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 24th. 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
23AXcz - John Smoltz(54554)
2ABCXY - Chris Carpenter(35453)
3ACX - Brad Penny(23445)
3AX - Bronson Arroyo(33444)
AX - Chris Capuano(43353)
Z - Tim Hudson(32543)

ax - Todd Coffey(4325354454)

Although Smoltz still generally concerns me, his continued presence up here insures his inclusion in any discussion of the game's most consistently effective veteran starters. Only injury problems could keep him from clearing $15 this year.

2
3ABCYZ - Jake Peavy(32525)
3BCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(30335)
3bcz - Ryan Madson(30331)
BCYZ - Andy Pettitte(33252)
AB - Dontrelle Willis(40023)
A - Zach Duke(32444)

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(5325551443)
BCZabxy - Aaron Heilman(5532445344)
abcxyz - Chad Qualls(3344444345)
abcxyz - Trevor Hoffman(4344533553)
axy - Arthur Rhodes(4433343345)
a - Aaron Fultz(5555154335)

3
BCYZ - Ben Sheets(3550)
Livan Hernandez(23222)

abcxyz - Mike Gonzalez(4434425352)
abcxyz - Tom Gordon(3535525432)
bcyz - Jason Isringhausen(4325545243)
bcyz - Eric Gagne
acz - Salomon Torres(2352542343)
C - Glendon Rusch(343244)
z - Trever Miller(3230023444)

A
BCXY - Pedro Martinez(45434)
CXYZ - Greg Maddux(30424)
BCX - Cory Lidle(44054)
BXY - Brandon Webb(44435)
BXY - Derek Lowe(35434)
XZ - Mark Mulder(23543)
B - Brett Myers(35542)
X - Byung-Hyun Kim(55043)
X - Wandy Rodriguez(33404)
X - Tom Glavine(35233)
z - Juan Cruz(54204)
Jamey Wright(24454)
Aaron Harang(45205)
Aaron Cook(24523)
Tomo Ohka(04043)
Tony Armas(30542)

While I certainly won't recommend Byung-Hyun Kim unilaterally as long as he remains with Colorado, we're again seeing intriguing upside in his skills. He should enjoy a lengthy career and will reemerge as a potential double-digit earner once he departs Coors.

B
CX - Doug Davis(23343)
CZ - Carlos Zambrano(03453)
Y - Paul Maholm(43254)
Jae Weong Seo(43044)
Jon Lieber(43421)

Y - Rick Helling(52)
b - Matt Belisle(2323522243)

C
by - Kerry Wood(43)
Z - Oliver Perez(20033)
Jason Schmidt(54323)
Odalis Perez(23400)
Matt Morris(42322)

X
Elizardo Ramirez(33034)

Y
abcxyz - Ryan Dempster(5325325442)

Z
Jason Marquis(10324)
John Van Benschoten

a
bcxy - Brian Fuentes(3344445534)
bcxz - Scott Williamson(5434435333)
bcyz - Brad Lidge(4442255340)
cxyz - Bob Howry(3414334542)
bcy - Chad Bradford(4234052444)
bcy - Jose Valverde(3423344322)
bxy - Roberto Hernandez(4343455544)
bxy - Brad Thompson(5444244434)
bxy - Derrick Turnbow(4441442554)
bxy - Dan Wheeler(4145043254)
bxy - Rheal Cormier(4445432332)
bxz - Duaner Sanchez(5341433425)
bc - Jose Mesa(4102453443)
bx - Scott Eyre(5532445444)
bx - Randy Flores(5354403424)
cx - Pedro Feliciano(4343554433)
cz - Luis Vizcaino(5424541445)
xy - Chad Cordero(3444345255)
xy - Jonathan Broxton(3533455543)
xz - Gary Majewski(3444434454)
xz - Greg Aquino(3504443442)
x - Jorge Julio(4344535245)
x - Ramon Ramirez(3514541444)
x - Matt Wise(4235453434)
x - Takashi Saito(3135454244)
x - Brandon Lyon(3435434343)
x - Matt Capps(5353342345)
x - Damaso Marte(4533443352)
x - Adam Wainwright(4535345332)
x - Joe Beimel(4443332254)
y - Jose Capellan(2425534235)
z - Alan Embree(5434532440)
Scott Cassidy(2554554105)
Josh Hancock(4442343434)
Tim Hamulack(4532203444)
Brian Sweeney(2444344132)
Randy Messenger(4323320345)

New names that stand out here include Saito, Wise, Ramirez, and Cassidy, however right only Saito seems a particularly safe play.

b
cxyz - Scott Linebrink(5334343255)
cxyz - Braden Looper(5353233504)
cyz - Chris Reitsma(1254541355)
cyz - Danny Kolb(4433324322)
cyz - Tim Worrell(5205433032)
cyz - Heath Bell(44)
cyz - Mike DeJean(23)
xy - Brian Shackelford(3433340344)
c - John Grabow(3353453302)
x - Russ Springer(4534335421)
x - Roberto Novoa(3443324430)
x - Mike Remlinger(3333354335)
y - Will Ohman(5354432534)
y - David Weathers(1442233335)
y - Brandon Medders(3433353233)
y - Mike Gallo(3403033522)
y - Macay McBride(202433324)
y - Clay Hensley(4023353)
y - Mike Wuertz(4403)
y - Jonah Bayliss
Franquelis Osoria(4353255020)
Blaine Boyer(23)
Ryan Wagner

c
x - Jason Grimsley(3333453430)
z - Steve Kline(3444542023)
z - Armando Benitez(244354311)
z - Brian Shouse(2450404032)
z - Ray King(3333254043)
z - Chin-hui Tsao
z - Luis Ayala
Oscar Villarreal(2443535323)
Jim Brower(4422232353)
Mike Adams(21)
Doug Brocail

x
yz - Chris Hammond(4333453454)
z - Danys Baez(5133351435)
z - Joey Eischen(3333503543)
Jeremy Accardo(5445334430)
David Cortes(4544432242)
Scott Dohmann(5434334330)
Kevin Correia(3432453334)
Casey Daigle(3543024334)

y
Scott Munter(4254340341)
Mike Burns(324322444)
Jay Bergmann(0443233412)
Terry Mulholland(3333)

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: The combination of the Cardinals' outstanding team defense, forgiving new park, and the outstanding control demonstrated by their pitchers easily makes St. Louis pitchers the best gamble in the game. Even if the deeper NL leagues, you should see someone available from the non-closing relief corps of Braden Looper, Adam Wainwright, Brad Thompson, Josh Hancock, and Randy Flores, so if you need to cut a combustible pitcher, first look to see if one of these right-handers or even Flores appears on your free agent list.