Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Milwaukee: 2 Road at CIN; 2 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. HOU.
New York Mets: 2 Road at PHI; 2 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 2 Road at WAS; 2 Home vs. CHC; 3 Road at NYM.
Boston: 1 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at TOR; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Chicago Cubs: 2 Home vs. SD; 3 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. STL.
Cincinnati: 2 Home vs. MIL; 2 Home vs. HOU; 3 Home vs. PHI.
Colorado: 2 Home vs. SF; 3 Home vs. LAD; 3 Home vs. SD.
Florida: 2 Road at HOU; 2 Home vs. NYM; 3 Home vs. WAS.
Houston: 2 Home vs. FLO; 2 Road at CIN; 3 Road at MIL.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 2 Road at ARI; 2 Road at COL; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. NYM; 2 Road at WAS; 3 Road at CIN.
San Diego: 2 Road at CHC; 2 Home vs. ARI; 3 Road at COL.
San Francisco: 2 Road at COL; 2 Home vs. STL; 3 Home vs. ARI.
St. Louis: 2 Home vs. PIT; 2 Road at SF; 3 Road at CHC.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 2 Home vs. LAD; 2 Road at SD; 2 Road at SF.
Washington: 2 Home vs. ATL; 2 Home vs. PHI; 3 Road at FLO.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Pittsburgh: 2 Road at STL; 3 Road at MIL; 3 Road at LAD.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Detroit: 3 Home vs. KC; 3 Home vs. CHW.
Minnesota: 3 Road at SEA; 3 Road at KC.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. BAL: 3 Home vs. CLE.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Road at TB; 3 Home vs. TOR.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Road at DET.
Cleveland: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Road at TB.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at BOS.
Texas: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. BOS; 3 Road at BAL.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Kansas City: 3 Road at DET; 3 Home vs. MIN.
Los Angeles Angels: 1 Road at BOS; 2 Road at OAK; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Road at LAA.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 5 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Oakland: 2 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at TEX.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Josh Beckett: Mon:LAA(Er.Santana); Sat:NYY(J.Karstens?)
David Bush: Tue:@CIN(M.Belisle); Sun:HOU(R.Oswalt)
Chris Capuano: Mon:@CIN(E.Milton); Sat:HOU(W.Rodriguez)
Matt Cain: Tue:@COL(J.Hirsh); Sun:ARI(M.Owings?)
Matt Chico: Mon:ATL(C.James); Sat:@FLO(An.Sanchez)
Tom Glavine: Tue:@PHI(A.Eaton); Sun:ATL(J.Smoltz)
Zach Greinke: Mon:@DET(J.Verlander); Sun:MIN(Ra.Ortiz)
Chuck James: Mon:@WAS(M.Chico); Sat:@NYM(J.Maine)
John Maine: Mon:@PHI(F.Garcia); Sat:ATL(C.James)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@TOR(G.Chacin); Sun:NYY(C.Wright?)
Ramon Ortiz: Tue:@SEA(Jef.Weaver); Sun:@KC(Z.Greinke)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre); Sun:@MIL(D.Bush)
Brad Penny: Mon:@ARI(Ed.Gonzalez); Sat:PIT(I.Snell)
Anthony Reyes: Mon:PIT(I.Snell); Sat:@CHC(J.Marquis)
Ervin Santana: Mon:@BOS(J.Beckett); Sun:SEA(Jef.Weaver)
James Shields: Mon:BAL(A.Loewen); Sun:CLE(J.Westbrook)
John Smoltz: Tue:@WAS(Jer.Williams); Sun:@NYM(T.Glavine)
Brett Tomko: Tue:@ARI(M.Owings); Sun:PIT(T.Gorzelanny)
Justin Verlander: Mon:KC(Z.Greinke); Sun:CHW(J.Garland)
Adam Wainwright: Pit(T.Gorzelanny); Sun:@CHC(W.Miller)
Jeff Weaver: Tue:Min(Ra.Ortiz); Sun:@LAA(Er.Santana?)
Jerome Williams: Tue:ATL(J.Smoltz); Sun:@FLO(S.Mitre)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Matt Belisle: Tue:MIL(D.Bush); Sun:PHI(A.Eaton)
Gustavo Chacin: Tue:BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:@BAL(S.Trachsel)
Adam Eaton: Tue:NYM(T.Glavine); Sun:@CIN(M.Belisle)
Jeff Francis: Mon:SF(B.Zito); Sat:SD(C.Hensley)
Jason Hirsh: Tue:SF(M.Cain); Sun:SD(G.Maddux)
Freddy Garcia: Mon:NYM(J.Maine); Sat:@CIN(E.Milton)
Jon Garland: Tue:TEX(Ro.Tejeda); Sun:@DET(J.Verlander)
Edgar Gonzalez: Mon:LAD(B.Penny); Sat:@SF(B.Zito)
Tom Gorzelanny: Tue:@STL(A.Wainwright); Sun:@LAD(B.Tomko)
Clay Hensley: Mon:@CHC(J.Marquis); Sat:@COL(J.Francis)
Adam Loewen: Mon:@TB(J.Shields); Sat:TOR(J.Towers)
Greg Maddux: Tue:@CHC(W.Miller); Sun:@COL(J.Hirsh)
Jason Marquis: Mon:SD(C.Hensley); Sat:STL(An.Reyes)
Wade Miller: Tue:SD(G.Maddux); Sun:STL(A.Wainwright)
Eric Milton: Mon:MIL(C.Capuano); Sat:PHI(F.Garcia)
Sergio Mitre: Tue:@HOU(R.Oswalt); Sun:WAS(Jer.Williams)
Micah Owings?: Tue:LAD(B.Tomko); Sun:@SF(M.Cain)?
Wandy Rodriguez: Mon:FLO(An.Sanchez); Sat:@MIL(C.Capuano)
Anibal Sanchez: Mon:@HOU(W.Rodriguez); Sat:WAS(M.Chico)
Ian Snell: Mon:@STL(An.Reyes); Sat:@LAD(B.Penny)
Robinson Tejeda: Tue:@CHW(J.Garland); Sun:OAK(J.Kennedy?)
Steve Trachsel: Tue:@TB(C.Fossum); Sun:TOR(G.Chacin)
Jake Westbrook: Tue:@NYY(C.Wright?); Sun:@TB(J.Shields)
Chase Wright???: Tue:CLE(J.Westbrook)?: Sun:@BOS(D.Matsuzaka)???
Barry Zito: Mon:@COL(J.Francis); Sat:ARI(Ed.Gonzalez)

Diamond Challenge

With Carpenter potentially sidelined a long time and an obvious need for a new closer, Ryan Dempster will replace Carpenter, edging out Jose Valverde for a spot based on slightly superior skills, a better overall schedule for the year, and a general belief that the Cubs will provide more save opps. over the balance of the season than Arizona.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:@SEA(J.Washburn)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre); Sun:@MIL(D.Bush)
John Smoltz: Tue:@WAS(Jer.Williams); Sun:@NYM(T.Glavine)
Ben Sheets: Fri:HOU(B.Moehler?)
Jake Peavy: Thu:ARI(L.Hernandez)
Roy Halladay: Thu:BOS(Ju.Tavarez)
Brandon Webb: Wed:@SD(D.Wells)
Josh Beckett: Mon:LAA(Er.Santana); Sat:NYY(J.Karstens?)
Jon Papelbon: 1 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at TOR; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Rich Harden: Sat:@TEX(K.Loe)???
Chris Young: Fri:@COL(A.Cook?)
A.J. Burnett: Fri:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Felix Hernandez: Wed:MIN(C.Silva)

Oswalt, Smoltz, Beckett, and Papelbon all appear fairly automatic, as does Felix. With the addition of Dempster allowing us to bench Julio indefinitely, we need a little extra cap room, which requires running Halladay instead of our preferred option of Peavy.

With this week looking great for offense, most of our big bats remain in the lineup, though with Cleveland traveling to New York and Tampa for only six games, Hafner takes a seat for Shane Victorino, giving us needed cap room for pitching. Iannetta also replaces the injured Bard while Colorado's homestand similarly sends Atkins into the lineup for the slumping Teahen. Lastly, a swap of Hall for Hanley Ramirez adds needed power over speed while hopefully taking advantage of the fact that Hall appears due for a breakout.

Rotohelp.com(11th lg; 143rd div; 2473rd overall)
Week 3: April 16-April 22

C	Brian McCann		880 
C	Chris Iannetta		340
1B	Travis Hafner		1380 
1B	Frank Thomas		890
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Howie Kendrick		520
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Garrett Atkins		1150
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Bill Hall		900 
OF	Matt Holliday		1410
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	J.D. Drew		940
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Rocco Baldelli		750
OF	Delmon Young		750
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Shane Victorino		560

SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	John Smoltz		1260 
SP	Roy Halladay		1140
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
SP	Felix Hernandez		840
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Salary for Week 3: 	29990

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:@SEA(J.Washburn)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre)
Ben Sheets: No start.
Jake Peavy: Thu:ARI(L.Hernandez)
Roy Halladay: Thu:BOS(Ju.Tavarez)
Brandon Webb: Wed:@SD(D.Wells)
Josh Beckett: Mon:LAA(Er.Santana)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@TOR(G.Chacin)
Dan Haren: Wed:LAA(J.Saunders?)
Jon Papelbon: 1 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at TOR.
Rich Harden: No start.
Felix Hernandez: Wed:MIN(C.Silva)
Matt Cain: Tue:@COL(J.Hirsh)

With no real need to run our most expensive starters, we'll comfortably deploy Peavy, Halladay, Beckett, Haren, and Felix to join Papelbon.

Kaz Matsui's DL trip sends him to the bench alongside Josh Bard and Shane Victorino. Colorado's homestand similarly results in the deployment of Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins, the latter subbing for Mark Teahen. Lastly, to squeeze under the cap, Hanley will replace Hafner, who only sees three games at Yankee Stadium as opposed to Hanley's four contests, including a pair in Houston.

Rotohelp.com(13th lg; 373rd overall)
Week 3a: April 16-April 19

C	Brian McCann		880 
C	Chris Iannetta		340 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050
1B	Ryan Howard		1420
2B	Howie Kendrick		520
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Garrett Atkins		1150
SS	Jose Reyes		1610
SS	Bill Hall		900
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	Alex Rios		1000
OF	J.D. Drew		940
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Rocco Baldelli		750
OF	Delmon Young		750 
DH	Matt Holliday		1410
DH	Hanley Ramirez		1100

SP	Jake Peavy		1180
SP	Roy Halladay		1140 
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	Dan Haren		940 
SP	Felix Hernandez		840
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Week 3a Salary:		29950

Fantasy Baseball & Fanball.Com Cap Challenge (aka Budget Baseball)
(Same rules = same rosters and moves for both teams)

With Carpenter out indefinitely, we need a replacement starters, and after reviewing Daisuke's schedule and realizing he isn't a viable play in any of the next three weeks following his double this week, we'll add King Felix, who at least appears automatic for the next two weeks. We'll reconsider Daisuke for his next double in May.

Filling the closer position seems much more difficult since several otherwise decent options cost so much here. We considered Jason Frasor right up until Shaun Marcum received the save opp. today., and then looked at Salomon Torres, Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler, and Eric Gagne. However, the two closers with the most upside look like Ryan Dempster and Dave Weathers, and despite the higher salary, Dempster seems the best option for now and will replace Jorge Julio.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:@SEA(J.Washburn)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre); Sun:@MIL(D.Bush)
Jake Peavy: Thu:ARI(L.Hernandez)
Josh Beckett: Mon:LAA(Er.Santana); Sat:NYY(J.Karstens?)
Ben Sheets: Fri:HOU(B.Moehler?)
Felix Hernandez: Wed:MIN(C.Silva)

A.J. Burnett: Fri:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Chris Young: Fri:@COL(A.Cook?)
Rich Harden: Sat:@TEX(K.Loe)???
Jon Papelbon: 1 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at TOR; 3 Home vs. NYY.

Oswalt, Beckett, Felix, and Papelbon look like the only automatics while Peavy and Sheets appear the best of the rest, however, due to cap issues, we need to deploy Burnett instead of Peavy or else bench the suddenly hot Pujols for Miguel Cabrera.

Offensively, Bard, Cabrera, Hanley, and Swisher all stay benched. Adrian Gonzalez subs for Fielder with the Padres heading to Colorado, Atkins and Holliday sub for Teahen and Sizemore with the Rockies at home, and the scalding hot Kinsler returns to the lineup for Bill Hall

Rotohelp.com(FB: 13th lg; 983rd overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 15th lg; 1857th overall)
Week 3: April 16-April 22

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890
C	Brian McCann		1880
1B	Ryan Howard		3240 
1B	Adrian Gonzalez		1420
2B	Chase Utley		2850
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	David Wright		2900  
3B	Garrett Atkins		2240
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	Stephen Drew		1450 
OF	Matt Holliday		2730
OF	J.D. Drew		2640
OF	Rocco Baldelli		1500
OF	Delmon Young		1500 
OF	Willy Taveras		1460
OF	Chris B. Young		1000
DH	Albert Pujols		3890
DH	Ian Kinsler		1270

SP	Roy Oswalt		3070
SP	Josh Beckett		2520 
SP	Ben Sheets		2030 
SP	Felix Hernandez		1990
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
SP	A.J. Burnett		1940
RP	Ryan Dempster		2240
RP	Takashi Saito		2200
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Jose Valverde		1880

Total Salary for Week 3:	59400

Today's Fantasy Rx: After two weeks largely dominated by pitching, Week 3 should see the return of offense to the majors. In leagues where you retain decent pitching depth, take extra care when deploying your starting staff to avoid taking your more questionable starts wherever possible.