Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 4 Home vs. FLO; 4 Home vs. CHC.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Road at ARI.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 4 Home vs. NYY; 3 Home vs. HOU.
Kansas City: 1 Road at TB; 3 Road at CLE; 3 Home vs. PHI.
New York Yankees: 4 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Pittsburgh: 1 Home vs. LAD; 3 Road at WAS; 3 Road at NYY.
San Francisco: 1 Road at PHI; 3 Road at ARI; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Tampa Bay: 1 Home vs. KC; 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at FLO.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles Dodgers: 1 Road at PIT; 3 Road at SD; 3 Home vs. TOR.
Oakland: 4 Home vs. BOS; 3 Road at SF.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at MIL; 4 Road at ATL.
Florida: 4 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. TB.
Philadelphia: 1 Home vs. SF: 3 Road at NYM; 3 Road at KC.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Road at STL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. SF; 3 Home vs. ATI.
Cincinnati: 3 Road at STL; 3 Home vs. CLE>
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. KC; 3 Road at CIN.
Colorado: 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Road at BAL.
Detroit: 3 Road at TEX; 3 Home vs. NYM.
Houston: 3 Road at COL; 3 Road at CHW.
Milwaukee: 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Road at TEX.
Minnesota: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Home vs. WAS.
New York Mets: 3 Home vs. PHI; 3 Road at DET.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. CIN; 3 Home vs. LAA.
Texas: 3 Home vs. DET: 3 Home vs. MIL.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at LAD.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Road at SEA: 3 Home vs. COL.
San Diego: 3 Home vs. LAD; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Road at SD.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Pittsburgh: 3 Home vs. PIT; 3 Road at MIN.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Cha Baek: Tue:BAL(B.Burres); Sun:@SD(C.Young)
Erik Bedard: Mon:@SEA(F.Hernandez); Sun:COL(J.Hirsh)
Boof Bonser: Mon:@LAA(Jer.Weaver); Sun:WAS(M.Bacsik)
Mark Buehrle: Tue:NYY(T.Clippard); Sun:HOU(W.Rodriguez)
Matt Cain: Tue:@ARI(R.Johnson); Sun:OAK(L.DiNardo)
Shawn Chacon: Tue:@WAS(M.Bacsik); Sun:@NYY(T.Clippard)
Kelvim Escobar: Tue:MIN(S.Baker); Sun:@STL(T.Wellemeyer)
Jon Garland: Mon:NYY(M.DeSalvo); Sat:HOU(J.Jennings)
Tom Glavine: Tue:PHI(J.Moyer); Sun:@DET(N.Robertson)
Roy Halladay: Tue:TB(A.Sonnanstine); Sun:@LAD(J.Schmidt)
Dan Haren: Mon:BOS(J.Tavarez); Sat:@SF(B.Zito)
Felix Hernandez: Mon:BAL(E.Bedard); Sat:@SD(D.Wells)
Tim Hudson: Mon:FLO(W.Obermueller); Sat:CHC(J.Marquis)
Randy Johnson: Tue:SF(M.Cain); Sun:BOS(D.Matsuzaka)
Ted Lilly: Tue:@MIL(C.Vargas); Sun:@ATL(J.Smoltz)
Aaron Harang: Tue:@STL(T.Wellemeyer); Sun:CLE(C.Sabathia)
Derek Lowe: Mon:@PIT(P.Maholm); Sat:TOR(S.Marcum)
Paul Maholm: Mon:LAD(D.Lowe); Sat:@NYY(R.Clemens?)
Jason Marquis: Mon:@MIL(D.Bush); Sat:@ATL(T.Hudson)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@OAK(L.DiNardo); Sun:@ARI(R.Johnson)
Gil Meche: Mon:@TB(J.Shields); Sat:PHI(J.Lieber)
Sergio Mitre: Tue:@ATL(J.Smoltz); Sun:TB(A.Sonnanstine)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:KC(J.de la Rosa); Sun:@CIN(A.Harang)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:@SD(C.Young); Sun:TOR(R.Halladay)
James Shields: Mon:KC(G.Meche); Sat:@FLO(D.Willis)
John Smoltz: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre); Sun:CHC(T.Lilly)
Julian Tavarez: Mon:@OAK(D.Haren); Sat:@ARI(M.Owings)
Jered Weaver: Mon:MIN(B.Bonser); Sat:@STL(D.Looper)
Chris Young: Tue:LAD(J.Schmidt); Sun:SEA(C.Baek)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Mike Bacsik: Tue:PIT(S.Chacon); Sun:@MIN(B.Bonser)
David Bush: Mon:CHC(J.Marquis); Sun:@TEX(V.Padilla)
Tyler Clippard: Tue:@CHW(M.Buehrle); Sun:PIT(S.Chacon)
Jorge de la Rosa: Tue:@CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:PHI(J.Moyer)
Lenny DiNardo: Tue:BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:@SF(M.Cain)
Jason Hirsh: Tue:HOU(W.Rodriguez); Sun:@BAL(E.Bedard)
Jon Lieber: Mon:SF(B.Zito); Sat:@KC(G.Meche)
Jamie Moyer: Tue:@NYM(T.Glavine); Sun:@KC(J.de la Rosa)
Vicente Padilla: Tue:DET(N.Robertson); Sun:MIL(D.Bush)
Nate Robertson: Tue:@TEX(V.Padilla); Sun:NYM(T.Glavine)
Wandy Rodriguez: Tue:@COL(J.Hirsh); Sun:@CHW(M.Buehrle)
Andrew Sonnanstine: Tue:@TOR(R.Halladay); Sun:@FLO(S.Mitre)
Todd Wellemeyer: Tue:CIN(A.Harang); Sun:LAA(K.Escobar)
Barry Zito: Mon:@PHI(J.Lieber); Sat:OAK(D.Haren)

Diamond Challenge

With Dempster at risk of losing his job, Borowski struggling whenever he pitches in a non-save situation, and Takashi Saito dealing with multiple minor injuries, we're pulling the trigger on Matt Capps, the cheapest relief pitcher on the board at $610 and a newly-anointed closer. He goes right into the lineup for Saito.

We also want a new outfielder, and with Magglio Ordonez heading to Texas, now seems a good time to add him. We'll cut the eminently worthless J.D. Drew and the perennially injured Rich Harden.

While we're very tempted to grab J.J. Hardy, his three-week cold streak lowlighted by an awful batting average, keeps us from adding him as a free agent at this time. We don't plan to sit Jose Reyes or Hanley Ramirez unless either encounters an injury, and though we expect to cut Bill Hall at some point, we want to retain a backup shortstop at this time.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Sat:WAS(J.Simontacchi)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:@COL(J.Fogg?)
John Smoltz: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre); Sun:CHC(T.Lilly)
Ben Sheets: Sat:@TEX(B.McCarthy?)
Jake Peavy: Thu:LAD(H.Kuo)
Roy Halladay: Tue:TB(A.Sonnanstine); Sun:@LAD(J.Schmidt)
Brandon Webb: Wed:SF(M.Morris)
Josh Beckett: Fri:@ARI(D.Davis)
Rich Harden: No start(DL).
Chris Young: Tue:LAD(J.Schmidt); Sun:SEA(C.Baek)
A.J. Burnett: Thu:TB(E.Jackson)
Felix Hernandez: Mon:BAL(E.Bedard); Sat:@SD(D.Wells)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Road at ARI.

With four doubles and Papelbon, we see no reason to add Dan Haren or Tim Hudson despite decent doubles as we're comfortable just keeping Jake Peavy active as much as possible.

Along with Capps for Saito, Maggs enters the lineup for Victorino, Wright replaces Atkins, McCann subs for Bard, and Hafner pushes Hall to the bench, where he joins Rocco Baldelli.

Rotohelp.com(12th lg; 131st div; 2200th overall)
Week 10: June 4-June 10

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420 
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390 
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Delmon Young		750 
DH	Travis Hafner		1380
DH	Justin Morneau		1180 

SP	John Smoltz		1260 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Roy Halladay		1140 
SP	Chris Young		880 
SP	Felix Hernandez		840
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 10: 	29990

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Sat:WAS(J.Simontacchi)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:@COL(J.Fogg?)
John Smoltz: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre); Sun:CHC(T.Lilly)
Jake Peavy: Thu:LAD(H.Kuo)
John Lackey: Wed:MIN(K.Slowey)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:KC(J.de la Rosa); Sun:@CIN(A.Harang)
Jeremy Bonderman: Sat:NYM(Ol.Perez)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@OAK(L.DiNardo); Sun:@ARI(R.Johnson)
Dan Haren: Mon:BOS(J.Tavarez); Sat:@SF(B.Zito)
Tim Hudson: Mon:FLO(W.Obermueller); Sat:CHC(J.Marquis)
Tim Lincecum: Fri:OAK(C.Gaudin)
Cole Hamels: Thu:@NYM(J.Maine)
Randy Wolf: Wed:@SD(G.Maddux)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Road at ARI.

Despite our concerns regarding Saito's injury and the extent to which we like both Matt Capps and Brad Hennessey, we're not ready to make a move here only one week into the contest. We'll deploy our five doubles and Papelbon.

We actually want to run everyone we own on offense with the exception of Howie Kendrick, who we replaced with Ian Kinsler. With Atlanta enjoying 8 games this week, McCann will replace Russ Martin, Sizemore subs for Griffey given our extra cap space, and then Youkilis remains on our bench with the possibility of him hitting the bench when Boston heads to Arizona next weekend.

Rotohelp.com(13th lg; 100th div; 591st overall)
Week 10: June 4-June 10

C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Brian McCann		880 
1B	Justin Morneau		1180
1B	Prince Fielder		910 
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400
3B	Mike Lowell		1070
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Vladimir Guerrero	1880
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Grady Sizemore		1380
OF	Alex Rios		1000
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Shane Victorino		560
DH	J.J. Hardy		420
DH	B.J. Upton		410 

SP	John Smoltz		1260 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	950 
SP	Dan Haren		940 
SP	Tim Hudson		880
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200 
RP	Jose Valverde		1100
RP	Al Reyes		750

Total Salary for Week 10: 	28000

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: No start.
Roy Oswalt: Thu:@COL(J.Fogg?)
Ben Sheets: No start.
Jake Peavy: Thu:LAD(H.Kuo)
Brandon Webb: Wed:SF(M.Morris)
Greg Maddux: Wed:LAD(R.Wolf)
Josh Beckett: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@OAK(L.DiNardo)
Dan Haren: Mon:BOS(J.Tavarez)
Rich Harden: No start(DL).
Felix Hernandez: Mon:BAL(E.Bedard)
Matt Cain: Tue:@ARI(R.Johnson)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at OAK.

We see no reason not to run our five home starters, Peavy, Webb, Maddux, Haren, and Felix, along with Papelbon.

With plenty of cap room here, Wright and Taveras return to the lineup for Teahen and Victorino, who join Iannetta, Hall, and Baldelli on our bench. As soon as we know when Bard will take his suspension, we plan to replace Iannetta, most likely with Russ Martin.

Rotohelp.com(14th lg; 313th overall)
Week 10a: June 4-June 7

 
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	David Wright		1550
3B	B.J. Upton		410
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	Alex Rios		1000 
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830
OF	Delmon Young		750 
DH	Albert Pujols		2050
DH	Ryan Howard		1420 

SP	Jake Peavy		1180
SP	Brandon Webb		1130
SP	Greg Maddux		1040 
SP	Dan Haren		940
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 Week 10a Salary:		29610

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

With some cap concerns and a desperate need for a third outfielder, we're adding Magglio Ordonez and cutting Bill Hall, who seems superfluous with Reyes, Hanley, and Stephen Drew all available.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Sat:WAS(J.Simontacchi)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:@COL(J.Fogg?)
Jake Peavy: Thu:LAD(H.Kuo)
Josh Beckett: Fri:@ARI(D.Davis)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:KC(J.de la Rosa); Sun:@CIN(A.Harang)
Ben Sheets: Sat:@TEX(B.McCarthy?)
A.J. Burnett: Thu:TB(E.Jackson)
Chris Young: Tue:LAD(J.Schmidt); Sun:SEA(C.Baek)
Cole Hamels: Thu:@NYM(J.Maine)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Road at ARI.

Santana, Peavy, and Burnett look like easy calls to join Sabathia, Young, and Papelbon.

With no desire to play Mauer, Atkins, Drew, or Baldelli, and no real roster space for Kinsler, Wright, or even Barry Bonds, our only move involves the direct swap of Maggs for Chris B. Young.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 10th lg; 923rd overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 11th lg; 1738th overall)
Week 10: June 4-June 10

 
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	Nick Swisher		2190 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Delmon Young		1500
OF	Willy Taveras		1460 
DH	Albert Pujols		3890 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240

SP	Johan Santana		3410
SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490 
SP	A.J. Burnett		1940 
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 10:	60000

Today's Fantasy Rx: A multitude of interesting options appear available to CDM owners this weekend. First, the promotions of the supremely inexpensive Brad Hennessey and Matt Capps to closer's jobs on their prospective teams provides a wealth of opportunities for owners willing to gamble. Salomon Torres owners probably just should shift to Capps, and if you need to make up ground with saves, grab Hennessey, who's eligible as a starting pitcher. Second, the DC free agent list includes superb options like Kelly Johnson, J.J. Hardy, and Josh Beckett, though don't forget about Prince Fielder, B.J. Upton, Ken Griffey, or Brandon Webb, who all appear on next week's list. Last, the return of interleague play means you should bench most of your DHs, aside from guys like David Ortiz and Travis Hafner who will play the field in the NL. However, before the interleague series next weekend, Houston heads to Colorado, Detroit to Texas, Tampa to Toronto, San Francisco to Arizona, and the Yankees to the White Sox. Each series should allow the hitters involved to prosper, most likely at the expense of many pitchers, so make every effort to deploy most of your players on each of these ten squads.