Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 3 Home vs. TOR; 4 Road at BAL.
Chicago Cubs: 4 Home vs. LAD; 3 Road at PIT.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. OAK; 4 Home vs. CLE.
St. Louis: 4 Home vs. PIT; 3 Road at ARI.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Road at TB; 4 Home vs. BOS.
Pittsburgh: 4 Road at STL; 3 Home vs. CHC.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Cleveland: 3 Road at MIN; 4 Road at LAA.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 4 Road at CHC; 3 Road at SF.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Home vs. PHI; 3 Home vs. WAS.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Road at KC.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. SD; 3 Home vs. STL.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Road at DET; 3 Home vs. MIN.
Cincinnati: 3 Home vs. NYM; 3 Home vs. MIL.
Colorado: 3 Home vs. SF; 3 Home vs. SD.
Detroit: 3 Home vs. CHW; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Florida: 3 Road at WAS; 3 Road at PHI.
Kansas City: 3 Road at TEX; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Milwaukee: 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Road at CIN.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at CHW.
New York Mets: 3 Road at CIN; 3 Home vs. HOU.
Oakland: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at TEX.
Philadelphia: 3 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. FLO.
San Diego: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Road at COL.
San Francisco: 3 Road at COL; 3 Home vs. LAD.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Home vs. TOR.
Texas: 3 Home vs. KC; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Toronto: 3 Road at BOS; 3 Road at TB.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Washington: 3 Home vs. FLO; 3 Road at ATL.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Houston: 3 Road at MIL; 3 Road at NYM.
Seattle: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Road at DET.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Josh Beckett: Tue:TOR(R.Halladay); Sun:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
Jason Bergmann: Mon:FLO(R.Vanden Hurk); Sun:@ATL(L.Cormier?)
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:CHW(G.Floyd); Sun:SEA(F.Hernandez)
Roger Clemens: Mon:SEA(F.Hernandez); Sun:@KC(Z.Greinke)
Lance Cormier: Mon:PHI(J.Moyer); Sun:WAS(J.Bergmann)?
Doug Davis: Tue:SD(C.Young); Sun:STL(J.Pineiro)
Chad Gaudin: Mon:@LAA(Er.Santana); Sun:@TEX(K.Loe)
Jeremy Guthrie: Tue:@TB(S.Kazmir); Sun:BOS(J.Beckett)
Aaron Harang: Mon:NYM(P.Martinez): Sat:MIL(J.Suppan)
Felix Hernandez: Mon:@NYY(R.Clemens); Sun:@DET(J.Bonderman)
Esteban Loaiza: Mon:@CHC(C.Zambrano); Sun:@SF(T.Lincecum?)
Greg Maddux: Mon:@ARI(M.Owings); Sun:@COL(F.Morales)
Pedro Martinez: Mon:@CIN(A.Harang); Sun:HOU(T.Patton)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Mon:TOR(J.Litsch); Sat:@BAL(K.Birkins)
Matt Morris: Tue:@STL(J.Pineiro); Sun:CHC(S.Trachsel)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:@NYM(O.Hernandez?)
Joel Pineiro: Tue:PIT(M.Morris); Sun:@ARI(D.Davis)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:@MIN(J.Santana); Sat:@LAA(E.Santana)
Ervin Santana: Mon:OAK(C.Gaudin); Sat:CLE(C.Sabathia)
Johan Santana: Mon:CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:@CHW(G.Floyd)
Ben Sheets: Mon:HOU(R.Oswalt); Sun:@CIN(M.Belisle)
James Shields: Mon:BAL(K.Birkins); Sun:TOR(J.Litsch)
Ian Snell: Mon:@STL(K.Wells); Sat:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Jeff Weaver: Tue:OAK(L.DiNardo); Sun:CLE(A.Laffey)
Carlos Zambrano: MoN:LAD(E.Loaiza)?; Sat:@PIT(I.Snell)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Matt Belisle: Tue:NYM(Ol.Perez); Sun:MIL(B.Sheets)
Kirt Birkins: Mon:@TB(J.Shields); Sat:BOS(D.Matsuzaka)
Matt Cain: Mon:@COL(J.Francis); Sat:LAD(D.Wells)
Gavin Floyd: Tue:@DET(J.Bonderman); Sun:MIN(J.Santana)
Jeff Francis: Mon:SF(M.Cain); Sat:SD(J.Germano)
Zack Greinke: Mon:@TEX(K.Loe); Sun:NYY(R.Clemens)
Aaron Laffey: Tue:@MIN(K.Slowey); Sun:@LAA(Jef.Weaver)
Tim Lincecum?: Tue:@COL(F.Morales); Sun:LAD(E.Loaiza)?
Jesse Litsch: Mon:@BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:@TB(J.Shields)
Kameron Loe: Mon:KC(Z.Greinke); Sun:OAK(C.Gaudin)
Kyle Lohse: Tue:@ATL(B.Carlyle?); Sun:FLO(R.Vanden Hurk)
Franklin Morales: Tue:SF(T.Lincecum); Sun:SD(G.Maddux)
Jamie Moyer: Mon:@ATL(L.Cormier); Sat:FLO(S.Olsen)
Micah Owings: Mon:SD(G.Maddux); Sat:STL(K.Wells)
Steve Trachsel: Tue:LAD(B.Penny); Sun:@PIT(M.Morris)
Rick Vanden Hurk: Mon:@WAS(J.Bergmann); Sun:@PHI(K.Lohse)
Kip Wells: Mon:PIT(I.Snell); Sun:@ARI(D.Davis)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Mon:CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:@CHW(G.Floyd)
John Smoltz: Fri:WAS(J.Hanrahan)
Jake Peavy: Fri:@COK(J.Fogg)
Roy Halladay: Tue:@BOS(J.Beckett)
Brandon Webb: Fri:STL(B.Looper)
John Lackey: Fri:CLE(J.Westbrook)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:@MIN(J.Santana); Sat:@LAA(E.Santana)
Josh Beckett: Tue:TOR(R.Halladay); Sun:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
Chris Young: Tue:@ARI(D.Davis)
Erik Bedard: No start.
Felix Hernandez: Mon:@NYY(R.Clemens); Sun:@DET(J.Bonderman)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. TOR; 4 Road at BAL.

Smoltz appears a better play than Webb or Lackey, so he'll join Papelbon and our four doubles. Cordero flips for Dempster with the Cubs facing the Dodgers and Pirates.

Morneau and Manny hit the bench in favor of Atkins and Hart. While we want to run Howard, we can't use both him and Santana, so Howard, Teahen, Hall, Victorino, and Delmon Young all stay seated.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 53rd div; 799th overall)
Week 23: September 3-September 9

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Prince Fielder		910
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	Alex Rodriguez		1940 
3B	David Wright		1550
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Nick Markakis		770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	760 
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	Garrett Atkins		1150 
DH	Howie Kendrick		520

SP	Johan Santana		1960
SP	John Smoltz		1260
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	Felix Hernandez		840 
SP	Jon Papelbon		900 
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200 
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 23: 	29910

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Mon:CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:@CHW(G.Floyd)
John Smoltz: Fri:WAS(J.Hanrahan)
Jake Peavy: Fri:@COK(J.Fogg)
Brandon Webb: Fri:STL(B.Looper)
John Lackey: Fri:CLE(J.Westbrook)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:@MIN(J.Santana); Sat:@LAA(E.Santana)
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:CHW(G.Floyd); Sun:SEA(F.Hernandez)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Mon:TOR(J.Litsch); Sat:@BAL(K.Birkins)
Dan Haren: Fri:@TEX(Ed.Volquez)
Tim Hudson: Wed:PHI(K.Kendrick)
Erik Bedard: No start.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. TOR; 4 Road at BAL.

Smoltz seems the safest choice to accompany our four probable doubles and Papelbon. Cordero remains benched with the Brewers finishing the week in Cincy.

On offense, Youkilis, Kendrick, and Hardy sub for Morneau, Kelly Johnson, and Lowell, who join Victor, Rios, and Victorino out of the lineup.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 49th div; 296th overall)
Week 23: September 3-September 9

 
C	Brian McCann		880 
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Prince Fielder		910 
1B	Kevin Youkilis		580
2B	Brandon Phillips	930 
2B	Howie Kendrick		520 
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	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Ken Griffey		790 
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	David Wright		1550 
DH	J.J. Hardy		420

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	John Smoltz		1260
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040
SP	Jeremy Bonderman	980 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	950 
SP	Jon Papelbon		900 
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Jose Valverde		1100 
RP	Al Reyes		750
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 23: 	27990

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Mon:CLE(C.Sabathia)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@MIL(B.Sheets)
Ben Sheets: Mon:HOU(R.Oswalt))
Jake Peavy: No start.
Brandon Webb: No start.
Greg Maddux: Mon:@ARI(M.Owings)
Josh Beckett: Tue:TOR(R.Halladay)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Mon:TOR(J.Litsch)
Dan Haren: No start.
Felix Hernandez: Mon:@NYY(R.Clemens)
Matt Cain: Mon:@COL(J.Francis)
Brett Myers: 3 Road at ATL.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. TOR; 1 Road at BAL.

Oswalt, Sheets, Felix, and Cain all appear too risky to run, leaving us with Santana, Maddux, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Myers, and Papelbon. Dempster then sits with Saito in Chicago.

Kendrick and Hart also replace Johnson and Rios, who join Teahen, Hall, Manny, and Victorino on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(9th lg; 144th overall)
Week 23a: September 3-September 6

 
C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Brian McCann		880 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420 
1B	Prince Fielder		910
2B	Brandon Phillips	930 
2B	Howie Kendrick		520 
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	B.J. Upton		410
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Nick Markakis		770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	760
OF	Delmon Young		750 
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Travis Hafner		1380

SP	Johan Santana		1960
SP	Greg Maddux		1040 
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	950 
SP	Brett Myers		960
SP	Jon Papelbon		900  
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200 
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Week 23a Salary:		29460

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

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Mon:CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:@CHW(G.Floyd)
Brandon Webb: Fri:STL(B.Looper)
John Lackey: Fri:CLE(J.Westbrook)
Jake Peavy: Fri:@COK(J.Fogg)
Josh Beckett: Tue:TOR(R.Halladay); Sun:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:@MIN(J.Santana); Sat:@LAA(E.Santana)
Erik Bedard: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Mon:TOR(J.Litsch); Sat:@BAL(K.Birkins)
Chris Young: Tue:@ARI(D.Davis)
Brett Myers: 3 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. FLO.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. TOR; 4 Road at BAL.

Our four doubles and two closers comprise a solid rotation. Borowski returns to the lineup for Valverde with Cleveland playing seven.

Mauer hits our bench for Josh Bard, who heads to Arizona and Colorado as the Padres' primary catcher. Atkins also flips for Adrian Gonzalez, who just doesn't seem as solid a play as Pujols, Fielder, Wright, Upton, or Howard and therefore sits even with the Padres in Coors. Utley, Teahen, Drew, Swisher, Taveras, and Delmon Young also all stay seated.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 8th lg; 539th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 7th lg; 1162nd overall)
Week 23: September 3-September 9

 
C	Brian McCann		1880 
C	Josh Bard		1010
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	Curtis Granderson	1550 
OF	Chris B. Young		1000 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 
DH	Garrett Atkins		2240

SP	Johan Santana		3410
SP	Josh Beckett		2520 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	2000
SP	Brett Myers		2540
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 23:	59990

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

As anticipated when we cut him a month ago, we'll repurchase Beckett for his likely double while dumping the injured Bedard. Most likely we then will add Brett Myers next week with our last move to supplement our reduced number of doubles with a sixth closer.

SP(6)
John Smoltz: Fri:WAS(J.Hanrahan)
Brandon Webb: Fri:STL(B.Looper)
Jake Peavy: Fri:@COK(J.Fogg)
Josh Beckett: Tue:TOR(R.Halladay); Sun:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:@MIN(J.Santana); Sat:@LAA(E.Santana)
Roy Halladay: Tue:@BOS(J.Beckett)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Mon:TOR(J.Litsch); Sat:@BAL(K.Birkins)
Tim Lincecum?: Tue:@COL(F.Morales); Sun:LAD(E.Loaiza)?
Fausto Carmona: Wed:@MIN(S.Baker)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. TOR; 4 Road at BAL.

Smoltz and Carmona will join our three doubles and Carmona. Borowski flips for Putz with Seattle facing New York and Detroit.

Martin, Kendrick, Hart, and Utley play for Mauer, Cano, Rios, and Hardy, who join Morneau, Iwamura, Sheffield, and Victorino on the bench.

Rotohelp.com(2nd lg; 185th overall)
Week 23: September 3-September 9

 
C	Brian McCann		1880 
C	Russ Martin		1290
1B	Ryan Howard		3240
1B	Prince Fielder		1850 
2B	Chase Utley		2850
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	Howie Kendrick		1320

SP	John Smoltz		2940 
SP	Josh Beckett		2520
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	2000
SP	Fausto Carmona		1070
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	Takashi Saito		2200 
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Kevin Gregg		1430 
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 23:	54960

Today's Fantasy Rx: With only four weeks left in the season, pay careful attention to the playing time for all of your players. Rebuilding clubs will begin to rotate youngsters for less productive veterans, and all players remain subject to extended stays on the bench when injuries strike due to most teams' failure to use the DL except in extreme circumstances. Only by examining each of your players' performance over the past week can you get a good idea if they'll continue to merit active lineup spots for you.