Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 4 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at TB.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 1 Home vs. LAA; 3 Home vs. NYY; 3 Home vs. DET.
Cincinnati: 4 Home vs. STL; 3 Road at PHI.
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. LAA; 4 Home vs. KC.
Colorado: 4 Road at LAD; 3 Home vs. CHC.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. BOS; 4 Road at CLE.
Los Angeles Angels: 1 Road at CHW; 3 Road at CLE; 3 Road at NYY.
Minnesota: 3 Road at DET; 4 Home vs. TOR.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at TEX.
St. Louis: 4 Road at CIN; 3 Road at PIT.
Texas: 3 Road at OAK; 4 Home vs. SEA.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Road at MIN.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles Dodgers: 4 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. SF.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Home vs. PHI; 3 Home vs. MIL.
New York Mets: 3 Home vs. SD; 3 Road at WAS.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. SF; 3 Home vs. FLO.
Baltimore: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at BOS.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at MIL; 3 Road at COL.
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. LAA; 3 Home vs. KC.
Detroit: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Road at CHW.
Houston: 3 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. SD.
Milwaukee: 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Road at ATL.
New York Yankees: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. LAA.
Oakland: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. TB.
Philadelphia: 3 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. CIN.
Pittsburgh: 3 Road at HOU; 3 Home vs. STL.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at SEA: 3 Road at OAK.
Florida: 3 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. NYM.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Florida: 3 Road at WAS; 3 Road at ARI.
San Diego: 3 Road at NYM; 3 Road at HOU.
San Francisco: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Road at LAD.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Tony Armas: Tue:FLO(S.Olsen); Sun:NYM(S.Trachsel)
Mark Buehrle: Mon:LAA(K.Escobar); Sat:DET(K.Rogers)
Tim Corcoran: Mon:@SEA(J.Moyer); Sun:@OAK(E.Loaiza)
Juan Cruz: Tue:SF(Jam.Wright); Sun:FLO(R.Nolasco)
Kelvim Escobar: Mon:@CHW(M.Buehrle); Sat:@NYY(Jar.Wright)
Freddy Garcia: Tue:NYY(C.Wang); Sun:DET(Z.Miner)
Enrique Gonzalez: Mon:SF(J.Schmidt); Sat:FLO(S.Olsen)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:TB(J.Seo); Sun:@TEX(K.Millwood)
Jon Lester: Tue:@KC(L.Hudson); Sun:BAL(Ru.Ortiz?)
Tim Hudson: Tue:PHI(C.Hamels); Sun:MIL(T.Ohka)
Ted Lilly: Mon:BAL(Ru.Ortiz); Sat:@MIN(F.Liriano)
Francisco Liriano: Mon:@DET(Z.Miner); Sat:TOR(T.Lilly)
Esteban Loaiza: Mon:TEX(Ed.Volquez); Sun:TB(T.Corcoran)
Brett Myers: Mon:@ATL(Ho.Ramirez); Sun:CIN(E.Milton)
Greg Maddux: Tue:COL(B.Kim); Sun:SF(J.Schmidt)
Jamie Moyer: Mon:TB(T.Corcoran); Sat:@TEX(Ed.Volquez?)
Ricky Nolasco: Tue:@WAS(T.Armas); Sun:@ARI(Ju.Cruz)
Tomo Ohka: Tue:CHC(C.Marmol); Sun:@ATL(T.Hudson)
Brad Penny: Mon:COL(J.Fogg); Sat:SF(M.Cain)
Brad Radke: Tue:@DET(N.Robertson); Sun:TOR(S.Marcum)
Steve Trachsel: Tue:SD(W.Williams); Sun:@WAS(T.Armas)
Jason Schmidt: Mon:@ARI(En.Gonzalez); Sun:@LAD(G.Maddux)
Jeremy Sowers: Tue:LAA(Jer.Weaver); Sun:KC(L.Hudson)
Chien-ming Wang: Tue:@CHW(F.Garcia); Sun:LAA(Jer.Weaver)
Jered Weaver: Tue:@CLE(J.Sowers); Sun:@NYY(C.Wang)
Woody Williams: Tue:@NYM(S.Trachsel); Sun:@HOU(B.Backe)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Brandon Backe: Tue:PIT(P.Maholm); Sun:SD(W.Williams)
Josh Fogg: Mon:@LAD(B.Penny); Sat:CHC(Ju.Mateo?)
Luke Hudson: Bos(J.Lester); Sun:@CLE(J.Sowers)
Byung-Hyun Kim: Tue:@LAD(G.Maddux); Sun:CHC(C.Marmol)
Paul Maholm: Tue:@HOU(B.Backe); Sun:STL(J.Marquis)
Shaun Marcum: Tue:BAL(D.Cabrera?); Sun:@MIN(B.Radke)
Carlos Marmol: Tue:@MIL(T.Ohhka); Sun:@COL(B.Kim)
Jason Marquis: Tue:@CIN(E.Milton); Sun:@PIT(P.Marholm)
Eric Milton: Tue:STL(J.Marquis); Sun:@PHI(C.Hamels)
Zach Miner: Mon:MIN(F.Liriano); Sun:@CHW(F.Garcia)
Russ Ortiz?: Mon:@TOR(T.Lilly); Sun:@BOS(J.Lester)
Eli Ramirez: Mon:STL(Jef.Weaver); Sat:@PHI(S.Mathieson)
Horacio Ramirez: Mon:PHI(B.Myers); Sat:MIL(B.Sheets?)
Edinson Volquez?: Mon:@OAK(E.Loaiza); Sat:SEA(J.Moyer)?
Jeff Weaver: Mon:@CIN(El.Ramirez); Sat:@PIT(I.Snell)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@DET(J.Bonderman)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:PIT(S.Chacon)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:SD(C.Hensley)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:@CIN(A.Harang)
Randy Johnson: Wed:@CHW(J.Garland)
Jake Peavy: Sat:@HOU(J.Hirsh???)
Roy Halladay: Wed:BAL(E.Bedard)
Curt Schilling: Thu:@KC(M.Redman)
Brandon Webb: Fri:FLO(Jo.Johnson)???
Felix Hernandez: Tue:TB(J.Seo); Sun:@TEX(K.Millwood)
John Lackey: Wed:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Dan Haren: Fri:TB(S.Kazmir)
Francisco Liriano: Mon:@DET(Z.Miner); Sat:TOR(T.Lilly)

Deploying the two doubles and the four safe home starts easily ranks as the best option. Putz replaces Ray with Papelbon facing Ray.

While we wish Tex could play, we lack a spot for him. Encarnacion and Swisher stay benched, but Willingham replaces Victor for cap purposes.

Rotohelp.com(7th lg; 73rd div; 1452nd overall)
Week 19: August 7-August 13

 
C	Joe Mauer		770 
C	Josh Willingham		340
1B	Albert Pujols		2060
1B	Ryan Howard		880
2B	Chase Utley		1190
2B	Howie Kendrick		750
3B	David Wright		1210 
3B	Garrett Atkins		610 
SS	Felipe Lopez		1070
SS	Jose Reyes		1030 
OF	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Chone Figgins		1350
OF	Matt Holliday		1040 
OF	Pat Burrell		1040 
OF	Chad Tracy		1020
OF	Brad Hawpe		440
DH	Travis Hafner		1180 
DH	Jim Thome		1070

SP	Roy Oswalt		1830 
SP	Pedro Martinez		1700 
SP	Roy Halladay		1230 
SP	Felix Hernandez		960 
SP	Dan Haren		860
SP	Francisco Liriano	700 
RP	Huston Street		1300
RP	Bobby Jenks		1150
RP	Jon Papelbon		890 
RP	J.J. Putz		890

Total Salary for Week 19: 	29940

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@DET(J.Bonderman)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:SD(C.Hensley)
John Smoltz: Fri:MIL(C.Capuano)
Roy Halladay: Wed:BAL(E.Bedard)
Curt Schilling: Thu:@KC(M.Redman)
Brandon Webb: Fri:FLO(Jo.Johnson)???
C.C. Sabathia: Sat:KC(Od.Perez)
Mike Mussina: Thu:@CHW(J.Vazquez)
John Lackey: Wed:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Chris Capuano: Fri:@ATL(J.Smoltz)
Dan Haren: Fri:TB(S.Kazmir)
Brad Penny: Mon:COL(J.Fogg); Sat:SF(M.Cain)
Tom Glavine: Fri:@WAS(L.Hernandez)
Scott Kazmir: Fri:@OAK(D.Haren)
Francisco Liriano: Mon:@DET(Z.Miner); Sat:TOR(T.Lilly)

Pedro, Halladay, Sabathia, and Haren will join our two doubles.

Offensively, Kearns replaces Podsednik for cap reason while Rios and Weeks sit.

Rotohelp.com(9th lg; 69th div; 448th overall)
Week 19: August 7-August 13

C	Joe Mauer		770
C	Ramon Hernandez		690
1B	Travis Hafner		1180
1B	Ryan Howard		880 
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1830
2B	Chase Utley		1190
3B	David Wright		1210 
3B	Garrett Atkins		610 
SS	Jose Reyes		1030 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		400
OF	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Matt Holliday		1040 
OF	Corey Patterson		910 
OF	Austin Kearns		700
OF	Nick Swisher		620
OF	Brad Hawpe		440
DH	Albert Pujols		2060
DH	Jim Thome		1070

SP	Pedro Martinez		1700 
SP	Roy Halladay		1230
SP	C.C. Sabathia		980 
SP	Dan Haren		860 
SP	Brad Penny		820
SP	Francisco Liriano	700
RP	Bobby Jenks		1150
RP	Jon Papelbon		890
RP	Chris Ray		820
RP	Akinori Otsuka		690

Total Salary for Week 19: 	27850

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@DET(J.Bonderman)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:PIT(S.Chacon)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:SD(C.Hensley)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:@CIN(A.Harang)
Randy Johnson: Wed:@CHW(J.Garland)
Jake Peavy: No start.
Roy Halladay: Wed:BAL(E.Bedard)
Mark Buehrle: Mon:LAA(K.Escobar)
Curt Schilling: Thu:@KC(M.Redman)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:TB(J.Seo)
John Lackey: Wed:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Dan Haren: No start.
Francisco Liriano: Mon:@DET(Z.Miner)

Oswalt, Pedro, Halladay, and Felix look fine, and then Schilling and Lackey appear slightly better bets than Buehrle and Liriano. Street also subs for Dempster

While we don't want to run Encarnacion and lack the cap room for Victor or Burrell, Hafner slides us under the cap by replacing Tex.

Rotohelp.com(11th lg; 261st overall)
Week 19a: August 7-August 10

 
C	Joe Mauer		770 
C	Josh Willingham		340 
1B	Travis Hafner		1180
1B	Ryan Howard		880
2B	Chase Utley		1190
2B	Howie Kendrick		750
3B	David Wright		1210
3B	Garrett Atkins		610
SS	Felipe Lopez		1070
SS	Jose Reyes		1030 
OF	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Chone Figgins		1350 
OF	Matt Holliday		1040
OF	Chad Tracy		1020 
OF	Corey Patterson		910
OF	Jermaine Dye		840
DH	Albert Pujols		2060 
DH	Nick Swisher		620

SP	Roy Oswalt		1830 
SP	Pedro Martinez		1700
SP	Roy Halladay		1230 
SP	Curt Schilling		1070 
SP	Felix Hernandez		960
SP	John Lackey		940 
RP	Huston Street		1300
RP	Jon Papelbon		890 
RP	J.J. Putz		890
RP	Chris Ray		820

Total Salary for Week 19a:	29880

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

With Ellis a disaster and Weeks likely out for the year, we're buying Ian Kinsler to replace Weeks.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@DET(J.Bonderman)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:PIT(S.Chacon)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:@CIN(A.Harang)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:SD(C.Hensley)
Randy Johnson: Wed:@CHW(J.Garland)
John Lackey: Wed:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Mike Mussina: Thu:@CHW(J.Vazquez)
Roy Halladay: Wed:BAL(E.Bedard)
Dan Haren: Fri:TB(S.Kazmir)
Francisco Liriano: Mon:@DET(Z.Miner); Sat:TOR(T.Lilly)

With a surprising lack of options ahead of an insane week for doubles next week, Lackey will join Liriano and our four home starts.

Berkman, Kinsler, and Hermida replace Howard, Ellis, and Swisher while Willingham, Encarnacion, Crosby, Sullivan, and Gomes stay glued to our bench.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 7th lg; 394th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(BB: 9th lg; 818th overall)
Week 19: August 7-August 13

 
C	Victor Martinez		1940 
C	Joe Mauer		1710 
1B	Lance Berkman		2860
1B	Travis Hafner		2680
2B	Chase Utley		2270
2B	Ian Kinsler		1000
3B	David Wright		2480 
3B	Garrett Atkins		1330
SS	Felipe Lopez		1800 
SS	Clint Barmes		1610
OF	Jason Bay		2550
OF	Grady Sizemore		2200 
OF	Matt Holliday		2140
OF	Chad Tracy		2100 
OF	Jeremy Hermida		1000
OF	Curtis Granderson	1000 
DH	Albert Pujols		3870 
DH	Mark Teixeira		3220

SP	Roy Oswalt		3200 
SP	Pedro Martinez		2970 
SP	John Lackey		2760 
SP	Roy Halladay		2480
SP	Dan Haren		1940 
SP	Francisco Liriano	1300
RP	Huston Street		2320 
RP	J.J. Putz		1600
RP	Jon Papelbon		1590
RP	Chris Ray		1580

Total Salary for Week 19:	59500

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@DET(J.Bonderman)
Chris Carpenter: Wed:@CIN(A.Harang)
John Lackey: Wed:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Mike Mussina: Thu:@CHW(J.Vazquez)
Curt Schilling: Thu:@KC(M.Redman)
Jeremy Bonderman: Wed:MIN(J.Santana)
Jose Contreras: Fri:DET(J.Verlander)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:TB(J.Seo); Sun:@TEX(K.Millwood)
Jered Weaver: Tue:@CLE(J.Sowers); Sun:@NYY(C.Wang)
Francisco Liriano: Mon:@DET(Z.Miner); Sat:TOR(T.Lilly)

Taking the three doubles, Lackey, and Schilling makes a ton of sense, and then we opted for Contreras given Verlander just missed his last start and appear off-schedule.

Extra cap space gives us room to deploy Berkman and Hafner over Howard and Baldelli. Willingham, Weeks, Zimmerman, Ramirez, Kearns, and Swisher all stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(3th lg; 209th overall)
Week 19: August 7-August 13

 
C	Joe Mauer		1710 
C	Brian McCann		1000
1B	Travis Hafner		2680
1B	Jim Thome		2500
2B	Chase Utley		2270
3B	David Wright		2480 
3B	Garrett Atkins		1330 
SS	Jose Reyes		2100 
SS	Carlos Guillen		1400
OF	Jason Bay		2550
OF	Grady Sizemore		2200 
OF	Matt Holliday		2140 
OF	Jermaine Dye		2070
OF	Brad Hawpe		1260
OF	Curtis Granderson	1000
DH	Alex Rodriguez		3790 
DH	Lance Berkman		2860

SP	John Lackey		2760 
SP	Curt Schilling		2310 
SP	Jose Contreras		2070 
SP	Felix Hernandez		1650
SP	Jered Weaver		1500
SP	Francisco Liriano	1300 
RP	Bobby Jenks		224
RP	J.J. Putz		1600
RP	Jon Papelbon		1590
RP	Takashi Saito		1500

Total Salary for Week 19: 	54860

Today's Fantasy Rx: With most of the AL contenders facing each other this week, be very careful when deploying middle relievers, especially situational relievers likely to face multiple clutch situations against the best batters in the league. We generally recommend running a borderline starter that at least should pitch five innings while allowing five runs than a reliever capable of allowing five runs in less than a single inning.

The general mediocrity of the senior circuit combines with the lack of a DH to reduce this risk of disasters for NL pitchers, but we still see this week as a good time to prioritize offense and starters. You also should expect another minor trade or two as players begin to clear waivers, though the relatively reduced impact of August acquisitions again illustrates why spending most of your FAAB by the end of July remains a good idea.