Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome our weekly LPR rankings, 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 10th. 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
23Xcz - John Smoltz(33354)
ACXYZ - Greg Maddux(54330)
AX - Sean Marshall(43543)
AX - Tom Glavine(43352)

Chris Carpenter, Dontrelle Willis, and Dave Bush dropped down this week, but Smoltz's appearance here makes him the only pitcher currently holding a 123 ranking, as well as one of only seven pitchers in the majors capable of reaching that mark this year.

2
3BCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(34330)
3BCYZ - Jake Peavy(45232)
3bcz - Ryan Madson(30331)
ABCXY - Chris Carpenter(53354)
BCYZ - Andy Pettitte(54332)
AB - Dontrelle Willis(24440)
Zach Duke(53232)

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(5443345532)
BCZabxy - Aaron Heilman(4455345532)
abcxyz - Chad Qualls(4455334444)
abcxyz - Trevor Hoffman(3434344533)
a - Aaron Fultz(4523355551)
y - Arthur Rhodes(5523444333)

Although we still see no reason for any long-term skill concern regarding Brad Lidge, Chad Qualls continues to excel in a very low profile role. If Lidge unexpectedly continues struggling and Dan Wheeler encounters any problems, Qualls will leap from low-risk roster filler to the closer's role on one of baseball's best teams.

3
BCYZ - Ben Sheets(3550)
AC - Brad Penny(44223)
C - Glendon Rusch(03500)
X - Bronson Arroyo(25533)
Livan Hernandez(32232)

abcxyz - Tom Gordon(5544353552)
abcxyz - Mike Gonzalez(3335344344)
bcyz - Jason Isringhausen(1543343255)
bcyz - Eric Gagne
acz - Salomon Torres(3441050442)
z - Trever Miller(4232300)

All Gonzalez needs is more save opps. to begin compiling the stats we expected from him this year.

A
BCXY - Pedro Martinez(44454)
BCX - Cory Lidle(45440)
BXY - Derek Lowe(45435)
BXY - Brandon Webb(24444)
BC - Doug Davis(04323)
BX - Brett Myers(44355)
CX - Jason Schmidt(43543)
X - Wandy Rodriguez(55433)
X - Chris Capuano(44433)
X - David Bush(45243)
X - John Thomson(53423)
X - Steve Trachsel(34304)
Jeff Francis(44443)
Aaron Harang(04452)
Aaron Cook(42524)
Sergio Mitre(24350)
Tomo Ohka(04043)
Tony Armas(25305)

B
CZ - Carlos Zambrano(24034)
X - Jon Lieber(35343)
Y - Paul Maholm(40432)
Jae Weong Seo(30430)

Y - Rick Helling(52)
b - Matt Belisle(344232352)

C
Z - Oliver Perez(02200)
Odalis Perez(23400)
Matt Morris(20042)
Dave Williams(00131)

by - Kerry Wood

X
Z - Mark Mulder(34323)
Taylor Buchholz(33340)
Woody Williams(34133)

Y
abcxyz - Ryan Dempster(5544535325)

Z
Tim Hudson(34332)
Jason Marquis(42210)
John Van Benschoten

a
bcxyz - Brad Lidge(2351344442)
bcxy - Brian Fuentes(5543423344)
bcxy - Jose Valverde(5154353423)
bcxz - Scott Williamson(5455245543)
cxyz - Bob Howry(3343443414)
bcy - Chad Bradford(4044424234)
bxy - Brad Thompson(2455444244)
bxy - Rheal Cormier(5343444543)
bxy - Dan Wheeler(3455414504)
bxy - Derrick Turnbow(3433543544)
bxz - Duaner Sanchez(4335354534)
cxz - Steve Kline(4353534445)
bx - Randy Flores(2333455354)
by - David Weathers(2443514422)
by - Roberto Hernandez(2422343434)
cz - Luis Vizcaino(3242525424)
xz - Greg Aquino(5453504443)
xz - Alan Embree(3052345434)
xz - Gary Majewski(5244243334)
x - Jorge Julio(4554344535)
x - Matt Capps(3554455353)
x - Ramon Ramirez(4455335145)
x - Damaso Marte(2444554533)
x - Brandon Lyon(2345434354)
x - Takashi Saito(4443443135)
x - Matt Wise(5424235453)
x - Adam Wainwright(2414535345)
y - Jose Capellan(4453542425)
Scott Cassidy(1424525545)
Matt Herges(4335423544)
Brian Sweeney(2244424443)
Rick White(3523443535)
Josh Hancock(5234442343)
Jon Rauch(3425443252)
Tim Hamulack(4344532203)

Despite Jose Valverde's success, the Diamondbacks' bullpen problems over the last few years at least suggest the possibility of general instability. Brandon Lyon again appears healthy and capable of dominating, so if you have extra roster space, you might want him on your club if Arizona needs to look elsewhere.

b
cxyz - Scott Linebrink(3244353343)
cxyz - Danny Kolb(2432444333)
cxyz - Braden Looper(4324535323)
cyz - Tim Worrell(4352054330)
cyz - Chris Reitsma(4143312512)
cyz - Heath Bell(4)
cyz - Mike DeJean(23)
c - John Grabow(3442433534)
c - Jose Mesa(4423442410)
x - Russ Springer(3353453433)
x - Scott Eyre(3334345532)
y - Will Ohman(5321455354)
y - Brian Shackelford(3434333)
y - Mike Gallo(2234340303)
y - Brandon Medders(513213433)
y - Clay Hensley(4023353)
y - Mike Wuertz(440)
y - Macay McBride(2024)
y - Jonah Bayliss
Mike Remlinger(0444433333)
Franquelis Osoria(4353255020)
Roberto Novoa(33343443)
Blaine Boyer(23)
Ryan Wagner

c
xz - Ray King(3433333325)
x - Pedro Feliciano(3333544343)
x - Jason Grimsley(4321333334)
z - Armando Benitez(244354)
z - Brian Bruney
z - Chin-hui Tsao
z - Luis Ayala
Oscar Villarreal(3244124244)
Mike Adams(21)
Doug Brocail

x
z - Joey Eischen(5045533335)
z - Danys Baez(5343513335)
David Cortes(3334544432)
Joe Borowski(3443344351)
Justin Lehr(4453411333)
Todd Coffey(1534333432)
Kenny Ray(0143433234)

y
z - Chris Hammond(0013543334)
Scott Munter(4343425434)
Chad Cordero(4245353344)
Jay Bergmann(4044323341)
Jonathan Broxton(53533)
Mike Burns(3243224)
Terry Mulholland(3333)

z
Juan Cruz(54)

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: With interleague play starting next week, remember to pay careful attention to your starters' schedule. An NL starter at home could dominate against several AL clubs while the same pitcher could encounter serious problems if entering a more hitter-friendly park with the additional challenge of facing a DH instead of an automatic out at the end of the lineup.