Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 1 Road at BAL; 3 Home vs. TOR; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Oakland: 4 Road at MIN; 3 Road at KC.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 1 Home vs. PIT; 3 Road at CIN; 3 Road at STL.
Baltimore: 1 Home vs. CHW; 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at TEX.
Florida: 4 Road at STL; 3 Road at CIN.
Minnesota: 4 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. BOS.
Pittsburgh: 1 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. SD; 3 Home vs. LAD.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
St. Louis: 4 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 3 Home vs. KC; 3 Road at MIN.
Detroit: 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. CLE.
Houston: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Road at SF.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Home vs. TB.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Road at WAS; 3 Road at PIT.
San Francisco: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. HOU.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Home vs. COL.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at PHI; 3 Road at NYM.
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. NYY; 3 Road at DET.
Milwaukee: 3 Road at NYM; 3 Road at PHI.
New York Mets: 3 Home vs. MIL; 3 Home vs. CHC.
New York Yankees: 3 Road at CLE; 3 Road at TOR.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. MIL.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at TEX; 3 Road at LAA.
Texas: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Home vs. BAL.
Toronto: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. NYY.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
San Diego: 3 Road at PIT; 3 Road at WAS.
Washington: 3 Home vs. LAD; 3 Home vs. SD.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Cincinnati: 3 Home vs. ATL; 3 Home vs. FLO.
Colorado: 3 Road at SF; 3 Road at ARI.
Kansas City: 3 Road at BOS; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Seattle: 3 Road at DET; 3 Road at CHW.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Joe Blanton: Mon:@MIN(J.Santana); Sat:@KC(J.Lima)
Mark Buehrle: Mon:@BAL(B.Chen); Sat:SEA(J.Pineiro)
Chris Carpenter: Tue:FLO(D.Willis); Sun:ATL(Jor.Sosa)
Roger Clemens: Tue:@ARI(C.Vargas); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Bartolo Colon: Tue:BAL(S.Ponson); Sun:TB(S.McClung)
Zach Duke: Mon:@STL(T.Hudson); Sat:LAD(D.Houlton)
Jon Garland: Tue:TOR(J.Towers); Sun:SEA(J.Moyer)
Dan Haren: Tue:@MIN(J.Mays); Sun:@KC(Run.Hernandez)
Tim Hudson: Mon:PIT(Z.Duke); Sat:@STL(J.Marquis)
Jason Johnson: Tue:SEA(J.Moyer); Sun:CLE(S.Elarton)
Esteban Loaiza: Tue:LAD(J.Weaver); Sun:SD(J.Peavy)
Jason Marquis: Mon:FLO(I.Valdez); Sat:ATL(T.Hudson)
Tomo Ohka: Tue:@NYM(V.Zambrano); Sun:@PHI(V.Padilla)
Vicente Padilla: Tue:CHC(C.Zambrano); Sun:MIL(T.Ohka)
Jake Peavy: Tue:@PIT(K.Wells); Sun:@WAS(E.Loaiza)
Johan Santana: Mon:OAK(J.Blanton); Sat:BOS(M.Clement?)
Josh Towers: Tue:@CHW(J.Garland); Sun:NYY(A.Leiter)
Tim Wakefield: Tue:KC(Run.Hernandez); Sun:@MIN(J.Mays)
Jeff Weaver: Tue:@WAS(E.Loaiza); Sun:@PIT(K.Wells)
Kip Wells: Tue:SD(J.Peavy); Sun:LAD(J.Weaver) Dontrelle Willis: Tue:@STL(C.Carpenter); Sun:@CIN(Ram.Ortiz)
Chris Young: Tue:TB(S.McClung); Sun:BAL(S.Ponson)
Carlos Zambrano: Tue:@PHI(V.Padilla); Sun:@NYM(V.Zambrano)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Bruce Chen: Mon:CHW(M.Buehrle); Sat:@TEX(C.Wilson?)
Scott Elarton: Tue:NYY(A.Leiter); Sun:@DET(Jas.Johnson)
Runelvys Hernandez: Tue:@BOS(T.Wakefield); Sun:OAK(D.Haren)
Al Leiter: Tue:@CLE(S.Elarton); Sun:@TOR(J.Towers)
Joe Mays: Tue:OAK(D.Haren); Sun:BOS(T.Wakefield)
Seth McClung: Tue:@TEX(C.Young); Sun:@LAA(B.Colon)
Jamie Moyer: Tue:@DET(Jas.Johnson); Sun:@CHW(J.Garland)
Ramon Ortiz: Tue:ATL(Jor.Sosa); Sun:FLO(D.Willis)
Sidney Ponson: Tue:@LAA(B.Colon); Sun:@TEX(C.Young)
Jorge Sosa: Tue:@CIN(Ra.Ortiz); Sun:@STL(C.Carpenter)
Brett Tomko: Tue:COL(Jam.Wright); Sun:HOU(R.Clemens)
Ismael Valdez: Mon:@STL(J.Marquis); Sat:@CIN(E.Milton)
Claudio Vargas: Tue:HOU(R.Clemens); Sun:COL(Jam.Wright)
Jamey Wright: Tue:@SF(B.Tomko); Sun:@ARI(C.Vargas)
Victor Zambrano: Tue:MIL(T.Ohka); Sun:CHC(C.Zambrano)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Fri:@TOR(G.Chacin)
Johan Santana: Mon:OAK(J.Blanton); Sat:BOS(M.Clement?)
Jason Schmidt: Fri:HOU(A.Pettitte)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:MIL(V.Santos)
Roy Oswalt: Sat:@SF(N.Lowry)
Roger Clemens: Tue:@ARI(C.Vargas); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Mark Mulder: Fri:ATL(J.Smoltz)
Jake Peavy: Tue:@PIT(K.Wells); Sun:@WAS(E.Loaiza)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:@STL(C.Carpenter); Sun:@CIN(Ram.Ortiz)
A.J. Burnett: Thu:@STL(J.Suppan)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@STL(M.Morris)
Miguel Batista: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. NYY.

A continued need to maximize offensive cap room results in the deployment of Burnett and Batista to join our four doubles.

Unfortunately, a combination of hot hitters and excellent schedules leaves Pujols for Glaus as our only logical move. Buck, Morneau, Iguchi, and even Carl Crawford in Texas stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(6th lg; 50th div; 1139th overall)
Week 18: August 1-August 7

 
C	Victor Martinez		860
C	Joe Mauer		440 
1B	Derrek Lee		1440
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310 
2B	Brian Roberts		960
2B	Marcus Giles		950 
3B	Melvin Mora		1270
3B	David Wright		800
SS	Miguel Tejada		1800 
SS	Jose Reyes		850 
OF	Jim Edmonds		1250
OF	Adam Dunn		1110
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110 
OF	Scott Podsednik		1090 
OF	Kevin Mench		580
OF	Jason Lane		400 
UT	Albert Pujols		1930
UT	Chase Utley		480
 
SP	Johan Santana		1710 
SP	Roger Clemens		1280 
SP	Jake Peavy		1030 
SP	Dontrelle Willis	870
SP	Miguel Batista		840 
SP	A.J. Burnett		830
RP	Brad Lidge		1280
RP	Trevor Hoffman		1270 
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250
RP	B.J. Ryan		950 

Total Salary for Week 18: 	29940

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Fri:@TOR(G.Chacin)
Johan Santana: Mon:OAK(J.Blanton); Sat:BOS(M.Clement?)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:MIL(V.Santos)
Roy Oswalt: Sat:@SF(N.Lowry)
Roger Clemens: Tue:@ARI(C.Vargas); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Jake Peavy: Tue:@PIT(K.Wells); Sun:@WAS(E.Loaiza)
Chris Carpenter: Tue:FLO(D.Willis); Sun:ATL(Jor.Sosa)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:@STL(C.Carpenter); Sun:@CIN(Ram.Ortiz)
A.J. Burnett: Thu:@STL(J.Suppan)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@STL(M.Morris)
Brett Myers: Thu:CHC(M.Prior)
Ryan Dempster: 3 Road at PHI; 3 Road at NYM.

Taking five doubles and Dempster leaves us some cap room for offense, but we can't quite fit in ARod. He stays benched with Yadier Molina as Iguchi and Morneau replace Atkins and Counsell looks like our only switch.

Rotohelp.com(3rd lg; 30th div; 179th overall)
Week 18: August 1-August 7

 
C	Jorge Posada		930
C	Joe Mauer		440
1B	Derrek Lee		1440 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310
2B	Brian Roberts		960 
2B	Chase Utley		480
3B	David Wright		800
3B	Morgan Ensberg		690
SS	Miguel Tejada		1800 
SS	Jose Reyes		850
OF	Bobby Abreu		1860 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110
OF	Scott Podsednik		1090 
OF	Pat Burrell		870
OF	Kevin Mench		580 
OF	Brady Clark		540 
UT	Tadahito Iguchi		750
UT	Justin Morneau		680

SP	Johan Santana		1710 
SP	Roger Clemens		1280
SP	Jake Peavy		1030 
SP	Chris Carpenter	930 
SP	Dontrelle Willis	870
SP	Ryan Dempster		520
RP	Trevor Hoffman		1270 
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250
RP	Chad Cordero		1000
RP	Huston Street		750

Total Salary for Week 18: 	27790

Internet Challenge

Cap problems and a power deficit result in the addition of Chase Utley here as we finally cut Brandon Lyon. While the injured reliever soon may return, we want to deploy either our current pitchers or a future pickup, such as Huston Street.

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: No start.
Johan Santana: Mon:OAK(J.Blanton)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:MIL(V.Santos)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
Roger Clemens: Tue:@ARI(C.Vargas)
Ben Sheets: No start.
Mark Mulder: No start.
Jake Peavy: Tue:@PIT(K.Wells)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:@STL(C.Carpenter)
A.J. Burnett: Thu:@STL(J.Suppan)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@STL(M.Morris)
Miguel Batista: 3 Road at CHW.

Tough opponents for Willis and Beckett lead us to deploy our remaining six active pitchers.

The Rockies' road trip results in our deployment of Glaus, Reed, and Utley for Atkins, Holliday, and Iguchi as Buck, Hafner, and Crawford stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(4th lg; 102nd overall)
Week 18a: August 1-August 4

 
C	Victor Martinez		860 
C	Joe Mauer		440
1B	Albert Pujols		1930 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310
2B	Brian Roberts		960
2B	Marcus Giles		950
3B	Melvin Mora		1270 
3B	Troy Glaus		830
SS	Miguel Tejada		1800 
SS	Jose Reyes		850 
OF	Jim Edmonds		1250
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110
OF	Adam Dunn		1110 
OF	Scott Podsednik		1090 
OF	Kevin Mench		580 
OF	Jeremy Reed		400 
UT	Justin Morneau		680
UT	Chase Utley		480

SP	Johan Santana		1710 
SP	Pedro Martinez		1450 
SP	Roger Clemens		1280 
SP	Jake Peavy		1030 
SP	Josh Beckett		820
SP	Miguel Batista		840  
RP	Brad Lidge		1280
RP	Trevor Hoffman		1270 
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250
RP	B.J. Ryan		950 

Total Salary for Week 18a: 	29780

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

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Fri:@TOR(G.Chacin)
Jason Schmidt: Fri:HOU(A.Pettitte)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:MIL(V.Santos)
Johan Santana: Mon:OAK(J.Blanton); Sat:BOS(M.Clement?)
Roger Clemens: Tue:@ARI(C.Vargas); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Ben Sheets: Fri:@PHI(C.Lidle)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:@STL(C.Carpenter); Sun:@CIN(Ram.Ortiz)
Jake Peavy: Tue:@PIT(K.Wells); Sun:@WAS(E.Loaiza)
A.J. Burnett: Thu:@STL(J.Suppan)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@STL(M.Morris)
Taking Pedro and Burnett with the four doubles seems to make the most sense here.

A few logical offensive changes include Martinez for Buck, Morneau for Hafner, Chavez for Helton, and Podsednik for Holliday. Glaus, Kearns, Reed, and Drew stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 801st overall)
& Rotohelp.com(11th lg; 2024th overall)
Week 18: August 1-August 7

 
C	Victor Martinez		1800
C	Joe Mauer		1140 
1B	Albert Pujols		3700 
1B	Justin Morneau		1780
2B	Marcus Giles		1850
2B	Brian Roberts		1770 
3B	Hank Blalock		2240
3B	Morgan Ensberg		1530 
SS	Rafael Furcal		2430
SS	Khalil Greene		1410 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		2420 
OF	Carl Crawford		2120 
OF	Scott Podsednik		1990
OF	Jason Bay		1680 
OF	Kevin Mench		1660 
OF	Jason Lane		1000 
UT	Eric Chavez		2740
UT	Orlando Hudson		1540

SP	Pedro Martinez		3140
SP	Johan Santana		3090 
SP	Roger Clemens		3030
SP	Dontrelle Willis	2170 
SP	Jake Peavy		2090
SP	A.J. Burnett		1900 
RP	Brad Lidge		2510
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	2360
RP	Trevor Hoffman		2350
RP	B.J. Ryan		2060

Total Salary for Week 18: 	59500

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Fri:@TOR(G.Chacin)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:MIL(V.Santos)
Johan Santana: Mon:OAK(J.Blanton); Sat:BOS(M.Clement?)
Roy Oswalt: Sat:@SF(N.Lowry)
Roger Clemens: Tue:@ARI(C.Vargas); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Matt Clement: Sat:@MIN(J.Santana)?
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:@STL(C.Carpenter); Sun:@CIN(Ram.Ortiz)
Jake Peavy: Tue:@PIT(K.Wells); Sun:@WAS(E.Loaiza)
Chris Carpenter: Tue:FLO(D.Willis); Sun:ATL(Jor.Sosa)
Dan Haren: Tue:@MIN(J.Mays); Sun:@KC(Run.Hernandez)

With six solid doubles and a promising bullpen, the only additional move looks like the obvious deployment of Carlos Lee in Philadelphia for Garrett Atkins, who joins Ben Molina, Hafner, Marcus Giles, Crosby, Podsednik, Griffey, and Hawpe on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(11th lg; 729th overall)
Week 18: August 1-August 7

C	Joe Mauer		1140
C	Gregg Zaun		1090
1B	Derrek Lee		3010 
1B	Mark Teixeira		2820
2B	Brian Roberts		1770
2B	Chase Utley		1050
3B	Hank Blalock		2240
3B	Morgan Ensberg		1530 
SS	Jose Reyes		1590
SS	Jhonny Peralta		1050
OF	Hideki Matsui		2820 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		2420
OF	Carl Crawford		2120
OF	Jason Bay		1680 
OF	Grady Sizemore		1000
OF	Jason Lane		1000
UT	David Ortiz		2890 
UT	Carlos Lee		2770

SP	Johan Santana		3090
SP	Roger Clemens		3030 
SP	Dontrelle Willis		2170
SP	Jake Peavy		2090
SP	Chris Carpenter		2020 
SP	Dan Haren		1070
RP	Francisco Rodriguez		2360
RP	Dustin Hermanson		2130
RP	Chad Cordero		2000
RP	Huston Street		1000

Total Salary for Week 18: 	54950

Today's Fantasy Rx: Two situations seem to offer good possibilities for the week. First, deploy as much offense as possible as teams like Arizona, Philadelphia, Texas, and Toronto host solid homestands. Second, consider carefully whether to run Dontrelle Willis this week. He faces two tough offenses in hitters' parks, so while we're using him on our three CDM roto teams because our current standing suggests the upside outweighs the risk, anyone carefully guarding qualitative points definitely should consider sitting him for the week.