Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our final in-season NL LPR rankings of 2004, 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 22nd. 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(35400)
3ABCXZ - Randy Johnson(43443)
3ABCYZ - Roy Oswalt(44442)
ACX - Ben Sheets(43544)
ACX - Jake Peavy(33424)
ACZ - A.J. Burnett(53545)
BY - Josh Beckett(34553)
CZ - Jeff Weaver(41540)
Ay - Glendon Rusch(54304)
B - Livan Hernandez(22224)
Noah Lowry(22445)
Dave Williams(0455)

Lowry's rebound not only makes him a very intriguing pitcher for next season, he should remain active in almost every NL league over the rest of 2004. Dave Williams' progress, combined with his dominant minor league season, also makes him an excellent choice if you see him available anywhere.

23abcxyz - Billy Wagner(5244433544)
23abcxyz - John Smoltz(5433253332)
2abcxyz - Eric Gagne(4455405344)
3abcxyz - Jason Isringhausen(5443543344)
abxy - Julian Tavarez(5525242333)
ax - Mike Gonzalez(5434543545)
ax - Salomon Torres(5544422544)
ax - Ryan Madson(4353433135)
a - Orber Moreno(0545245242)

Either Gonzalez or Torres should close for Pittsburgh if they don't sign a free agent. Strongly consider rostering either Pirate if protecting qualitative leads or looking towards next year.

2
3CZ - Kevin Millwood(53400)
BCYZ - Mark Prior(21325)

3abcxyz - LaTroy Hawkins(3455534433)
3byz - Joe Borowski(2433341342)
bcxyz - Mike Koplove(3451331143)
abx - Guillermo Mota(4445535434)
bcz - Tim Spooneybarger
byz - Rheal Cormier(0345134543)
by - Javier Lopez(3454433430)

Cormier finally appears on track with the season nearly over. While he doesn't dominate hitters, consider him a very safe choice as roster filler.

3
ABCZ - Odalis Perez(24402)
ACZ - Matt Morris(35044)
C - Woody Williams(44332)

cxz - Steve Reed(5424304135)
by - Jay Witasick(1531234453)
cz - Robb Nen

A
BCXY - Roger Clemens(44455)
BCX - Andy Pettitte(35444)
BCY - Jason Schmidt(00353)
BCZ - Matt Clement(20040)
CXYz - Carlos Zambrano(34434)
CXZ - Greg Maddux(54543)
X - Joe Kennedy(53344)
Z - Oliver Perez(41413)
Kerry Wood(04344)
Chris Carpenter(45530)
Doug Davis(50424)
Cory Lidle(53134)
Dennis Tankersley(44320)
Dontrelle Willis(42422)

As Clement may not start another game this year, consider dumping him unless you own him at a great price for 2005. Lidle looks a like a decent replacement if you see him available as a free agent.

B
C - Wade Miller(04422)
Y - Brandon Webb(54030)

Yax - Darren Dreifort(5534542043)
Yx - Juan Cruz(3332343444)
x - Jeff Fassero(4323553413)
y - Adam Bernero(3434022112)
Jim Brower(4034324444)
Andrew Good(5423252332)
Todd Van Poppel(3124213033)

C
X - David Wells(33434)
Y - Kip Wells(13400)
Z - Brian Lawrence(03345)
Z - John Patterson(00343)
Casey Fossum(44204)
Victor Zambrano(43350)
Al Leiter(33053)
Adam Eaton(31343)

Now that Patterson seems healthy, he should compile a couple more strong starts now before emerging as a consistent option next year.

X
c - Carl Pavano(44334)
John Thomson(34434)
John Van Benschoten(33440)
Jason Marquis(34234)

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

ax - Dustin Hermanson(5045544354)

Z
Vicente Padilla(52552)

a
bcxy - Braden Looper(3534244545)
bcxz - Ray King(4354440052)
bcxz - Chris Reitsma(3050343535)
bxyz - Danny Kolb(4244333524)
cxyz - Antonio Alfonseca(5454534454)
bcx - Mike Lincoln(4245453341)
bcz - Luis Vizcaino(3450355243)
bxy - Luis Ayala(2453431435)
cxy - Brian Fuentes(3534423244)
cxz - Trevor Hoffman(3155445443)
cxz - Billy Koch(2432333443)
bx - Armando Benitez(5445342554)
bx - Brad Lidge(5543324455)
by - Jose Valverde(3132442434)
by - Kyle Farnsworth(3030232432)
cx - Steve Kline(5433434444)
cx - Danny Graves(2030343433)
xz - Mike DeJean(4454553245)
c - Randy Choate(4333444325)
c - Brian Boehringer(2433434431)
x - Yhency Brazoban(5334453445)
x - Chad Qualls(5245244443)
x - Ryan Dempster(4435534325)
x - Tyler Yates(3431453445)
x - Akinori Otsuka(3045455334)
x - Scott Linebrink(5334544224)
x - Darren Oliver(2443414343)
x - Kiko Calero(2055335433)
y - Oscar Villarreal(1544430332)
y - Brian Meadows(1445322334)
Dan Miceli(4542540553)
T.J. Tucker(5442442442)
Wilson Alvarez(2235432452)
Mike Adams(2123344441)
John Grabow(3340434323)

Brazoban, Dempster, and Yates rank among the most impressive relievers who emerged down the stretch. All three merit consideration now as roster filler, not to mention long looks as intriguing keepers. Expect Brazoban to remain in Mota's old role, Dempster to compete with Sergio Mitre to replace Matt Clement in the Cubs' rotation, and Yates to develop into Looper's top set-up man now that the Mets might leave him in the bullpen.

b
cxyz - Tim Worrell(5534434524)
cxz - Joey Eischen(4442234433)
cy - Matt Herges(3343233445)
cz - Roberto Hernandez(4412440543)
cz - Mike Remlinger(4231244334)
cz - Paul Shuey
yz - Matt Mantei(4024421333)
c - Scott Strickland
x - Kevin Gryboski(3434344333)
y - Tom Martin(5423244103)
Cal Eldred(4554441425)
Scott Service(4423314340)
Amaury Telemaco(2253534242)
Dave Burba(4412343330)
Jason Simontacchi(1223444222)
Will Cunnane(341043333)

c
z - Gary Glover(10)
Zach Day(21043)
Sun-Woo Kim(30240)

yz - Ricky Stone(3342112254)
z - Al Reyes(3354544)
z - Ricky Bottalico(4445332323)
z - Todd Jones(3255325353)
z - Mike Fetters(3215332444)
z - Scott Stewart(1044422423)
z - Dave Coggin
John Riedling(2305444402)
Blaine Neal(5325254001)

x
Greg Aquino(5333353555)
Chad Fox(4454433330)
Antonio Osuna(3433445325)
Brian Bruney(4321454431)
Elmer Dessens(3435451332)
Gary Majewski(2435334342)
Duaner Sanchez(5334433333)
Tim Drew(3323414433)
Joe Horgan(3303424034)

y
Brooks Kieschnick(3404554423)
Mike Stanton(5434322334)
John Franco(2303542155)
Rocky Biddle(3542213242)

z
Jose Mesa(5455233324)

NL starters I recommend despite their failure to appear above include Brett Tomko(44441), Jaret Wright(44324), Kris Benson(30544), and Aaron Heilman(044).

Other decent relievers include Felix Rodriguez, Gabe White, Tyler Walker, Todd Wellemeyer, Dan Wheeler, Ryan Wagner, Scott Eyre, Mike Wuerth, Matt Perisho, Chad Cordero, Jose Acevedo, Joe Valentine, and Shawn Chacon.

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 only a little over a week remaining in the regular season, consider cutting any expiring contracts or pitchers with questionable schedules in favor of qualitative protection or keepable youngsters. The safest likely available relievers include Salomon Torres, Antonio Alfonseca, Yhency Brazoban, Ryan Dempster, Kiko Calero, Cal Eldred, Antonio Osuna, Felix Rodriguez, Gabe White, Tyler Walker, Todd Wellemeyer, Ryan Wagner, and Scott Eyre. Intriguing youngsters worth targeting include Dave Williams, Aaron Heilman, Justin Germano, Jose Capellan, Jon Rauch, Dan Haren, Dan Meyer, Sergio Mitre, Rick Ankiel, Ryan Wagner, and Brazoban.