Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to the first week of our formal LPR rankings this season, our primary method to identify highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. While we haven't changed this system since last season, feel free to refer here for a complete description of the codes. We've included the five most recent 2006 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through May 3rd. 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
2ABCXY - Chris Carpenter(54533)
2ABX - Dontrelle Willis(42444)
ACXYZ - Greg Maddux(55433)
AX - Tom Glavine(44433)
AX - Sean Marshall(04354)
AX - David Bush(34524)

Seeing two of these pitchers here simply shocks me, but both Marshall and Bush spent spring training under the influence of the Maddux brothers, respectively Greg and Mike, the Milwaukee pitching coach. I see little reason both shouldn't develop into regular double-digit contributors, so if you can't grab them now, you may not be able to own them for a few years once their owners lock them down.

2
3ABCYZ - Jake Peavy(04523)
3BCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(33433)
3Xbcz - Ryan Madson(33033)
3Xcz - John Smoltz(43335)
BCYZ - Andy Pettitte(13543)
Zach Duke(05323)

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(4544334553)
BCZabxy - Aaron Heilman(4044553455)
bcyz - Chad Qualls(4331445533)
bcyz - Trevor Hoffman(34434343)
ay - Arthur Rhodes(2155234443)
Aaron Fultz(242452335)

3
BCYZ - Ben Sheets(3550)
AC - Brad Penny(44422)
AX - Bronson Arroyo(42553)
C - Glendon Rusch(03500)
Livan Hernandez(42322)

With all the hype going to Arroyo this year, Sheets instead owns far better skills and will reemerge as a consistent winner in the very near future.

abcxyz - Tom Gordon(2555443535)
abcxyz - Mike Gonzalez(4433353443)
acxz - Salomon Torres(3233344105)
bcyz - Jason Isringhausen(5021543343)
bcyz - Eric Gagne
z - Trever Miller(4232300)

Nothing appears wrong with Gonzalez's skills. The Pirates simply aren't providing him a sufficient number of games to save.

A
BCXY - Pedro Martinez(34445)
BCX - Cory Lidle(33454)
BCX - Doug Davis(44043)
BXY - Brandon Webb(44244)
BXY - Derek Lowe(34543)
BX - Brett Myers(44435)
CX - Jason Schmidt(44354)
XZ - Mark Mulder(43432)
X - Chris Capuano(45444)
X - Wandy Rodriguez(45543)
X - Kyle Davies(40443)
X - Sergio Mitre(42435)
Z - Jason Marquis(44221)
Aaron Harang(44044)
Jeff Francis(24444)
Aaron Cook(44252)
Matt Cain(24144)
Tomo Ohka(04043)
Tony Armas(42530)

Relative sleepers here include Lidle, Davis, Davies, Mitre, and even Cook and Armas, who we generally despite but currently own skills that merit roster spots in many leagues.

B
CZ - Carlos Zambrano(43240)
X - Jon Lieber(33534)
X - Jae Weong Seo(33043)
Y - Paul Maholm(32404)
Victor Zambrano(2104)

Leiber, Seo, and even the Zambranos soon will turn it around, so go get them now before prices shoot upward.

Y - Rick Helling(52)
b - Matt Belisle(34423235)

C
Z - Oliver Perez(00220)
Matt Morris(42004)
Odalis Perez(23400)
Dave Williams(30013)

by - Kerry Wood

X
Josh Fogg(44330)
Steve Trachsel(43430)
Woody Williams(33413)
Chris Young(33053)
Brett Tomko(32333)

Ignoring Josh Fogg, the other four pitchers here all play for teams in extremely good pitchers' parks, thereby further decreasing the already minimal risk of owning any of this quartet.

Y
abcxyz - Ryan Dempster(4355445353)

Z
Tim Hudson(03433)
John Van Benschoten

a
bcxyz - Brad Lidge(3523513444)
bcxyz - Tim Worrell(3443520543)
bcxy - Chad Bradford(5454044424)
bcxy - Jose Valverde(5451543534)
bcxy - Brian Fuentes(5255434233)
bcxz - Scott Williamson(5545524554)
bxy - Brad Thompson(4424554442)
bxy - Rheal Cormier(4425343444)
bxy - Dan Wheeler(5403455414)
bxz - Duaner Sanchez(3444335354)
cxz - Steve Kline(2343535344)
bc - Jose Mesa(3544234424)
bx - Russ Springer(3553353453)
bx - Randy Flores(4523334553)
by - David Weathers(5402443514)
by - Roberto Hernandez(5524223434)
cz - Luis Vizcaino(4552324252)
xz - Greg Aquino(5454535044)
xz - Joey Eischen(3435045533)
x - Takashi Saito(4454443443)
x - Jorge Julio(3324455434)
x - Kenny Ray(4445014343)
x - David Cortes(3333345444)
x - Brandon Lyon(4323454343)
y - Jose Capellan(1244453542)
z - Danys Baez(3425343513)
z - Alan Embree(3452305234)
Damaso Marte(4424445545)
Matt Capps(3551355445)
Tim Hamulack(4543445322)
Jon Rauch(1443342544)
Brian Sweeney(5322444244)
Josh Hancock(1555234442)

Don't be afraid to use Saito, Rauch, Capps, Sweeney, and even Ray and Julio when needing roster filler in deep leagues. Many of the non-closing relievers listed here still will finish the season with several dollars of value, making them viable plays as regular members of your lineup.

b
cxyz - Scott Linebrink(3443244353)
cxyz - Braden Looper(3343245353)
cyz - Danny Kolb(2432444)
cyz - Chris Reitsma(341433125)
cyz - Mike DeJean(23)
cyz - Heath Bell
cz - Yhency Brazoban(35142)
xy - Derrick Turnbow(2334335435)
xy - Mike Gallo(3443223434)
c - John Grabow(3234424335)
x - Scott Eyre(4223333434)
y - Will Ohman(5025321455)
y - Clay Hensley(4023353)
y - Mike Wuertz(440)
y - Brandon Medders(513213)
y - Brian Shackelford(343)
y - Macay McBride
y - Jonah Bayliss
Mike Remlinger(3540444433)
Franquelis Osoria(2243532550)
Roberto Novoa(333434)
Blaine Boyer(23)
John Foster
Ryan Wagner

c
xyz - Bob Howry(0343343443)
xz - Ray King(5234333333)
x - Jason Grimsley(5432133333)
z - Armando Benitez(2443)
z - Brian Bruney
z - Chin-hui Tsao
z - Luis Ayala
Oscar Villarreal(3453244124)
Pedro Feliciano(3333544)
Mike Adams(21)
Doug Brocail

x
z - Gary Majewski(3524424333)
Todd Coffey(4415343334)
Joe Borowski(2344334435)
Mike Stanton(4343415342)

y
z - Chris Hammond(00135433)
Chad Cordero(2342453533)
Scott Munter(2024343425)
Jay Bergmann(404432)
Mike Burns(3243224)
Jonathan Broxton(53)
Terry Mulholland(3333)

z
Juan Cruz(5334132)
Jeff Fassero(2302331)

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 2006.
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 2005.
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 2004.

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 2006 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 relief outings

Today's Fantasy Rx: Look for pitchers with questionable qualitative stats inflated by high hit rates despite good walk rates and overall team defense. Ben Sheets, Steve Trachsel, and Mark Mulder rank among the NL starters currently meeting that profile.