Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
San Francisco: 1 Home vs. HOU; 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. LAD.
Toronto: 1 Home vs. LAA; 3 Home vs. OAK; 3 Road at TB.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Los Angeles Angels: 1 Road at TOR; 3 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. SEA.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Chicago Cubs: 1 Road at SD; 3 Road at SF; 3 Home vs. SD.
Houston: 1 Road at SF; 3 Road at LAD; 3 Home vs. COL.
San Diego: 1 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. MIL; 3 Road at CHC.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. WAS.
Baltimore: 3 Home vs. DET; 3 Home vs. WAS.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at MIN.
Cleveland: 3 Road at KC; 3 Home vs. DET.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. ARI.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Road at PIT; 3 Road at STL.
Boston: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Cincinnati: 3 Home vs. WAS; 3 Home vs. PHI.
Minnesota: 3 Road at TEX; 3 Home vs. CHW.
New York Mets: 3 Road at PHI; 3 Road at MIL.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. BOS: 3 Home vs. OAK.
Oakland: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at NYY.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. NYM; 3 Road at CIN.
Pittsburgh: 3 Home vs. ARI; 3 Home vs. FLO.
Texas: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Road at BOS.
Washington: 3 Road at CIN; 3 Road at ATL.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Detroit: 3 Road at BAL; 3 Road at CLE.
Florida: 3 Home vs. ATL; 3 Road at PIT.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Road at SF.
Milwaukee: 3 Road at SD; 3 Home vs. NYM.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at LAA.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at SEA; 3 Home vs. TOR.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Colorado: 3 Road at STL; 3 Road at HOU.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at BAL.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Tony Armas: Tue:@CIN(B.Claussen); Sun:@ATL(J.Thomson)
Josh Beckett: Tue:@NYY(R.Johnson); Sun:TEX(K.Millwood)
Paul Byrd: Mon:@KC(De.Bautista); Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
Daniel Cabrera: Tue:DET(N.Robertson); Sun::@KC(De.Bautista)
Doug Davis: Tue:@SF(J.Schmidt); Sun:NYM(P.Martinez)
Casey Fossum: Mon:@SEA(G.Meche); Sun:TOR(J.Towers)
Freddy Garcia: Tue:LAA(K.Gregg); Sun:@MIN(B.Radke)
Kevin Gregg: Tue:@CHW(F.Garcia); Sun:SEA(G.Meche)
Roy Halladay: Mon:LAA(J.Weaver); Sat:@TB(M.Hendrickson)
Dan Haren: Tue:@TOR(J.Towers); Sun:@NYY(R.Johnson)
Clay Hensley: Tue:MIL(D.Davis); Sun:@CHC(R.Hill)
Rich Hill: Tue:@SF(J.Schmidt); Sun:SD(C.Hensley)
Randy Johnson: Tue:BOS(J.Beckett); Sun:OAK(D.Haren)
John Koronka: Mon:MIN(B.Radke); Sat:@BOS(L.DiNardo)
Noah Lowry: Mon:HOU(R.Oswalt); Sat:LAD(Od.Perez?)
Greg Maddux: Mon:@SD(C.Young); Sat:SD(C.Young)
Jason Marquis: Mon:COL(J.Francis); Sun:ARI(M.Batista)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:@PHI(B.Myers); Sun:@MIL(D.Davis)
Kevin Millwood: Tue:MIN(C.Silva); Sun:@BOS(J.Beckett)
Brett Myers: Tue:NYM(P.Martinez); Sun:@CIN(B.Claussen)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@SF(N.Lowry); Sat:COL(S.Kim?)
Andy Pettite: Tue:@LAD(J.Seo); Sun:COL(J.Francis)
Brad Radke: Mon:@TEX(J.Koronka); Sun:CHW(F.Garcia)
Nate Robertson: Tue:@BAL(D.Cabrera); Sun:@CLE(P.Byrd)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:CHC(R.Hill); Sun:LAD(J.Seo)
Jae Seo: Tue:HOU(A.Pettitte); Sun:@SF(J.Schmidt)
John Thomson: Tue:@FLO(B.Moehler); Sun:WAS(T.Armas)
Jeff Weaver: Mon:@TOR(R.Halladay); Sat:SEA(J.Washburn)
Chris Young: Mon:CHC(G.Maddux); Sat:@CHC(G.Maddux)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Miguel Batista: Tue:@PIT(I.Snell); Sun:@STL(J.Marquis)
Denny Bautista: Mon:CLE(P.Byrd); Sun:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Brandon Claussen: Tue:WAS(T.Armas); Sun:PHI(B.Myers)
Jeff Francis: Mon:@STL(J.Marquis); Sun:@HOU(A.Pettitte)
Gil Meche: Mon:TB(C.Fossum); Sun:@LAA(K.Gregg)
Brian Moehler: Tue:ATL(J.Thomson); Sun:@PIT(I.Snell)
Ian Snell: Tue:ARI(M.Batista); Sun:FLO(B.Moehler)
Josh Towers: Tue:OAK(D.Haren); Sun:@TB(C.Fossum)

Diamond Challenge

While we really want to make a move to help our offense, we have six likely doubles to run, including four of our five most expensive starters, which effectively prevents any action this week. We expect to add Jonny Gomes as a free agent next week, perhaps replacing Rich Harden.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:CHW(J.Vazquez)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@SF(N.Lowry); Sat:COL(S.Kim?)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:@PHI(B.Myers); Sun:@MIL(D.Davis)
Chris Carpenter: Tue:COL(J.Fogg)
Randy Johnson: Tue:BOS(J.Beckett); Sun:OAK(D.Haren)
Jake Peavy: Thu:MIL(B.Sheets?)
Roy Halladay: Mon:LAA(J.Weaver); Sat:@TB(M.Hendrickson)
Mark Buehrle: Sat:@MIN(S.Baker?)
Curt Schilling: Wed:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Rich Harden: No start(DL)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:TB(D.Waechter)
John Lackey: Fri:SEA(J.Pineiro)
Dan Haren: Tue:@TOR(J.Towers); Sun:@NYY(R.Johnson)

Sidney Ponson's injury means Carpenter likely doubles, giving us six automatic starts. Since we both lack cap space for Street and he faces the toughest schedule of our closers, he'll sit for one more week.

Hafner, who we foolishly sat during his best week of the year, returns to the lineup, along with Chad Tracy and Juan Uribe. The Rockies head on the road, allowing us to sit Atkins, Barmes, and Holliday, though for cap reasons, Pat Burrell also will take a seat.

Rotohelp.com(2nd lg; 34th div; 483rd overall)
Week 6: May 8-May 14

C	Victor Martinez		1020
C	Josh Willingham		340 
1B	Albert Pujols		2060
1B	Ryan Howard		880
2B	Chase Utley		1190
2B	Rickie Weeks		620
3B	David Wright		1210
3B	Edwin Encarnacion	600 
SS	Jose Reyes		1030 
SS	Juan Uribe		760
OF	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Chone Figgins		1350 
OF	Chad Tracy		1020 
OF	Cory Sullivan		460
OF	Joey Gathright		450
OF	Brad Hawpe		440 
DH	Mark Teixeira		1470
DH	Travis Hafner		1180

SP	Roy Oswalt		1830
SP	Pedro Martinez		1700 
SP	Chris Carpenter		1550
SP	Randy Johnson		1360
SP	Roy Halladay		1230
SP	Dan Haren		860
RP	Ryan Dempster		1180
RP	Mike Gonzalez		1120 
RP	Jon Papelbon		890
RP	Chris Ray		820

Total Salary for Week 6: 	30000

Internet Challenge

With five Rockies and only four position players on our bench, we finally opted to replace Griffey in our outfield. Nick Swisher edged Jonny Gomes for that spot as Rich Harden departs our squad.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: No start.
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@SF(N.Lowry)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:@PHI(B.Myers)
Chris Carpenter: Tue:COL(J.Fogg)
Randy Johnson: Tue:BOS(J.Beckett)
Jake Peavy: Thu:MIL(B.Sheets?)
Roy Halladay: Mon:LAA(J.Weaver)
Mark Buehrle: No start.
Curt Schilling: Wed:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Rich Harden: No start(DL)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:TB(D.Waechter)
John Lackey: No start.
Dan Haren: Tue:@TOR(J.Towers)

Oswalt tempted us, but playing the five home starts and Haren seems a much better fit. Ray returns to the lineup for Papelbon, who heads to New York this weekend.

Hafner, Encarnacion, Uribe, Tracy, and Swisher enter our lineup, replacing our five Rockies as they head on the road.

Rotohelp.com(7th lg; 105th overall)
Week 6a: May 8-May 11

C	Victor Martinez		1020
C	Josh Willingham		340 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1470
1B	Ryan Howard		880
2B	Chase Utley		1190
2B	Rickie Weeks		620
3B	David Wright		1210 
3B	Edwin Encarnacion	600
SS	Jose Reyes		1030 
SS	Juan Uribe		760
OF	Jason Bay		1380
OF	Chone Figgins		1350 
OF	Pat Burrell		1040 
OF	Chad Tracy		1040
OF	Nick Swisher		620
OF	Joey Gathright		450
DH	Albert Pujols		2060 
DH	Travis Hafner		1180 

SP	Chris Carpenter		1550
SP	Randy Johnson		1360 
SP	Jake Peavy		1240
SP	Roy Halladay		1230 
SP	Felix Hernandez		960
SP	Dan Haren		860 
RP	Huston Street		1300
RP	Ryan Dempster		1180
RP	Mike Gonzalez		1120 
RP	Chris Ray		820

Total Salary for Week 6a:	29840

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

While we planned to add a starter this week, we neither need one due to our six likely doubles nor want one given the options among pitchers we don't own.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:CHW(J.Vazquez)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@SF(N.Lowry); Sat:COL(S.Kim?)
Chris Carpenter: Tue:COL(J.Fogg)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:@PHI(B.Myers); Sun:@MIL(D.Davis)
Randy Johnson: Tue:BOS(J.Beckett); Sun:OAK(D.Haren)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@MIN(J.Santana?)
John Lackey: Fri:SEA(J.Pineiro)
Roy Halladay: Mon:LAA(J.Weaver); Sat:@TB(M.Hendrickson)
Dan Haren: Tue:@TOR(J.Towers); Sun:@NYY(R.Johnson)

Deploying our six doubles hopefully will enable us to make up some of the ground we lost this past week. While we lack the cap room for Street, we don't mind using our other four closers.

Atkins, Barmes, Holliday, and Sullivan hit the bench, making room for Hafner, Crosby, Tracy, and Granderson. Helton, Hermida, and Ellis stay benched, and then to squeeze under the cap, Victor Martinez takes a seat for Joe Mauer, who hopefully will generate plenty of points during his series in Texas.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 7th lg; 368th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(BB: 8th lg; 865th overall)
Week 6: May 8-May 14

 
C	Victor Martinez		1940
C	Josh Willingham		1000 
1B	Lance Berkman		2860
1B	Ryan Howard		1950
2B	Chase Utley		2270
2B	Rickie Weeks		1300
3B	David Wright		2480
3B	Edwin Encarnacion	1030 
SS	Felipe Lopez		1800 
SS	Clint Barmes		1610
OF	Barry Bonds		2720
OF	Jason Bay		2550 
OF	Grady Sizemore		2200 
OF	Matt Holliday		2140
OF	Jonny Gomes		1570 
OF	Cory Sullivan		1180
DH	Mark Teixeira		3220
DH	Garrett Atkins		1330

SP	Johan Santana		3310 
SP	Pedro Martinez		2970
SP	Randy Johnson		2910
SP	John Lackey		2760 
SP	Javier Vazquez		2810 
SP	Dan Haren		1940
RP	Ryan Dempster		2150
RP	Mike Gonzalez		1820
RP	Jon Papelbon		1590
RP	Chris Ray		1580

Total Salary for Week 6:	58990

Today's Fantasy Rx: If you need starting pitching and lack some of the better starters on your team, think about fixing that weakness this week. Dan Haren's available as a free agent and remains a remarkably strong option for his salary. Veterans like Oswalt, Carpenter, Pedro, Randy, and Halladay also look like very strong plays, particularly if you need strikeouts.