Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cleveland: 1 Home vs. SEA; 3 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago Cubs: 1 Home vs. HOU; 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. SD.
Houston: 1 Road at CHC; 3 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Seattle: 1 Road at CLE; 3 Road at CHC; 3 Road at HOU.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. SF.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. ATL; 3 Home vs. MIL.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. ARI; 3 Home vs. NYM.
Pittsburgh: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. CHW.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Road at BAL.
Baltimore: 3 Home vs. WAS; 3 Home vs. ARI.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Road at PHI; 3 Road at PIT.
Cincinnati: 3 Home vs. LAA; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Colorado: 3 Road at BOS; 3 Home vs. TB.
Detroit: 3 Home vs. MIL; 3 Road at PHI.
Florida: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at KC.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. STL; 3 Home vs. FLO.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Road at CIN; 3 Road at LAD.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Home vs. NYM; 3 Home vs. LAA.
New York Mets: 3 Road at LAD; 3 Road at NYY.
Oakland: 3 Road at HOU; 3 Home vs. STL.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. CHW; 3 Home vs. DET.
San Francisco: 3 Home vs. TOR; 3 Road at BOS.
St. Louis: 3 Road at KC; 3 Road at OAK.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. SD; 3 Road at COL.
Texas: 3 Road at PIT; 3 Road at CIN.
Toronto: 3 Road at SF; 3 Home vs. WAS.
Washington: 3 Road at BAL; 3 Road at TOR.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Road at MIN; 3 Road at CLE.
San Diego: 3 Road at TB; 3 Road at CHC.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Milwaukee: 3 Road at DET; 3 Road at MIN.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Bronson Arroyo: Tue:LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:TEX(K.Millwood)
Cha Seung Baek: Mon:@CLE(P.Byrd); Sat:@HOU(W.Williams)
Paul Byrd: Mon:SEA(C.Baek); Sat:ATL(B.Carlyle)
A.J. Burnett: Tue:@SF(N.Lowry); Sun:WAS(M.Bowie)
Daniel Cabrera: Tue:WAS(M.Bowie); Sun:ARI(B.Webb)
Fausto Carmona: Tue:@FLO(S.Olsen); Sun:ATL(K.Davies)
Kelvim Escobar: Tue:@CIN(B.Arroyo); Sun:@LAD(R.Wolf)
Orlando Hernandez: Mon:@LAD(R.Wolf); Sun:@NYY(C.Wang)
Rich Hill: Tue:SEA(J.Washburn); Sun:SD(G.Maddux)
Greg Maddux: Tue:@TB(S.Kazmir); Sun:CHC(R.Hill)
Scott Olsen: Tue:CLE(F.Carmona); Sun:@KC(B.Bannister)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:OAK(J.Kennedy); Sun:SEA(J.Washburn)
Kevin Slowey: Tue:ATL(K.Davies); Sun:MIL(J.Suppan)
Jeff Suppan: Tue:@DET(J.Verlander); Sun:@MIN(K.Slowey)
Javier Vazquez: Mon:@PHI(A.Eaton); Sun:@PIT(Z.Duke)
Justin Verlander: Tue:MIL(J.Suppan); Sun:@PHI(A.Eaton)
Tim Wakefield: Tue:COL(A.Cook); Sun:SF(M.Morris)
Chien-ming Wang: Tue:ARI(B.Webb); Sun:NYM(O.Hernandez)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@NYY(C.Wang); Sun:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Randy Wolf: Mon:NYM(O.Hernandez); Sun:LAA(K.Escobar)
Carlos Zambrano: Mon:HOU(W.Williams); Sat:SD(C.Younbg)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Brian Bannister: Tue:STL(B.Thompson): Sun:FLO(S.Olsen)
Micah Bowie: Tue:@BAL(D.Cabrera); Sun:@TOR(A.Burnett)
Aaron Cook: Tue:@BOS(T.Wakefield); Sun:TB()
Kyle Davies: Tue:@MIN(K.Slowey); Sun:@CLE(F.Carmona)
Zach Duke: Tue:TEX(K.Millwood); Sun:CHW(J.Vazquez)
Adam Eaton: Mon:CHW(J.Vazquez); Sun:DET(J.Verlander)
Scott Kazmir: Tue:SD(G.Maddux); Sun:@COL(A.Cook)
Joe Kennedy: Tue:@HOU(R.Oswalt); Sun:STL(B.Thompson)
Kevin Millwood: Tue:@PIT(Z.Duke); Sun:@CIN(B.Arroyo)
Matt Morris: Mon:TOR(J.Towers); Sun:@BOS(T.Wakefield)
Brad Thompson: Tue:@KC(B.Bannister); Sun:@OAK(J.Kennedy)
Jarrod Washburn: Tue:@CHC(R.Hill); Sun:@HOU(R.Oswalt)
Woody Williams: Mon:@CHC(C.Zambrano); Sat:SEA(C.Baek)

Diamond Challenge

We're going to correct another lingering mistake by adding Prince Fielder as a free agent while cutting Travis Hafner. We don't want five first basemen, and we really like Pujols, Howard, and Morneau right now. Pronk costs way too much for his production, and since he neither enjoys a particularly promising schedule nor owns a ground-fly rate commensurate with any expectation of a massive homer binge, he'll depart our roster for a cheaper yet clearly more prodigious power threat.

We'll pass on spending on last free agent move on either B.J. Upton, due to his current injury issues, or Ken Griffey, due to the high likelihood of future injury issus.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:ATL(T.Hudson)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:OAK(J.Kennedy); Sun:SEA(J.Washburn)
John Smoltz: Fri:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
Ben Sheets: Thu:@DET(C.Durbin)
Jake Peavy: Wed:@TB(E.Jackson)
Roy Halladay: Fri:WAS(M.Bacsik)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@NYY(C.Wang); Sun:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Josh Beckett: Thu:COL(J.Francis)
Rich Harden: No start(DL).
Chris Young: Sat:@CHC(C.Zambrano)
A.J. Burnett: Tue:@SF(N.Lowry); Sun:WAS(M.Bowie)
Felix Hernandez: Fri:@HOU(W.Rodriguez)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. SF.

We don't want to risk Santana against another solid starter or bother with Halladay after his questionable last outing, so Peavy and Beckett will join Oswalt, Webb, Burnett, and Papelbon. Saito returns for Capps with the latter closer likely spending half the week suspended.

To drop under the cap, Atkins subs for Wright and both Fielder and Victorino hit our DL slots for Morneau and the release Hafner. Bard, Hall, and Baldelli stay glued to the bench.

Rotohelp.com(13th lg; 138th div; 2231st overall)
Week 11: June 11-June 17

 
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	Garrett Atkins		1150
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	Prince Fielder		910 
DH	Shane Victorino		560

SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	A.J. Burnett		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 11: 	29540

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:ATL(T.Hudson)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:OAK(J.Kennedy); Sun:SEA(J.Washburn)
John Smoltz: Fri:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
Jake Peavy: Wed:@TB(E.Jackson)
John Lackey: Wed:@CIN(K.Lohse)
C.C. Sabathia: Fri:ATL(J.Smoltz)
Jeremy Bonderman: Fri:@PHI(J.Lieber)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Sat:SF(M.Cain)
Dan Haren: Fri:STL(B.Looper)
Tim Hudson: Thu:@MIN(J.Santana)
Tim Lincecum: Wed:TOR(D.McGowan)
Cole Hamels: Tue:CHW(J.Contreras)
Randy Wolf: Mon:NYM(O.Hernandez); Sun:LAA(K.Escobar)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. SF.

While several of these options appear intriguing, Peavy and Haren appear the best bets to join Oswalt and Wolf. Hamels might double, and then we want Papelbon deployed to continue maximizing our possible saves.

Our lineup also will see four shifts as Martin replaces McCann, Kendrick subs for Kelly Johnson, Youkilis heads to DH for Hardy, and Griffey sends Alex Rios to the bench due to the less than favorable schedules for the Braves, Brewers, and Jays.

Rotohelp.com(12th lg; 76th div; 503rd overall)
Week 11: June 11-June 17

C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Russ Martin		680
1B	Justin Morneau		1180
1B	Prince Fielder		910 
2B	Ian Kinsler		630 
2B	Howie Kendrick		520
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	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Ken Griffey		790
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
DH	Kevin Youkilis		580 
DH	B.J. Upton		410 

SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Dan Haren		940
SP	Cole Hamels		660 
SP	Randy Wolf		490
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200 
RP	Jose Valverde		1100
RP	Al Reyes		750

Total Salary for Week 11: 	27620

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:ATL(T.Hudson)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:OAK(J.Kennedy)
Ben Sheets: Thu:@DET(C.Durbin)
Jake Peavy: Wed:@TB(E.Jackson)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@NYY(C.Wang)
Greg Maddux: Tue:@TB(S.Kazmir)
Josh Beckett: Thu:COL(J.Francis)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: No start.
Dan Haren: No start.
Rich Harden: No start(DL).
Felix Hernandez: No start.
Matt Cain: No start.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. COL.

Taking the home starts of Santana, Oswalt, and Beckett with the Tampa starts of Peavy and Maddux, joined by Papelbon, should give us a fairly productive rotation.

Since we also aren't ready to make any bench moves to improve our status at catcher or second base, Teahen and Delmon Young replace David Wright and Hafner while Iannetta, Hall, and Baldelli stay seated.

Rotohelp.com(13th lg; 264th overall)
Week 11a: June 11-June 14

 
C	Brian McCann		880 
C	Josh Bard		300 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420
1B	Prince Fielder		910
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	Mark Teahen		750
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	Shane Victorino		560
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Delmon Young		750

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Greg Maddux		1040
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	Jon Papelbon		900  
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Week 11a Salary:		29590

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

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Thu:ATL(T.Hudson)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:OAK(J.Kennedy); Sun:SEA(J.Washburn)
Jake Peavy: Wed:@TB(E.Jackson)
Josh Beckett: Thu:COL(J.Francis)
C.C. Sabathia: Fri:ATL(J.Smoltz)
Ben Sheets: Thu:@DET(C.Durbin)
A.J. Burnett: Tue:@SF(N.Lowry); Sun:WAS(M.Bowie)
Chris Young: Sat:@CHC(C.Zambrano)
Cole Hamels: Tue:CHW(J.Contreras)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. SF.

Along with the obvious picks of Oswalt, Burnett, and the possible double of Hamels, Peavy, Beckett, and Papelbon seem the best bets.

While we want to run Mauer, we need to deploy either Bard or Chris B. Young for cap reasons, and Bard seems the superior option. We then possess the cap room to sub Atkins for Teahen while leaving Mauer, Kinsler, David Wright, Stephen Drew, Bonds, Baldelli, and Young benched.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 10th lg; 897th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 11th lg; 1775th overall)
Week 11: June 11-June 17

 
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	Garrett Atkins		2240
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	Roy Oswalt		3070 
SP	Jake Peavy		2730
SP	Josh Beckett		2520 
SP	A.J. Burnett		1940 
SP	Cole Hamels		1450
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950
RP	Ryan Dempster		2240
RP	Takashi Saito		2200
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Jose Valverde		1880

Total Salary for Week 11:	59640

Today's Fantasy Rx: With interleague in full swing this week, Garrett Anderson, Jim Thome, Jose Vidro, and even Sammy Sosa appear likely not to start in the majority of games, though at least Sosa and probably Thome still belong active. Also try to deploy as many bench guys as possible from the Diamondbacks, Rockies, Brewers, Mets, Cardinals, and even the Nationals as those offenses should benefit from plenty of extra at-bats. Tony Clark in particular could enjoy a solid week in his return to Yankee Stadium.