Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 4 Home vs. SD; 3 Road at PIT.
San Diego Padres: 4 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. STL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 1 Home vs. CLE; 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at BOS.
Cincinnati: 4 Home vs. HOU; 3 Road at LAD.
Colorado: 3 Road at STL; 4 Home vs. SF.
Houston: 4 Road at CIN; 3 Home vs. ARI.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 4 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. CIN.
New York Yankees: 1 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Road at SEA.
San Francisco: 3 Home vs. NYM; 4 Road at COL.
Seattle: 1 Road at NYY; 3 Road at DET; 3 Home vs. NYY.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cleveland: 1 Road at BAL; 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at OAK.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Florida: 4 Home vs. LAD; 3 Road at WAS.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Detroit: 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Road at MIN.
Milwaukee: 3 Home vs. WAS; 3 Road at NYM.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. CHW; 3 Home vs. DET.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. PHI; 3 Road at HOU.
Boston: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Home vs. BAL.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Home vs. PIT; 3 Road at PHI.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Road at MIN; 3 Home vs. KC.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. OAK; 3 Road at CHW.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at TEX.
Oakland: 3 Road at KC; 3 Home vs. CLE.
Philadelphia: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Home vs. CHC.
Pittsburgh: 3 Road at CHC; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at BAL; 3 Road at TOR.
Texas: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. LAA.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. BOS; 3 Home vs. TB.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
New York Mets: 3 Road at SF; 3 Home vs. MIL.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Road at SD.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Josh Beckett: Tue:@TOR(V.Zambrano); Sun:BAL(J.Guthrie)
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:SEA(Ho.Ramirez); Sun:@MIN(B.Bonser)
Boof Bonser: Tue:CHW(J.Vazquez); Sun:DET(J.Bonderman)
Chris Capuano: Mon:WAS(M.Chico); Sun:@NYM(Ol.Perez)
Fausto Carmona: Mon:@BAL(S.Trachsel); Sat:@OAK(D.Braden?)
Jorge de la Rosa: Tue:OAK(C.Gaudin); Sun:@CHW(J.Vazquez)
Chad Gaudin: Tue:@KC(J.de la Rosa); Sun:CLE(Cl.Lee)
Justin Germano: Tue:@ATL(O.Villarreal); Sun:STL(An.Reyes)
Mark Hendrickson: Tue:@FLO(W.Obermueller); Sun:CIN(E.Milton)
Chuck James: Mon:SD(Ch.Young); Sat:@PIT(T.Armas)
Cliff Lee: Tue:@LAA(Er.Santana); Sun:@OAK(C.Gaudin)
Ted Lilly: Tue:PIT(I.Snell); Sun:@PHI(F.Garcia?)
Ricky Nolasco: Mon:LAD(B.Penny); Sat:@WAS(S.Hill)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@CIN(K.Lohse); Sat:ARI(L.Hernandez)
Brad Penny: Mon:@FLO(R.Nolasco); Sat:CIN(K.Lohse)
Oliver Perez: Mon:@SF(B.Zito); Sun:MIL(C.Capuano)
Andy Pettitte: Tue:TEX(M.Wood); Sun:@SEA(Ho.Ramirez)
Ian Snell: Tue:@CHC(T.Lilly); Sun:ATL(O.Villarreal)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:@MIN(B.Bonser); Sun:KC(J.de la Rosa)
Chris Young: Mon:@ATL(C.James); Sat:STL(B.Looper)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Miguel Batista: Mon:@NYY(M.DeSalvo); Sat:NYY(M.DeSalvo)
Taylor Buchholz: Tue:@STL(B.Thompson); Sun:SF(M.Cain)
Matt Cain: Tue:NYM(T.Glavine); Sun:@COL(T.Buchholz)
Matt Chico: Mon:@MIL(C.Capuano); Sun:FLO(W.Obermueller)
Doug Davis: Mon:PHI(F.Garcia); Sun:@HOU(Wa.Rodriguez)
Matt DeSalvo???: Mon:SEA(M.Batista); Sat:@SEA(M.Batista)???
Jeff Francis: Mon:@STL(An.Reyes); Sat:SF(B.Zito)
Freddy Garcia?: Mon:@ARI(Do.Davis)?; Sun:CHC(T.Lilly)?
Jeremy Guthrie: Tue:TB(J.Seo); Sun:@BOS(J.Beckett)
Kyle Lohse: Mon:HOU(R.Oswalt); Sat:@LAD(B.Penny)
Eric Milton: Tue:HOU(Wa.Rodriguez); Sun:@LAD(M.Hendrickson)
Wes Obermueller: Tue:LAD(M.Hendrickson); Sun:@WAS(M.Chico)
Horacio Ramirez: Tue:@DET(J.Bonderman); Sun:NYY(A.Pettitte)
Anthony Reyes: Mon:COL(J.Francis); Sun:@SD(J.Germano)
Wandy Rodriguez: Tue:@CIN(E.Milton); Sun:ARI(Do.Davis)
Ervin Santana: Tue:CLE(Cl.Lee); Sun:@TEX(M.Wood)
Jae Seo: Tue:@BAL(J.Guthrie); Sun:@TOR(V.Zambrano)
Steve Trachsel: Mon:CLE(F.Carmona); Sat:@BOS(C.Schilling)
Oscar Villarreal: Tue:SD(J.Germano); Sun:@PIT(I.Snell)
Mike Wood: Tue:@NYY(A.Pettitte); Sun:LAA(Er.Santana)
Victor Zambrano: Tue:BOS(J.Beckett); Sun:TB(J.Seo)
Barry Zito: Mon:NYM(Ol.Perez); Sat:@COL(J.Francis)

Diamond Challenge

We need power, and with Bonds heading to Colorado, we're ready to ride him until injuries strike. He joins our team for the injured Howie Kendrick, who we expect to replace on our bench in two weeks with Aaron Hill as a free agent.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:DET(M.Maroth)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@CIN(K.Lohse); Sat:ARI(L.Hernandez)
John Smoltz: Wed:SD(G.Maddux)
Ben Sheets: Sat:@NYM(M.Pelfrey)
Jake Peavy: Fri:STL(K.Wells)
Roy Halladay: Thu:BOS(T.Wakefield)
Brandon Webb: Fri:@HOU(C.Sampson)
Josh Beckett: Tue:@TOR(V.Zambrano); Sun:BAL(J.Guthrie)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Home vs. BAL.
Rich Harden: No start(DL)
Chris Young: Mon:@ATL(C.James); Sat:STL(B.Looper)

A.J. Burnett: Fri:TB(S.Kazmir)
Felix Hernandez: No start(DL)

Oswalt, Beckett, Young, and Papelbon seem solid, and we'll add Peavy and Halladay since this sextet appears far more cost-effective than anything involving Santana.

On offense, Bonds and J.D. Drew hit our lineup with the potentially injured Willy Taveras and the massively slumping Delmon Young sitting. Baldelli appears nearly as bad as Young, but he at least hits higher in the order for Tampa right now. In a tough call, Frank Thomas stays active over Bill Hall as Ryan Howard returns to active duty, and then to fit under the cap, Garrett Atkins replaces David Wright, who joins Chris Iannetta on the bench.

Rotohelp.com(12th lg; 134th div; 2140th overall)
Week 6: May 7-May 13

C	Brian McCann		880 
C	Josh Bard		300 
1B	Travis Hafner		1380
1B	Frank Thomas		890
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	Garrett Atkins		1150
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390 
OF	J.D. Drew		940
OF	Barry Bonds		830
OF	Rocco Baldelli		750 
OF	Shane Victorino		560
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Ryan Howard		1420 

SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180
SP	Roy Halladay		1140
SP	Josh Beckett		1000 
SP	Chris Young		880
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Salary for Week 6: 	29790

Internet Challenge

With a desperate need for power and three players sidelined, we're adding Bonds for his trip to Colorado and cutting Kaz Matsui. Rich Harden and King Felix remain on our roster with both due back within the next week or two, and J.D. Drew staves off a drop simply because we don't see anyone else we need right now.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: No start.
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@CIN(K.Lohse)
Ben Sheets: No start.
Jake Peavy: No start.
Roy Halladay: Thu:BOS(T.Wakefield)
Brandon Webb: No start.
Josh Beckett: Tue:@TOR(V.Zambrano)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@TOR(T.Ohka)
Dan Haren: Wed:@KC(G.Meche)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TOR.
Rich Harden: No start(DL)
Felix Hernandez: No start(DL)
Matt Cain: Tue:NYM(T.Glavine)

With Dice-K against Ohka the most questionable match-up, Oswalt and Beckett will join the obvious picks of Halladay, Haren, Cain, and Papelbon.

McCann returns to the lineup for Iannetta, Howard subs for the hurting Willy Taveras, and Bonds replaces Delmon Young, simply mired in an awful slump. Atkins and Drew also stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 205th overall)
Week 6a: May 7-May 10

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Josh Bard		300 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Travis Hafner		1380
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610
SS	Bill Hall		900 
OF	Matt Holliday		1410
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	Alex Rios		1000 
OF	Barry Bonds		830
OF	Rocco Baldelli		750
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
DH	Ryan Howard		1420
DH	Hanley Ramirez		1100 
 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	Roy Halladay		1140
SP	Josh Beckett		1000 
SP	Dan Haren		940
SP	Matt Cain		840 
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Week 6a Salary:		29980

Fantasy Baseball & Fanball.Com Cap Challenge (aka Budget Baseball)
(Same rules = same rosters and moves for both teams)

With a problematic outfield and a lack of cost-efficiency throughout much of our roster, we need to make some moves here. Unfortunately, following our terrible decision not to purchase Cole Hamels and C.C. Sabathia for this past week's doubles, we see no pitchers worth adding for this week and therefore will spend two moves on the other side of the ball.

First, we'll add B.J. Upton, who simply looks like a beast in points even if he loses a hundred points of BA by year's end. We reluctantly decided to cut Miguel Cabrera, who we really never should have taken in the first place given our reluctance to run Marlins' hitters and seems superfluous with Garrett Atkins, Mark Teahen, and even J.D. Drew looking like better bets for the money over the balance of the year. Second, we're purchasing Barry Bonds and cutting J.D. Drew. While Bonds perhaps isn't the best value, he gives us a mid-salaried outfielder with tremendous upside thanks to his schedule over the next month, offering more potential than Maggs, Willingham, Sosa, and Josh Hamilton. Drew doesn't approach the value offered by Willy Taveras or Delmon Young, our other questionable outfielders, or even that of Bill Hall at shortstop.

We expect to run Bonds full-time for now, and given everyone's salaries and schedules, we expect to employ a platoon of Utley/Howard with Pujols and Kinsler/Phillips depending on the Texas/Cincy schedules.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:DET(M.Maroth)
Roy Oswalt: Mon:@CIN(K.Lohse); Sat:ARI(L.Hernandez)
Jake Peavy: Fri:STL(K.Wells)
Josh Beckett: Tue:@TOR(V.Zambrano); Sun:BAL(J.Guthrie)
Ben Sheets: Sat:@NYM(M.Pelfrey)
Felix Hernandez: No start(DL)

A.J. Burnett: Fri:TB(S.Kazmir)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Home vs. BAL.
Chris Young: Mon:@ATL(C.James); Sat:STL(B.Looper)
Rich Harden: No start(DL)

Along with Oswalt, Beckett, Young, and Papelbon, Santana and Peavy appear the easy choices over Sheets and Burnett.

McCann replaces the DL'd Mauer, Upton subs for David Wright, Hanley Ramirez finally enters our lineup for Bill Hall, Bonds and Swisher assume outfield spots over Delmon Young and Willy Taveras, and finally Ryan Howard and Garrett Atkins will start at DH over Pujols and Kinsler. Stephen Drew remains our sole bench player to remain in his current spot.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 10th lg; 974th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 15th lg; 1927th overall)
Week 6: May 7-May 13

 
C	Brian McCann		1880
C	Josh Bard		1010
1B	Prince Fielder		1850
1B	Adrian Gonzalez		1420 
2B	Chase Utley		2850
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160 
3B	Mark Teahen		1980
3B	B.J. Upton		1000
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		2150
OF	Grady Sizemore		2760 
OF	Matt Holliday		2730
OF	Barry Bonds		2560
OF	Nick Swisher		2190
OF	Rocco Baldelli		1500
OF	Chris B. Young		1000
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 
DH	Garrett Atkins		2240

SP	Johan Santana		3410 
SP	Roy Oswalt		3070
SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	Josh Beckett		2520 
SP	Chris Young		1760
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950
RP	Ryan Dempster		2240
RP	Takashi Saito		2200
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Jose Valverde		1880

Total Salary for Week 6:	59840

Today's Fantasy Rx: With roughly 20% of the season gone, this weekend seems a good time to evaluate your rosters. We don't recommend complete roster overhauls in most instances, but given the rising tide of injuries and the lengthening DL stays of several previously injured players, now looks like the appropriate moment to see if you can address any specific needs with targeted moves.