Roto Riteup: April 19, 2016
I survived the late night seagull attack in San Francisco last night. I appreciate everyone’s thought and prayers.
On Today’s Agenda:
- Good News Aplenty for the Twins
- Everyone is going to Rehab!
- Various News and Notes
- Streaming Pitchers
Good News Aplenty for the Twins
Monday was a good day for the Minnesota Twins. Glen Perkins received some good news after getting a second opinion on his ailing shoulder. Dr. Timothy Kremchek recommended he rest and then rehab instead of surgery, according to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. While it is unlikely that Perkins comes back to the Twins when he is first eligible, he is at least on the road to returning.
Miguel Sano and Byung-ho Park both homered for the Twins on Monday. It was the first home run of the season for Sano, who entered Monday’s game hitting .179/.304/.231. He also recently gained outfield eligibility in ESPN leagues for those waiting for some flexibility. It was Park’s second home run in two games and third on the season. He may be available in some shallower formats (only 64.8% owned in ESPN leagues) and is worth a pickup. Both players have a ton of swing and miss in their respective games, but have enormous power. While cold streaks are to be expected, this may be a start of hot streaks and both are worth rostering in DFS before their prices adjust.
Jorge Polanco is expected to be called up today. The 22-year-old shortstop was hitting .286/.316/.543 in Triple-A Rochester with one home run. He could be worth an add in deeper formats and especially in AL only, as the other shortstop options in Minnesota are very uninspiring.
Everyone is going to Rehab!
Eduardo Rodriguez will begin a rehab assignment this weekend. On Monday, he was able to throw 55-pitches in a simulated game. Continue stashing him as he looks to be nearing a return to one of the worst rotations in Major League Baseball.
Danny Santana is scheduled to start a rehab assignment tomorrow. With the additions of Max Kepler and Polanco to the Major League roster, it will be interesting to see how quickly the Twins return the light hitting utility man back to Minnesota.
Anthony DeSclafani threw a 40-pitch simulated game on Monday according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. He stated that he is symptom-free from his ailing oblique and should begin a rehab assignment soon.
Jung-ho Kang began his rehab assignment on Monday, going 0-for-3 with a walk for Triple-A Indianapolis. He played third base and while he didn’t get much time on the base paths, he has been sliding in practice. He appears to be on track for an early May return to Pittsburgh
Various News and Notes
The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned Socrates Brito to Triple-A Reno. The best name in baseball was unable to carry over a hot spring into the regular season. David Peralta figures to get a look in centerfield, as well as Chris Owings who has already been playing there. Brito may not be down for too long however, as the move may have more to do with helping with the D-Backs pitching depth in light of Shelby Miller being a knuckle scraper.
According to Jon Heyman, the Tigers, Orioles and Reds are among teams showing interest in Kyle Lohse. There was also already a reported offer from Baltimore. Reports say Lohse is looking for the “right fit” which one would have to assume is code for “PLEASE SIGN ME!”
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: While Logan Verrett looked good last start against Miami and gets an easier matchup in Philadelphia today, I would lean towards Shane Greene who matches up against a Royals team who has scored less runs than any other team in Major League Baseball with a winning record (43). Greene struggled in the first inning of his last start, but then settled down and allowed only two more base runners the rest of the game.
A pitcher for tomorrow: Ross Stripling has looked impressive early on in his short Major League career and draws a putrid Atlanta squad.
Justin is the co-host on The Sleeper and The Bust Podcast and writes for Rotographs covering the Roto Riteup as well as other periodic articles. In addition to his work at Rotographs, Justin is the lead fantasy writer/analyst and co-owner for FriendswithFantasyBenefits.com, and the owner of The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational. He is also a certified addiction treatment counselor. Follow Justin on Twitter @JustinMasonFWFB.
No mention of Kang and his rehab assignment?
I knew I forgot one!
updated. Thank you!
NO problem! love the write ups!
“Please sign me!” That’s a riot. With Worley or Wright as their fifth starter options and neither being impressive right now for the O’s, Lohse may find that “right fit.”
What’s your opinion on Arcia for an AL-only league or deeper formats? He’s hitting lately and if the power from a couple of years ago returns, it would be hard to see Rosario getting the nod over Arcia in LF for the Twins, other than for defensive purposes.
I personally really like Arcia, but they seem to hate him for reasons other than baseball. If he hits, it’ll force them to keep him in the lineup. I think his best case scenario is that he gets moved to another team, which could happen if the Twins fall out of it.
Are you saying Verrett is a landmine today or just that Greene is simply a better option?
A little of both. Verrett will have issues making it long enough to pick up a QS or win. Greene gets the support of that amazing offense and will be much less owned in DFS. If you’re looking at guys like these, give me the guy that is more contrarian.
Looking for advice on how to deal with this rehab situation… I have too many guys about to be healthy.
Any suggestions on players I could target in trades for in a 20 team keeper 6×6 with these “chips”? They’re too good for FA.
Brandon Moss
Nick Ahmed
Travis Shaw
Nick Castellanos
Hector Santiago
Mat Latos
I have the hardest time agreeing on value with other managers for my lower tier players..
Are you rebuilding or just looking to sell high?
Combination… mostly trying to clear roster space! Probably going to try to acquire some draft picks if possible for next year if I can’t get a player.
I would take anything I could get for Ahmed. Maybe package Latos and Shaw for a top 40 pitcher? Castellanos is a guy I still believe in. Still young and in a fantastic lineup. Santiago is a guy I would hold on to for a bit and then try and flip him as he starts to wear down. Moss is what he is at this point. If you need the room, try and package two or three for an upgrade. Remember, you don’t have to win every trade. The goal is to win the league. If draft picks are your goal, I always like to pair players with a pick to get as many high picks as possible. In order of how quickly I would try and get rid of them, I would rank them like this Ahmed, Latos, Moss, Shaw, Santiago, Castellanos. Hope this answers your question.
Jorge Polanco coming up? (again?) In what role? I like him, but he’s been up before but barely got a look. Also, Kepler got called up, too, but spends all day everyday twiddling his thumbs.
Polanco is coming up today (supposedly). Should get time at Shortstop with Nunez and Escobar seeing more time at Third Base since Plouffe is hitting the DL. Kepler is a frustrating scenario, but I believe in his talent and think he will start to see more time soon.
We have a new writer today for Riteup, thankfully! The last two Streaming options were steaming trash.
Agree on Verrett today. S Greene is gone in most leagues by now, no? If not, still like Verrett more.
GL
I hope I can do well for you today. My pick was pretty good (Velasquez on 4/9.) Greene is only 14% owned in yahoo and 6.5% owned in Espn. Personally, I don’t mind paying up for pitching in DFS. Especially with options like Carassco or Strasburg today.
Seriously, at this rate STOP making Streamings picks. They are all steaming piles of trash. You guys are killing fantasy teams left and right with these suggestions. Post nothing rather than sling garbage.
Can’t get them all right. My last one was pretty good.
nice post