Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. MIN; 1 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. CHW.
Detroit: 1 Home vs. NYY; 3 Road at KC; 3 Road at OAK.
San Diego: 4 Home vs. ARI; 3 Home vs. LAD.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 1 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at TEX; 3 Road at CLE.
Cincinnati: 4 Road at PIT; 3 Road at STL.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. DET; 4 Road at MIN.
New York Mets: 4 Road at PHI; 3 Road at ATL.
New York Yankees: 1 Road at DET; 3 Home vs. BOS; 3 Home vs. TB.
Philadelphia: 4 Home vs. NYM; 3 Road at FLO.
Pittsburgh: 4 Home vs. CIN; 3 Road at MIL.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. LAA; 1 Road at CLE; 3 Road at TOR.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 4 Road at SD; 3 Home vs. COL.
Minnesota: 3 Road at CLE; 3 Home vs. KC.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Tampa Bay: 1 Road at CHW; 3 Road at BAL; Road at NYY.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. NYM.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Home vs. MIL; 3 Home vs. HOU.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Road at SEA; 3 Home vs. TEX.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at BOS.
Boston: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. BAL.
Florida: 3 Home vs. ATL; 3 Home vs. PHI.
Houston: 3 Home vs. STL; 3 Road at CHC.
Milwaukee: 3 Road at CHC; 3 Home vs. PIT.
St. Louis: 3 Road at HOU; 3 Home vs. CIN.
Texas: 3 Home vs. CHW; 3 Road at LAA.
Toronto: 3 Road at OAK; 3 Home vs. SEA.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 Home vs. WAS; 3 Road at SD.
Oakland: 3 Home vs. TOR; 3 Home vs. DET.
San Francisco: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Road at WAS.
Washington: 3 Road at LAD; 3 Home vs. SF.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Colorado: 3 Road at SF; 3 Road at ARI.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Bronson Arroyo: Tue:@PIT(T.Gorzelanny); Sun:@STL(B.Looper)
Brian Bannister: Tue:DET(N.Robertson); Sun:@MIN(C.Silva)
Chad Billingsley: Tue:WAS(J.Bergmann); Sun:@SD(J.Germano)
Paul Byrd: Mon:MIN(C.Silva); Sat:CHW(J.Vazquez)
A.J. Burnett: Mon:@OAK(E.Loaiza); Sun:SEA(Jef.Weaver)
Daniel Cabrera: Tue:TB(J.Hammel); Sun:@BOS(D.Matsuzaka)
Justin Germano: Tue:ARI(B.Webb); Sun:LAD(C.Billingsley)
Tom Glavine: Tue:@PHI(A.Eaton); Sun:@ATL(L.Cormier)
Tom Gorzelanny: Tue:CIN(B.Arroyo); Sun:@MIL(J.Suppan)
Livan Hernandez: Mon:@SD(J.Peavy); Sat:COL(J.Fogg)
Rich Hill: Tue:MIL(J.Suppan); Sun:HOU(W.Williams)
John Lackey: Mon:@SEA(M.Batista); Sun:TEX(K.Gabbard)
Esteban Loaiza: Mon:TOR(A.Burnett); Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
Derek Lowe: Mon:WAS(M.Bacsik); Sat:@SD(J.Peavy)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@NYY(A.Pettitte); Sun:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Jake Peavy: Mon:ARI(L.Hernandez); Sat:LAD(D.Lowe)
Andy Pettitte: Tue:BOS(D.Matsuzaka); Sun:TB(J.Hammel)
Nate Robertson: Tue:@KC(B.Bannister); Sun:@OAK(E.Loaiza)
Scott Olsen: Mon:ATL(L.Cormier); Sun:PHI(A.Eaton)
Justin Verlander: Mon:NYY(M.Mussina); Sat:@OAK(D.Haren)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@SD(J.Germano); Sun:COL(F.Morales)
Jake Westbrook: Tue:MIN(B.Bonser); Sun:CHW(J.Contreras)
Woody Williams: Tue:STL(B.Looper); Sun:@CHC(R.Hill)
Barry Zito: Mon:COL(J.Fogg); Sun:@WAS(M.Bacsik)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Mike Bacsik: Mon:@LAD(D.Lowe); Sun:SF(B.Zito)
Miguel Batista: Mon:LAA(J.Lackey); Sat:@TOR(D.McGowan)
Jose Contreras: Mon:TB(Ed.Jackson); Sun:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Lance Cormier: Mon:@FLO(S.Olsen); Sun:NYM(T.Glavine)
J.D. Durbin: Mon:NYM(B.Lawrence); Sat:@FLO(D.Barone)
Josh Fogg: Mon:@SF(B.Zito); Sat:@ARI(L.Hernandez)
Kason Gabbard: Tue:CHW(G.Floyd); Sun:@LAA(J.Lackey)
Jason Hammel: Tue:@BAL(D.Cabrera); Sun:@NYY(A.Pettitte)
Edwin Jackson: Mon:@CHW(J.Contreras); Sat:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Braden Looper: Tue:@HOU(W.Williams); Sun:CIN(B.Arroyo)
Franklin Morales: Tue:@SF(M.Cain); Sun:@ARI(B.Webb)
Mike Mussina: Mon:@DET(J.Verlander); Sat:TB(Ed.Jackson)
Carlos Silva: Mon:@CLE(P.Byrd); Sun:KC(B.Bannister)
Jeff Suppan: Tue:@CHC(R.Hill); Sun:PIT(T.Gorzelanny)
Jeff Weaver: Tue:LAA(Er.Santana); Sun:@TOR(A.Burnett)

Diamond Challenge

With a fairly solid group of pitchers here, including six very likely doubles for next week, we'll spend our two roster expansion moves on offense here. First, with Teahen both bad and out, we need an alternative third baseman given Colorado's tough schedule down the stretch. Given Ryan Howard's questionable schedule, Alex Rodriguez finally joins this team since ARod offers the best combination of power and runs on the board. Then, despite sporadic recent play, Curtis Granderson claims our other expansion slot, hopefully providing the competent outfield play we never really received from Delmon Young. We'll hold our last move for another couple of weeks in the hope that McCann and Martin stay healthy at catcher.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
John Smoltz: Wed:@FLO(D.Willis)
Jake Peavy: Mon:ARI(L.Hernandez); Sat:LAD(D.Lowe)
Roy Halladay: Wed:@OAK(L.DiNardo)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@SD(J.Germano); Sun:COL(F.Morales)
John Lackey: Mon:@SEA(M.Batista); Sun:TEX(K.Gabbard)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:MIN(J.Santana)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@NYY(R.Clemens)
Chris Young: Fri:LAD(D.Wells)???
Erik Bedard: Sat:@BOS(J.Lester)
Felix Hernandez: Wed:LAA(Jer.Weaver)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. BAL.

For cap reasons, Halladay joins the more obvious plays Peavy, Webb, Lackey, Felix, and Papelbon. Cordero's week against Dempster and Capps results in us flipping Capps for Cordero.

On offense, ARod and Granderson respectively supplant Atkins and Corey Hart while Kendrick enters the lineup at DH, bumping Howard to join Teahen, Hall, Victorino, and Delmon Young on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(6th lg; 45th div; 697th overall)
Week 22: August 27-September 2

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050
1B	Justin Morneau		1180
2B	Brandon Phillips	930
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	Alex Rodriguez		1940 
3B	David Wright		1550
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	Curtis Granderson	760
DH	Prince Fielder		910 
DH	Howie Kendrick		520

SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	Roy Halladay		1140 
SP	John Lackey		1040
SP	Felix Hernandez		840 
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130 
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 22: 	30000

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

With three purchases and one roster expansion here, we're dropping Cole Hamels and adding Brandon Webb and David Wright, who offers similar 5-category production to ARod at three-quarters the price. We expect to spend one more buy within the next two weeks and then use our final purchase with two or three weeks left in the year.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:STL(K.Wells)
John Smoltz: Wed:@FLO(D.Willis)
Jake Peavy: Mon:ARI(L.Hernandez); Sat:LAD(D.Lowe)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@SD(J.Germano); Sun:COL(F.Morales)
John Lackey: Mon:@SEA(M.Batista); Sun:TEX(K.Gabbard)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:MIN(J.Santana)
Jeremy Bonderman: Thu:@KC(K.Davies)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@NYY(A.Pettitte); Sun:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Dan Haren: Sat:DET(J.Verlander)
Tim Hudson: Fri:NYM(J.Maine)
Erik Bedard: Sat:@BOS(J.Lester)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. BAL.

Hudson joins the four doubles and Papelbon while Reyes subs for Cordero in the bullpen.

Wright and Hart replace Hardy and Rios, who join Victor, Youkilis, Kendrick, and Victorino on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(9th lg; 56th div; 312th overall)
Week 22: August 27-September 2

 
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	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Ken Griffey		790 
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	David Wright		1550
DH	Mike Lowell		1070

SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	John Lackey		1040 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	950 
SP	Tim Hudson		880
SP	Jon Papelbon		900 
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Jose Valverde		1100 
RP	Al Reyes		750
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 22: 	27910

Internet Challenge

After addressing our pitching with Brett Myers on Friday, we'll attempt to boost our offense by adding Curtis Granderson with our second roster expansion.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:STL(K.Wells)
John Smoltz: Wed:@FLO(D.Willis)
Jake Peavy: Mon:ARI(L.Hernandez)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@SD(J.Germano)
Greg Maddux: Wed:ARI(M.Owings)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@NYY(R.Clemens)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@NYY(A.Pettitte)
Dan Haren: No start.
Felix Hernandez: Wed:LAA(Jer.Weaver)
Matt Cain: Tue:COL(F.Morales)
Brett Myers: 4 Home vs. NYM.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at NYY.

From this multitude of options, we'll take the safer home starts of Peavy, Maddux, Felix, and Cain to join Myers and Papelbon. Dempster flips for Cordero with the Cubs looking like a slightly better bet for wins this week than Milwaukee.

Granderson, Manny, and Hafner enter the lineup for Alex Rios and Bill Hall, who join Kendrick, Teahen, Victorino, and Hart on our bench.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 177th overall)
Week 22a: August 27-August 30

 
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	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Nick Markakis		770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	760
OF	Delmon Young		750 
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Travis Hafner		1380

SP	Jake Peavy		1180
SP	Greg Maddux		1040 
SP	Felix Hernandez		840 
SP	Matt Cain		840 
SP	Brett Myers		960
SP	Jon Papelbon		900  
RP	Takashi Saito		1200 
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Week 22a Salary:		29660

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

We almost always add two pitchers for roster expansion in FB, and with two solid options available in Brandon Webb and Daisuke Matsuzaka, they'll join our team for their doubles. Also, with Cole Hamels hurting and a general lack of doubles creating openings on our pitching staff, we're adding Brett Myers and cutting Hamels. Finally, we'll head down to a single move left by purchasing Curtis Granderson and finally release Rocco Baldelli.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Wed:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@SD(J.Germano); Sun:COL(F.Morales)
John Lackey: Mon:@SEA(M.Batista); Sun:TEX(K.Gabbard)
Jake Peavy: Mon:ARI(L.Hernandez); Sat:LAD(D.Lowe)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@NYY(R.Clemens)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:MIN(J.Santana)
Erik Bedard: Sat:@BOS(J.Lester)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@NYY(A.Pettitte); Sun:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Chris Young: Fri:LAD(D.Wells)???
Brett Myers: 4 Home vs. NYM; 3 Road at FLO.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. BAL.

Our four doubles will join Myers and Papelbon. Valverde also subs for Borowski with Cleveland opposing Seattle and Putz for a game.

On offense, Adrian Gonzalez and Granderson respectively replace Atkins and Swisher while Bard, Utley, Teahen, Stephen Drew, Delmon Young, and Willy Taveras stay seated.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 8th lg; 536th overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 8th lg; 1152nd overall)
Week 22: August 27-September 2

 
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	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Curtis Granderson	1550 
OF	Chris B. Young		1000 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 
DH	Adrian Gonzalez		1420

SP	Brandon Webb		2850 
SP	John Lackey		2790
SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	2000
SP	Brett Myers		2540
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950 
RP	J.J. Putz		2360 
RP	Takashi Saito		2200 
RP	Jose Valverde		1880
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 22:	59780

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

While we nearly also added Brett Myers here, we just rostered Brandon Webb and Daisuke Matsuzaka, cutting Cole Hamels and leaving ourselves two moves for the last four weeks.

SP(6)
John Smoltz: Wed:@FLO(D.Willis)
Brandon Webb: Tue:@SD(J.Germano); Sun:COL(F.Morales)
Jake Peavy: Mon:ARI(L.Hernandez); Sat:LAD(D.Lowe)
C.C. Sabathia: Wed:MIN(J.Santana)
Roy Halladay: Wed:@OAK(L.DiNardo)
Erik Bedard: Sat:@BOS(J.Lester)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Tue:@NYY(A.Pettitte); Sun:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Tim Lincecum: Sat:@WAS(J.Hanrahan)
Fausto Carmona: Fri:CHW(M.Buehrle)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. BAL.

Lincecum and Carmona might deserve spots on merit, and considering their cap costs, they look like the automatic additions to our three doubles and Papelbon. Borowski remains benched with the Indians facing Seattle.

Our only move on offense involves a swap of Hardy for Morneau to bring us under the cap. The Brewers enjoy an interesting schedule this week, facing Cubs' homer machines Hill and Lilly in Chicago, a potentially ideal situation for a right-handed slugger like Hardy. Martin, Utley, Kendrick, Iwamura, Sheffield, Victorino, and Hart all stay seated, due mainly to a lack of active roster slots as all the infielders otherwise appear viable this week.

Rotohelp.com(1st lg; 85th overall)
Week 22: August 27-September 2

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890 
C	Brian McCann		1880 
1B	Ryan Howard		3240
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	J.J. Hardy		1030

SP	Brandon Webb		2850 
SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	2000
SP	Tim Lincecum		1500
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 22:	54610

Today's Fantasy Rx: In brief, failure to own the following players in CDM contests places you at a competitive disadvantage for the next month: Russ Martin, Prince Fielder, Brandon Phillips, B.J. Upton, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Holliday, Magglio Ordonez, and in points, Chris B. Young. Among the expensive stars, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols remain excellent plays in all leagues. Strongly recommended pitchers include Jake Peavy, Takashi Saito, and J.J. Putz. While you certainly could vault top the top of standings without some of these guys, adding them at least gives you a chance to keep pace with each contests' top teams. Of course, targeting low-profile pick-ups offers more upside, but of the players listed above, the vast majority should continue to perform at a very high level through the end of September.