Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to 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
2A - Brad Penny(43421)
3ABCXZ - Randy Johnson(44455)
3ABCXZ - Odalis Perez(35444)
ACX - Ben Sheets(3354)
CZ - A.J. Burnett(34404)

I still believe Penny merits this high ranking, although exercise some caution in shallow league until his performance stabilizes. Burnett replaces Schmidt and Davis, although the latter two remain far better bets given their lack of blister problems.

23abcxyz - John Smoltz(2444344355)
2abcxyz - Eric Gagne(4544355544)
abcxy - Braden Looper(5345543243)
ax - Akinori Otsuka(4443522015)
ax - Ryan Madson(4432334434)
ax - Orber Moreno(3344230545)

Gagne finally reaches the top ranking this year, solidifying the top level of NL closers.

2
3CXZ - Kevin Millwood(33443)
BCYZ - Mark Prior(44320)

Take advantage of his current lapse in effectiveness before he returns to full health and begins dominating opponents.

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(5533534534)
3abcxyz - LaTroy Hawkins(5534343244)
3byz - Joe Borowski(2433341342)
bcxyz - Mike Koplove(4333313335)
abx - Guillermo Mota(3233432444)
bcz - Tim Spooneybarger
byz - Rheal Cormier(2544353245)
by - Javier Lopez(3330444332)

3
ABCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(43524)
ACZ - Matt Morris(44544)
C - Woody Williams(34352)

abcxyz - Jason Isringhausen(4325453345)
cxz - Steve Reed(3535523544)
by - Jay Witasick(1234442311)
cz - Robb Nen

A
BCXY - Roger Clemens(20444)
BCY - Jason Schmidt(34134)
BCZ - Matt Clement(55404)
BXY - Brandon Webb(34424)
CXZ - Greg Maddux(54304)
CX - Jake Peavy(34450)
CZ - Brian Lawrence(45433)
Xc - Carl Pavano(44534)
X - Chris Carpenter(35545)
X - Jason Marquis(44435)
X - Sean Burnett(43354)
X - Joe Kennedy(33434)
y - Glendon Rusch(44435)
Russ Ortiz(44334)
Doug Davis(55304)
Cory Lidle(24434)
Jeff Suppan(23245)
Jerome Williams(41040)
Wilson Alvarez(52105)
Kerry Wood(25550)

Mass changes here create an essentially brand new ranking as nearly a dozen pitchers join or leave this level. Burnett, Suppan, Wilson Alvarez qualify as the major additions, however Lawrence, Pavano, Carpenter, Marquis, Burnett, and Ortiz all appear quite solid heading into the break.

B
C - Andy Pettitte(43043)
C - Wade Miller(04442)
Y - Josh Beckett(44400)
x - Jeff Fassero(32333)
y - Adam Bernero(2)
Livan Hernandez(23330)
Todd Van Poppel(53222)
Andrew Good(00)
Michael Tejera(00)

Yax - Darren Dreifort(5435535444)
Y - Juan Cruz(2233544544)
a - Jim Brower(4453343444)
x - Amaury Telemaco(3433334030)

C
XZ - Jeff Weaver(34533)
Yz - Carlos Zambrano(43123)
Y - Kip Wells(00524)
Z - John Patterson(4044)
Adam Eaton(23444)
David Wells(44325)
Al Leiter(34232)
Casey Fossum(05032)

Hopefully Zambrano gets the rest he needs over the next week, since his skills seem in steady decline. Weaver, Eaton, and Wells are the safe bets here.

X
Z - Vicente Padilla(53233)
Tom Glavine(43423)

Although Victor Santos dropped off, Glavine remains as good as ever.

Y
Z - Randy Wolf(53040)
Dustin Hermanson(23415)
Tony Armas, Jr.(30030)

Z
Oliver Perez(33343)

a
bcxyz - Tim Worrell(4343351445)
bcxz - Chris Reitsma(3344543535)
bcxz - Ray King(5345354253)
bcxz - Luis Vizcaino(3404524444)
bxyz - Danny Kolb(3544453354)
cxyz - Antonio Alfonseca(5444555530)
bcx - Mike Lincoln(4245453341)
bxy - Kyle Farnsworth(5455325542)
bxy - Luis Ayala(2244255544)
bxy - Julian Tavarez(5325413334)
cxz - Trevor Hoffman(3455444353)
cxz - Billy Koch(4323343435)
cxz - Armando Almanza(334444031)
bx - Brad Lidge(4444443045)
bx - Armando Benitez(4332443225)
by - Jose Valverde(3132442434)
cx - Danny Graves(4314454434)
cx - Steve Kline(5524554454)
cx - John Riedling(4442253433)
cy - Brian Fuentes(3515234442)
xy - John Franco(5444315334)
c - Randy Choate(5425344453)
c - Brian Boehringer(2433434431)
x - Kiko Calero(5445534344)
x - Mike Gonzalez(3353454255)
x - Scott Linebrink(3443535254)
x - Jose Parra(2345443343)
x - Mike Adams(2424454244)
x - Salomon Torres(4054534323)
x - T.J. Tucker(3443322424)
x - Elmer Dessens(2443235543)
x - Darren Oliver(3434244341)
x - Tommy Phelps(3352455450)
y - Brian Meadows(4532340454)
y - Oscar Villarreal(1544430332)
z - Brandon Villafuerte(4434424234)
John Grabow(3153143545)
Joe Horgan(4524143543)
Phil Norton(3032254344)
Dan Miceli(4235533022)
Kirk Bullinger(4544125154)

I'm glad to see Tim Worrell returning here, although he highlights a second straight quiet week. Only Jose Parra earns an ax while Grabow and Bullinger replace Harrikala at the lowest level.

b
cxz - Mike Remlinger(3245043353)
cy - Matt Herges(4333333531)
cz - Roberto Hernandez(1312052444)
cz - Joey Eischen
cz - Paul Shuey
cz - Mike Crudale
yz - Matt Mantei(4024421333)
c - Scott Strickland
y - Tom Martin(3024335443)
y - Rod Beck(4323015454)
Scott Service(3135442331)
Dave Burba(2553343114)
Cal Eldred(4053145452)
Kevin Gryboski(1530344230)
Jason Simontacchi(212234)
Will Cunnane(341043333)
Troy Brohawn

c
Zach Day(04210)

xz - Ricky Bottalico(5333343234)
yz - Ricky Stone(5422233344)
z - Todd Jones(2333335422)
z - Eddie Oropesa(3040332450)
z - Mike Fetters
z - Brian Bowles
z - Dave Coggin
z - Chad Paronto
z - Al Reyes
Blaine Neal(534520455)
Sun-Woo Kim(3115423535)
Toby Borland(5222512431)
Travis Driskill

x
z - Jose Mesa(4335323534)
Chad Harville(4313352431)
Francis Beltran(5224533344)
Brian Bruney(3444423423)
C.J. Nitkowski(2344334432)
Chad Fox(4454433330)

Bruney stops falling here while Beltran rejoins.

y
Mike Stanton(4532432322)
Rocky Biddle(4423542213)
Brooks Kieschnick(3324103404)
Grant Roberts(1232)
John Foster
Dave Veres

z
Vladimir Nunez(1413324320)
Dave Elder
Dan Reichert
Chad Zerbe

NL starters I recommend despite their failure to appear above include Kris Benson(55233), Paul Byrd(3304), Chris Capuano(43342), Aaron Harang(30435), Kirk Rueter(42334), John Thomson(33043), Steve Trachsel(33243), and Jaret Wright(35353).

Other decent relievers include Nate Bump, Chad Cordero, Tim Drew, Josias Manzanillo, and Gabe White.

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

Tomorrow, like every Sunday during the season, we'll post our preview of the coming week's games and our CDM challenge lineups.

Today's Fantasy Rx: With a 44544 current QA log highlighting a 3-1 record on a 30:8 K:BB in 36 IP with 39 H, 4 HR, and a 1.52 G-F over his last five starts, Matt Morris suddenly look like an ace again. Of course, he also owns a 5.00 ERA over those starts, but given his overall skill level and the Cardinals' offense, use his league-leading homer total as an argument to help you steal Morris from your competitors. Feel free to consider him among the top dozen NL starters.