Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 4 Home vs. TOR; 4 Home vs. BOS.
Detroit: 3 Home vs. CHW; 2 Road at TB; 3 Home vs. TB.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. BOS; 2 Home vs. DET; 3 Road at DET.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 3 Road at TB; 4 Road at BAL.
Chicago Cubs: 4 Home vs. CIN; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Florida: 3 Road at MON; 4 Road at PHI.
Los Angeles: 4 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. SF.
Oakland: 4 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. ANA.
Texas: 4 Home vs. ANA; 3 Road at SEA.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Anaheim: 4 Road at TEX; 3 Road at OAK.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Road at DET; 4 Road at KC.
Cincinnati: 4 Road at CHC; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. CLE; 4 Home vs. CHW.
Milwaukee: 3 Road at ARI; 4 Road at STL.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. PIT; 4 Home vs. FLO.
St. Louis: 3 Road at HOU; 4 Home vs. MIL.
Toronto: 4 Road at BAL; 3 Home vs. NYY.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Colorado: 4 Road at LA; 3 Road at HOU.
Seattle: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Home vs. TEX.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. MIL; 3 Home vs. SD.
San Diego: 3 Home vs. SF; 3 Road at ARI.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Home vs. NYM; 3 Road at CHC.
Houston: 3 Home vs. STL; 3 Home vs. COL.
Minnesota: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. CLE.
Pittsburgh: 3 Road at PHI; 3 Road at CIN.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
San Francisco: 3 Road at SD; 3 Road at LA.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Cleveland: 3 Road at KC; 3 Road at MIN.
New York Mets: 3 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. MON.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Road at TOR.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Bronson Arroyo: Mon:@TB(S.Kazmir); Sat:@BAL(D.Borkowski?)
Josh Beckett: Mon:@MON(J.Patterson); Sat:@PHI(E.Milton)
Jose Contreras: Tue:@DET(N.Robertson): Sun:@KC(Z.Greinke)
Tom Glavine: Tue:@ARL(Jar.Wright); Sun:MON(T.Ohka?)
Zach Greinke: Mon:CLE(J.Westbrook); Sun:CHW(J.Contreras)
John Halama: Tue:BOS(D.Lowe); Sun:@DET(N.Robertson)
Roy Halladay: Mon:@BAL(S.Ponson); Sat:NYY(K.Brown)
Orlando Hernandez?: Tue:MIN(K.Lohse); Sun:@TOR(T.Lilly)?
Tim Hudson?: Tue:SEA(G.Meche); Sun:ANA(A.Sele)?
Randy Johnson: Mon:MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:SD(B.Lawrence)
Scott Kazmir: Mon:BOS(B.Arroyo); Sat:@DET(G.Knotts)
Gary Knotts: Mon:CHW(J.Grilli); Sat:TB(S.Kazmir)
Brian Lawrence: Tue:SF(J.Schmidt); Sat:@ARI(R.Johnson)
Cliff Lee: Tue:@KC(D.May); Sun:@MIN(K.Lohse)
Ted Lilly; Tue:@BAL(D.Cabrera); Sun:NYY(O.Hernandez?)
Kyle Lohse: Tue:@NYY(O.Hernandez); Sun:CLE(Cl.Lee)
Greg Maddux?: Tue:CIN(J.Hancock); Sun:ATL(B.Claussen)?
Eric Milton: Mon:PIT(Ol.Perez); Sat:FLO(J.Beckett)
Jamie Moyer: Mon:@OAK(B.Zito); Sat:TEX(K.Rogers)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:STL(W.Williams); Sat:COL(S.Estes)
Vicente Padilla: Tue:PIT(I.Snell); Sun:FLO(I.Valdez?)
Oliver Perez: Mon:@PHI(E.Milton); Sat:@CIN(Jos.Acevedo)
Sidney Ponson: Mon:TOR(R.Halladay); Sat:BOS(T.Wakefield)
Nate Robertson: Tue:CHW(J.Contreras); Sun:TB(J.Halama)
Kenny Rogers: Mon:ANA(B.Colon); Sat:@SEA(J.Moyer)
Jason Schmidt?: Tue:@SD(B.Lawrence); Sun:@LA(K.Ishii?)?
Ben Sheets: Mon:@ARI(R.Johnson); Sat:@STL(J.Marquis)
Steve Trachsel: Mon:@ATL(P.Byrd); Sat:MON(J.Patterson?)
Ismael Valdez?: Tue:@MON(T.Ohka); Sun:@PHI(V.Padilla)?
Brandon Webb: Tue:MIL(J.de la Rosa); Sun:SD(Da.Wells)
David Wells?: Wed:SF(N.Lowry); Sun:@ARI(B.Webb)?
Jake Westbrook: Mon:@KC(Z.Greinke); Sat:@MIN(T.Mulholland)
Woody Williams: Mon:@HOU(R.Oswalt); Sun:MIL(J.de la Rosa)
Jaret Wright?: Tue:NYM(T.Glavine); Sun:@CHC(G.Maddux?)?
Carlos Zambrano: Mon:CIN(B.Claussen); Sat:ATL(P.Byrd?)
Barry Zito: Mon:SEA(J.Moyer); Sat:ANA(B.Colon)
Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Brandon Backe?: Tue:STL(D.Haren); Sun:COL(Jam.Wright)?
Paul Byrd?: Mon:NYM(S.Trachsel): Sat:@CHC(C.Zambrano)?
Daniel Cabrera: Tue:TOR(T.Lilly); Sun:BOS(D.Lowe)
Brandon Claussen: Mon:@CHC(C.Zambrano); Sun:PIT(I.Snell?)
Bartolo Colon: Mon:@TEX(K.Rogers); Sat:@OAK(B.Zito)
Jorge de la Rosa: Tue:@ARI(B.Webb); Sun:@STL(W.Williams)
Shawn Estes: Mon:@LA(Ed.Jackson); Sat:@HOU(R.Oswalt)
Jason Grilli: Mon:@DET(G.Knotts); Sat:@KC(Br.Anderson)
Kazuhisa Ishi: Tue:COL(Jam.Wright); Sun:SF(J.Schmidt?)?
Edwin Jackson?: Mon:COL(S.Estes); Sat:SF(B.Tomko)?
Gil Meche: Tue:@OAK(T.Hudson); Sun:TEX(C.Park?)
Chan Ho Park?: Tue:ANA(A.Sele); Sun:@SEA(G.Meche)?
John Patterson: Mon:FLO(J.Beckett); Sat:@NYM(S.Trachsel)?
Aaron Sele: Tue:@TEX(C.Park); Sun:@OAK(T.Hudson?)
Ian Snell?: Tue:@PHI(V.Padilla); Sun:@CIN(B.Claussen)?
Jamey Wright: Tue:@LA(K.Ishii); Sun:@HOU(B.Backe)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:@TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Curt Schilling: Sat:@BAL(S.Ponson?)?
Randy Johnson: Mon:MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:SD(B.Lawrence)
Mike Mussina: Thu:MIN(B.Radke)
Roy Halladay: Mon:@BAL(S.Ponson); Sat:NYY(K.Brown)
Tim Hudson?: Tue:SEA(G.Meche); Sun:ANA(A.Sele)?
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@TOR(D.Bush)
Mark Mulder: Fri:ANA(J.Lackey)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:STL(W.Williams); Sat:COL(S.Estes)
Kerry Wood: Fri:ATL(J.Capellan?)
Kevin Brown: Sat:@TOR(R.Halladay)
Josh Beckett: Mon:@MON(J.Patterson); Sat:@PHI(E.Milton)
Jeremy Affeldt: 7 Home games: 3 vs. CLE; 4 vs. CHW.

While Hudson might miss his second start and Halladay still seems quite risky, we see no logical reason not to run all five doubles along with Affeldt.

Crawford and Crede sub for the slumping Victor Martinez and Burnitz. Overbay, Cintron, Podsednik, and the injured Soriano all remain on our bench.

Shadow of the Umpire(11th lg; 104th div; 2627th overall)
Week 26: September 27-October 3

C	Javy Lopez		940
C	Jason Varitek		680 
1B	David Ortiz		800 
1B	Mark Teixeira		760 
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
3B	Mike Lowell		1230
3B	Hank Blalock		850 
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Brian Roberts		610 
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760 
OF	Carl Crawford		1040
OF	Melvin Mora		740 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Vernon Wells		1150 
DH	Joe Crede		600

SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Roy Halladay		1350 
SP	Tim Hudson		1320 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200
SP	Josh Beckett		990
SP	Jeremy Affeldt		650
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Brad Lidge		830
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 26: 	28240

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:@TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Curt Schilling: Sat:@BAL(S.Ponson?)?
Randy Johnson: Mon:MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:SD(B.Lawrence)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@TOR(D.Bush)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:@SD(B.Lawrence); Sun:@LA(K.Ishii?)
Mark Mulder: Fri:ANA(J.Lackey)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:STL(W.Williams); Sat:COL(S.Estes)
Roger Clemens: Wed:STL(J.Suppan)
Johan Santana: Wed:@NYY(J.Lieber)
Ben Sheets: Mon:@ARI(R.Johnson); Sat:@STL(J.Marquis)
Jon Lieber: Wed:MIN(J.Santana)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 Road games: 3 at SD; 3 at LA.

Clemens might double on short rest, so he'll join our other four doubles and Hermanson.

Overbay replaces the injured Hafner, while Castilla and Burnitz will exit Colorado and our lineup, making room for Crawford and Vernon Wells. Although Lawton appears strong, he lacks the upside of our other eight outfielders, especially given his short week.

Umpire: The Masquerade(6th lg; 66th div; 521st overall)
Week 26: September 27-October 3

C	Jason Varitek		680
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
1B	David Ortiz		800 
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
3B	Scott Rolen		1460 
3B	Hank Blalock		850
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Juan Uribe		600
OF	Bobby Abreu		1630 
OF	Manny Ramirez		1420
OF	Lance Berkman		1390 
OF	Vernon Wells		1150 
OF	Melvin Mora		740 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Carl Crawford		1040
DH	Corey Patterson		870

SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Jason Schmidt		1240 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200 
SP	Roger Clemens		1130
SP	Ben Sheets		870 
SP	Dustin Hermanson	540
RP	Jason Isringhausen	1290
RP	Danny Kolb		940 
RP	Brad Lidge		830
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 26:	27740

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:@TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Randy Johnson: Mon:MIL(B.Sheets)
Mike Mussina: Thu:MIN(B.Radke)
Tim Hudson: Tue:SEA(G.Meche)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:@SD(B.Lawrence)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:STL(W.Williams)
Josh Beckett: Mon:@MON(J.Patterson)
Jeremy Affeldt: 4 Home games: 3 vs. CLE; 1 vs. CHW.
Dustin Hermanson: 3 Road Games at SD.

No starts: Schilling, Vazquez, Wood, K.Brown.

Since we can gain more ground in wins than saves right now, we'll sit Affeldt and Hermanson to run every start available save Mussina.

Piazza, Fullmer, Soriano, Kaz Matsui, and Podsednik remain seated, while Crawford will sub for Rolen to let us squeeze under the cap.

The Umpire Hunter(17th lg; 441st overall)
Week 26a: September 27-September 30

 
C	Jason Varitek		680 
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
3B	Hank Blalock		850
3B	Joe Crede		600
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Alex Cintron		450 
OF	Albert Pujols		1840
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760 
OF	Juan Pierre		1470
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Vernon Wells		1150 
DH	Carl Crawford		1040

SP	Pedro Martinez		1800 
SP	Randy Johnson		1550
SP	Tim Hudson		1320 
SP	Jason Schmidt		1240  
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200 
SP	Josh Beckett		990
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Danny Kolb		940 
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 26a: 	29680

Fantasy Baseball & Budget Baseball
(Same game = same rosters and moves for both teams)

With our last move, we're adding the best double we don't own here, which looks like Roy Oswalt.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Sat:@BAL(S.Ponson?)?
Randy Johnson: Mon:MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:SD(B.Lawrence)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@TOR(D.Bush)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:@TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Kerry Wood: Fri:ATL(J.Capellan?)
Tim Hudson?: Tue:SEA(G.Meche); Sun:ANA(A.Sele)?
Jason Schmidt: Tue:@SD(B.Lawrence); Sun:@LA(K.Ishii?)
Mark Mulder: Fri:ANA(J.Lackey)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:STL(W.Williams); Sat:COL(S.Estes)
Johan Santana: Wed:@NYY(J.Lieber)
Josh Beckett: Mon:@MON(J.Patterson); Sat:@PHI(E.Milton)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 Road games: 3 at SD; 3 at LA.

Taking five probable doubles and Hermanson gives us a solid rotation for the final week.

Flipping Marcus Giles for Loretta while swapping Beltran for Helton looks like our best course of action. We do not trust LeCroy or Kearns at this point, Soriano remains injured, and Overbay, Cintron, and Matsui don't offer sufficient upside to warrant a move.

The Umpire Chronicles(10th lg; 791st overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(10th lg; 1723rd overall)
Week 26: September 27-October 3

 
C	Brian Schneider		1100 
C	Johnny Estrada		1000 
1B	Derrek Lee		2690 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1550 
2B	Marcus Giles		1740
2B	Orlando Hudson		1420
3B	Mike Lowell		2380
3B	Hank Blalock		2020 
SS	Orlando Cabrera		2460 
SS	Brian Roberts		1260 
OF	Albert Pujols		3350 
OF	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Vernon Wells		2260
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		1870
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600 
DH	Carlos Beltran		3060
DH	Tony Batista		1640

SP	Randy Johnson		2900 
SP	Tim Hudson		2840
SP	Jason Schmidt		2780
SP	Roy Oswalt		2560 
SP	Josh Beckett		2000
SP	Dustin Hermanson	1280
RP	John Smoltz		2800
RP	Octavio Dotel		2400 
RP	Brad Lidge		1730
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 26: 	59020

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

As we already own a nice combination of pitchers, we're spending our last move on a cost-efficient hitter with significant upside. Melvin Mora has remained very productive all season and appears on schedule for eight games this week, making him a very logical pick-up. We'll dump Jose Guillen, who the Angels just suspended for the remainder of the season.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Sat:@BAL(S.Ponson?)?
Randy Johnson: Mon:MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:SD(B.Lawrence)
Tim Hudson?: Tue:SEA(G.Meche); Sun:ANA(A.Sele)?
Roger Clemens: Wed:STL(J.Suppan)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:STL(W.Williams); Sat:COL(S.Estes)
Matt Clement: No start?
Ben Sheets: Mon:@ARI(R.Johnson); Sat:@STL(J.Marquis)
Johan Santana: Wed:@NYY(J.Lieber)
Carl Pavano: Wed:@MON(S.Kim)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 Road games: 3 at SD; 3 at LA.
Orlando Hernandez?: Tue:MIN(K.Lohse); Sun:@TOR(T.Lilly)?

We wish we could run Clemens, but we just don't have the cap room to take him over Hermanson. Hopefully our five probable doubles will work out, even though we lose one possible win with Randy and Sheets facing each other.

Offensively, Estrada subs for Victor Martinez, Marcus Giles replaces the hurting Loretta, and Beltre ousts Vinny Castilla. Running Hideki Matsui and Mora pushes Hafner and Burnitz to the bench, where Overbay, Nomar, and Bonds remain.

Umpire in Brooklyn(1st lg; 65th overall)
Week 26: September 27-October 3

 
C	Jason Varitek		1710 
C	Johnny Estrada		1000
1B	David Ortiz		1980 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1550
2B	Mike Young		2120
2B	Marcus Giles		1740 
3B	Adrian Beltre		2090
3B	Hank Blalock		2020
SS	Derek Jeter		2430
SS	Juan Uribe		1300
OF	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Adam Dunn		1950
OF	Hideki Matsui		1800
OF	J.D. Drew		1690 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600 
OF	Jason Bay		1050 
DH	Bobby Abreu		3120
DH	Melvin Mora		1780

SP	Randy Johnson		2900 
SP	Tim Hudson		2840 
SP	Roy Oswalt		2560 
SP	Ben Sheets		2300
SP	Orlando Hernandez	1180
SP	Dustin Hermanson	1280 
RP	John Smoltz		2800
RP	Francisco Cordero	2080
RP	Brad Lidge		1730
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 26: 	54980

Today's Fantasy Rx: If you need offense, acquire and deploy Orioles, Red Sox, Phillies, and Astros. Teams looking for pitching should target Athletics, Dodgers, and Padres. Based on likely wins, innings, and strikeouts, the best doubles belong to Randy, Oswalt, and Beckett, although deploying Hudson and Clemens also offers significant upside.