Roto Riteup: April 10, 2015

Before getting started with today’s Roto Riteup, check out the band Modern Baseball. While their music doesn’t pertain to the game of baseball, it is nonetheless quite enjoyable and their track Your Graduation (warning: language) recently passed the million view mark on YouTube.

On today’s agenda:
1. Shane Greene’s impressive outing
2. The efficient Anthony DeSclafani
3. Let’s talk about Alex Rodriguez
4. Streaming Pitching Options

Shane Greene’s impressive outing
Thanks to the lovely Michigan weather — something I know far too much about — Greene’s first start as a Detroit Tiger was delayed. He was worth the wait as he tossed eight innings of one-run ball against the Minnesota Twins en route to the win. Greene induced 13 of his 85 pitches for whiffs and sat down five Twins on strikes, scattering four hits and a walk. As mentioned in yesterday’s Roto Riteup, Greene would have made a lovely stream option had his ownership rate not been quite so high, and let’s not talk about Kendall Graveman. For non-CBS leagues, Greene can be picked up in over 95% of ESPN formats and 85% of Yahoo! leagues. If he’s still available, be sure to snap him up. We barely have 80 innings of his major league career however Greene’s 48.4% ground ball rate in the minors corroborates his 50.2% mark from last season, and I am quite fond of pitchers who generate ground balls. He’s better than a stream candidate and should be rostered at minimum as a spot starter in all but the very shallowest of leagues.

The efficient Anthony DeSclafani
Though he lasted just six innings, DeSclafani retired the 18 batters on just 73 pitches, six via strikeout. He forced the Pittsburgh Pirates to swing and miss at his pitches 12 times throughout the game and surrendered just five hits and a lone walk. One of the hits DeSclafani coughed up was a home run, however pitching in Great American Ballpark, that sort of thing will happen. Don’t expect the world from him but as a stream candidate or spot starter in deep leagues, DeSclafani has value. Available in over 98% of both ESPN and Yahoo! leagues as well as over 75% of CBS formats, make use of him in favorable matchups and he should provide solid ratios and some wins.

If you’re looking for a potential Ian Kennedy replacement and San Diego’s in-house replacement of Odrisamer Despaigne doesn’t thrill you, Greene and DeSclafani are worthwhile starters to own. For my money, I have them ranked Greene, Despaigne then DeSclafani.

Let’s talk about Alex Rodriguez
He won’t win any popularity contests away from New York, however Rodriguez doesn’t have to in order to provide value. Assuming health, he’ll get plenty of starts at designated hitter — though he is third base eligible in all of my leagues — and calls a pretty cozy ballpark home. His days of hitting .300 are almost certainly in the rear-view mirror but his ability to get on-base via walk keeps his value high in OBP and points leagues. If he hits 20+ home runs with a .340 OBP, something I think he is capable of, then A-Rod is back on everyone’s fantasy radars. I’m currently employing his services as I (somewhat) patiently await the return of Anthony Rendon and owners in other leagues have noticed him as well. A-Rod is owned in two-thirds of CBS and Yahoo! leagues yet only 40% of ESPN formats.

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

A pitcher for today: Steve Geltz at MIA (Dan Haren)
I went back and forth on which starter I like more in this game. I’m opting for more strikeouts, however also a much higher risk of walks and a poor WHIP. Geltz relies on lots of fly balls, owning a mere 30.1% ground ball rate throughout his minor league career. Miami is very good at suppressing home runs, posting the third lowest home run index last season, so perhaps the long ball won’t hurt Geltz today. He is available, well, basically everywhere as he sports a 0% ownership rate in ESPN and CBS with a 1% tally for Yahoo! leagues.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Jarred Cosart vs TB (Chris Archer)
We’ll hope this pick of a ground baller goes better than my Graveman choice yesterday. Cosart can be picked up in over 75% of the three major fantasy sites and for a cheap streamer, is worth the risk.