Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. TB; 4 Home vs. SEA.
New York Mets: 3 Road at WAS; 4 Road at FLO.
San Diego: 4 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. COL.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. PHI; 4 Home vs. HOU.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Home vs. FLO; 4 Home vs. MIL.
Baltimore: 3 Road at NYY; 4 Road at TEX.
Chicago White Sox: 4 Road at KC; 4 Road at MIN.
Colorado: 4 Home vs. LAD; 3 Road at SD.
Florida: 3 Road at ATL; 4 Home vs. NYM.
Houston: 3 Home vs. MIL; 4 Road at STL.
Kansas City: 4 Home vs. CHW; 3 Road at DET.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 4 Road at COL; 3 Road at ARI.
Milwaukee: 3 Road at HOU; 4 Road at ATL.
San Francisco: 3 Road at ARI; 4 Home vs. CIN.
Texas: 3 Road at MIN; 4 Home vs. BAL.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Philadelphia: 3 Road at STL; 4 Road at WAS.
Pittsburgh: 4 Road at SD; 3 Road at CHC.
Washington: 3 Home vs. NYM; 4 Home vs. PHI.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Cincinnati: 3 Road at CHC; 4 Road at SF.
Seattle: 3 Road at OAK; 4 Road at LAA.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. SF; 3 Home vs. LAD.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Home vs. CIN; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. DET: 3 Home vs. OAK.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. CHW.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Home vs. TOR.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Boston: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at TB.
Detroit: 3 Road at CLE; 3 Home vs. KC.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Home vs. BOS.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. BOS; 3 Road at NYY.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Oakland: 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Road at CLE.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Bronson Arroyo: Mon:@CHC(R.Hill); Sat:@SF(K.Correia)
Paul Byrd: Mon:DET(K.Rogers); Sat:OAK(D.Haren)
Kelvim Escobar: Mon:TB(Ed.Jackson); Sat:SEA(M.Batista)
Jeff Francis: Tue:LAD(C.Billingsley); Sun:@SD(G.Maddux)
Yovani Gallardo: Mon:@HOU(M.Albers); Sat:@ATL(J.Smoltz)
Tom Gorzelanny: Tue:@SD(G.Maddux); Sun:@CHC(C.Zambrano)
Aaron Harang: Tue:@CHC(C.Zambrano); Sun:@SF(Jo.Sanchez)
Cole Hamels: Tue:@STL(K.Wells?); Sun:@WAS(J.Hanrahan)
Joel Hanrahan: Tue:NYM(J.Maine); Sun:PHI(C.Hamels)
Rich Hill: Mon:CIN(B.Arroyo); Sat:PIT(J.Van Benschoten)
Phil Hughes: Mon:BAL(D.Cabrera); Sun:TOR(D.McGowan)
Dan Haren: Mon:SEA(M.Batista); Sat:@CLE(P.Byrd)
Byung-Hyun Kim: Mon:@ATL(J.Smoltz); Sat:NYM(O.Hernandez?)
John Lackey: Tue:TB(J.Hammel); Sun:SEA(Jef.Weaver)
John Maine: Tue:@WAS(J.Hanrahan); Sun:@FLO(C.Seddon)
Greg Maddux: Tue:PIT(T.Gorzelanny); Sun:COL(J.Francis)
Gil Meche: Tue:CHW(G.Floyd); Sun:@DET(J.Verlander)
Tim Redding: Mon:NYM(B.Lawrence); Sat:PHI(K.Kendrick)
Kenny Rogers: Mon:@CLE(P.Byrd); Sat:KC(K.Davies)
Ben Sheets: Tue:@HOU(F.Paulino); Sun:@ATL(Jo-Jo Reyes)
John Smoltz: Mon:FLO(B.Kim); Sat:MIL(Y.Gallardo)
Javier Vazquez: Mon:@KC(K.Davies); Sat:@MIN(S.Baker)
Justin Verlander; Tue:@CLE(J.Westbrook); Sun:KC(G.Meche)
Brandon Webb: Mon:SF(K.Correia); Sun:LAD(C.Billingsley)
Jake Westbrook: Tue:DET(J.Verlander); Sun:OAK(R.Harden)
Carlos Zambrano: Tue:CIN(A.Harang); Sun:PIT(T.Gorzelanny)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Matt Albers: Mon:MIL(Y.Gallardo); Sun:@STL(K.Wells?)
Miguel Batista: Mon:@OAK(D.Haren); Sat:@LAA(K.Escobar)
Chad Billingsley: Tue:@COL(J.Francis); Sun:@ARI(B.Webb)
Daniel Cabrera: Mon:@NYY(P.Hughes); Sat:@TEX(Ed.Volquez)
Kevin Correia: Mon:@ARI(B.Webb); Sat:CIN(B.Arroyo)
Kyle Davies: Mon:CHW(J.Vazquez); Sat:@DET(K.Rogers)
Gavin Floyd: Tue:@KC(G.Meche); Sun:@MIN(C.Silva?)
Edwin Jackson: Mon:@LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:BOS(T.Wakefield)
Kyle Kendrick: Mon:@STL(B.Thompson); Sat:@WAS(T.Redding)
Jon Leicester: Tue:@NYY(M.Mussina); Sun:@TEX(K.Millwood)
Dustin McGowan: Mon:BOS(T.Wakefield); Sun:@NYY(P.Hughes?)
Kevin Millwood: Tue:@MIN(C.Silva); Sun:BAL(J.Leicester)
Felipe Paulino: Tue:MIL(B.Sheets); Sun:@STL(K.Wells?)
Jo-Jo Reyes: Tue:FLO(C.Seddon); Sun:MIL(B.Sheets)
Jonathan Sanchez: Tue:@ARI(M.Owings); Sun:CIN(A.Harang)
Chris Seddon: Tue:@ATL(Jo-Jo Reyes); Sun:NYM(J.Maine?)
Carlos Silva: Tue:TEX(K.Millwood); Sun:CHW(G.Floyd)
Edinson Volquez: Mon:@MIN(K.Slowey); Sat:BAL(D.Cabrera)
John Van Benschoten: Mon:@SD(J.Cassel); Sat:@CHC(R.Hill)
Tim Wakefield: Mon:@TOR(); Sun:@TB(E.Jackson)
Jeff Weaver: Tue:@OAK(C.Gaudin); Sun:@LAA(J.Lackey)
David Wells: Tue:@COL(M.Redman); Sat:@ARI(Ed.Gonzalez)

Diamond Challenge

As we can gain the most points with a boost in homers and RBI, we want a power hitter, preferably one set to play every day for the next two weeks, in good hitters' parks if possible. Only the Brewers really fulfill that requirement, and since we already own Fielder and Hart, we'll add Ryan Braun, who gives the best chance to improve in our league. While we lack a catcher, we're comfortable with McCann and Martin for the last two weeks. Bedard departs as everyone else on our squad remains active.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:CHW(M.Buehrle)
John Smoltz: Mon:FLO(B.Kim); Sat:MIL(Y.Gallardo)
Jake Peavy: Fri:COL(F.Morales)
Roy Halladay: Fri:@NYY(C.Wang)
Brandon Webb: Mon:SF(K.Correia); Sun:LAD(C.Billingsley)
John Lackey: Tue:TB(J.Hammel); Sun:SEA(Jef.Weaver)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:DET(N.Robertson)
Josh Beckett: Fri:@TB(S.Kazmir)
Chris Young: Wed:PIT(I.Snell)
Erik Bedard: No start(DL).
Felix Hernandez: Wed:@OAK(D.Meyer)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at TB.

Peavy and Sabathia seem the best choices to join our three doubles and Papelbon, who gives us the best shot to gain points in field. Cordero flips for Dempster with the Cubs against the Pirates.

Braun replaces Morneau, who joins our otherwise unchanged bench of Howard, Kelly Johnson, Teahen, Hall, Bonds, Victorino, and Manny.

Rotohelp.com(4th lg; 30th div; 377th overall)
Week 25: September 17-September 23

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Prince Fielder		910
2B	Brandon Phillips	930 
2B	Howie Kendrick		520
3B	Alex Rodriguez		1940 
3B	David Wright		1550
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Nick Markakis		770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	760 
OF	Delmon Young		750
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	Garrett Atkins		1150 
DH	Ryan Braun		750


SP	John Smoltz		1260
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	John Lackey		1040 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040 
SP	Jon Papelbon		900 
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200 
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 25: 	29730

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:CHW(M.Buehrle)
John Smoltz: Mon:FLO(B.Kim); Sat:MIL(Y.Gallardo)
Jake Peavy: Fri:COL(F.Morales)
Brandon Webb: Mon:SF(K.Correia); Sun:LAD(C.Billingsley)
John Lackey: Tue:TB(J.Hammel); Sun:SEA(Jef.Weaver)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:DET(N.Robertson)
Jeremy Bonderman: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@TOR(J.Litsch)
Dan Haren: Mon:SEA(M.Batista); Sat:@CLE(P.Byrd)
Tim Hudson: Fri:MIL(C.Villaneuva)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at TB.

Peavy and Sabathia will join our four doubles, leaving Papelbon on our bench since he faces Al Reyes. Saito also flips for Cordero with the Dodgers in Colorado and then facing Arizona and Valverde the second half of the week.

Switching McCann for Victor gains us an extra game and sufficient cap room to run our desired pitching staff. Morneau, Youkilis, Kelly Johnson, Hardy, Sizemore, and Vlad sit.

Rotohelp.com(7th lg; 45th div; 305th overall)
Week 25: September 17-September 23

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Prince Fielder		910 
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	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Alex Rios		1000
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Ken Griffey		790 
OF	Nick Markakis		770
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	David Wright		1550 
DH	Mike Lowell		1070

SP	John Smoltz		1260
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Brandon Webb		1130
SP	John Lackey		1040
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040 
SP	Dan Haren		940 
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Jose Valverde		1100 
RP	Al Reyes		750
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 25: 	27980

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: No start.
Roy Oswalt: No start.
Ben Sheets: Tue:@HOU(F.Paulino)
Jake Peavy: No start.
Brandon Webb: Mon:SF(K.Correia)
Greg Maddux: Tue:PIT(T.Gorzelanny)
Josh Beckett: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@TOR(J.Litsch)
Dan Haren: Mon:SEA(M.Batista)
Felix Hernandez: Wed:@OAK(D.Meyer)
Matt Cain: Thu:CIN(K.Saarloos)
Brett Myers: 3 Road at STL; 1 Road at WAS.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TOR.

We need strikeouts and wins but don't like most of these starts. With Sheets, Maddux, and Dice-K all too risky for our preference, we'll deploy Sheets, Webb, Haren, Felix, Cain, and Myers. Cordero replaces Saito with the Dodgers in Colorado.

Offensively, Howard subs for McCann in our drive to gain as much last-minute power as possible. Hafner, Kelly Johnson, Teahen, Hall, and Bonds stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(7th lg; 118th overall)
Week 25a: September 17-September 20

 
C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Russ Martin		680
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
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	Alex Rios		1000 
OF	Nick Markakis		770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	760
OF	Delmon Young		750 
OF	Corey Hart		430 
DH	Alex Rodriguez		1940 
DH	Ryan Howard		1420 

SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	Ben Sheets		1220
SP	Dan Haren		940 
SP	Felix Hernandez		840
SP	Matt Cain		840
SP	Brett Myers		960 
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260 
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Week 25a Salary:		29580

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

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:CHW(M.Buehrle)
Brandon Webb: Mon:SF(K.Correia); Sun:LAD(C.Billingsley)
John Lackey: Tue:TB(J.Hammel); Sun:SEA(Jef.Weaver)
Jake Peavy: Fri:COL(F.Morales)
Josh Beckett: Fri:@TB(S.Kazmir)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:DET(N.Robertson)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@TOR(J.Litsch)
Chris Young: Wed:PIT(I.Snell)
Fausto Carmona: Fri:OAK(J.Blanton)
Brett Myers: 3 Road at STL; 4 Road at WAS.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at TB.

Along with our dual doubles and two closers, Peavy and then Carmona will claim the last two slots over Sabathia due to Peavy's relative dominance at home and Carmona's extreme cost-effectiveness. Saito remains benched with the Dodgers in Colorado and then facing the cheaper Valverde.

Unfortunately, cap problems require us to bench someone decent, so Howard and Delmon Young will sit in favor of the red hot Nick Swisher and Mark Teahen. Bard, Adrian Gonzalez, Kinsler, Stephen Drew, Bonds, and Willy Taveras all stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 7th lg; 437th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 7th lg; 992nd overall)
Week 25: September 17-September 23

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890
C	Brian McCann		1880 
1B	Albert Pujols		3890
1B	Prince Fielder		1850 
2B	Chase Utley		2850
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	Nick Swisher		2190
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	1550 
OF	Chris B. Young		1000 
DH	Garrett Atkins		2240 
DH	Mark Teahen		1980 

SP	Brandon Webb		2850
SP	John Lackey		2790
SP	Jake Peavy		2730
SP	Fausto Carmona		1070
SP	Brett Myers		2540
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	J.J. Putz		2360 
RP	Joe Borowski		2100 
RP	Jose Valverde		1880
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 25:	59520

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

SP(6)
John Smoltz: Mon:FLO(B.Kim); Sat:MIL(Y.Gallardo)
Brandon Webb: Mon:SF(K.Correia); Sun:LAD(C.Billingsley)
Jake Peavy: Fri:COL(F.Morales)
Josh Beckett: Fri:@TB(S.Kazmir)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:DET(N.Robertson)
Roy Halladay: Fri:@NYY(C.Wang)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@TOR(J.Litsch)
Tim Lincecum: Fri:CIN(M.Belisle)
Fausto Carmona: Fri:OAK(J.Blanton)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at TB.

While we don't like deploying this much money in pitching, we need to use Smoltz, Webb, Peavy, Sabathia, Carmona, and Papelbon here. Saito also replaces Borowski here since the seven road games gives him an interesting advantage in points over someone with six home games.

We also will gamble on offense, subbing J.J. Hardy for Jose Reyes in the hope that Reyes might not run so much against Brian Schneider and Miguel Olivo. Kendrick also subs for Cano to bring us under the cap, leaving Mauer, Howard, Morneau, Iwamura, Sheffield, and Sizemore benched.

Rotohelp.com(2nd lg; 69th overall)
Week 25: September 17-September 23

 
C	Brian McCann		1880 
C	Russ Martin		1290
1B	Albert Pujols		3890
1B	Prince Fielder		1850 
2B	Chase Utley		2850
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	Ryan Braun		1500 
3B	B.J. Upton		1000 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		2150 
SS	J.J. Hardy		1030
OF	Matt Holliday		2730 
OF	Alex Rios		1970
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	Brandon Webb		2850
SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490
SP	Fausto Carmona		1070
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	J.J. Putz		2360 
RP	Takashi Saito		2200
RP	Kevin Gregg		1430 
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 25:	54710

Today's Fantasy Rx: With just two weeks, conserve your points, particularly in qualitative categories, in leagues you lead, and play more aggressive lineups in places you need to improve. Pay particular attention to playing time as nagging injuries will sideline players for the year with increasing frequency while more youngsters will start seeing regular action with the minor league season completely concluded.