Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Minnesota: 4 Home vs. KC; 3 Home vs. DET.
Oakland: 4 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at SEA.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 4 Home vs. NYY; 3 Road at TB.
Boston: 4 Home vs. TOR; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Chicago White Sox: 4 Road at DET; 3 Road at CLE.
Cincinnati: 4 Road at MIL; 3 Road at STL.
Detroit: 4 Home vs. CHW; 3 Road at MIN.
Kansas City: 4 Road at MIN; 3 Road at TOR.
Los Angeles Angels: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Road at TEX.
Milwaukee: 4 Home vs. CIN; 3 Road at PIT.
New York Mets: 3 Road at PHI; 4 Home vs. COL.
New York Yankees: 4 Road at BAL; 3 Road at BOS.
Toronto: 4 Road at BOS; 3 Home vs. KC.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles Dodgers: 1 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. ARI; 3 Road at SD.
San Diego: 4 Home vs. SF; 3 Home vs. LAD.
San Francisco: 4 Road at SD; 3 Home vs. ARI.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Colorado: 3 Road at ATL; 4 Road at NYM.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Road at FLO.
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Home vs. CHW.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. NYM; 3 Road at WAS.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago Cubs: 2 Home vs. PIT; 4 Road at HOU.
Houston: 2 Road at STL; 4 Home vs. CHC.
Pittsburgh: 1 Road at LAD; 2 Road at CHC; 3 Home vs. MIL.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at CLE; 3 Home vs. BAL.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Road at LAD; 3 Road at SF.
Florida: 3 Home vs. WAS; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. OAK.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Texas: 3 Road at SEA; 3 Home vs. LAA.
Washington: 3 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. PHI.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 5 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
St. Louis: 2 Home vs. HOU; 3 Home vs. CIN.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Scott Baker: Mon:KC(J.Howell); Sat:DET(Ja.Johnson)
Joe Blanton: Mon:LAA(J.Lackey); Sat:@SEA(G.Meche)
David Bush: Mon:@BOS(C.Schilling); Sat:KC(J.Howell)
Gustavo Chacin: Tue:@BOS(T.Wakefield); Sun:KC(Run.Hernandez)
Bruce Chen: Tue:NYY(M.Mussina); Sun:@TB(S.Kazmir)
Zach Duke: Tue:@CHC(G.Maddux); Sun:MIL(R.Helling)
Adam Eaton?: Tue:SF(B.Tomko); Sun:LAD(J.Weaver)?
Scott Elarton: Tue:TB(S.Kazmir); Sun:CHW(B.McCarthy)
Jon Garland: Mon:@DET(Ja.Johnson); Sat:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Brad Hennessey: Mon:@SD(J.Peavy); Sat:ARI(Ru.Ortiz)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:TEX(K.Loe); Sun:OAK(J.Kennedy?)
Livan Hernandez: Wed:@FLO(J.Beckett); Sun:PHI(J.Lieber)
Randy Johnson: Mon:@BAL(R.Lopez); Sat:@BOS(C.Schilling)
Scott Kazmir: Tue:@CLE(S.Elarton); Sun:BAL(B.Chen)
Joe Kennedy?: Tue:LAA(Er.Santana); Sun:@SEA(F.Hernandez)?
John Lackey: Mon:@OAK(J.Blanton); Sat:@TEX(Ju.Dominguez)
Jon Lieber: Tue:NYM(V.Zambrano?); Sun:@WAS(L.Hernandez)
Esteban Loaiza: Tue:@FLO(D.Willis); Sat:PHI(B.Myers)
Rodrigo Lopez: Mon:NYY(R.Johnson); Sat:@TB(M.Hendrickson)
Brandon McCarthy: Tue:@DET(N.Robertson); Sun:@CLE(S.Elarton)
Greg Maddux: Tue:PIT(Z.Duke); Sun:@HOU(R.Oswalt?)
Matt Morris?: Tue:HOU(R.Oswalt); Sun:CIN(B.Claussen)?
Mike Mussina: Tue:@BAL(B.Chen); Sun:@BOS(T.Wakefield)
Brett Myers: Mon:NYM(J.Seo); Sat:@WAS(E.Loaiza)
Tomo Ohka: Mon:CIN(Ra.Ortiz); Sat:@PIT(K.Wells)
Johan Santana: Tue:KC(Run.Hernandez); Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
Roy Oswalt?: Tue:@STL(M.Morris); Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)?
Jake Peavy?: Mon:SF(B.Hennessey); Sat:LAD(Ed.Jackson)?
Curt Schilling: Mon:TOR(D.Bush); Sat:NYY(R.Johnson)
Jae Seo: Mon:@PHI(B.Myers); Sat:COL(M.Esposito)
Brett Tomko: Tue:@SD(A.Eaton); Sun:ARI(J.Vazquez)
Jason Vargas: Mon:WAS(H.Carrasco); Sat:ATL(Jo.Sosa)
Tim Wakefield: Tue:TOR(G.Chacin); Sun:NYY(M.Mussina)
Jeff Weaver: Tue:ARI(B.Webb); Sun:@SD(A.Eaton?)
Kip Wells: Mon:@LAD(Ed.Jackson); Sat:MIL(T.Ohka)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:WAS(E.Loaiza); Sun:ATL(Ho.Ramirez)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Brandon Claussen: Tue:@MIL(R.Helling); Sun:@STL(M.Morris?)
Aaron Cook: Tue:@ATL(T.Hudson); Sun:@NYM(V.Zambrano?)
Mike Esposito: Mon:@ATL(Ho.Ramirez); Sat:@NYM(J.Seo)
Rick Helling: Tue:CIN(B.Claussen); Sun:@PIT(Z.Duke)
Runelvys Hernandez: Tue:@MIN(J.Santana); Sun:@TOR(G.Chacin)
J.P. Howell: Mon:@MIN(S.Baker); Sat:@TOR(D.Bush)
Edwin Jackson: Mon:PIT(K.Wells); Sat:@SD(J.Peavy?)
Jason Johnson: Mon:CHW(J.Garland); Sat:@MIN(S.Baker)
Kameron Loe: Tue:@SEA(F.Hernandez); Sun:LAA(Er.Santana)
Ramon Ortiz: Mon:@MIL(T.Ohka); Sat:@STL(J.Suppan?)
Horacio Ramirez: Mon:COL(M.Esposito); Sun:@FLO(D.Willis)
Nate Robertson: Tue:CHW(B.McCarthy); Sun:@MIN(J.Santana)
Ervin Santana: Tue:@OAK(J.Kennedy); Sun:@TEX(K.Loe)
Victor Zambrano?: Tue:@PHI(); Sun:COL(A.Cook)

Diamond Challenge

While we wanted to add Felix Hernandez, a cap squeeze resulted in the purchase of Brett Myers for Brian Roberts.

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Mon:@BAL(R.Lopez); Sat:@BOS(C.Schilling)
Johan Santana: Tue:KC(Run.Hernandez); Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
Jason Schmidt: No start?
Pedro Martinez: No start?
Roy Oswalt?: Tue:@STL(M.Morris); Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)?
Roger Clemens: Thu:CHC(G.Rusch)
Mark Mulder: Fri:CIN(R.Keisler)
Matt Clement: Thu:TOR(S.Downs)
Jake Peavy?: Mon:SF(B.Hennessey); Sat:LAD(Ed.Jackson)?
Chris Carpenter: Wed:HOU(B.Backe)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:WAS(E.Loaiza); Sun:ATL(Ho.Ramirez)
A.J. Burnett: Fri:ATL(J.Thomson)
Josh Beckett: Wed:WAS(L.Hernandez)
Andy Pettitte: Fri:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Brett Myers: Mon:NYM(J.Seo); Sat:@WAS(E.Loaiza)
Miguel Batista: 4 Road at BOS; 3 Home vs. KC.

Six likely doubles leave no room for other options with wins at a premium. Ryan also remains benched with our four active closers all scalding hot.

The Cardinals' short week sends Pujols to join Edmonds on the bench. Giles replaces Pujols, and then a lack of cap room leads us to Jason Lane over Mora and Podsednik.

Rotohelp.com(6th lg; 51st div; 1299th overall)
Week 26: September 26-October 2

 
C	Victor Martinez		860 
C	Joe Mauer		440 
1B	Derrek Lee		1440
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310 
2B	Marcus Giles		950
2B	Chase Utley		480
3B	Troy Glaus		830
3B	David Wright		800
SS	Miguel Tejada		1800 
SS	Jose Reyes		850 
OF	Carl Crawford		1560 
OF	Manny Ramirez		1530
OF	Adam Dunn		1110
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110 
OF	Jason Bay		820 
OF	Kevin Mench		580 
DH	David Ortiz		1260
DH	Jason Lane		400 

SP	Randy Johnson		1980
SP	Johan Santana		1710 
SP	Jake Peavy		1030 
SP	Dontrelle Willis	870
SP	Brett Myers		630
RP	Brad Lidge		1280
RP	Trevor Hoffman		1270 
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250 
RP	Todd Jones		510

Total Salary for Week 26: 	29980

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Tue:KC(Run.Hernandez); Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
Pedro Martinez: No start?
Roy Oswalt?: Tue:@STL(M.Morris); Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)?
Roger Clemens: Thu:CHC(G.Rusch)
Jake Peavy?: Mon:SF(B.Hennessey); Sat:LAD(Ed.Jackson)?
Chris Carpenter: Wed:HOU(B.Backe)
Rich Harden: No start?
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:WAS(E.Loaiza); Sun:ATL(Ho.Ramirez)
A.J. Burnett: Fri:ATL(J.Thomson)
Josh Beckett: Wed:WAS(L.Hernandez)
Andy Pettitte: Fri:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Brett Myers: Mon:NYM(J.Seo); Sat:@WAS(E.Loaiza)
Ryan Dempster: 2 Home vs. CHC; 4 Road at HOU.

Five automatic albeit expensive starters lead us to run Dempster for cap reasons. KRod also returns to the lineup for the effectively benched Cordero.

Flipping Iguchi and Ensberg for Roberts and Wright brings us exactly to the cap, leaving Molina, Morneau, and Mench on the bench.

Rotohelp.com(5th lg; 40th div; 261st overall)
Week 26: September 26-October 2

 
C	Jorge Posada		930
C	Joe Mauer		440
1B	Derrek Lee		1440 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310
2B	Tadahito Iguchi		750
2B	Chase Utley		480 
3B	Morgan Ensberg		690  
3B	Garrett Atkins		400
SS	Miguel Tejada		1800
SS	Jose Reyes		850
OF	Bobby Abreu		1860 
OF	Adam Dunn		1110
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110 
OF	Pat Burrell		870 
OF	Jason Bay		820 
OF	Brady Clark		540
UT	Alex Rodriguez		1880 
UT	Jhonny Peralta		420
 
SP	Johan Santana		1710
SP	Roy Oswalt		1320 
SP	Jake Peavy		1030
SP	Dontrelle Willis	870
SP	Brett Myers		630
SP	Ryan Dempster		520
RP	Trevor Hoffman		1270 
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250 
RP	B.J. Ryan		950
RP	Huston Street		750

Total Salary for Week 26: 	28000

Internet Challenge

Randy Johnson: Mon:@BAL(R.Lopez)
Johan Santana: Tue:KC(Run.Hernandez)
Pedro Martinez: No start?
Roy Oswalt?: Tue:@STL(M.Morris)
Roger Clemens: Thu:CHC(G.Rusch)
Matt Clement: Thu:TOR(S.Downs)
Jake Peavy?: Mon:SF(B.Hennessey)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:HOU(B.Backe)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:WAS(E.Loaiza)
A.J. Burnett: No start.
Josh Beckett: Wed:WAS(L.Hernandez)
Andy Pettitte: No start.
Miguel Batista: 4 Road at BOS.

Santana, Clement, Peavy, Willis, and Beckett register as automatics, but despite a severe need for saves, we don't trust Batista in Boston, so we will deploy Randy to complete our rotation.

Morneau, Wright, and Mora own significant schedule advantages over Pujols, Glaus, and Mench, while Edmonds and Podsednik don't appear reasonable plays given our current needs.

Rotohelp.com(5th lg; 188th overall)
Week 26a: September 26-September 29

 
C	Victor Martinez		860 
C	Joe Mauer		440 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310 
1B	Justin Morneau		680
2B	Marcus Giles		950
2B	Chase Utley		480
3B	David Wright		810
3B	Garrett Atkins		400
SS	Miguel Tejada		1800 
SS	Jose Reyes		850 
OF	Carl Crawford		1560
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110
OF	Adam Dunn		1110 
OF	Jason Bay		820 
OF	Matt Holliday		630
UT	Melvin Mora		1270
UT	Travis Hafner		810  

SP	Randy Johnson		1980 
SP	Johan Santana		1710
SP	Matt Clement		1030 
SP	Jake Peavy		1030
SP	Dontrelle Willis	870
SP	Josh Beckett		820
RP	Brad Lidge		1280
RP	Trevor Hoffman		1270 
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250 
RP	Todd Jones		510

Total Salary for Week 26a: 	29160

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

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: No start?
Johan Santana: Tue:KC(Run.Hernandez); Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
Roger Clemens: Thu:CHC(G.Rusch)
Roy Oswalt?: Tue:@STL(M.Morris); Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)?
Matt Clement: Thu:TOR(S.Downs)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:WAS(E.Loaiza); Sun:ATL(Ho.Ramirez)
Jake Peavy?: Mon:SF(B.Hennessey); Sat:LAD(Ed.Jackson)?
Chris Carpenter: Wed:HOU(B.Backe)
A.J. Burnett: Fri:ATL(J.Thomson)
Josh Beckett: Wed:WAS(L.Hernandez)
Andy Pettitte: Fri:CHC(C.Zambrano)

While Clement looks like a very logical addition to the four doubles, Beckett barely edges Pettitte due to lesser opposition.

Along with the required Hudson/Roberts swap, Mauer and Ensberg will return to the lineup for Buck and Pujols as we take the extra games of the Rockies on the road over the Cardinals' short week and the Rangers' unimpressive schedule. Morneau, Blalock, Mench, Kearns, and Reed all remain benched.

Rotohelp.com(6th lg; 623rd overall)
& Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 1657th overall)
Week 26: September 26-October 2

 
C	Victor Martinez		1800 
C	Joe Mauer		1140 
1B	David Ortiz		2890 
1B	Travis Hafner		1870
2B	Marcus Giles		1850 
2B	Orlando Hudson		1540
3B	Eric Chavez		2740
3B	Troy Glaus		2460 
SS	Rafael Furcal		2430
SS	Jhonny Peralta		1050 
OF	Vladimir Guerrero	3230
OF	Miguel Cabrera		2420 
OF	Carl Crawford		2120
OF	Jason Bay		1680 
OF	Matt Holliday		1470
OF	Jason Lane		1000 
UT	Todd Helton		3460
UT	Morgan Ensberg		1530

SP	Johan Santana		3090 
SP	Roy Oswalt		2970 
SP	Matt Clement		2610
SP	Dontrelle Willis	2170
SP	Jake Peavy		2090 
SP	Josh Beckett		1730
RP	Brad Lidge		2510 
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	2360
RP	Trevor Hoffman		2350
RP	Huston Street		1000

Total Salary for Week 26: 	59560

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: No start?
Johan Santana: Tue:KC(Run.Hernandez); Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
Roger Clemens: Thu:CHC(G.Rusch)
Roy Oswalt?: Tue:@STL(M.Morris); Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)?
Matt Clement: Thu:TOR(S.Downs)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:WAS(E.Loaiza); Sun:ATL(Ho.Ramirez)
Jake Peavy?: Mon:SF(B.Hennessey); Sat:LAD(Ed.Jackson)?
Chris Carpenter: Wed:HOU(B.Backe)
A.J. Burnett: Fri:ATL(J.Thomson)
Andy Pettitte: Fri:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Dan Haren: Wed:LAA(P.Byrd)

With Clement and the possibility of Haren doubling on short rest, all six starts here look solid.

Leaving Hafner out of the lineup last week will cost us significantly in the overall standings, but we at least can rectify that this week, subbing him for Pujols. Giles, Ensberg, and Jenkins also replace Roberts, Atkins, and Cabrera while Molina, Crosby, Matsui, and Griffey remain benched.

Rotohelp.com(4th lg; 334th overall)
Week 26: September 26-October 2

C	Victor Martinez	1800
C	Joe Mauer		1140 
1B	David Ortiz		2890
1B	Mark Teixeira		2820
2B	Marcus Giles		1850
2B	Chase Utley		1050
3B	David Wright		1810 
3B	Morgan Ensberg		1530  
SS	Jose Reyes		1590 
SS	Jhonny Peralta		1050 
OF	Vladimir Guerrero	3230 
OF	Geoff Jenkins		2170
OF	Carl Crawford		2120
OF	Jason Bay		1680 
OF	Jason Lane		1000
OF	Grady Sizemore		1000 
UT	Derrek Lee		3010 
UT	Travis Hafner		1870

SP	Johan Santana		3090 
SP	Roy Oswalt		2970
SP	Matt Clement		2610 
SP	Dontrelle Willis	2170
SP	Jake Peavy		2090
SP	Dan Haren		1070
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	2360
RP	Chad Cordero		2000
RP	Todd Jones		1550
RP	Huston Street		1000

Total Salary for Week 26: 	54520

Today's Fantasy Rx: Exercise extreme caution when deploying pitchers this week since potential playoff slotting could disrupt at least a half-dozen teams. If allowed, taking a zero from an injured pitcher rather than risking a poor start makes a lot of sense due to the complete lack of time to rebound from any poor outings.