Today's Fantasy Rx

Arizona: Steve Sparks, RH Starter
2-4 on a 23:22 K:BB in 51 IP over 8 GS(11G)
with 56 H, 6 HR, a 1.27 G-F, and a 6.71 ERA.

While Sparks barely belongs in the majors right now, he remains in Arizona's rotation and capable of reaching double-digit wins because the Diamondbacks simply don't have any starting alternatives with no one save Randy Johnson registering decent skills in the rotation. Unfortunately for Diamondbacks' fans, AAA Tucson's starting pitching looks even worse right now, so Sparks should continue starting at least through the All-Star break barring an eminently logical trade of a cornerman for pitching help. Of course, unless absolutely desperate for wins and innings in leagues that don't count qualitative stats, ignore Sparks since he'll damage your ERA and WHIP beyond repair.

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Sat:@KC(D.May)
Mike Mussina: Sun:TEX(R.Drese)
Tim Hudson: Sat:TOR(P.Hentgen)
Roy Oswalt: Sun:@STL(J.Suppan)
Kevin Brown: Fri:TEX(K.Rogers)
Shawn Chacon: 3 Home vs. SD.

No starts: Pedro, Randy, Halladay, Vazquez, Wood, Beckett, Contreras.

With no real choices here, we'll run our six active pitchers.

Offensively, Hudson obviously stays benched, and then since our starters give us some cap flexibility, we'll sit Crede and Alex Cintron to redeploy Dunn. While we'd like to find spots for Ichiro and Podsednik, both face relatively tough opposition this weekend and also don't fit nicely under the cap.

The Umpire Hunter(14th lg; 534th overall)
Week 9b: June 4-June 6

C	Mike Piazza		990
C	Jason Varitek		680
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930
3B	Eric Hinske		990
3B	Hank Blalock		850
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Kazuo Matsui		750 
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760 
OF	Vernon Wells		1150 
OF	Carl Crawford		1040 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690 
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Juan Pierre		1470
DH	Victor Martinez		450 

SP	Curt Schilling		1610 
SP	Mike Mussina		1380 
SP	Tim Hudson		1320 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200 
SP	Kevin Brown		1180
SP	Shawn Chacon		630
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Arthur Rhodes		800
RP	Matt Herges		670

Total Salary for Week 9b: 	29930

Today's Fantasy Rx: Since moving to the bullpen less than two weeks ago, Jeremy Affeldt owns a 1-0 record and 4 Saves on a 7:2 K:BB in 7 IP over 6 G with 6 H, 1 HR, a 1.83 G-F, and a 1.29 ERA. I see no reason not to heartily recommend him wherever you need saves or even just a qualitative boost. Also strongly consider him in national contests since I doubt his salary is commensurate with his current value in most leagues.