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 16th. 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(34343)
2ABCXYZ - Roger Clemens(45443)
3AC - Brad Penny(34434)
ABXY - Brandon Webb(54333)

abcxy - Chad Bradford(5544352444)
axz - Alan Embree(5542332353)
ax - Ramon Ramirez(4314243234)
cx - Pedro Feliciano(4234034443)
a - David Borkowski(2245544443)
x - Adam Wainwright(4541343332)

Is Chad Bradford the most reliable reliever in the league? Given his very limited downside courtesy of an outstanding ground-fly rate, I feel comfortable designating him the safest reliever to own. Of course, he lacks the upside of a closer or even a true set-up man, but if you need no-risk roster filler for the next six weeks, he's your man, especially in sim leagues.

2
3BCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(24454)
3BCYZ - Jake Peavy(03345)
ABCXY - Chris Carpenter(30344)
BCYZ - Andy Pettitte(45455)
B - Dontrelle Willis(20333)
Zach Duke(04253)

As expected, Pettitte appears back to form with Clemens by his side. Consider him a true ace for the balance of the season.

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(5452543454)
3bcz - Ryan Madson(3222443443)
BCZabxy - Aaron Heilman(2434342455)
abcxyz - Chad Qualls(3355034435)
abcxyz - Trevor Hoffman(0342335434)
y - Arthur Rhodes(2143433545)
Aaron Fultz(5511323333)

3
ABCYZ - Ben Sheets(04505)
C - Jeff Weaver(12041)
Livan Hernandez(44423)
Bronson Arroyo(23022)

abcxyz - Mike Gonzalez(4234355443)
abcyz - Jason Isringhausen(5434454432)
abcyz - Tom Gordon(4232545522)
bcyz - Eric Gagne(44)
cxz - Salomon Torres(3332532345)
C - Glendon Rusch(2442343232)
z - Trever Miller(3343433325)

A
BCXY - Pedro Martinez(03420)
CXYZ - Greg Maddux(45334)
BY - Derek Lowe(44544)
B - Brett Myers(54432)
C - Jason Schmidt(44424)
X - Chris Capuano(13344)
Jason Jennings(44544)
Tom Gorzelanny(35545)
Josh Johnson(35042)
Alay Soler(44200)
David Bush(30342)

The reemergence of both Derek Lowe and Jason Jennings as very solid fantasy options slightly surprises me, but I can't avoid endorsing either one right now. Capuano also appears to be rounding back into form, though the biggest upside here belongs to Gorzelanny, who hasn't overly impressed yet owns skills that give him as much fantasy potential as anyone on the Pirates' staff.

Aaron Sele(21432)

B
CZ - Carlos Zambrano(34203)
C - Doug Davis(32134)
Y - Paul Maholm(54442)
Jon Lieber(20544)

Y - Rick Helling(5244522213)
b - Matt Belisle(2243552354)

C
by - Kerry Wood(4350)
Z - Oliver Perez(00330)
Matt Morris(03534)
Dave Williams(13130)

X
Scott Olsen(44343)
Aaron Cook(33333)
Anthony Reyes(33330)

Y
abcxyz - Ryan Dempster(4334343433)

Z
Tim Hudson(32453)
Jason Marquis(30204)
Mark Mulder(02020)
John Van Benschoten

a
Kyle Lohse(03055)

bcxyz - Bob Wickman(3553545455)
bcxyz - Heath Bell(5544315144)
bcxyz - Francisco Cordero(4343453334)
bcxy - Brian Fuentes(4453434345)
bcxz - Scott Williamson(3244322543)
bcyz - Brad Lidge(4252425442)
cxyz - Bob Howry(4434553535)
bxy - Dan Wheeler(5544444453)
bxy - Roberto Hernandez(3334443542)
bxy - Mike Wuertz(4543333432)
bxy - Derrick Turnbow(5324325431)
bxz - Duaner Sanchez(3445444443)
cyz - Eddie Guardado(5545425524)
bc - John Grabow(4435355425)
bx - Russ Springer(4453453233)
cz - Luis Vizcaino(4255534545)
xy - Jonathan Broxton(4344554445)
xy - Chad Cordero(3333453424)
xz - Greg Aquino(2344233442)
xz - Gary Majewski(3454034311)
c - Doug Brocail(2344550443)
x - Cla Meredith(3455345444)
x - Josh Kinney(3444544245)
x - Brett Tomko(3354545535)
x - Jason Standridge(3444454243)
x - Takashi Saito(1544452452)
x - Manuel Corpas(4354335504)
x - Renyel Pinto(4544204433)
x - Fernando Nieve(4224454432)
x - Taylor Tankersley(5233434443)
x - Jorge Julio(3213543543)
z - Elmer Dessens(4212354332)
Tim Hamulack(0344414414)
Matt Capps(4334243452)
Damaso Marte(3445351302)
Tyler Johnson(4402433234)

b
y - Clay Hensley(44434)

cxyz - Scott Linebrink(2214532333)
cxy - Jose Valverde(3432344324)
cyz - Danny Kolb(4534324325)
cyz - Braden Looper(3434333224)
cyz - Mike DeJean(23)
xy - Will Ohman(4443354432)
xy - Brian Shackelford(3013545543)
c - Jose Mesa(0245343422)
x - Scott Eyre(4355420313)
y - David Weathers(4455233444)
y - Scott Schoeneweis(0444250440)
y - Macay McBride(3434443343)
y - Brandon Medders(2403333443)
y - Rheal Cormier(3022422424)
y - Jonah Bayliss(342)
y - Brad Thompson(3113333233)
Franquelis Osoria(4353255020)
Roberto Novoa(3242453332)
Randy Flores(4333025204)
Ryan Wagner(23322)

c
yz - Jeremy Affeldt(4242534452)
z - Ray King(3444352435)
z - Tyler Yates(4551152054)
z - Brian Shouse(3350430304)
z - Armando Benitez(1235033453)
z - Steve Kline(5222334324)
Oscar Villarreal(1323444143)
Mike Adams(21)

x
Joe Borowski(2542454344)
Vinnie Chulk(5435450433)
Fabio Castro(4433433345)
Casey Daigle(3543024334)
Micah Bowie(3235433433)
Brandon Lyon(2341433335)
Saul Rivera(4333323433)
Tony Pena(4431333323)
Joe Beimel(2433343332)

y
Jay Bergmann(3)

Scott Munter(4254340341)
Mike Burns(2432244423)
Jose Capellan(3312322333)

z
Danys Baez(5423435444)
Juan Cruz(533413243)
Kevin Gryboski(4232)

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: Ryan O'Malley's spot start on Wednesday seemingly wowed the baseball world, but the 26-year-old southpaw still only won against an awful Astros' offense despite a terrible 2:6 K:BB in 8 IP with 5 H and a weak 6-16 G-F. For the year he owns a thoroughly unspectacular 7-7 record on a 71:30 K:BB in 123.2 IP over 19 GS(26G) with 135 H, 9 HR, and a 4.08 ERA for AAA Iowa(PCL). His minor league history also doesn't suggest much upside beyond a situational relief role, and with the Cubs almost certainly seeking veteran pitching help this winter, I don't view O'Malley as a viable keeper in any way. Don't bother FAABing him in any save the deepest leagues.