Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Home vs. TEX; 4 Home vs. MIN.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. NYY; 4 Home vs. TOR.
St. Louis: 1 Road at CHC; 3 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 4 Road at CIN; 3 Road at STL.
Boston: 3 Road at TB; 4 Road at CHW.
Chicago Cubs: 1 Home vs. STL; 3 Road at SF; 3 Road at ARI.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Home vs. KC; 4 Home vs. BOS.
Cincinnati: 4 Home vs. ATL; 3 Home vs. FLO.
Colorado: 4 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. WAS.
Florida: 1 Home vs. SF; 3 Road at STL; 3 Road at CIN.
Houston: 4 Home vs. WAS; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. SEA; 4 Road at BAL.
Oakland: 3 Road at TOR; 4 Road at TB.
Pittsburgh: 4 Road at COL; 3 Road at HOU.
San Francisco: 1 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. MIL.
Seattle: 3 Road at MIN; 4 Road at TEX.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. BOS; 4 Home vs. OAK.
Texas: 3 Road at BAL; 4 Home vs. SEA.
Toronto: 4 Road at HOU; 3 Road at COL.
Washington: 4 Road at HOU; 3 Road at COL.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
New York Mets: 3 Home vs. SD; 3 Home vs. LAD.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. MIL; 3 Home vs. CHC.
Cleveland: 3 Road at DET; 3 Road at KC.
Detroit: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Kansas City: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. CLE.
Los Angeles Dodgers; 3 Road at PHI; 3 Road at NYM.
Milwaukee: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Road at SF.
New York Yankees: 3 Road at LAA; 3 Road at DET.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. LAD; 3 Home vs. SD.
San Diego: 3 Road at NYM; 3 Road at PHI.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Erik Bedard: Tue:TEX(Ed.Volquez); Sun:MIN(S.Baker)
Joe Blanton: Mon:@TOR(S.Marcum); Sat:@TB(S.Kazmir)
Mark Buehrle: Mon:KC(G.Meche); Sat:BOS(T.Wakefield)
Daniel Cabrera: Mon:TEX(V.Padilla); Sat:MIN(M.Garza)
Fausto Carmona: Tue:@DET(J.Jurrjens); Sun:@KC(G.Meche)
Doug Davis: Mon:MIL(Y.Gallardo); Sun:CHC(J.Marquis)
Kelvim Escobar: Tue:NYY(M.Mussina); Sun:TOR(D.McGowan)
Matt Garza: Mon:SEA(Ho.Ramirez); Sat:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Dan Haren: Tue:@TOR(D.McGowan); Sun:@TB(A.Sonnanstine)
Tim Hudson: Mon:@CIN(P.Dumatrait); Sat:@STL(J.Pineiro)
Philip Hughes: Mon:@LAA(D.Moseley); Sun:@DET(J.Jurrjens)
Scott Kazmir: Mon:BOS(T.Wakefield); Sat:OAK(J.Blanton)
Jon Lester: Tue:@TB(A.Sonnanstine); Sun:@CHW(J.Vazquez)
Ted Lilly: Mon:STL(J.Pineiro); Sat:@ARI(Y.Petit)
Tim Lincecum: Tue:CHC(J.Marquis); Sun:MIL(D.Bush)
John Maine: Tue:SD(C.Young); Sun:LAD(B.Tomko)
Shaun Marcum: Mon:OAK(J.Blanton); Sat:@LAA(J.Saunders?)
Dustin McGowan: Tue:OAK(D.Haren); Sun:@LAA(K.Escobar)
Gil Meche: Mon:@CHW(M.Buehrle); Sun:CLE(F.Carmona)
Sergio Mitre: Mon:SF(Ru.Ortiz); Sat:@CIN(P.Dumatrait)
Wandy Rodriguez: Tue:WAS(J.Hanrahan); Sun:PIT(T.Armas)
Andrew Sonnanstine: Tue:BOS(J.Lester); Sun:OAK(D.Haren)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:KC(L.Nunez); Sun:BOS(J.Lester)
Adam Wainwright: Tue:FLO(D.Barone); Sun:ATL(C.James)
Tim Wakefield: Mon:@TB(S.Kazmir); Sat:@CHW(M.Buehrle)
Chris Young: Tue:@NYM(J.Maine); Sun:@PHI(K.Kendrick)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that do not count qualitative stats:
Tony Armas: Tue:@COL(E.Dessens); Sun:@HOU(W.Rodriguez)
Scott Baker: Tue:SEA(J.Washburn); Sun:@BAL(E.Bedard)
Daniel Barone: Tue:@STL(A.Wainwright); Sun:@CIN(B.Livingston)
David Bush: Tue:@ARI(L.Hernandez); Sun:@SF(T.Lincecum)
Yovani Gallardo: Mon:@ARI(D.Davis); Sat:@SF(Ru.Ortiz)
Phil Dumatrait: Mon:ATL(T.Hudson); Sat:FLO(S.Mitre)
Joel Hanrahan: Tue:@HOU(W.Rodriguez); Sun:@COL(Ra.Ortiz???)
Chuck James: Tue:@CIN(B.Livingston); Sun:@STL(A.Wainwright)
Jason Jennings: Mon:WAS(T.Redding); Sat:PIT(M.Morris)
Ubaldo Jimenez: Tue:PIT(T.Armas); Sat:WAS(T.Redding)
Jair Jurrjens: Tue:CLE(F.Carmona); Sun:NYY(P.Hughes)
Kyle Kendrick: Tue:LAD(B.Tomko); Sun:SD(C.Young)
Bobby Livingston: Tue:ATL(C.James); Sun:FLO(D.Barone)
Jason Marquis: Tue:@SF(T.Lincecum); Sun:@ARI(D.Davis)
Matt Morris: Mon:@COL(U.Jimenez); Sat:@HOU(J.Jennings)
Russ Ortiz: Mon:@FLO(S.Mitre); Sat:MIL(Y.Gallardo)
Joel Pineiro: Mon:@CHC(T.Lilly); Sat:ATL(T.Hudson)
Vicente Padilla: Mon:@BAL(D.Cabrera); Sat:SEA(Ho.Ramirez)
Horacio Ramirez: Mon:@MIN(M.Garza); Sat:@TEX(V.Padilla)
Tim Redding: Mon:@HOU(J.Jennings); Sat:@COL(U.Jimenez)
Brett Tomko: Tue:@PHI(K.Kendrick): Sun:@NYM(J.Maine)
Edinson Volquez: Tue:OAK(D.Haren); Sun:@LAA(K.Escobar)
Jarrod Washburn: Tue:@MIN(S.Baker); Sun:@TEX(Ed.Volquez)

Diamond Challenge

With needs across-the-board, we are spending two of our last three non-expansion moves to roster Nick Markakis and Erik Bedard while cutting Willy Taveras and Roy Oswalt. Delmon Young simply is not producing sufficient value in the outfield, and Bedard could help in several categories. Considering Houston's schedule over the remainder of the season, we see little upside in holding on to Oswalt while he recovers from his oblique strain.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
John Smoltz: Fri:@STL(K.Wells)
Jake Peavy: Wed:@NYM(B.Lawrence)
Roy Halladay: Fri:@LAA(Er.Santana?)
Brandon Webb: Wed:MIL(J.Suppan)
John Lackey: Wed:NYY(A.Pettitte)
C.C. Sabathia: Fri:@KC(Od.Perez)
Josh Beckett: Thu:@CHW(J.Danks)
Chris Young: Tue:@NYM(J.Maine); Sun:@PHI(K.Kendrick)
Erik Bedard: Tue:TEX(Ed.Volquez); Sun:MIN(S.Baker)
Felix Hernandez: Fri:@TEX(K.Millwood)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TB; 4 Road at CHW.

Webb, Sabathia, and Beckett will join Young, Bedard, and Papelbon while Dempster subs for Capps, who heads to Coors.

Pujols, Atkins, and Markakis enter the lineup for Hall, Teahen, and Delmon Young, who join Kendrick and Victorino on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 67th div; 1023rd overall)
Week 21: August 20-August 26

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420 
1B	Justin Morneau		1180
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
2B	Kelly Johnson		400
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Garrett Atkins		1150
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	Nick Markakis		770
OF	Corey Hart		430 
DH	Albert Pujols		2050
DH	Prince Fielder		910 

SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040
SP	Josh Beckett		1000 
SP	Jon Papelbon		900 
SP	Chris Young		880
SP	Erik Bedard		840
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130 
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Salary for Week 21: 	30000

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

We also are adding Bedard here while Oswalt again departs, as Bedard's double this week appears a strong candidate to aid our efforts to boost our disappointing pitching standings.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:WAS(J.Lannan)???
John Smoltz: Fri:@STL(K.Wells)
Jake Peavy: Wed:@NYM(B.Lawrence)
John Lackey: Wed:NYY(A.Pettitte)
C.C. Sabathia: Fri:@KC(Od.Perez)
Jeremy Bonderman: Fri:NYY(R.Clemens)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@TB(Ed.Jackson)
Dan Haren: Tue:@TOR(D.McGowan); Sun:@TB(A.Sonnanstine)
Tim Hudson: Mon:@CIN(P.Dumatrait); Sat:@STL(J.Pineiro)
Erik Bedard: Tue:TEX(Ed.Volquez); Sun:MIN(S.Baker)
Cole Hamels: Wed:LAD(D.Lowe)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TB; 4 Road at CHW.

Haren, Hudson, and Bedard anchor a starting staff completed by Santana, Hamels, and Papelbon. Reyes remains benched even with Capps in Coors, since he continues to struggle and faces Papelbon.

Offensively, Lowell and Holliday sub for Youkilis and Hart, who join Victor, Kendrick, and Victorino in reserve.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 69th div; 417th overall)
Week 21: August 20-August 26

 
C	Brian McCann		880 
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Justin Morneau		1180
1B	Prince Fielder		910 
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	Ryan Braun		750
3B	B.J. Upton		410 
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	Ken Griffey		790 
DH	Mike Lowell		1070
DH	J.J. Hardy		420

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Dan Haren		940 
SP	Tim Hudson		880 
SP	Erik Bedard		840
SP	Cole Hamels		660
SP	Jon Papelbon		900 
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Jose Valverde		1100 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 21: 	27960

Internet Challenge

Markakis also joins this team, and since we need saves, we want to add Brett Myers. However, with roster expansion available on Friday, we feel more comfortable running Peavy now and grabbing Myers for the weekend.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: No start.
Roy Oswalt: Thu:WAS(J.Lannan)???
Ben Sheets: No start(DL).
Jake Peavy: Wed:@NYM(B.Lawrence)
Brandon Webb: Wed:MIL(J.Suppan)
Greg Maddux: No start.
Josh Beckett: Thu:@CHW(J.Danks)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@TB(Ed.jackson)
Dan Haren: Tue:@TOR(D.McGowan)
Felix Hernandez: No start.
Matt Cain: Thu:CHC(S.Marshall)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TB; 1 Road at CHW.

Peavy, Webb, Beckett, Dice-K, Cain, and Papelbon give us a solid rotation, and Dempster replaces Capps with Pittsburgh headed to Colorado.

Flipping Markakis and Hall for Delmon Young and Hafner brings us to the cap exactly with Kendrick, Teahen, and Victorino also on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 168th overall)
Week 21a: August 20-August 23

 
C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Brian McCann		880 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420 
1B	Prince Fielder		910
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	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	Alex Rios		1000 
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Nick Markakis		770
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Bill Hall		900

SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	950
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 21a Salary:		30000

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

With four moves left in addition to roster expansion and an ailing Roy Oswalt clogging our pitching staff, we are purchasing Erik Bedard and cutting Oswalt. While we also like Lincecum and Carmona, Bedard looks likes the best bet for wins and strikeout.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
John Lackey: Wed:NYY(A.Pettitte)
Jake Peavy: Wed:@NYM(B.Lawrence)
Josh Beckett: Thu:@CHW(J.Danks)
C.C. Sabathia: Fri:@KC(Od.Perez)
Erik Bedard: Tue:TEX(Ed.Volquez); Sun:MIN(S.Baker)
Chris Young: Tue:@NYM(J.Maine); Sun:@PHI(K.Kendrick)
Cole Hamels: Wed:LAD(D.Lowe)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TB; 4 Road at CHW.

The scorching hot Santana, Sabathia, and Hamels will join Bedard, Young, and Papelbon. Borowski also subs for Valverde, who faces far tougher competition than the Indians.

On offense, Atkins and Swisher respectively replace Teahen and Delmon Young, who join Bard, Adrian Gonzalez, Utley, Stephen Drew, Willy Taveras, and Rocco Baldelli on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 8th lg; 571st overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 8th lg; 1211st overall)
Week 21: August 20-August 26

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890 
C	Brian McCann		1880 
1B	Albert Pujols		3890
1B	Prince Fielder		1850 
2B	Ian Kinsler		1270 
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	David Wright		2900  
3B	B.J. Upton		1000
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		2150
OF	Matt Holliday		2730
OF	Grady Sizemore		2760 
OF	Barry Bonds		2560 
OF	Nick Swisher		2190
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Chris B. Young		1000 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 
DH	Garrett Atkins		2240

SP	Johan Santana		3410 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490 
SP	Erik Bedard		2160
SP	Chris Young		1760 
SP	Cole Hamels		1450
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	J.J. Putz		2360 
RP	Takashi Saito		2200 
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 21:	59820

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

SP(6)
John Smoltz: Fri:@STL(K.Wells)
Jake Peavy: Wed:@NYM(B.Lawrence)
C.C. Sabathia: Fri:@KC(Od.Perez)
Roy Halladay: Fri:@LAA(Er.Santana?)
Erik Bedard: Tue:TEX(Ed.Volquez); Sun:MIN(S.Baker)
Tim Lincecum: Tue:CHC(J.Marquis); Sun:MIL(D.Bush)
Cole Hamels: Wed:LAD(D.Lowe)
Fausto Carmona: Tue:@DET(J.Jurrjens); Sun:@KC(G.Meche)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at TB; 4 Road at CHW.

Hamels and Sabathia seem the best options to team with the three doubles and Papelbon. Borowski stays seated since Cleveland only plays six.

Offensively, McCann's seven-game trip to Cincy and St. Louis pushes him into the lineup over Martin while Sizemore subs for Corey Hart. Iwamura, Utley, Kendrick, Hardy, Sheffield, and Victorino all remain benched.

Rotohelp.com(1st lg; 93rd overall)
Week 21: August 20-August 26

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890 
C	Brian McCann		1880
1B	Justin Morneau		2620
1B	Prince Fielder		1850
2B	Robinson Cano		1950 
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	Ryan Braun		1500 
3B	B.J. Upton		1000
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		2150 
OF	Grady Sizemore		2760
OF	Matt Holliday		2730 
OF	Alex Rios		1970
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	1550 
OF	Chris B. Young		1000
DH	Alex Rodriguez		3630 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 

SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490
SP	Erik Bedard		2160 
SP	Tim Lincecum		1500
SP	Cole Hamels		1450
SP	Fausto Carmona		1070
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	J.J. Putz		2360
RP	Takashi Saito		2200 
RP	Kevin Gregg		1430 
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 21:	54720

Today's Fantasy Rx: With CDM roster expansion occurring this coming week, attempt to schedule your probable purchases for the rest of the season. Only six weeks and five Monday-Sunday transaction periods remain in the 2007 MLB regular season, and you generally only want one emergency buy remaining after the second week of September. Similarly, owners in all standard leagues should review their league rules regarding trades and free agents, since most leagues halt the former no later than Labor Day and restrict the latter in some fashion in September. Especially if you joined new leagues this year, double-checking the rules now could save you massive headaches over the next several weeks.