Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cleveland: 4 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Detroit: 4 Home vs. TB; 3 Home vs. OAK.
San Francisco: 4 Home vs. WAS; 3 Home vs. PIT.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at HOU; 4 Road at COL.
Colorado: 3 Home vs. MIL; 4 Home vs. CHC.
Minnesota: 1 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at KC; 3 Road at LAA.
San Diego: 4 Road at STL; 3 Road at CIN.
Tampa Bay: 4 Road at DET; 3 Road at TB.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
St. Louis: 4 Home vs. SD; 3 Home vs. LAD.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Washington: 4 Road at SF; 3 Road at ARI.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. WAS.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Road at NYM; 3 Road at PHI.
Baltimore: 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. BOS.
Boston: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at BAL.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Cincinnati: 3 Home vs. LAD; 3 Home vs. SD.
Florida: 3 Road at PHI; 3 Road at NYM.
Houston: 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. MIL.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Home vs. TOR.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. BOS; 3 Home vs. MIN.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Road at CIN; 3 Road at STL.
Milwaukee: 3 Road at COL; 3 Road at HOU.
New York Mets: 3 Home vs. ATL; 3 Home vs. FLO.
New York Yankees: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at CLE.
Oakland: 3 Road at TEX; 3 Road at DET.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Pittsburgh: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Road at SF.
Seattle: 3 Road at BAL; 3 Road at CHW.
Texas: 3 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. TB.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. NYY; 3 Road at KC.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Bronson Arroyo: Tue:LAD(M.Hendrickson); Sun:SD(J.Peavy)
Brian Bannister: Tue:MIN(B.Bonser); Sun:TOR(A.Burnett???)
Boof Bonser: Tue:@KC(B.Bannister); Sun:@LAA(Jer.Weaver)
Paul Byrd: Mon:@MIN(C.Silva); Sat:NYY(M.Mussina)
Kason Gabbard: Tue:OAK(C.Gaudin); Sun:TB(J.Hammel)
Tom Gorzelanny: Tue:@ARI(M.Owings); Sun:@SF()
Jake Peavy: Tue:@STL(An.Reyes); Sun:@CIN(B.Arroyo)
Tim Lincecum: Mon:WAS(J.Lannan); Sat:PIT(T.Armas)
Oliver Perez: Tue:ATL(B.Carlyle); Sun:FLO(R.Vanden Hurk)
Andy Pettitte: Mon:@TOR(J.Litsch); Sun:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Nate Robertson: Tue:TB(J.Hammel); Sun:OAK(C.Gaudin)
Curt Schilling: Mon:@LAA(Jer.Weaver); Sun:@BAL(S.Trachsel)
Justin Verlander: Mon:TB(Ed.Jackson); Sat:OAK(D.Haren)
Jered Weaver: Mon:BOS(C.Schilling); Sun:MIN(B.Bonser)
Jake Westbrook: Tue:@CHW(J.Danks); Sun:NYY(A.Pettitte)
Barry Zito: Tue:WAS(M.Bacsik); Sun:PIT(T.Gorzelanny)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Mike Bacsik: Tue:@SF(B.Zito); Sun:@ARI(M.Owings)
Buddy Carlyle: Tue:@NYM(Ol.Perez); Sun:@PHI(J.Moyer)
John Danks: Tue:CLE(J.Westbrook); Sun:SEA(Jef.Weaver)
Josh Fogg: Mon:MIL(C.Vargas); Sat:CHC(R.Hill)
Chad Gaudin?: Tue:@TEX(K.Gabbard); Sun:@DET(N.Robertson)
Jason Hammel: Tue:@DET(N.Robertson); Sun:@TEX(K.Gabbard)
Mark Hendrickson: Tue:@CIN(B.Arroyo); Sun:@STL(An.Reyes)
Rich Hill: Mon:@HOU(W.Rodriguez); Sat:@COL(J.Fogg)
Jason Hirsh: Tue:MIL(C.Capuano); Sun:CHC(S.Marshall)
Edwin Jackson: Mon:@DET(J.Verlander); Sat:@TEX(J.Rheinecker)
John Lannan: Mon:@SF(T.Lincecum); Sat:@ARI(B.Webb)
Braden Looper: Mon:SD(D.Wells); Sat:LAD(B.Tomko)
Sean Marshall: Tue:@HOU(W.Williams); Sun:@COL(J.Hirsh)
Jamie Moyer: Tue:FLO(R.Vanden Hurk); Sun:ATL(B.Carlyle)
Micah Owings: Tue:PIT(T.Gorzelanny); Sun:WAS(M.Bacsik)
Anthony Reyes: Tue:SD(J.Peavy); Sun:LAD(M.Hendrickson)
John Rheinecker: Mon:OAK(D.Braden); Sat:TB(Ed.Jackson)
Wandy Rodriguez: Mon:CHC(R.Hill); Sat:MIL(D.Bush)
Carlos Silva: Mon:CLE(P.Byrd); Sat:@LAA(J.Lackey)
Steve Trachsel: Tue:SEA(Jef.Weaver); Sun:BOS(C.Schilling)
Rick Vanden Hurk: Tue:@PHI(J.Moyer); Sun:@NYM(Ol.Perez)
Claudio Vargas: Mon:@COL(J.Fogg); Sun:@HOU(W.Williams)
Jeff Weaver: Tue:@BAL(S.Trachsel); Sun:@CHW(J.Danks)
David Wells: Mon:@STL(B.Looper); Sat:@CIN(B.Livingston)
Woody Williams: Tue:CHC(S.Marshall); Sun:MIL(C.Vargas)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@KC(Od.Perez)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:CHC(C.Zambrano)
John Smoltz: Wed:@NYM(B.Lawrence)
Ben Sheets: No start(DL).
Jake Peavy: Tue:@STL(An.Reyes); Sun:@CIN(B.Arroyo)
Roy Halladay: Wed:NYY(C.Wang)
Brandon Webb: Sat:WAS(J.Lannan)
John Lackey: Sat:LAA(C.Silva)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:CHW(J.Garland)
Josh Beckett: Sat:@BAL(B.Burres?)
Chris Young: Thu:@STL(J.Pineiro)???
Felix Hernandez: Wed:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at BOS.

While most of these guys look okay, we settled on peavey, Webb, Lackey, Sabathia, Beckett, and Papelbon. Cordero remains benched with Milwaukee heading to Colorado.

Victorino, Morneau, and Teahen all join Kendrick on the bench while Hall, Taveras, and Atkins return to the lineup.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 79th div; 1268th overall)
Week 19: August 6-August 12

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420 
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Garrett Atkins		1150
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Delmon Young		750
DH	Prince Fielder		910 
DH	Bill Hall		900 

SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	John Lackey		1040 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Josh Beckett		1000 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040 
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 19: 	29970

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@KC(Od.Perez)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:CHC(C.Zambrano)
John Smoltz: Wed:@NYM(B.Lawrence)
Jake Peavy: Tue:@STL(An.Reyes); Sun:@CIN(B.Arroyo)
John Lackey: Sat:LAA(C.Silva)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:CHW(J.Garland)
Jeremy Bonderman: Thu:TB(S.Kazmir)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Fri:@BAL(E.Bedard)
Dan Haren: Sat:@DET(J.Verlander)
Tim Hudson: Thu:@NYM(O.Hernandez)
Cole Hamels: Fri:ATL(C.James)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at BOS.

Santana, Peavy, Lackey, Sabathia, Hamels, and Paplebon look solid here, with Francisco Cordero hitting the bench in our bullpen due to the Brewers' road trip to Colorado and Houston.

J.J. Hardy and Ken Griffey also return to the lineup for Lowell and Victorino, who join McCann, Youkilis, and Kendrick out of the lineup.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 72nd div; 407th overall)
Week 19: August 6-August 12

C	Victor Martinez		1310
C	Russ Martin		680
1B	Justin Morneau		1180
1B	Prince Fielder		910 
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	Ryan Braun		750
3B	B.J. Upton		410
SS	Jose Reyes		1610
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Vladimir Guerrero	1880
OF	Matt Holliday		1410
OF	Grady Sizemore		1380
OF	Alex Rios		1000
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820
OF	Ken Griffey		790
DH	Corey Hart		430
DH	J.J. Hardy		420

SP	Johan Santana		1960
SP	Jake Peavy		1180
SP	John Lackey		1040 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040
SP	Cole Hamels		660
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Jose Valverde		1100 
RP	Al Reyes		750
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 19: 	27840

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@KC(Od.Perez)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Ben Sheets: No start(DL).
Jake Peavy: Tue:@STL(An.Reyes)
Brandon Webb: No start.
Greg Maddux: Wed:@STL(K.Wells)
Josh Beckett: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: No start.
Dan Haren: No start.
Felix Hernandez: Wed:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
Matt Cain: Wed:WAS(T.Redding)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at LAA.

Out of these seven, Oswalt seems the biggest risk, especially since we want wins and Zambrano remains red hot. Francisco Cordero also stays seated.

With Bonds hot and Milwaukee in Colorado, Bonds and Hall will replace Teahen and Manny, who join Hafner, Kendrick, and Victorino on the bench.

Rotohelp.com(9th lg; 190th overall)
Week 19a: August 6-August 9

 
C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Brian McCann		880 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420 
1B	Prince Fielder		910
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	B.J. Upton		410
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Alex Rios		1000 
OF	Willy Taveras		860 
OF	Barry Bonds		830
OF	Delmon Young		750 
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Bill Hall		900 

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Greg Maddux		1040 
SP	Felix Hernandez		840 
SP	Matt Cain		840
SP	Jon Papelbon		900  
RP	Takashi Saito		1200 
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Week 19a Salary:		29550

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

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@KC(Od.Perez)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:CHC(C.Zambrano)
John Lackey: Sat:LAA(C.Silva)
Jake Peavy: Tue:@STL(An.Reyes); Sun:@CIN(B.Arroyo)
Josh Beckett: Sat:@BAL(B.Burres?)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:CHW(J.Garland)
Chris Young: Thu:@STL(J.Pineiro)???
Cole Hamels: Fri:ATL(C.James)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at BOS.

With Santana and Oswalt not significantly better than the cheaper alternatives, we'll play Lackey, Peavy, Beckett, Sabathia, Hamels, and Papelbon. Pittsburgh's trip to Arizona pushes Valverde to the bench.

On offense, Atkins, Bonds, and Taveras sub for Teahen, Swisher, and Delmon Young, who join Bard, Adrian Gonzalez, Utley, J.D. Drew, and Baldelli on the bench.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 9th lg; 701st overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 9th lg; 1485th overall)
Week 19: August 6-August 12

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890 
C	Brian McCann		1880 
1B	Albert Pujols		3890
1B	Prince Fielder		1850 
2B	Ian Kinsler		1270 
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	David Wright		2900  
3B	B.J. Upton		1000
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		2150
OF	Matt Holliday		2730
OF	Grady Sizemore		2760 
OF	Barry Bonds		2560 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Willy Taveras		1460
OF	Chris B. Young		1000 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 
DH	Garrett Atkins		2240 

SP	John Lackey		2790
SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	Josh Beckett		2520 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490
SP	Cole Hamels		1450
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	J.J. Putz		2360 
RP	Takashi Saito		2200
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 19:	59800

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

After extensive deliberation, we opted to purchase Tim Lincecum, who appears as hot as Josh Beckett, faces weak competition this week, and should double twice more after this week, while cutting John Maine, who faces much tougher competition and owns far poorer skills right now.

SP(6)
Jake Peavy: Tue:@STL(An.Reyes); Sun:@CIN(B.Arroyo)
Josh Beckett: Sat:@BAL(B.Burres?)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:CHW(J.Garland)
Roy Halladay: Wed:NYY(C.Wang)
Erik Bedard: Fri:BOS(D.Matsuzaka)
Tim Lincecum: Mon:WAS(J.Lannan); Sat:PIT(T.Armas)
Cole Hamels: Fri:ATL(C.James)
Fausto Carmona: Fri:NYY(P.Hughes)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at BOS.

Adding Lincecum lets us run Peavy, Sabathia, Hamels, Carmona, and Papelbon, which leaves us sufficient cap room to deploy Putz for Capps, who plays for a team that can't seem to buy a win right now.

Although we want to play Hardy and Rios on offense, we just don't see a logical lineup slot for anyone else on our bench besides Chris Young, who subs for the injured Victorino.

Rotohelp.com(4th lg; 247th overall)
Week 19: August 6-August 12

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890
C	Russ Martin		1290
1B	Justin Morneau		2620
1B	Prince Fielder		1850
2B	Robinson Cano		1950 
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	Ryan Braun		1500 
3B	B.J. Upton		1000
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		2150 
OF	Grady Sizemore		2760
OF	Matt Holliday		2730 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	1550
OF	Corey Hart		1120 
OF	Chris B. Young		1000
DH	Alex Rodriguez		3630 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 

SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490
SP	Tim Lincecum		1500
SP	Cole Hamels		1450
SP	Fausto Carmona		1070
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	J.J. Putz		2360
RP	Takashi Saito		2200
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Kevin Gregg		1430

Total Salary for Week 19:	54950

Today's Fantasy Rx: Almost every team that features a hitter-friendly field spends at least half of this week at home, a list that includes Arizona, Chicago(A), Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Texas, and Toronto. Very few teams play in any particularly pitcher-friendly environment, so exercise caution when setting your lineups: deploying only low-risk relievers and established starters minimizes your chance of seeing your qualitative stats balloon over the next seven days.