Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method to identify highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. While we have not changed this system since last season, feel free to refer to this key for a complete description of the codes. We have included the five most recent 2005 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through May 11th. Pitchers with no QA scores have not pitched this year, so do not roster any of them unless you see someone ready to return to the majors.

1
2ABXY - Jake Peavy(55453)
2ABX - A.J. Burnett(44535)
3CXZ - Esteban Loaiza(43443)
3CYZ - Tim Hudson(53330)
ABCXYZ - Roger Clemens(54343)
ABX - Matt Morris(54442)
ABY - Aaron Heilman(50544)
AX - Derek Lowe(43443)
AX - Dontrelle Willis(55454)
AX - Brett Myers(44443)

The emergence of Loaiza, Hudson, and Lowe provides a welcome variety of options for NL owners. I expect many of you accidentally nabbed one of these pitchers without expecting stats half as good as their current numbers, but given their respective skill levels, I see no reason for any of these pitchers to experience any severe downturn in performance.

2
3bcyz - John Smoltz(42133)
3B - Brad Penny(3540)
ABCYZ - Roy Oswalt(44244)
BY - Ben Sheets(3342)
Bz - Glendon Rusch(0)
B - Jeff Weaver(50242)
C - Livan Hernandez(12343)

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(5254244344)
3bcyz - Eric Gagne
abcxyz - Jason Isringhausen(3334452543)
abcxyz - Julian Tavarez(1545345345)
aby - Mike Gonzalez(5354424452)
bxy - Ryan Madson(2334545533)
by - Salomon Torres(3243011331)

3
ABCXZ - Pedro Martinez(55543)
ACXYZ - Mark Mulder(34345)
ACXZ - Mark Prior(44154)

abcxy - Guillermo Mota(3335234444)
abcyz - LaTroy Hawkins(4431544422)
cxz - Byung-Hyun Kim(3335230343)
cyz - Mike Koplove(3454232233)
cyz - Javier Lopez(4534024413)
cz - Rheal Cormier(2232355544)
cz - Joe Borowski
c - Tim Spooneybarger

A
BCXY - Andy Pettitte(25344)
BYZ - Carlos Zambrano(44044)
CXZ - Josh Beckett(44405)
CXZ - Brandon Webb(44343)
CX - Javier Vazquez(34455)
BX - Chris Carpenter(44434)
BX - Dave Williams(43434)
XY - Jason Marquis(43432)
X - John Patterson(44330)
X - Aaron Harang(44335)
X - Brandon Backe(44423)
X - Mark Redman(44134)
Z - Kip Wells(44344)

The two pitchers worth noticing here this week look like Williams and Backe. The first receives little publicity yet appears ready to pitch effectively for many years while the latter's qualitative stats obscure his otherwise intriguing skills. Consider them both good targets in any NL league.

B
CZ - Jason Schmidt(34120)
C - Odalis Perez(32432)
Y - Greg Maddux(44324)
Y - Oliver Perez(20400)
Y - Joe Kennedy(03233)
Cory Lidle(32445)
Doug Davis(30513)
Kerry Wood(32240)

c - Dennys Reyes(3203453433)

C
Zby - Darren Dreifort
az - Adam Bernero(3554422445)
b - Jim Brower(4533320223)
y - Jeff Fassero(3543434022)

Bernero suddenly seems on track and prepared to justify the faith demonstrated by Cox and Mazzone this spring.

X
by - Ryan Dempster(34334)
Kirk Rueter(03443)
Victor Santos(33034)

Y
John Van Benschoten

Z
Randy Wolf(20223)
Tony Armas(3)

a
bcxyz - Luis Ayala(5322335443)
bcxy - Chris Reitsma(3344444334)
bcxy - Brad Lidge(5533044344)
bcyz - Tim Worrell(3545425331)
bcyz - Danny Kolb(5243534450)
bcy - Jim Mecir(2425025454)
bxy - Trevor Hoffman(4354555545)
bxy - Al Reyes(0440334353)
bxy - Chad Qualls(4554442333)
bxy - Heath Bell(3441433442)
cxy - Kevin Gryboski(4343035444)
cxz - Derrick Turnbow(4452443544)
bx - Jose Mesa(5544443524)
bx - John Grabow(4354545143)
by - Tommy Phelps(4041535432)
xy - Chris Hammond(4433423343)
xy - Rudy Seanez(4443453353)
c - Mike Remlinger(2404254345)
x - Nate Bump(4533535453)
x - Manny Aybar(4345354243)
x - Ryan Wagner(4353255403)
x - Jason Christiansen(3434344224)
y - Chad Fox(2443452340)
Kelly Wunsch(4045542335)
Ricky Bottalico(3223345444)
Matt Perisho(4434420454)
Russ Springer(4544234432)
Randy Flores(5503452354)
Mike Wuertz(4453414323)
Brandon Lyon(2234223453)

Lyon's rebound this week fortunately indicates that he simply needed more rest rather than a DL trip. Turnbow owners should add Bottalico as insurance. Lastly, few owners likely realize that Ayala ranks among the safest NL reliever options. Consider him a strong qualitative addition to any NL team.

b
cxyz - Braden Looper(2543333535)
cyz - Scott Williamson
cy - Ray King(4053302443)
cy - Mike Lincoln
cy - Armando Benitez(43240442)
cz - Jose Valverde(5304)
xy - Yhency Brazoban(4355533534)
xy - Akinori Otsuka(3344445333)
xy - Scott Linebrink(5333415353)
yz - Antonio Alfonseca(434352)
y - Danny Graves(3333414233)
z - Brian Fuentes(2403333345)
y - Mike DeJean(4545233431)
y - Brian Bruney(2215433433)
y - Chin-hui Tsao(4132422250)
y - Jose Acevedo(322243332)
z - Brian Meadows(3342443343)
z - Oscar Villarreal(22)
Mike Adams(5423222434)
T.J. Tucker(443344)
Wilson Alvarez(34433)
Jon Leicester(42343)

Alvarez will move up these rankings once he gains innings, so now looks like your best chance to add him at any discount.

c
x - Roberto Hernandez(3524433323)
y - Joey Eischen(5245512430)
z - Matt Herges(3122440252)
z - Jay Witasick(53143)
Bobby Seay(255)
Cal Eldred(35)

Anyone still holding onto Herges in the hope of registering a significant amount of saves should feel free to cut him. Felipe Alou's usage patterns over the last couple of weeks suggest Herges ranks as the last option in the Giants' pen for any save opportunities.

x
Darrell May(0)

y - Gary Majewski(3344423403)
z - John Franco(0433044343)
Todd Jones(4353324553)
Giovanni Carrara(3432454353)
Lance Cormier(4344532333)
Matt Wise(5335533035)
Hector Carrasco(5324432533)
David Weathers(3343334433)
Aaron Fultz(3332334435)
Dan Wheeler(0433343243)
Chad Cordero(3342345233)
Ryan Speier(3333205333)

y
Tim Redding(20050)
Elmer Dessens(40)

Duaner Sanchez(5423443343)
Joe Horgan(32243433)
Antonio Osuna(1401)
Greg Aquino(2)

z
Terry Adams(2244342312)
Ricky Stone(2232)
John Foster(435333)

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 2005.
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 2004.
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 2003.

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 the following skill qualifications: K>=IP-2, BB<=IP/3, H<=IP, HR<=1, and G-F>=1.00. Any starter who does not reach at least one of the required statistical goals or fails to pitch 5 innings earns a QA score of 0. 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 the following skill qualifications: K>=IP, BB=0, H<=IP, HR=0, and G-F>=1.00. Any reliever who does not reach at least one of the required statistical goals or fails to retire a batter earns a QA score of 0. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

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 2005 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 relief outings

Today's Fantasy Rx: Today's Marlon Byrd for Endy Chavez swap scarcely alters either player's value. Byrd now possesses a seemingly clear shot at regular playing time, but with Ryan Church holding a .419/.438/.613 performance this month, Byrd will not receive any immediate bump in at-bats even if Church's weak plate discipline suggests his averages soon will slide. Meanwhile Chavez ranks as no more than Philadelphia's fourth outfielder even with Lofton sidelined, so only a slightly increased shot at steal opportunities provides any boost to his roto potential.