Category: Roto Riteup | Page 14 | RotoGraphs Fantasy Baseball

Teres, smeres. Triston McKenzie returned in high fashion, striking out 10 batters in five innings, allowing just one single, with zero walks. His four-seamer averaged 93 mph (max 95.1 mph), while his slider and curveball each posted over a 50% CSW%. His next start is scheduled to come against the Astros at home next Saturday.

José Alvarado started a rehab assignment on Saturday (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) and is scheduled for another outing on Tuesday. If all goes well he could rejoin the Phillies by the weekend but what role he’ll return to remains uncertain. Alvardo had seized things prior to his injury but Craig Kimbrel has been very good in his absence, collecting 5 SV in 1o IP, with 16 K and a 1.80 ERA.

Michael Soroka and the tattered remnants of what used to be considered an Achilles tendon made his return on Sunday, allowing 5 ER on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. Soroko threw 80 pitches, leading with his slider, but managed just two whiffs total. So, he’s still Mike Soroka. He lines up to make his next start at home against Washington on Saturday. Don’t expect any strikeouts. As in, it might be zero considering how stingy Washington is with their whiffs.

Remember that year Zach Plesac was good? Okay, remember that 1/3 of a season when Zack Plesac was good? Well, virtually nothing has gone right for him since that 202o high and the story came to its conclusion with Cleveland designating him and his 7.59 ERA for assignment.

Tarik Skubal (flexor tendon surgery) began a rehab assignment on Sunday, pitching two innings at High-A (West Michigan). While no clear timeline has been announced, Skubal, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since August 1, will clearly need multiple rehab starts to build up his arm strength.

Marcell Ozuna was pulled for lack of hustle after hitting a 415-foot single due to standing at the plate and just watching the ball. Because of course he did. Consider him dumb-to-day.

Bumps and Bruises

Poor Bane Cook can’t catch a break – Nestor Cortes is headed to the IL with a shoulder injury. While it’s not believed to be something serious, the Yankees say they won’t have a timeline until after he gets imaging done on Tuesday. Jhony Brito will likely be recalled to take fill in the rotation after being sent down in late May with a 5.58 ERA over 40.1 IP. He has a 3.60 ERA over 10 IP in his two starts since the demotion.

Why can’t the Twins have nice things? The perennially injured Byron Buxton hasn’t played since taking a fastball in the ribs last week and on Sunday Royce Lewis, in an attempt to not run over opposing first baseman Gabriel Arias, tried a new type of somersault where you land directly on your head. It looked scary but Lewis eventually walked off on his own and apparently is only dealing with a sore shoulder. Which in Twins-speak, means he might be dealing with the ol’ amputation situation. Consider him day-to-day.

Aaron Judge was held out of Sunday’s win over the Dodgers after hurting his right big toe on Saturday while making a spectacular catch that took him into the wall. It’s not thought to be serious but the Yankees have an off day on Monday to evaluate it further.

Xander Bogaerts has been dealing with a lingering wrist injury for a few weeks but things came more to a head after he was removed in the eighth inning of Saturday’s win before sitting out on Sunday. Consider him day-to-day but I’d have a backup plan in mind.

Jose Siri and Brandon Lowe were both scratched from Sunday’s game, the former with a sore shoulder and the latter with a back that “locked up” according to manager Kevin Cash. Consider them both day-to-day.

Anthony Rendon (groin strain) is expected to be activated early in the week. Gio Urshela’s playing time will likely bear the brunt of his return.

A day after being pulled in the fourth inning with knee soreness, Amed Rosario was held out of the lineup on Sunday. Consider him day-to-day.

Jose Altuve missed his second straight game after straining his oblique during a swing on Saturday. Consider him day-to-day but we all know by now how these side injuries can go. And don’t let that oblique come knockin’ on Mauricio Dubon’s fantasy coffin:

Streaming Pitchers

Streamer for Today: Johan Oviedo, PIT vs OAK – Oviedo has allowed just 1 ER in three of his last four starts but those were also against real, live MLB teams. Oakland, on the other hand? Only technically.

High Risk: Andrew Abbott, CIN vs MIL – Rookie debuts are never a sure thing but Abbott has been very impressive over seven starts at Triple-A, with a 3.05 ERA and 54 K over 38 1/3 IP.

Streamer for Tomorrow: Zack Greinke, KC @MIA, Tommy Henry, ARI @WSN

Roto Riteup: June 1, 2023

by Nicklaus Gaut

June 1, 2023

I’ll never tire of reading ridiculous stats about Shohei Ohtani:

Shohei Ohtani has hit more home runs since 2021 than any other American League player except Aaron Judge.

Shohei Ohtani has struck out more batters since 2021 than any other AL pitcher except Gerrit Cole and Dylan Cease.

It's insane. 🦄pic.twitter.com/avrux8f8F3

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 31, 2023

On the Agenda

Bumps and Bruises
News and Notes
Streaming Pitchers

Riley Greene will be out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his left fibula. He is set to get a second opinion, after which a firmer timeline should be established but a multiple-week absence is almost a certainty. Jake Marisnick was brought up to take his place but the biggest fantasy ripple could come from Akil Baddoo getting a chance in the two-hole after mostly living near the bottom third of the order. Baddoo is slashing .292/.395/.492 over 76 PA in May, with 3 HR, 3 SB, and matching 15% rates in K% and BB%. Unfortunately, I still wouldn’t expect him to get many, if any, starts vs LHP.

Justin Steele pitched clean three innings against the Rays, striking out one but was then pulled with the ever-dreaded forearm tightness. He’s scheduled to receive an MRI but I’m sure everything will be totally fine. But if any bad news does cometh, Hayden Wesneski would likely take his next turn, currently set for Tuesday against the Angels.

Alec Bohm missed his second game out of the past three with a balky hamstring, and the Phillies are now awaiting the results of an MRI to determine the next steps. Edmundo Sosa has started both games in his absence and is now slashing .261/282/.420 for the season, hitting his fourth home run of the year last night.

Eloy Jiménez was limited to DH on Wednesday with manager Pedro Grifol saying he’d been bothered by a minor leg issue. But considering Jiménez’s snakebitten injury luck, it’ll probably end up being rickets, or something.

News and Notes

Defying every weakened fiber in his poor body, Giancarlo Stanton is set to rejoin New York this weekend after just one rehab game, with Josh Donaldson also making his return. If they both make it, a few fringe Yankees are about the start feeling a playing time pinch. I’m looking at you, Willie Calhoun.

After missing the last three games with a neck issue, Anthony Rizzo will return to the lineup on Friday, according to manager Aaron Boone.

Good news for Michael Conforto, with imaging on his heel coming back clean. After missing Wednesday and the Giants having an off day today, Conforto will look to return over the weekend.

José Alvarado took the next step to returning, throwing a bullpen on Wednesday, and could go out on a rehab assignment over the weekend. Craig Kimbrel has been mostly stellar in his absence, collecting four Saves, with a 2.25 ERA and 16.7 K/9.

After allowing 5 ER in 3 IP during his previous start, James Paxton got back on the horse last night, allowing just one run on four hits in a win over the Reds, striking out eight. Paxton has now allowed 2 ER or less in three of his four starts and has a 12.8 K/9. Just don’t expect more than 5 IP and you won’t be disappointed. Rostered just 33% on Yahoo, Paxton lines up for two starts next week, going on the road against Guardians and Yankees.

The fantasy world continues refusing to put any respect on the name of Braxton Garrett, who currently is 15% rostered on Yahoo, but maybe that changes after yet another excellent performance. Garrett allowed one run over 5.1 IP on two hits and one walk, striking out seven in a no-decision against the Padres. He might still only have a 4.22 ERA but a big chunk of that weight is being carried by one no-good, rotten start against Atlanta, when he allowed 11 ER in 4.1 IP. In his other eight starts, Garrett has a 2.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 46 IP, with 50 K. It’ll be a juicy two-step for him next week, currently scheduled to face the Royals and White Sox.

Ahh, I too remember those glorious three starts when Lance Lynn was back, baby? Lynn was finally excellent in his past three starts (19 IP, 1.89 ERA, 1.11 WHIP), dominating offensive powerhouses, CLE, KC, and DET. And he promptly gave it all back on Wednesday, allowing 8 ER in a loss to the Angels, and now sits with a 6.55 ERA for the season. He’s scheduled to make his next start in New York against the Yankees.

Streaming Pitchers

Streamer for Today: None. Out of the seven games today, only Chase Anderson/Zach Davies would meet our eligibility threshold. No thank you.

Roto Riteup: May 31, 2023

by Justin Mason

May 31, 2023

80-Grade Tweet:

The A’s are tied for the best record in baseball since May 29

— Ben Ross (@BenRossTweets) May 31, 2023

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Roto Riteup: May 30, 2023

by Nicklaus Gaut

May 30, 2023

What’s Australian for “badass” because Russell Crowe isn’t the only one fightin’ ’round the world:

Liam Hendriks received a standing ovation as he made his way to the bullpen 💚🫶 pic.twitter.com/B6GUH4EXW5

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 30, 2023

On the Agenda:

Bumps and Bruises
News and Notes
Streaming Pitchers

Read the rest of this entry »

Roto Riteup: May 26, 2023

by Justin Mason

May 26, 2023

Smooth like silk:

reax + reax#NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/lRxPmGlAz4

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 25, 2023

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Roto Riteup: May 25, 2023

by Nicklaus Gaut

May 25, 2023

Jhoan Duran hit 104.6 mph on Wednesday – NSFW warning:

Jhoan Duran's Obscene Stuff. 😳

-100.3mph Splinker with THAT movement.
-Fastball touching 104.6mph.
-90.2mph Curveball. pic.twitter.com/icOa1OoJ8o

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 24, 2023

On the Agenda: