Hey there.

So, I kind of feel like this is my first day, or if not my first official day, the day you show up to get your course calendar and wander around campus aimlessly, hoping you don’t trip on a raised piece of sidewalk or get your headphone cord caught on a bike’s handlebars or anything. I’m not new here, but I was absent last season, and this is my first foray into the Roto Riteup. I’m excited to be joining Zach Sanders and Justin Mason, two people far better suited for it, in this role.

But mostly, I’ve gained a great sense of inflated importance, like a returning Y2J here to save you all from the shoehorned pop-culture references of my predecessor. And yes, these are big shoes I’ll aim to fill. Well, probably not. The outgoing David Wiers – on to big, big things – strikes me as a small-footed sort. What he lacks in foot size, he made up for in heart, humor, and intelligence, and while I can’t promise to match him on any of those measures, I can at least promise I have similarly easy to make fun of taste in music.

Nice fellow that he is, Wiers sent the following as a sort of transitional message to his faithful readership:

Legend says White House Press Secretaries pass down a flak jacket from one to the next. Within the fabled jacket is quips, advice and jokes from prior Press Secretaries. Unfortunately for the Roto Riteup, no such tradition exists, just a brutal trial-by-fire from the comment section that I never truly pass, but merely endured until the readers got used to me. Don’t worry, both Justin and Blake are more than capable, especially compared to myself and that grump Sanders.

He did not, however, tell me how to turn off getting emails for every single comment on an article. Anyway, please be gentle, and let’s get on with it.

On today’s agenda:
1. Love the Drake or Hate the Drake?
2. No suspension for Yasiel Puig
3. Bronson Arroyo tears labrum
4. Ruben Tejada released
5. Blue Jays’ fifth-starter race heating up

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The Roto Riteup has returned for another season on the hallowed pages. Joining me this year will be Blake Murphy and Justin Mason, and we’ll be warming ourselves up over the next couple weeks to ensure we don’t pull a muscle when the season commences.

If you have any new features/ideas you’d like to see in this year’s Riteup, please do let us know in the comments.

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The season-finale of the Roto Riteup is here, but unfortunately there’s no wedding to draw massive ratings. We wrap up 2015 with a look at some of those players who have done well to end the season.

Thank you for having some fun with Wiers and I this season, and we hope to see you in 2016.

On today’s agenda:
1. Fun with arbitrary endpoints
2. Streaming Pitcher Options

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What can the Roto Riteup possibly cover with just two days left in the fantasy season? The answer may SHOCK you.

On today’s agenda:
1. Jake Arrieta and the Cy Young
2. Various news and notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options

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We’re heading into the final weekend of regular season action! This will be my last Roto Riteup of the year, and I’d just like to thank the readers for your time and for your comments. You guys rock.

On today’s agenda:
1. Jerad Eickhoff cruises
2. Welcome back, Maikel Franco
3. Chris Carter is socking dingers
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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David Wiers had to leave his apartment yesterday to discover the meaning of life, so here I am, wearing his skin in front of the internet.

On today’s agenda:
1. Various news and notes
2. Streaming Pitcher Options

Various news and notes

Matt Kemp is now out for the season with a torn tendon in one of his fingers. Kemp ends his first season as a Padre with a .265/.312/.443 line, including 23 homers and 12 steals, reaching the 100 RBI mark for the first time since 2011. Kemp’s defense still grades out as laughable, but the Padres are pretty well committed to his services next year, and that funny business doesn’t count in fantasy baseball. Kemp’s biggest enemy will always be his health, but he’s had two straight seasons of at least 150 games, and will look to add a third in 2016.

You can add Felix Hernandez to the list of players shut down for the year. Felix doesn’t really have a specific ailment, but he has been battling various dings all season. Felix was trying to record his seventh straight 200 IP / 200 K season, but alas, he will not get the chance, and his streak will be broken. By ERA, Felix had his worst season since 2007, and his worst WHIP since 2011. There was a slight dip in velocity this season, but nothing to be overly concerned about.

Yoenis Cespedes isn’t officially out for the year yet, but with bruises on his left hand, odds are the Mets will keep him out until the postseason.

In likely his final start as a member of the Nationals, Jordan Zimmermann turned in six innings of work, striking out just one and allowing two earned runs. Heading into his age-30 season, it will be worth monitoring the ballpark and defense Zimmermann ends up pitching to.

Streaming Pitcher Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers or play DFS, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.

A pitcher for today: Kris Medlen at CHW (John Danks)
There aren’t many solid, value options for today, so roll with Medlen even though he’s on the road.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Mark Buehrle at TB (Erasmo Ramirez)
If the Blue Jays have begun to rest some of their starters, this could actually be the right day to switch over to Erasmo’s side.

If I’m late getting to any comments today, I apologize. I’ll be on the road a bit headed to/from from Chicago.

On today’s agenda:
1. Ryan Zimmerman calls it a season
2. Quick Adam Wainwright update
3. Miami shuts down Giancarlo Stanton
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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Today’s Roto Riteup was penned while a number of episodes of The West Wing played in the background.

On today’s agenda:
1. Adam Wainwright to return tomorrow?
2. Quick Sonny Gray follow-up
3. Angels rotation shakeup
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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Today marks the 14th anniversary of Zoolander being released. The line “But why male models?” slays me to this day, and I still slip it into conversation from time to time.

On today’s agenda:
1. Ryan Braun’s season is over
2. Sonny Gray’s hip injury
3. Quick thoughts on Ender Inciarte
4. Streaming Pitching Options
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The author hopes you enjoy this birthday edition of the Roto Riteup.

On today’s agenda:
1. Various news and notes
2. Streaming Pitcher Options

Various news and notes

Stephen Strasburg is on fire, posting his fourth straight start with double-digit strikeouts. Strasburg carried a 5.16 ERA in the first half, but before yesterday’s start, had a 2.24 ERA in the second half.

After being pulled from Friday’s start with tightness in his right shoulder, Carlos Martinez is now out for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. Martinez ends his campaign with a 3.01 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and struck out nearly a quarter of the batters he faced.

Derek Holland got rocked by the Astros yesterday, allowing three homers over five innings of work. Three other Rangers took the hill in relief, and each of them allowed a homer, as well. Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa hit two homers each, with Colby Rasmus and Chris Carter providing the remaining two.

A pair of Red Sox are now out for the year: third baseman Pablo Sandoval and pitcher Steven Wright. Sandoval ends the season with a .245/.292/.366 line, but a .266/.317/.427 line against right-handed pitchers. Wright ends his year with a 4.09 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in his nine starts and seven relief appearances.

The Mariners are slotting Vidal Nuno into the rotation for Tuesday’s game against the Astros, which won’t be a slaughterfest at all and will be a perfectly happy day for Seattle fans.

Adam Wainwright could once again be St. Louis’ postseason weapon out of the bullpen, as he prepares himself to be physically ready to go in October. Wainwright will need to get some MLB action before the playoffs to show management that he’s truly healthy,

Streaming Pitcher Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers or play DFS, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.

A pitcher for today: Henry Owens vs BAL (Ubaldo Jimenez)
If you can pick up Luis Severino for a reasonable cost, he’s the superior play, but Owens may be a slightly better value.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Brandon Finnegan at WAS (Tanner Roark)
Young lefties were all the rage just two months ago, so why not now?