Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method of identifying highly skilled and 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 2007 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through June 27th. 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 from the minors or the DL.

1
23ABX - C.C. Sabathia(44455)
2ABCX - Jeremy Bonderman(54253)
2ACX - John Lackey(42505)
3ACX - Josh Beckett(35235)
ABCXYZ - Kelvim Escobar(24444)
ABCX - Erik Bedard(33455)
AX - Jeremy Guthrie(45544)
AX - Joe Blanton(43345)

Not only does Bonderman return up here but Bedard and Guthrie also make appearances thanks to very impressive respective strings of dominant outings. Both looks like superb plays in all formats.

2abcxyz - Akinori Otsuka(5554344432)
2abcxy - J.J. Putz(5534355355)
abcxyz - Bobby Jenks(3535352433)
ax - Matt Guerrier(4444355323)
ax - Hideki Okajima(3423443453)
Joel Peralta(4443334552)

The additions of Jenks and Peralta here qualify as somewhat of a surprise, especially since the latter continues to barely hold a ground-fly rate around 1.00. Right now none of these pitchers particularly wows me, though Putz and Jenks obviously remain automatic plays while the other four at least certainly shouldn't hurt you anywhere.

2
3BCYZ - Roger Clemens(5402)
ABCXYZ - Johan Santana(34334)
C - Jose Contreras(24022)

3abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(4344545334)
3abcyz - Justin Duchscherer(2344443251)
abcxyz - Scot Shields(4544334334)
abcxyz - Chad Bradford(0433035444)
BYby - Francisco Liriano
CZby - Hector Carrasco(2134143444)
bcyz - Mike MacDougal(4431233434)
aby - Dennys Reyes(5135244444)
bxy - Alan Embree(2545444530)
Mike Myers(4055450043)

3
ACXYZ - Roy Halladay(03543)
BCZ - Felix Hernandez(43453)
Bcz - Julian Tavarez(24440)
CZ - Andy Pettitte(02432)
C - Matt Clement
Y - Kevin Millwood(30033)
Z - Bartolo Colon(10303)

Ever so quietly Felix continues to compile solid outings, and although he remains a mild risk, few pitchers offer more upside on a start-to-start basis.

abcxyz - Huston Street(5335344245)
abcz - Todd Jones(2554434541)
x - Aaron Fultz(0333352534)

A
BXby - Fausto Carmona(55530)
BCZ - A.J. Burnett(54540)
BY - Mike Mussina(15444)
XY - Dan Haren(44442)
X - Justin Verlander(24434)
X - Gil Meche(34404)
X - Chien-ming Wang(24354)
Jake Westbrook(04504)
Daniel Cabrera(34024)

Mike Mussina isn't a name that appears too often on lists of top starters nowadays, but he's cruising at the moment and at least offers a good shot at a win every time he pitches.

B
X - Joe Saunders(34233)
Y - Curt Schilling(52340)
Cha Seung Baek(43330)

C
abx - Scott Downs(3434454030)
Z - Rich Harden(54)
Victor Zambrano(153323)

X
ax - Lenny DiNardo(35034)
Y - James Shields(34323)
Daisuke Matsuzaka(43334)
J.P. Howell(53333)
Andy Sonnanstine(33135)

Though both Howell and Sonnanstine remain risky plays, they belong in your active rotation anywhere you don't mind risking the occasional disaster to gain extra starts and accompanying quantitative upside.

Y
Luke Hudson(0)

a
Shaun Marcum(02323)

bcxyz - Francisco Rodriguez(4435453554)
bcxyz - Joe Nathan(3444532544)
bcxyz - Juan Rincon(3344332254)
bcxy - Scott Williamson(5235333534)
bxy - Pat Neshek(5454324345)
bxy - C.J. Wilson(4450455532)
bxy - Jon Papelbon(2344433454)
cxz - George Sherrill(5335444453)
cxz - Rafael Betancourt(3543425441)
cxz - Eric Gagne(4453434313)
cxz - Al Reyes(4534414033)
xyz - Justin Speier(5345335345)
bx - Rafael Perez(4552344455)
cx - Octavio Dotel(4554552435)
cz - David Riske(5411433445)
xy - Joaquin Benoit(5144332355)
b - Shawn Camp(2552514454)
x - Joakim Soria(5454444344)
x - Jeremy Accardo(2520345134)
z - Jason Frasor(4543434253)
z - Chris Ray(5102423323)
Santiago Casilla(2443445043)
Casey Fossum(4454243242)

Don't expect to see Rafael Perez claim too many late-innings in Cleveland, but along with Seattle's George Sherrill, he ranks among the safest short-term options right now who likely aren't owned in most AL leagues.

b
y - Joe Kennedy(35120)

cyz - Kyle Farnsworth(5123335425)
cyz - Matt J. Miller(03)
cz - Kiko Calero(0503534531)
yz - Fernando Rodney(4322422324)
y - Wes Littleton(443432143)
y - Javier Lopez(0403404341)
y - Jon Huber(42425)
y - Scott Feldman(4023243233)
y - Joe Nelson
z - Mike Burns
Joel Pineiro(3522444442)
Fernando Cabrera(0141443242)
Luis Vizcaino(1443333334)
Tom Mastny(3332332431)
Craig Breslow

c
xz - Tim Byrdak(4433330343)
yz - Macay McBride(3544053354)
yz - Mike Timlin(3435424303)
x - Bobby Seay(5324533333)
z - Chris Reitsma(1333343035)
z - Ron Villone(4343201333)
z - Jay Witasick(2331422253)

x
y - Sean Green(5435342543)
Jamie Walker(3334043435)
Frank Francisco(4324332434)
Kyle Snyder(3313345433)
Sean Henn(3334133324)
Chris Bootcheck(2333431352)
Jay Marshall(3330043341)

y
Brian Burres(44130)

Joe Borowski(3323524342)
Zach Miner(4135)
Craig Hansen

z
Ron Flores(2341423331)
Manny Delcarmen(43433)

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 2007.
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 2006.
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 2005.

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 the following skill qualifications: K>=IP-2, BB<=IP/3, H<=IP, HR<=1, and G-F>=1.00. Any starter who does not reach at least one 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 the following skill qualifications: K>=IP, BB=0, H<=IP, HR=0, and G-F>=1.00. Any reliever who does not reach at least one 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.

A - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2007 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2007 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2007 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2007 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 relief outings

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

Internet Challenge

We need to add either Corey Hart or Russ Martin for cap reasons, and while Martin appeals, Hart offers so much more upside that we're purchasing the Brewer and dumping Josh Bard. While Travis Hafner also isn't contributing to our team, Bard possesses scant value as a backup catcher, and if McCann or Victor falter, we simply need to go get someone like Russ Martin.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:@DET(J.Verlander)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
Ben Sheets: Sat:@CHC(S.Marshall)
Jake Peavy: Sat:@LAD(B.Penny)
Brandon Webb: No start.
Greg Maddux: No start.
Josh Beckett: Sat:TEX(K.Loe)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: No start.
Dan Haren: Sun:@NYY(A.Pettitte)
Rich Harden: 3 Road at NYY.
Felix Hernandez: No start.
Matt Cain: No start.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. TEX.

Deploying the five starters and Papelbon appears most logical with Harden barely healthy.

Hart replaces Alex Rios, who then joins Hafner, Upton, and Manny on the bench. While Upton's return will increase our options nicely, we also need to run as many dominant starters as possible to boost our strikeouts, so the addition of another very inexpensive player will help in the long run.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 234th overall)
Week 13b: June 29-July 1

 
C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Brian McCann		880 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420
1B	Prince Fielder		910
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Delmon Young		750
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Bill Hall		900

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Ben Sheets		1220
SP	Jake Peavy		1180
SP	Josh Beckett		1000 
SP	Dan Haren		940
SP	Jon Papelbon		900  
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Week 13b Salary:		29720

Today's Fantasy Rx: A fairly quiet week of transactions still produces one intriguing name as the Twins finally recalled Matt Garza. Though his role seems undetermined, he likely will claim a starting job sometime in the second half, and given his minor league performance, he soon should emerge as no worse than a solid #3 starter for Minnesota, making him someone to target in all AL formats.