Finally, we arrive at the final tier rankings update of the season. It’s okay, you could get out your box of tissues and let the tears stream freely down your cheeks.

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Although critics proclaimed yesterday’s Roto Riteup as “brilliant” and a “gripping masterpiece,” today’s Riteup may be even better.

On today’s agenda
1. Roy Halladay ramps up rehab, Gonzalez deal hits a snag
2. Corey Kluber out 4-6 weeks, Carson Cistulli placed on suicide watch
3. Delmon Young benched in favor of Darin Ruf
4. Fun with arbitrary endpoints

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• As Dave Cameron predicted, Danny Farquhar has regressed and he’s now yet to allow a run in his last eight appearances, including tonight’s scoreless inning for his third save. Farquhar’s 4.95 ERA is certainly misleading as his 1.88 FIP and 2.04 xFIP paint a different picture. Although he’s barely warmed his closer’s seat, I’m going to go out on a limb and change the Mariners to yellow. Farquhar doesn’t have much of a track record in the majors but he has shown some great skills (13.62 K/9) and has done an admirable job in place of Tom Wilhelmsen. Also, considering Wilhelmsen is getting stretched out  to pitch in the rotation, I like Faruhar’s chances of holding onto the job over Yoervis Medina and Oliver Perez.

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Hey, sometimes you have to dig deep, right?

If you’re in a hole in innings pitched and/or you’re scrambling for wins any way you can find them, there are a couple names in Henderson Alvarez and Joe Saunders who are extremely likely to be available in your leagues. And as it happens, they’ve been pitching pretty decent. Should you take the risk?

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Once again, it’s time to take a look at the Catcher Tiers and see where everyone is at for the month of August. There’s been a little more movement this month than last, though not too much. Some movement has occurred within the tiers, but there are definitely some tier-jumpers with whom to take notice. Not to mention, as the season has progressed, so has this list. A number of names have been added, including those whose contributions to fantasy are minimal. So without further ado… Read the rest of this entry »

Your chances of successfully predicting a multi-homer game are pretty slim. Your process can be spot on a hundred times and you may never stumble into one. Alternatively, you could be playing a match-up for steals or ratios and happen to end up with two taters on your plate.

Last night, Jacoby Ellsbury went deep twice against the Houston Astros, providing great value for daily league players in a 15-10 slugfest. Ellsbury’s game marked the 169th time this year a player has had a multi-home run game and the eighth time already in August. Not surprisingly, teams who received multiple homers from the same player have gone 130-39 in those games this year.

Daily fantasy players have made out just as well.
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Mat Latos proved the doubters wrong last season. When he was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Cincinnati Reds, there was some debate over whether he could carry over his strong performance to his home park. No one went overboard and predicted despair, but there were some legitimate reasons to think Latos’ stats would decline since he was leaving one of the best pitcher’s parks for one of the most favorable hitter’s parks. After churning out a nearly identical 3.48 ERA, there was little doubt about his ability, regardless of his home park. But Latos is aware of his surroundings. And due to some minor alterations that may have been made to combat his tough home park, Latos could be on his way to his best season as a pro.

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Third base help is on the way! If you’re like me in my Tout Wars league, you may have been juggling third basemen all season long. I have endured Kevin Youkilis, Luis Valbuena and Lonnie Chisenhall with fingers crossed that Aramis Ramirez does indeed return from the DL this weekend. Now deep league owners have two more options to consider.

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Today’s Roto Riteup was written while the current author took a break from assembling a 1000-piece puzzle. Normally the author enjoys puzzles and finds them to be mentally stimulating, but in this case, the stupid puzzle has a stupid border around it, make all the edge pieces nearly identical in design.

On today’s agenda:
1. Tom Wilhelmsen stretching out in the minors
2. Domonic Brown returns
3. Minor Leaguers: Zimmer, Wong, Sano

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• Bobby Parnell and his ailing neck have been placed on the 15-day DL. It was initially not expected to be too serious, but at the moment there isn’t necessarily a timeline for Parnell’s return and surgery remains an option as well. As we mentioned last night, David Aardsma and LaTroy Hawkins are expected to get looks for saves as the Mets mix and match at closer. After Aardsma blew the Mets last save chance, Hawkins was called on for the save tonight and he delivered, pitching around two hits for his first save of the year.  Hawkins hasn’t been anointed closer but expect him to receive the next opportunities until he gives the Mets a reason to make a change.

If the Mets are to mix and match,  the matchup may dictate a Scott Rice opportunity in the ninth. Rice walks way too many batters (5.18 BB/9) but he kills worms at a fantastic rate (58.6% ground ball rate) and he holds lefties to a .222 wOBA. That number rises to an absurd .418 wOBA against right handed hitters making the chances of Rice seeing extended time at closer likely nil (especially if Hawkins keeps converting his chances) but Parnell’s injury certainly makes Rice an intriguing saves + holds option in deep or NL-Only leagues.

• With Tom Wilhelmsen sent to the minors, Carter Capps is coming to Seattle. Capps was a sneaky preseason pick for saves in but the season hasn’t quite gone according to plan as a 6.37 ERA in 35.1 innings brought him a ticket to Tacoma. Capps’ 6.37 ERA is quite unsightly but with a .388 BABIP and 19.6% HR/FB his 3.56 xFIP illustrates he wasn’t pitching quite that terribly. Capps allowed only two earned runs in 11 innings in AAA but actually had worse ratios there than he did struggling in the majors. Capps is currently low on the Mariners bullpen totem pole but he certainly has a chance to make some noise and pitch in more higher leverage innings.

• Josh Fields hasn’t had much success at the major league level thus far in his career, but he looked quite impressive last night recording his first save of the year for Houston. The Astros’ closer situation is very fluid right now  but striking out all four batters you see for the save is a good way to receive the next opportunity. Josh Fields is likely the man right now but Jose Cisnero is still lurking behind.

• Not a bad evening for the back of the Braves bullpen. Jordan Walden and Craig Kimbrel each tossed a perfect inning while striking out the side. Even without Johnny Venters the Braves pen has remained top notch with the best bullpen ERA in baseball (2.41).

Closer Grid:

[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]