Continuing the soccer themed intros, holy Toledo, the USMNT beat Germany yesterday! The German team didn’t bring their A-squad, but neither did the US. I may be drinking the kool-aid here, but I think the US will be the favorite to take home the Gold Cup this year.
On today’s agenda:
1. Quick thoughts on Miguel Montero
2. Consider Danny Espinosa
3. Streaming Pitching Options
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Despite my South Koreans falling 2-0 to Brazil in yesterday’s World Cup match, I remain (blindly) optimistic on their chances to advance out of group play.
On today’s agenda:
1. Quick thoughts on Chris Heston
2. Joe Panik is raking
3. Travis d’Arnaud reminder
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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After a long day of World Cup action, MLB draft coverage and apparently shootie puck playoff games, we’re back in action. It was a short session of games yesterday, but still had plenty of action.
On today’s agenda:
1. Welcome back, Yonder Alonso
2. Gerardo Parra continues to hit
3. Taylor Jungmann to the bigs
4. Streaming Pitching Options Read the rest of this entry »
The 2015 World Cup kicks off tomorrow! My South Korean squad has a tough task ahead of them, but I think they can make it out of group play. The USWNT is in the group of death, though they are arguably the best team in the World Cup.
On today’s agenda:
1. Consider Ben Revere
2. I flip-flip on Delino Deshields Jr., again
3. Love/Hate with Jesse Hahn
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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Today is apparently hug your cat day. Given that this book currently graces my shelf, I guess I’ll go hug one of the cats.
On today’s agenda:
1. Lance McCullers dominates
2. Eduardo Rodriguez cruises
3. Javier Baez watch
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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My fondness of baseball should be quite well known at this point, and if it isn’t, what are you doing here on FanGraphs, but I also enjoy other nerd endeavors, namely video games and esports. In that vein and in honor of Fallout 4 being announced, today’s rankings will be reflective of my favorite games currently in my Steam Library. Take note these aren’t my favorite games of all time, but the ones readily available to play. As always, these rankings reflect what I believe the players will accomplish rest-of-season, not what they’e done to date in a standard 5×5 format. Read the rest of this entry »
Yesterday Kevin Pillar hit two home runs in the second game of the Jays double-header against the Nationals. Beyond power outburst itself, the home run is notable due to my friend Mike ending up with the ball — though it should be said he failed to cleanly catch the ball, despite playing baseball all four years of high school. Upon request he was gracious enough to send me a picture as proof:
On today’s agenda:
1. Quick thoughts on Ender Inciarte
2. Consider Logan Forsythe
3. Bonus blurb
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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Eleven years ago today Ken Jennings began his incredible 74-game winning streak on Jeopardy! His first AMA on Reddit is, in my opinion, one of the best ever done (warning: language; it’s the Internet after all).
On today’s agenda:
1. Quick thoughts on Andre Ethier
2. Matt Moore watch
3. Welcome to the big leagues, Joey Gallo
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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Rather than subject you to a yet another weekend of coverage exclusively from that other guy, for a change of pace, today’s Roto Riteup was written with love.
On today’s agenda:
1. Bad news for Stephen Strasburg
2. Alex Rios to return today
3. Streaming Pitching Options
Bad news for Stephen Strasburg
The nightmare of a 2015 season continues for the 26-year-old. Entering yesterday’s game he was the owner of a 6.50 ERA — though his 3.66 xFIP and 3.65 SIERA tell a different tale — and then he failed to record more than three outs before leaving with an injury. He tossed one-plus innings before exiting the game after a brief mound visit. Strasburg’s fastball velocity touched 97 according to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post and from the available footage, a clear injury didn’t show itself. As the Post article notes, Strasburg did exit a start on May 5 due to back stiffness so here is to hoping this injury isn’t more serious. For those looking to buy-low on Stras, you may want to retract or cancel your offers until more word breaks on this.
Alex Rios to return today
The Kansas City outfield will look to get an offensive boost as the club welcomes back Rios. As stellar as the outfield defense has been, their bats have rated basically league average to this point. Rios projects to be in line with what the Royal’s outfielders have accomplished to date, but I’m personally higher on him than that. I like his doubles power, particularly in Kauffman. Last season the Royal’s field was tied for the seventh highest doubles park factor, but the stadium was league average for right-handed doubles. From 2012-2014 Rios rated tied at 23rd for most doubles in baseball with 100 and I expect him to be able to post a 30 doubles pace once again. While the Paulo Orlando triples ride was fun, he’s come back down to earth in recent weeks. Count on Rios getting the majority of the playing time in right field as well as the occasional spell at designated hitter to help keep him fresh. Prior to his injury he batted in the lower third of the lineup, but if his gap power plays to the park the way I believe it will, Rios could get moved up. He’s already owned in nearly 80 percent of CBS formats however Rios can be picked up in more than 35 percent of both ESPN and Yahoo! leagues.
Streaming Pitching Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.
A pitcher for today: Tom Koehler at NYM (Jon Niese)
Koehler has pitched well in his past two starts and the Mets have been less than stellar against right-handers thus far. As a team their collective 82 wRC+ versus righties comes in ranked at 27th in baseball. Koehler is widely available as his highest ownership rate among the three major fantasy sites is 16 percent in CBS leagues.
A pitcher for tomorrow: Chase Anderson at MIL (Ty Wagner)
I’m still aboard the Chase hype train. He’s up against a rather light-hitting Brewers lineup today and can be picked up in more than 45 percent of CBS leagues and over 75 percent of Yahoo! or ESPN formats.
I hope everyone else enjoyed yesterday’s spelling bee as much as I did.
On today’s agenda:
1. Consider Adam LaRoche
2. Jose Iglesias’s improved plate discipline
3. Streaming Pitching Options
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