Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 5 Home vs. DET; 3 Home vs. TOR.
Detroit: 5 Road at CHW; 3 Road at LAA.
Milwaukee: 4 Road at CIN; 4 Road at STL.
Seattle: 4 Road at TEX; 4 Home vs. OAK.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cleveland: 4 Home vs. BOS; 3 Home vs. MIN.
New York Mets: 3 Home vs. PIT; 4 Home vs. WAS.
San Francisco: 4 Home vs. ATL; 3 Home vs. FLO.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 4 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Atlanta: 4 Road at SF; 3 Road at ARI.
Cincinnati: 4 Home vs. MIL; 3 Home vs. CHC.
Colorado: 3 Home vs. SD; 4 Home vs. LAD.
Florida: 4 Road at ARI; 3 Road at SF.
Houston: 3 Home vs. LAD; 4 Home vs. SD.
Kansas City: 4 Home vs. NYY; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Road at HOU; 4 Road at COL.
New York Yankees: 4 Road at KC; 3 Road at BAL.
San Diego: 3 Road at COL; 4 Road at HOU.
Seattle: 3 Road at TEX; 4 Home vs. OAK.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. CHC; 4 Home vs. MIL.
Texas: 4 Home vs. SEA; 3 Road at KC.
Washington: 3 Road at PHI; 4 Road at NYM.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Oakland: 3 Road at LAA; 4 Road at SEA.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Boston: 4 Road at CLE; 3 Road at TB.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at STL; 3 Road at CIN.
Minnesota: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at CLE.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. WAS; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Pittsburgh: 3 Road at NYM; 3 Road at PHI.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at BAL; 3 Home vs. BOS.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Road at CHW.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:@CHW(J.Vazquez); Sun:@LAA(B.Colon)
Mark Buehrle: Mon:DET(An.Miller); Sat:TOR(R.Halladay)
Daniel Cabrera: Tue:TB(K.Loe); Sun:NYY(C.Wang)
Matt Cain: Mon:ATL(J.Smoltz); Sat:FLO(D.Willis)
Chris Capuano: Mon:@CIN(A.Harang); Sat:@STL(B.Thompson)
Roger Clemens: Mon:@KC(Od.Perez); Sat:@BAL(B.Burres)
Bartolo Colon: Mon:OAK(C.Gaudin); Sun:DET(J.Bonderman)
Doug Davis: Mon:FLO(D.Willis); Sat:ATL(J.Smoltz)
Yovani Gallardo: Tue:@CIN(M.Belisle); Sun:@STL(K.Wells)
Chad Gaudin: Mon:@LAA(B.Colon); Sat:@SEA(Ho.Ramirez)
Aaron Harang: Mon:MIL(C.Capuano); Sat:CHC(S.Marshall)
Livan Hernandez: Tue:FLO(S.Mitre); Sun:ATL(T.Hudson)
Tim Hudson: Tue:@SF(M.Morris); Sun:@ARI(L.Hernandez)
Scott Kazmir: Tue:@BAL(D.Cabrera); Sun:BOS(D.Matsuzaka)
John Maine: Tue:PIT(I.Snell); Sun:WAS(J.Bergmann)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:@TB(S.Kazmir)
Andrew Miller: Mon:@CHW(M.Buehrle); Sat:@LAA(J.Saunders)
Sergio Mitre: Tue:@ARI(L.Hernandez); Sun:@SF(M.Morris)
Matt Morris: Tue:ATL(T.Hudson); Sun:FLO(S.Mitre)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:MIN(M.Garza)
Johan Santana: Mon:@TOR(S.Marcum); Sat:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
John Smoltz: Mon:@SF(M.Cain); Sat:@ARI(D.Davis)
Ian Snell: Tue:@NYM(J.Maine); Sun:@PHI(K.Kendrick)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:DET(J.Bonderman); Sun:TOR(S.Marcum)
Chien-ming Wang: Tue:@KC(S.Elarton); Sun:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Jake Westbrook: Mon:BOS(J.Lester); Sat:MIN(J.Santana)
Carlos Zambrano: Tue:@STL(K.Wells); Sun:@CIN(M.Belisle)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Matt Belisle: Tue:MIL(Y.Gallardo); Sun:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Jason Bergmann: Tue:@PHI(K.Kendrick); Sun:@NYM(J.Maine)
Chad Billingsley: Mon:@HOU(C.Sampson); Sat:@COL(J.Francis)
Lenny DiNardo: Tue:@LAA(K.Escobar); Sun:@SEA(J.Washburn)
Scott Elarton: Tue:NYY(C.Wang); Sun:TEX(K.Loe)
Jeff Francis: Mon:SD(G.Maddux); Sat:LAD(C.Billingsley)
Mark Hendrickson?: Tue:@HOU(J.Jennings); Sun:@COL(U.Jimenez?)???
Ubaldo Jimenez: Tue:SD(C.Young): Sun:LAD(M.Hendrickson?)
Jason Jennings: Tue:LAD(M.Hendrickson); Sun:SD(C.Young)
Kyle Kendrick: Tue:WAS(J.Bergmann); Sun:PIT(I.Snell)
Jon Lester: Mon:@CLE(J.Westbrook); Sat:@TB(J.Shields)
Kameron Loe: Tue:SEA(J.Washburn); Sun:@KC(S.Elarton)
Greg Maddux: Mon:@COL(J.Francis); Sat:@HOU(C.Sampson)
Shaun Marcum: Mon:MIN(J.Santana); Sun:@CHW(J.Vazquez)
Kevin Millwood: Mon:SEA(Ho.Ramirez); Sat:@KC(Od.Perez)
Odalis Perez: Mon:NYY(R.Clemens); Sat:TEX(K.Millwood)
Horacio Ramirez: Mon:@TEX(K.Millwood); Sat:OAK(C.Gaudin)
Chris Sampson: Mon:LAD(C.Billingsley); Sat:SD(G.Maddux)
Jarrod Washburn: Tue:@TEX(K.Loe); Sun:OAK(L.DiNardo)
Kip Wells: Tue:CHC(C.Zambrano); Sun:MIL(Y.Gallardo)
Dontrelle Willis: Mon:@ARI(D.Davis); Sat:@SF(M.Cain)
Chris Young: Tue:@COL(U.Jimenez); Sun:@HOU(J.Jennings)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Mon:@TOR(S.Marcum); Sat:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
John Smoltz: Mon:@SF(M.Cain); Sat:@ARI(D.Davis)
Ben Sheets: No start(DL).
Jake Peavy: Fri:@HOU(W.Williams)
Roy Halladay: Sat:@CHW(M.Buehrle)
Brandon Webb: Wed:FLO(S.Olsen)
John Lackey: Wed:OAK(J.Blanton)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:MIN(M.Garza)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@CLE(F.Carmona)
Chris Young: Tue:@COL(U.Jimenez); Sun:@HOU(J.Jennings)
Felix Hernandez: Fri:OAK(D.Braden)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at CLE; 3 Road at TB.

We remain solid in saves, so we'll run Santana, Smoltz, Webb, Lackey, Sabathia, and Felix, skipping Young due to his awful double. Dempster also subs for the hurting Saito.

On offense, with Kendrick and Hall still useless, we only will deploy Atkins and Taveras for Wright and Morneau.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 92nd div; 1414th overall)
Week 17: July 23-July 29

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420 
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
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	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Delmon Young		750
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
DH	Prince Fielder		910 
DH	Willy Taveras		860

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	John Smoltz		1260 
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	John Lackey		1040
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040 
SP	Felix Hernandez		840
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260 
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 17: 	29870

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

We can't pass on Ryan Braun as a free agent given the Brewers' eight games this week and fantastic schedule over the balance of the year, so we'll add him and cut Mark Teahen, who simply isn't contributing enough quantitatively to warrant regular playing time for us.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Mon:@TOR(S.Marcum); Sat:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
John Smoltz: Mon:@SF(M.Cain); Sat:@ARI(D.Davis)
Jake Peavy: Fri:@HOU(W.Williams)
John Lackey: Wed:OAK(J.Blanton)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:MIN(M.Garza)
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:@CHW(J.Vazquez); Sun:@LAA(B.Colon)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:@TB(S.Kazmir)
Dan Haren: Thu:@SEA(Jef.Weaver)
Tim Hudson: Tue:@SF(M.Morris); Sun:@ARI(L.Hernandez)
Cole Hamels: Wed:WAS(M.Chico)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at CLE; 3 Road at TB.

With six doubles available, we're going to run all six despite our general need for saves. We need wins and strikeouts even more, so hopefully this week will help. Reyes also replaces Saito with the Dodgers' closer hurting.

McCann, Youkilis, and Kendrick stay glued to the bench while Holliday and Braun sub for Hanley and Rios.

Rotohelp.com(13th lg; 90th div; 548th overall)
Week 17: July 23-July 29

C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Justin Morneau		1180
1B	Prince Fielder		910 
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
2B	Kelly Johnson		400
3B	Mike Lowell		1070
3B	B.J. Upton		410
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	J.J. Hardy		420
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	Ryan Braun		750 
DH	Corey Hart		430 

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	John Smoltz		1260 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040 
SP	Jeremy Bonderman	980 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	950 
SP	Tim Hudson		880
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260 
RP	Jose Valverde		1100 
RP	Al Reyes		750
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 17: 	27720

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Mon:@TOR(S.Marcum)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
Ben Sheets: No start(DL).
Jake Peavy: No start.
Brandon Webb: Wed:FLO(S.Olsen)
Greg Maddux: Mon:@COL(J.Francis)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@CLE(F.Carmona)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
Dan Haren: Thu:@SEA(Jef.Weaver)
Felix Hernandez: No start.
Matt Cain: Mon:ATL(J.Smoltz)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at CLE.

With Maddux unrunnable and Dice-K against Sabathia, we'll deploy Santana, Webb, Beckett, Haren, Cain, and Papelbon, as well as flipping Dempster with Saito.

Kendrick, Teahen, and Hall remain benched while Holliday and Taveras sub for Manny and Delmon Young.

Rotohelp.com(7th lg; 172nd overall)
Week 17a: July 23-July 26

 
C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Brian McCann		880 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420
1B	Travis Hafner		1380
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
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	Alex Rios		1000 
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Prince Fielder		910

SP	Johan Santana		1960
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	Dan Haren		940 
SP	Matt Cain		840
SP	Jon Papelbon		900  
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260 
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Week 17a Salary:		29910

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

With Sheets out for a month and a need to replace Saito, we're cutting Sheets and adding J.J. Putz, who just seems a better investment than Kevin Gregg.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Mon:@TOR(S.Marcum); Sat:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
John Lackey: Wed:OAK(J.Blanton)
Jake Peavy: Fri:@HOU(W.Williams)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@CLE(F.Carmona)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:MIN(M.Garza)
Chris Young: Tue:@COL(U.Jimenez); Sun:@HOU(J.Jennings)
Cole Hamels: Wed:WAS(M.Chico)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at CLE; 3 Road at TB.

Deploying Santana, Lackey, Sabathia, Young, Hamels, and Papelbon looks solid.

Hanley's day-to-day shoulder issues send him to the bench while Drew shifts over. Holliday, Taveras, and Howard all return to the lineup, displacing Hanley, Swisher, and Delmon Young. Bard, Kinsler, Teahen, and Baldelli remain seated, along with Atkins, who we want to play but just doesn't fit into our lineup this week.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 8th lg; 672nd overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 9th lg; 1420th overall)
Week 17: July 23-July 29

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890 
C	Brian McCann		1880 
1B	Albert Pujols		3890
1B	Prince Fielder		1850 
2B	Chase Utley		2850 
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	David Wright		2900  
3B	B.J. Upton		1000
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	Stephen Drew		1450
OF	Matt Holliday		2730
OF	Grady Sizemore		2760 
OF	Barry Bonds		2560 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Willy Taveras		1460
OF	Chris B. Young		1000 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240
DH	Adrian Gonzalez		1420

SP	Johan Santana		3410
SP	John Lackey		2790 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490 
SP	Chris Young		1760 
SP	Cole Hamels		1450
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	J.J. Putz		2360
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Jose Valverde		1880
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 17:	59460

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

With Saito hurting, we're adding Joe Borowski and cutting James Shields, who just doesn't seem nearly as useful as our other starters. While Jose Valverde, Kevin Gregg, and Al Reyes qualify as worthy alternatives, Borowski easily enjoys the best schedule over the balance of the year while playing for the best team of this group.

SP(6)
Jake Peavy: Fri:@HOU(W.Williams)
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:@CHW(J.Vazquez); Sun:@LAA(B.Colon)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@CLE(F.Carmona)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:MIN(M.Garza)
Roy Halladay: Sat:@CHW(M.Buehrle)
Erik Bedard: Wed:TB(A.Sonnanstine)
Cole Hamels: Wed:WAS(M.Chico)
John Maine: Tue:PIT(I.Snell); Sun:WAS(J.Bergmann)
Jon Papelbon: 4 Road at CLE; 3 Road at TB.

Deploying our doubles and home starts gives us a rotation of Bonderman, Sabathia, Bedard, Hamels, Maine, and Papelbon. Borowski also sends Saito to the bench.

McCann, Kendrick, and Pence stay benched, and then based on schedules and health, we'll deploy Hardy, Howard, Holliday, and Victorino respectively for Hanley, Iwamura, Sizemore, and Chris Young. All the Tigers stay active due to the fact that Detroit enjoys eight games this week.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 407th overall)
Week 17: July 23-July 29

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890
C	Russ Martin		1290
1B	Justin Morneau		2620
1B	Prince Fielder		1850
2B	Chase Utley		2850 
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	Ryan Braun		1500 
3B	B.J. Upton		1000
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	J.J. Hardy		1030 
OF	Matt Holliday		2730 
OF	Gary Sheffield		2630 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	1550
OF	Shane Victorino		1340
OF	Corey Hart		1120 
DH	Alex Rodriguez		3630 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 

SP	Jeremy Bonderman	2670 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490 
SP	Erik Bedard		2160
SP	Cole Hamels		1450 
SP	John Maine		1120 
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950
RP	J.J. Putz		2360 
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Kevin Gregg		1430
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 17:	54390

Today's Fantasy Rx: Several teams enjoy excellent schedules for their hitters this week, so make sure you load your lineup with as many Brewers, Tigers, White Sox, Mariners, Rockies, Reds, and Astros as you own.