Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method to identify highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. Please refer to the end of the article 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 September 15th. 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(23540)
3ABCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(02444)
3ABCXZ - Randy Johnson(44344)
ACX - Ben Sheets(44435)
ACX - Jake Peavy(35334)
ACZ - A.J. Burnett(53545)
CXZ - Jeff Weaver(23415)
BY - Josh Beckett(43455)
B - Livan Hernandez(43222)

A Marlins' surge places both Burnett and Beckett up here while Peavy also returns. Of course, while San Diego appears headed out of the playoff race after Khalil Greene's injury, Florida's success despite atrocious scheduling difficulties makes all regular Marlins' starters safe bets in almost any league.

23abcxyz - John Smoltz(4445543325)
23abcxyz - Billy Wagner(4452444335)
2abcxyz - Eric Gagne(4544554053)
3abcxyz - Jason Isringhausen(4555443543)
abxy - Julian Tavarez(2435525242)
ax - Mike Gonzalez(3354345435)
ax - Ryan Madson(2424353433)
a - Orber Moreno(0545245242)

2
3CXZ - Kevin Millwood(35340)
BCYZ - Mark Prior(32132)

3abcxyz - LaTroy Hawkins(3245345553)
3byz - Joe Borowski(2433341342)
bcyz - Mike Koplove(2434513311)
abx - Guillermo Mota(4334445535)
bcz - Tim Spooneybarger
bxy - Javier Lopez(3434544334)
byz - Rheal Cormier(4503451345)

Try to acquire Mota before Armando Benitez's likely departure this winter makes Mota the undisputed closer in Florida.

3
ABCZ - Odalis Perez(02440)
ACZ - Matt Morris(43504)
C - Woody Williams(42443)

cxz - Steve Reed(3542430413)
by - Jay Witasick(1531234453)
cz - Robb Nen

A
BCXY - Roger Clemens(44445)
BCX - Andy Pettitte(35444)
BCY - Jason Schmidt(50035)
BCZ - Matt Clement(52004)
CXYz - Carlos Zambrano(54344)
CXZ - Greg Maddux(45454)
X - Chris Carpenter(54553)
X - Joe Kennedy(35334)
Z - Oliver Perez(54141)
Luke Hudson(44034)
Dontrelle Willis(52424)
Kerry Wood(40043)
Dennis Tankersley(44320)

Hudson looks like an intriguing keeper target, however all Reds' pitchers appear rather risky headed into the off-season.

B
C - Wade Miller(04422)
Y - Brandon Webb(45403)

Yax - Darren Dreifort(5534542043)
Yx - Juan Cruz(2433323434)
x - Jeff Fassero(4323553413)
y - Adam Bernero(3434022112)
Jim Brower(4424034324)
Andrew Good(5423252332)
Todd Van Poppel(3423124213)

C
X - David Wells(33343)
Y - Kip Wells(13400)
Z - Brian Lawrence(40334)
Z - John Patterson(40034)
Victor Zambrano(43350)
Casey Fossum(14420)
Adam Eaton(43313)
Al Leiter(13305)

X
Z - Vicente Padilla(35255)
c - Carl Pavano(24433)
John Thomson(53443)
Jason Marquis(53342)
Jamey Wright(42333)
Brandon Backe(30343)

The success of Pavano and Thomson over the past month earns them increasingly solid ratings here as some of the safest options in the game. Expect both to finish strongly before enjoying additional success next season, especially if Pavano signs with another solid defensive team.

Y
Z - Randy Wolf(44330)
Tony Armas(00300)

ax - Dustin Hermanson(3250455443)

a
bcxy - Braden Looper(4443353424)
bcxz - Ray King(3345435444)
bcxz - Joey Eischen(4344422344)
bcxz - Chris Reitsma(2343050343)
bxyz - Danny Kolb(3142443335)
bcx - Mike Lincoln(4245453341)
bcz - Luis Vizcaino(1434503552)
bxy - Luis Ayala(2324534314)
bxy - Kyle Farnsworth(1303023243)
cxy - Brian Fuentes(3453534423)
cxz - Trevor Hoffman(2031554454)
cxz - Billy Koch(2432333443)
cyz - Antonio Alfonseca(3445454534)
bx - Armando Benitez(4345445342)
bx - Brad Lidge(4435543324)
by - Jose Valverde(3132442434)
cx - Steve Kline(5433434444)
cx - Danny Graves(5420303434)
xz - Mike DeJean(4454553245)
c - Randy Choate(3424333444)
c - Brian Boehringer(2433434431)
x - Akinori Otsuka(4444304545)
x - Salomon Torres(2445554442)
x - Yhency Brazoban(4434533445)
x - Scott Linebrink(5453345442)
x - Chad Qualls(3352452444)
x - Kiko Calero(5542055335)
x - Ryan Dempster(3234435534)
x - Brian Bruney(3344321454)
x - Darren Oliver(2443414343)
x - Elmer Dessens(4234354513)
y - Oscar Villarreal(1544430332)
y - Brian Meadows(4314453223)
T.J. Tucker(5554424424)
Todd Wellemeyer(4343533444)
Mike Wuertz(3523244454)
Dan Miceli(3434542540)
Chad Harville(5334434324)
John Grabow(4334043432)
Wilson Alvarez(2235432452)
Mike Adams(1332123344)

b
cxyz - Tim Worrell(1555344345)
cy - Matt Herges(4334323344)
cz - Roberto Hernandez(5441244054)
cz - Mike Remlinger(4424231244)
cz - Paul Shuey
yz - Matt Mantei(4024421333)
c - Scott Strickland
x - Kevin Gryboski(3343434433)
x - Scott Service(3544233143)
y - Tom Martin(5542324410)
Cal Eldred(4345544414)
Amaury Telemaco(3442253534)
Dave Burba(4244123433)
Jason Simontacchi(1223444222)
Will Cunnane(341043333)

c
z - Gary Glover(1)
Zach Day(21043)
Sun-Woo Kim(23024)

yz - Ricky Stone(3342112254)
z - Scott Stewart(3451044422)
z - Todd Jones(3433255325)
z - Mike Fetters(5321533244)
z - Ricky Bottalico(2444533232)
z - Al Reyes(3354)
z - Dave Coggin
John Riedling(1423054444)
Blaine Neal(5532525400)

x
Greg Aquino(5533335355)
Duaner Sanchez(4433533443)
Antonio Osuna(3534334453)
Chad Fox(4454433330)
Gary Majewski(4324353343)
Ramon Colon(4343354223)
Tim Drew(3332341443)
Joe Horgan(3433034240)

Osuna looks like an excellent option for teams attempting to protect a slim qualitative league. Rebuilding teams also might consider rostering Majewski at the minimum since he appears assured a bullpen spot next spring and might challenge Chad Cordero to close.

y
Brooks Kieschnick(1034045544)
Mike Stanton(5543432233)
John Franco(2303542155)
Glendon Rusch(4232034413)
Rocky Biddle(3542213242)

z
Jose Mesa(4545523332)

Don't be surprised if Mesa winds up as a set-up man next season unless Pittsburgh decides to re-sign him. His second-half skill deterioration makes him a very risky keeper in most leagues if he cost you much more than $15 on draft day.

NL starters I recommend despite their failure to appear above include Brett Tomko(44444), Jaret Wright(44432), Pete Munro(04343), John Van Benschoten(3344), Dave Williams(045), Cory Lidle(35313), and Ismael Valdez(03234).

Other decent relievers include Felix Rodriguez, Gabe White, Tyler Walker, Giovanni Carrara, Ryan Wagner, Scott Eyre, Shawn Chacon, Chad Cordero, Dan Wheeler, Matt Perisho, and Rick Ankiel.

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: Only the following fourteen NL starters appear safe to run if you're guarding a tiny ERA or WHIP advantage: Randy Johnson, Ben Sheets, Jake Peavy, A.J. Burnett, Josh Beckett, Woody Williams, Roger Clemens, Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux, Chris Carpenter, David Wells, John Thomson, Brett Tomko, and Jaret Wright. Replace your other starters with any relievers who own at least an ax ranking and a current QA log of either consistently solid scores or a positive trend with at least five dominant outings.