Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 4 Home vs. DET; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Oakland: 4 Home vs. KC; 3 Home vs. SF.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago Cubs: 4 Road at NYM; 3 Home vs. CHW.
Detroit: 4 Road at BOS; 3 Home vs. STL.
Florida: 4 Road at PIT; 3 Road at TB.
Kansas City: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Road at COL.
Milwaukee: 4 Road at PHI; 3 Home vs. MIN.
New York Mets: 4 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Philadelphia: 4 Home vs. MIL; 3 Home vs. TOR.
Pittsburgh: 4 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. ARI.
Texas: 1 Home vs. LAA; 3 Road at TB; 3 Road at HOU.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles Angels: 1 Road at TEX; 3 Road at SEA; 3 Home vs. LAD.
Washington: 4 Home vs. ATL; 3 Home vs. BAL.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Home vs. CIN.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Road at COL; 3 Road at PIT.
Baltimore: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at WAS.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Home vs. NYY; 3 Road at CHC.
Colorado 3 Home vs. ARI; 3 Home vs. KC.
Houston: 3 Home vs. SF; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Home vs. STL; 3 Road at LAA.
New York Yankees: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Road at NYM.
San Francisco: 3 Road at HOU; 3 Road at OAK.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. FLO.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Road at PHI.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cincinnati: 3 Road at SD; 3 Road at CLE.
San Diego: 3 Home vs. CIN; 3 Road at SEA.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. LAA; 3 Home vs. SD.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Minnesota: 3 Road at CLE; 3 Road at MIL.
St. Louis: 3 Road at LAD; 3 Road at DET.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Erik Bedard: Mon:@TOR(T.Ohka); Sat:@WAS(J.Bergmann)
Matt Belisle: Mon:@SD(G.Maddux); Sat:@CLE(J.Sowers)
Jason Bergmann: Mon:ATL(J.Smoltz); Sat:BAL(E.Bedard)
David Bush: Mon:@PHI(J.Moyer); Sat:MIN(B.Bonser)
Paul Byrd: Tue:MIN(Ra.Ortiz); Sun:CIN(A.Harang)
Daniel Cabrera: Tue:@TOR(J.Towers?); Sun:@WAS(Jer.Williams)
Adam Eaton: Tue:MIL(C.Vargas); Sun:TOR(T.Ohka)
Kelvim Escobar: Tue:@SEA(F.Hernandez); Sun:LAD(B.Tomko)
Tom Glavine: Mon:CHC(J.Marquis); Sat:NYY(D.Rasner)
Tom Gorzelanny: Mon:FLO(D.Willis); Sat:ARI(M.Owings)
Aaron Harang: Tue:@SD(D.Wells); Sun:@CLE(P.Byrd)
Dan Haren: Mon:KC(G.Meche); Sat:SF(M.Cain)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:SD(D.Wells)
Tim Hudson: Tue:@WAS(Jer.Williams); Sun:@BOS(T.Wakefield)
Joe Kennedy: Tue:KC(B.Bannister); Sun:SF(M.Morris)
Greg Maddux: Mon:CIN(M.Belsile); Sat:SEA(Ho.Ramirez)
Paul Maholm: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre); Sun:ARI(R.Johnson)
John Maine: Tue:CHC(C.Zambrano); Sun:NYY(N.Mussina)
Jason Marquis: Mon:@NYM(T.Glavine); Sat:CHW(J.Vazquez)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Mon:DET(N.Robertson); Sat:ATL(J.Smoltz)
Gil Meche: Mon:@OAK(D.Haren); Sat:@COL(T.Buchholz)
Kevin Millwood: Mon:LAA(Jer.Weaver); Sat:@HOU(W.Rodriguez)
Sergio Mitre: Tue:@PIT(P.Maholm); Sun:@TB(J.Shields)
Jamie Moyer: Mon:MIL(D.Bush); Sat:TOR(S.Marcum)
Mike Mussina: Tue:@CHW(J.Vazquez); Sun:@NYM(J.Maine)
Ramon Ortiz: Tue:@CLE(P.Byrd); Sun:@MIL(C.Vargas)
Nate Robertson: Mon:@BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sat:STL(An.Reyes)
James Shields: Tue:TEX(Ro.Tejeda); Sun:FLO(S.Mitre)
John Smoltz: Mon:@WAS(J.Bergmann); Sat:@BOS(D.Matsuzaka)
Robinson Tejeda: Tue:@TB(J.Shields); Sun:@HOU(W.Williams)
Brad Thompson?: Mon:@LAD(B.Tomko); Sun:@DET(J.Verlander?)
Brett Tomko: Mon:STL(Br.Thompson); Sun:@LAA(K.Escobar)
Claudio Vargas: Tue:@PHI(A.Eaton); Sun:MIN(Ra.Ortiz)
Justin Verlander: Tue:@BOS(T.Wakefield); Sun:STL(Br.Thompson?)
Tim Wakefield: Tue:DET(J.Verlander); Sun:ATL(T.Hudson)
Jered Weaver: Mon:@TEX(K.Millwood); Sat:LAD(M.Hendrickson)
David Wells: Tue:CIN(A.Harang); Sun:@SEA(F.Hernandez)
Jerome Williams: Tue:ATL(T.Hudson); Sun:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Carlos Zambrano: Tue:@NYM(J.Maine); Sun:CHW(J.Danks)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Brian Bannister: Tue:@OAK(J.Kennedy); Sun:@COL(J.Hirsh)
John Danks: Tue:NYY(M.Mussina); Sun:@CHC(C.Zambrano)
Jason Hirsh: Tue:ARI(R.Johnson); Sun:KC(B.Bannister)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@COL(J.Hirsh); Sun:@PIT(P.Maholm)
Matt Morris: Tue:@HOU(W.Williams); Sun:@OAK(J.Kennedy)
Woody Williams: Tue:SF(M.Morris); Sun:TEX(Ro.Tejeda)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:@CLE(F.Carmona)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:SF(T.Lincecum)
John Smoltz: Mon:@WAS(J.Bergmann); Sat:@BOS(D.Matsuzaka)
Ben Sheets: Thu:@PHI(F.Garcia)
Jake Peavy: Wed:CIN(B.Arroyo)
Roy Halladay: No start(DL)
Brandon Webb: Wed:@COL(A.Cook)
Josh Beckett: Fri:ATL(A.Lerew)?
Jon Papelbon: 4 Home vs. DET; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Rich Harden: No start(DL)
Chris Young: Fri:@SEA(M.Batista)
A.J. Burnett: Wed:BAL(B.Burres)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:SD(D.Wells)

Smoltz, Peavy, Burnett, Papelbon, and even Felix look automatic, and then between Santana, Oswalt, and Young, Oswalt looks like the best bet.

Ryan Howard hits the bench, joining Iannetta and the miserably-slumping Delmon Young. With Willy Taveras appearing healthy, we can bench Young's comparably ineffectual teammate Rocco Baldelli. Lastly, with Toronto finishing the week in Philly, we're benching Frank Thomas, who appears unlikely to start in the NL, which allows us to return David Wright and Bill Hall to active duty.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 117th div; 1927th overall)
Week 7: May 14-May 20

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	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	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
DH	David Wright		1550
DH	Bill Hall		900 

SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	John Smoltz		1260 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	A.J. Burnett		880
SP	Felix Hernandez		840
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Salary for Week 7: 	30000

Internet Challenge

With Halladay sidelined for no less than a month and Ryan Howard's DL trip similarly leaving us few offensive options, we're purchasing Prince Fielder, on his way to Philly for four games. He looks like one of the best power options in the league even before considering that he's nicely cost-efficient at 910 and gives us a needed mid-cap alternative at first base.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:@CLE(F.Carmona)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:SF(T.Lincecum)
Ben Sheets: Thu:@PHI(F.Garcia)
Jake Peavy: Wed:CIN(B.Arroyo)
Brandon Webb: Wed:@COL(A.Cook)
Josh Beckett: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Mon:DET(N.Robertson)
Dan Haren: Mon:KC(G.Meche)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Home vs. DET.
Rich Harden: No start(DL)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:LAA(K.Escobar)
Matt Cain: No start.

Most of these appear automatic, including Oswalt, Peavy, Daisuke, Haren, and Papelbon. With Felix on a strict pitch count and both Sheets and Webb entering tough pitchers' parks, Santana claims the sixth slot.

Fielder replaces Howard, Taveras subs for Baldelli, and David Wright lets us sit Delmon Young. Iannetta, Pujols, and Drew remain benched, and as we need more offense and especially more pitching to replace our injured starters, guys like Drew and Howard appear quite vulnerable to losing their roster spots.

Rotohelp.com(15th lg; 311th overall)
Week 7a: May 14-May 17

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Josh Bard		300 
1B	Travis Hafner		1380
1B	Prince Fielder		910
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	Garrett Atkins		1150
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	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
DH	David Wright		1550
DH	Hanley Ramirez		1100 
 
SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1550
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	950 
SP	Dan Haren		940
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Week 7a Salary:		29790

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

With Beckett hurting and Harden a long way from returning, we're tempted to spend a move on one of several doubles, including Smoltz, Hudson, Daisuke, Maine, and Haren, but with Cole Hamels and C.C. Sabathia offering far more upside and both looking set for doubles next week, we see no need to purchase anyone this weekend.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:@CLE(F.Carmona)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:SF(T.Lincecum)
Jake Peavy: Wed:CIN(B.Arroyo)
Josh Beckett: Fri:ATL(A.Lerew)?
Ben Sheets: Thu:@PHI(F.Garcia)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:SD(D.Wells)
A.J. Burnett: Wed:BAL(B.Burres)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Home vs. DET; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Chris Young: Fri:@SEA(M.Batista)
Rich Harden: No start(DL)

Oswalt, Peavy, Felix, Burnett, and Papelbon are easy calls, and then we slightly prefer Santana to Young due to the greater K upside.

Running Santana also means that Pujols stays benched, but we don't mind given the other options here and the fact that he's not only slumping but hitting the road in LA and Detroit. Mauer, Stephen Drew, and Delmon Young also remain benched while Ian Kinsler, Willy Taveras, David Wright, and Bill Hall hit the lineup in place of Brandon Phillips, Rocco Baldelli, Ryan Howard, and Garrett Atkins.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 8th lg; 707th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 9th lg; 1448th overall)
Week 7: May 14-May 20

 
C	Brian McCann		1880
C	Josh Bard		1010
1B	Prince Fielder		1850
1B	Adrian Gonzalez		1420 
2B	Chase Utley		2850 
2B	Ian Kinsler		1270
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	Willy Taveras		1460
OF	Chris B. Young		1000 
DH	David Wright		2900  
DH	Bill Hall		2410 

SP	Johan Santana		3410 
SP	Roy Oswalt		3070
SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	Felix Hernandez		1990
SP	A.J. Burnett		1940 
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950
RP	Ryan Dempster		2240
RP	Takashi Saito		2200
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Jose Valverde		1880

Total Salary for Week 7:	59390

Today's Fantasy Rx: Interleague play begins this week, and with seven AL teams heading to the NL parks, expect to see less playing time for the regular DHs on Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Toronto. However, since Mike Sweeney, Jason Giambi, and Sammy Sosa simply should slide into their usual positions, the only full-time DH affected next weekend looks like Frank Thomas, who warrants benching in mixed leagues if you have a better option on your bench.

NL owners also should track interleague carefully given the opportunities afforded erstwhile bench players with an extra lineup slot available to managers. Expect to see extra at-bats this week awarded to Craig Wilson, Jeff Conine, Aaron Boone, Brady Clark, Russ Branyan, Mark Sweeney, and Scott Spiezio, so definitely try to use these guys if you want a quantitative boost.