Roto Riteup: April 10, 2023
The Bloodline comes to MLB:
Sean Manaea and Blake Sabol became the first Samoan pitcher and catcher pair to start an MLB game 👏
"It's amazing. There's not too many of us Samoan baseball players. To form a battery like that is incredible for all of us." – Manaea
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/SUHpjyRLko
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 9, 2023
On the Agenda
- IL Apocalypse
- Easter Dongs
- Monday Morning FAAB Attack: Wiemer Business
- Streaming Pitchers
IL Apocalypse
Okay, maybe it’s just an apocalypse for one group of drafters.
Benches clear in Pittsburgh after a play at the plate involving Oneil Cruz
(via @NBCSWhiteSox)pic.twitter.com/zEfdulecBS
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 9, 2023
Oneil Cruz broke his ankle sliding into home on Sunday, was taunted by Seby Zavala, and then had his honor defended by his team in a bench-clearing brawl. This is one of the bigger fantasy devastations we’ve seen so far, and while it’s not true technically, I suspect we’ll look back on today as the unofficial day Pittsburgh was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
Andrés Muñoz hits the 15-day IL with a right deltoid strain, as I picture everyone who drafted Paul Sewald five rounds later settling in front of the fire with a lovely snifter of cognac.
Travis d’Arnaud is gone with a concussion suffered on Sunday and now so are (presumably) the questions about why Sean Murphy was only catching every other day or so. No timetable yet for d’Arnaud but given his history of concussions it’s hard to make any assumptions.
Zach Davies went on the 15-day IL with an oblique strain but who gets his rotation spot is more pertinent for fantasy reasons. It’s Drey Jameson who gets the first call, now scheduled to move out of the bullpen to face the Marlins later in the week. In three appearances and 8.1 IP, Jameson has a 2.16 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, with two wins and eight strikeouts. But if Jameson falters, top prospect Brando Pfaadt still lurks at Triple-A.
Starling Marte is listed day-to-day after straining his neck while stealing third base.
And this is probably not ideal post-wrist surgery rehab:
Adam Duvall leaves the game after not being able to come up with this catch
Duvall is leading the league in OPS (1.544) pic.twitter.com/2kf87LPipG
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 9, 2023
Easter Dongs
Through 36 PA, Wander Franco now has many home runs as his immediate family has Wander Francos:
Wander Franco – Tampa Bay Rays (4) pic.twitter.com/GCfmGvIPyd
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
Many of my teams are begging you; please go back to being a thing:
Brandon Lowe – Tampa Bay Rays (2) pic.twitter.com/2MnEzGP4Q1
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
Big Dumper be dumping:
Cal Raleigh – Seattle Mariners (1) pic.twitter.com/LQmQhgTKXb
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
Many of my teams are begging you; please start being a thing (this is the remix):
Bryan De La Cruz – Miami Marlins (1) pic.twitter.com/dQls2LxApo
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
What year is it, again?:
Mike Moustakas – Colorado Rockies (1)
https://t.co/YhwnOaZDuD— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
Jason Heyward – Los Angeles Dodgers (3) pic.twitter.com/CvIfyimuQN
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
No, Stone, I salute you:
Stone Garrett – Washington Nationals (1) pic.twitter.com/75KC8DCDAe
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
Imagine if this guy also somehow pitched:
Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Angels (3) pic.twitter.com/xkpp3ezBNT
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
Or was on the same team as this guy:
Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels (3)
pic.twitter.com/4mYR20aYri— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 9, 2023
Wouldn’t that be something?
Monday Morning FAAB Attack: Wiemer Business
I’m going to start posting the FAAB results for three of my leagues each week (Main Event, Online Championship, TGFBI) just as a rough temperature check on the current state of the wire. Mine are in bold:
Streaming Pitchers
Pitcher(s) for today: There are some really nice streams available for Monday’s games, including three with tempting two-steps.
Bryce Elder, ATL (vs CIN, @ KC) – Elder tamed a tough Cardinals lineup in his season debut (6 IP: W, 6 K, 0 ER) and gets two offenses from way down the mediocrity ladder.
Matt Strahm, PHI (vs MIA, @ CIN) – What is Strahm may never die and he proved sharp in his first start of 2023, shutting out the Yankees for four innings and striking out three. How deep he’ll get into games remains on the light side but two starts in Week 3 can make up that difference.
Kyle Gibson, BAL (@ OAK, @ CHW) – We’re less than two weeks in, and it’s already clear that any reasonable pitcher is probably going to be a decent stream against Oakland.
High Risk: Jose Suarez vs WSH
Pitcher for Tomorrow
Nope – Not unless you think Josiah Gray (@ LAA) is a good idea…And I don’t.
I wonder if Tommy Henry might get the call first in Arizona, ahead of Brandon Pfaadt, since he’s on the 40 man.