Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method to identify highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. While we haven't changed this system since the second half of last season, feel free to refer here for a complete description of the codes. We've included the five most recent 2004 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through July 7th. Pitchers with no QA scores have not pitched this year, so don't roster any of them unless you see someone ready to return to the majors.

1
23ABCXYZ - Roy Halladay(44525)
2ABCXYZ - Curt Schilling(53524)
AX - Freddy Garcia(44335)

abcxyz - Tom Gordon(4553554333)
abcxyz - Mike Timlin(5414443334)
ax - Shingo Takatsu(4345434522)
Justin Duchscherer(1231051533)

Halladay again switches with Mulder while Duchscherer's reemergence coincides with mild slumps from Rivera and KRod. However, none of these pitchers appears particularly dominant, although teams seeking top starters still should target Halladay, Schilling, or Garcia.

2
3ABCYZ - Pedro Martinez(54325)
3ABXYZ - Mark Mulder(43433)
3bcyz - Byung-Hyun Kim(400)
BCXYZ - Tim Hudson(34522)
BCY - Kevin Brown(30330)
BY - Esteban Loaiza(23023)
CY - Sidney Ponson(23234)
Xc - Scott Schoeneweis(34322)
B - Mike Mussina(03232)

The relative mediocrity of every healthy pitcher here save Pedro and Mulder continues to surprise me. Of course, despite questionable skills, Loaiza and Mussina at least will remain solid fantasy options.

3abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(3455455454)
3bcyz - Alan Embree(3310532252)
3acz - Arthur Rhodes(4423542124)
Baxz - Scot Shields(4544333334)
bcz - Jeremy Affeldt(432412454)
Travis Harper(3252224353)

3
abcxyz - Keith Foulke(5444153243)
abcxyz - Francisco Cordero(1433455224)
acxz - Ricardo Rincon(0235433045)
bcxy - Damaso Marte(4523444440)
bcyz - Chad Bradford(5442344322)
cyz - Buddy Groom(1335124343)

A
ABXYz - Johan Santana(44445)
CZ - Mark Buehrle(44255)
b - Dennys Reyes(40420)
Nate Robertson(44240)
Rich Harden(25203)
Bronson Arroyo(24424)

Only Westbrook departed while no one reached this level, however Santana's dominance probably makes him the safest pitcher in the league to target for an immediate boost.

B
C - Javier Vazquez(43223)
Y - Joel Pineiro(44352)
Jose Contreras(45433)
Cliff Lee(04224)
Eric DuBose(32300)

C
YZ - Tim Wakefield(00245)
Z - Derek Lowe(33520)
x - Rodrigo Lopez(22453)
Miguel Batista(33242)
Victor Zambrano(33223)
Bartolo Colon(22400)

b - Mickey Callaway(5)

X
by - Jake Westbrook(43533)
Zach Greinke(33233)
Justin Miller(53413)

Although Greinke's experience his first slump, he remains the most intriguing young pitcher in baseball given his command and developing dominance.

Y
cz - Jose Jimenez(3345134024)

I didn't expect Cleveland to dump him despite his struggles, especially since they might have netted a half-decent prospect if he rebounded over the next few weeks. Unfortunately, while he could emerge as a contributor elsewhere down the stretch, I suspect Jimenez won't warrant further roto attention this year.

Z
Orlando Hernandez.

a
John Halama(3233)

bcxyz - Eddie Guardado(3454432335)
bcxyz - Octavio Dotel(2432145352)
bcxyz - Scott Williamson(2235545454)
bcxy - Brian Shouse(3035444342)
bcxz - Ugueth Urbina(4314233233)
bcyz - Jason Grimsley(3254545312)
bcx - Jim Mecir(5444055234)
bxy - Danys Baez(2325434351)
bxy - Danny Patterson(3404342354)
bx - B.J. Ryan(4545555334)
by - David Riske(4444252234)
by - Curtis Leskanic(4141243334)
cz - Cliff Politte(4124534525)
xy - Francisco Rodriguez(4444454533)
b - John Parrish(5334043443)
c - Mike Myers(5540344504)
x - Joe Nathan(4443444444)
x - Juan Rincon(5554333255)
x - Jesus Colome(3444253435)
x - Carlos Almanzar(3245345342)
x - Frank Francisco(4250505444)
x - Jason Kershner(5353434515)
J.J. Putz(0454332424)
Matt J. Miller(4522435404)
Kerry Ligtenberg(4223135434)
Doug Brocail(0444343424)
Rafael Betancourt(2433353341)

Francisco's promotion coincides with Prinz dropping off, however most pitchers here remain good gambles. Of course, Williamson's injury diminishes the strength at the top of this ranking, but I still see no reason not to recommending targeting these pitchers when seeking qualitative stability or even just short-term roster filler.

b
c - Kelvim Escobar(43424)
Kirk Saarloos(4)

cyz - Paul Quantrill(2344323422)
cy - Brendan Donnelly(3453324)
cz - Troy Percival(0343322432)
c - Jeff Nelson(4405443023)
c - Scott Sauerbeck
y - Derrick Turnbow(3334)
y - Rafael Soriano(424332)
y - Mike MacDougal(50522)
Mark Malaska(4213332411)
Jack Cressend(4243121113)
Chris Mears
Bobby Seay

c
z - Mark Hendrickson(34004)
Carlos Silva(40223)

yz - Terry Adams(5352524542)
x - Ron Villone(4334423323)
z - Bob Wickman(4)
z - J.C. Romero(4333430243)
z - Rick White(3442334312)
z - Brian Anderson(41322112)
z - Chris Hammond(2431435333)
z - Ben Weber(3244323211)
z - Scott Stewart(3425334510)
z - Steve Karsay
z - Omar Daal
z - Jayson Durocher
z - Jason Middlebrook
z - Britt Reames
z - Carl Sadler
Julio Mateo(3353442142)
Justin Speier(2413324225)
Kelly Wunsch(532)
Kane Davis
Hansel Izquierdo
Jose Santiago
Mike Thurman

With Wickman back and Karsay hopefully returning soon, we're beginning to see intriguing depth at this level.

x
Chad Gaudin(0403)

z -Jaime Cerda(3353333343)
Jason Frasor(3134443552)
Vinnie Chulk(3334224345)
Jon Adkins(4433533232)
Jamie Walker(1355453203)
Erasmo Ramirez(2333343413)

Trever Miller's departure adds only slight instability here, although only Frasor, Chulk, and maybe Cerda merit much attention in standard leagues.

y
Rick Helling

z
Mike DeJean(4433515543)
Jorge Julio(2113443344)
Mike Jackson(2143232234)
Brandon Puffer(2332242224)

AL starters I recommend despite their failure to appear above include Erik Bedard(34333), Rob Bell(34333), Jeremy Bonderman(54333), Daniel Cabrera(33332), John Lackey(54324), Brad Radke(44424), Kenny Rogers(44431), and Mike Wood(33).

Other decent relievers include Grant Balfour, Nate Field, Ron Mahay, Joe Roa, Rudy Seanez, Scott Sullivan, and Esteban Yan.

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 2004.
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 2003.
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 2002.

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 any of the following skill qualifications: K>=IP-2, BB<=IP/3, H<=IP, HR<=1, and G-F>=1.00. Any starter who doesn't reach any 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 any of the following skill qualifications: K>=IP, BB=0, H<=IP, HR=0, and G-F>=1.00. Any reliever who doesn't reach any 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.

Note: 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. All pitchers are evaluated as relievers aside from those who reached both 5 starts in a given season and qualified for DOM or DIS ratings.

A - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2002 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2002 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2002 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2002 relief outings

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: Given the likelihood that he cost well under $20 in drafts this spring, Freddy Garcia should rank as an excellent bargain in any auction league. Rebuilding teams should take advantage of his contract extension with the White Sox to trade for Chicago's new ace since his three-year deal removes the possibility of Garcia departing the AL as a free agent.