francisco Liriano: No start(DL)
Seth McClung: 3 Home vs. MIN.

With only five starts and McClung, selecting this staff takes no effort at all. Dempster subs for Papelbon with the Cubs against Pittsburgh and both Papelbon and Street set to return next weekend.

Mauer then stands in for Tex for cap reasons while Thome, Kendrick, Encarnacion, and Patterson sit.

Rotohelp.com(6th lg; 163rd overall)
Week 23a: September 4-September 7

 
C	Victor Martinez		1020
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	Chone Figgins		1350
OF	Matt Holliday		1040 
OF	Jermaine Dye		840 
OF	Nick Swisher		620
DH	Albert Pujols		2060 
DH	Joe Mauer		770

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Chris Carpenter		1550
SP	Randy Johnson		1360 
SP	Roy Halladay		1230
SP	John Lackey		940
SP	Seth McClung		430 
RP	Ryan Dempster		1180
RP	J.J. Putz		890 
RP	Chris Ray		820
RP	Takashi Saito		750

Total Salary for Week 23a:	29880

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

We are spending our last move to replace Jon Papelbon, adding Takashi Saito to our bullpen. Otsuka is also a solid option here, but since he faces Putz three times over the next four weeks, we would rather try to find saves outside the AL West. Papelbon departs since Street seems far more likely to return and pitch effectively, particularly since Boston probably will protect their youngster at all costs.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Tue:@TB(J.Seo); Sun:DET(J.Bonderman)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:@MIL(B.Sheets)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:@WAS(B.Traber)
Randy Johnson: Wed:@KC(Run.Hernandez)
Carlos Zambrano: Mon:PIT(P.Maholm); Sat:@ATL(C.James)
John Lackey: Tue:BAL(K.Benson)
Andy Pettitte: Tue:@PHI(R.Wolf); Sun:@MIL(D.Bush)
Mike Mussina: Tue:@KC(J.de la Rosa); Sun:@BAL(H.Penn???)
Roy Halladay: Tue:CLE(J.Sowers); Sun:@LAA(Jer.Weaver)
Brad Penny: Thu:@NYM(Ol.Perez)
Dan Haren: Fri:@TB(J.Shields)

Haren joins our five doubles over Carpenter for cap reasons.

Offensively, Victor flips for Mauer and Granderson for Hermida while Tex, Ellis, Encarnacion, Barmes, Gomes, and Sullivan all remain benched.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 8th lg; 412th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(BB: 9th lg; 816th overall)
Week 23: September 4-September 10

 
C	Victor Martinez		1940
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	Curtis Granderson	1000
DH	Albert Pujols		3870 
DH	Travis Hafner		2680

SP	Johan Santana		3310 
SP	Carlos Zambrano		2860 
SP	Andy Pettitte		2550
SP	Mike Mussina		2480 
SP	Roy Halladay		2480
SP	Dan Haren		1940
RP	Bobby Jenks		2240
RP	J.J. Putz		1600
RP	Chris Ray		1580
RP	Takashi Saito		1500

Total Salary for Week 23:	59360

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

With Otsuka facing Putz in three separate series in the last four weeks, Joe Borowski will complete our bullpen in place of Papelbon. Our drop is Felix Hernandez, due to the likelihood that Seattle will rest him irregularly in September.

Of course, since we owned five more moves even after adding Borowski, we also chose to add Carlos Zambrano to this squad, displacing Curt Schilling, who may not double again for two weeks. While we additionally considered Clemens, Halladay, Sabathia, Smoltz, and even Nate Robertson, we do not see anyone certain to outperform Chris Carpenter this week, and we do not want to cut Jose Contreras when he should double next week.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Tue:@TB(J.Seo); Sun:DET(J.Bonderman)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:@MIL(B.Sheets)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:@WAS(B.Traber)
Carlos Zambrano: Mon:PIT(P.Maholm); Sat:@ATL(C.James)
John Lackey: Tue:BAL(K.Benson)
Andy Pettitte: Tue:@PHI(R.Wolf); Sun:@MIL(D.Bush)
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:SEA(J.Woods); Sun:@MIN(J.Santana)
Jose Contreras: Wed:@BOS(K.Snyder)
Brad Penny: Thu:@NYM(Ol.Perez)
Jered Weaver: Mon:BAL(R.Lopez); Sun:TOR(R.Halladay)

Carpenter obviously will join our five doubles while Papelbon hits the bench.

On offense, Ryan Zimmerman's activation sends Willingham to catcher and Joe Mauer to the bench. Kearns also flips for Swisher with Washington headed to Colorado. Thome, Weeks, ARod, Guillen, Baldelli, and Granderson all stay seated.

Rotohelp.com(3rd lg; 59th overall)
Week 23: September 4-September 10

 
C	Brian McCann		1000 
C	Josh Willingham		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	Austin Kearns		1570
OF	Brad Hawpe		1260 
DH	Lance Berkman		2860 
DH	Ryan Zimmerman		1020

SP	Johan Santana		3310 
SP	Chris Carpenter		3140 
SP	Carlos Zambrano		2860 
SP	Andy Pettitte		2550 
SP	Jeremy Bonderman	2190
SP	Jered Weaver		1500
RP	Bobby Jenks		2240
RP	J.J. Putz		1600
RP	Takashi Saito		1500
RP	Joe Borowski		1450

Total Salary for Week 23: 	54820

Today's Fantasy Rx: At this point in the season, all owners need to increasingly look at players' opponents when considering moves. With only eight series remaining for each team, taking advantage of a particularly strong schedule should pay welcome dividends by season's end.