Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method of identifying highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. While we have not changed this system since last season, feel free to refer to this key for a complete description of the codes. We have 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 August 3rd. Pitchers with no QA scores have not pitched this year, so do not roster any of them unless you see someone ready to return to the majors.

1
23AXcz - John Smoltz(55334)
2ABCXYZ - Roger Clemens(33545)
2ABCXY - Chris Carpenter(55530)
3AC - Brad Penny(44344)
ABXY - Brandon Webb(55433)

Thanks to a half-season of rest and a team that remains only four games shy of the Wild Card, Clemens looks like the best bet among all NL starters right now, though I remain confident in the continued success of this entire quintet.

abcxy - Chad Bradford(3435544352)
abxy - Dan Wheeler(5452455444)
axz - Alan Embree(3033344555)
ax - Adam Wainwright(4435454134)
ax - Ramon Ramirez(4030443142)
a - David Borkowski(4432224554)
x - Brandon Lyon(3333435234)
Darren Oliver(4434432234)

2
3BCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(44324)
3BCYZ - Jake Peavy(32033)
BCYZ - Andy Pettitte(55245)
B - Dontrelle Willis(53203)
Zach Duke(22304)

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(3455354525)
3bcz - Ryan Madson(233222)
BCZabxy - Aaron Heilman(0443424343)
abcxyz - Chad Qualls(4435453355)
abcxyz - Trevor Hoffman(5314034233)
y - Arthur Rhodes(2422214343)
Aaron Fultz(4233355113)

3
ABCXYZ - Ben Sheets(55045)
C - Jeff Weaver(00120)
X - Bronson Arroyo(03323)
Livan Hernandez(03244)

When healthy, Sheets remains one of the best pitchers in baseball. He certainly looks healthy right now.

abcxyz - Jason Isringhausen(4235434454)
abcyz - Tom Gordon(2554232545)
bcxyz - Mike Gonzalez(3343423435)
bcyz - Eric Gagne(44)
cxz - Salomon Torres(4543434333)
C - Glendon Rusch(2442343232)
z - Trever Miller(2524333434)

A
BCXY - Pedro Martinez(43034)
CXYZ - Greg Maddux(44453)
CX - Jason Schmidt(23444)
B - Brett Myers(34544)
X - Josh Johnson(43535)
X - Chris Capuano(40313)
Jason Jennings(54244)
Aaron Harang(44043)
David Bush(44303)
Alay Soler(44200)

I don't want to recommend a Colorado pitcher, and I'm not going to endorse Jennings at this time. However, if you need innings and see him available, he might not hurt you due to his improved skill set and a club that employs seemingly waterlogged baseballs to reduce scoring.

Aaron Sele(21)

B
CZ - Carlos Zambrano(44334)
C - Doug Davis(33232)
Y - Paul Maholm(03544)
Y - Derek Lowe(04044)
Jon Lieber(32220)

We've seen Maholm cut in most of our NL leagues in recent weeks, but given his skill history and recent performance, he belong on someone's roster, at least on a rebuilding squad if not a contender's pitching staff.

Ya - Rick Helling(2245244522)
b - Matt Belisle(2243552354)

C
by - Kerry Wood(4350)
Z - Oliver Perez(00330)
Matt Morris(24303)
Dave Williams(13130)

X
Scott Olsen(43443)
Elizardo Ramirez(43430)
Anthony Reyes(24433)

Like Paul Maholm, Ramirez appeared on plenty of waiver wires following his brief demotion over the All-Star Break. However, he also appears a key member of the Reds' rotation and should break camp as no worse than their fourth starter. Target him for a couple of bucks given the upside suggested by his skills.

Y
abcxyz - Ryan Dempster(5245334334)

Although the Cubs erred in overpaying him to close rather than moving Kerry Wood to less physically stressful role, Dempster remains a relatively safe bet and shouldn't change roles regardless of any temporary struggles or the possibility of a managerial change this fall.

Z
Tim Hudson(03324)
Jason Marquis(32302)
Mark Mulder(02020)
John Van Benschoten

a
bcxyz - Heath Bell(5544315144)
bcxyz - Brad Lidge(2444442524)
bcxyz - Bob Wickman(1533553545)
bcxy - Brian Fuentes(3332444534)
bcxz - Scott Williamson(4444324432)
bcyz - Francisco Cordero(4443324343)
cxyz - Bob Howry(4552332444)
bxy - Mike Wuertz(0344144543)
bxy - Derrick Turnbow(3505324325)
bxy - Roberto Hernandez(3333333444)
bxz - Duaner Sanchez(3445444443)
cyz - Eddie Guardado(1433455454)
bc - Jose Mesa(3244230245)
bx - Russ Springer(2344444534)
bx - Scott Eyre(3435243554)
by - Brad Thompson(4231133332)
cz - Luis Vizcaino(5455424255)
cz - Armando Benitez(5144412350)
xy - Jonathan Broxton(3255344344)
xy - Chad Cordero(4134333345)
xz - Gary Majewski(2234540343)
xz - Greg Aquino(3323442334)
c - Randy Choate(3400454433)
x - Jason Standridge(5344445424)
x - Josh Kinney(3444544245)
x - Takashi Saito(4244541544)
x - Taylor Tankersley(5544452334)
x - Cla Meredith(0353443455)
x - Fernando Nieve(3434442244)
x - Giovanni Carrara(2453455235)
x - Jorge Julio(4545332135)
x - Matt Capps(3255244334)
x - Damaso Marte(0034233445)
z - Elmer Dessens(4212354332)
Tim Hamulack(0344414414)
Kyle Lohse(4534533224)
Tyler Johnson(5433440243)

b
y - Clay Hensley(33444)

cxyz - Scott Linebrink(5342222145)
cxy - Jose Valverde(3343234432)
cyz - Danny Kolb(2434354534)
cyz - Braden Looper(4323343433)
cyz - Mike DeJean(23)
xy - Will Ohman(5334444433)
xy - Brian Shackelford(4301354554)
c - John Grabow(5445544344)
x - Randy Flores(0344433302)
y - David Weathers(3434314444)
y - Macay McBride(5043354343)
y - Brandon Medders(4333532403)
y - Rheal Cormier(4324230224)
y - Jonah Bayliss(342)
Franquelis Osoria(4353255020)
Roberto Novoa(2221132424)
Ryan Wagner(23)

c
yz - Jeremy Affeldt(4434124242)
x - Pedro Feliciano(2535342340)
z - Tyler Yates(3134424551)
z - Steve Kline(2553545222)
z - Ray King(4202033444)
z - Brian Shouse(2553320335)
Oscar Villarreal(3440132344)
Doug Brocail(52043234)
Mike Adams(21)

x
Vinnie Chulk(5333244543)
Joe Borowski(3343425424)
Casey Daigle(3543024334)
Joe Beimel(5333243334)
Micah Bowie(3333235433)
Saul Rivera(3233343333)

Jeremy Accardo's replacement in the Giants' bullpen is the best bet for saves of Benitez falters, so consider spending a buck on Chulk, particularly if looking toward next year.

y
Scott Munter(4254340341)
Mike Burns(2432244423)
Jay Bergmann(3412133345)
Jose Capellan(1432331232)

z
Juan Cruz(32044)

Danys Baez(3322542343)
Kevin Gryboski(4232)
Mike Koplove(3)

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.

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: Francisco Cordero, Eddie Guardado, and Bob Wickman look like the NL closer heading toward free agency, leaving Derrick Turnbow, Todd Coffey, and Danys Baez as the fallback options on their respective teams. Of course, with the Brewers reasonably likely to exercise Cordero's option and Baez also a free agent, only Coffey appears a good gamble for rebuilding teams. Free agent middle relievers that could emerge as closers by next spring include Baez, Scott Williamson, Arthur Rhodes, and Jose Mesa. Lastly, despite the certainty that the Dodgers will decline Eric Gagne's option, he still looks likely to return to LA given the fluid nature of the club's bullpen, so don't be surprised if Takashi Saito returns to middle relief by the end of spring training.