Roto Riteup: April 4, 2025

Sometimes you really need a nap after a long day at the office:

On the Agenda: 

1. Closer Chaos
2. Quick Hits
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitchers

 

Closer Chaos

José Alvarado registered the save for the Phillies on Thursday, throwing one inning and allowing an earned run on three hits and a walk while striking out three in the victory against the Rockies. 

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Jordan Romano worked the eighth in this one, but he was scheduled to face the 9-1-2 hitters which included all right handed pitchers. The Phillies bullpen feels like a full-on committee that will be frustrating for fantasy managers. 

 

Quick Hits

The Braves traded for Jason Delay from the Pirates for cash. Delay will be sent to AAA so he is not much more than organizational depth at this point. The Braves designated Jesse Chavez for assignment and he elected to enter free agency. 

Freddie Freeman was placed on the 10-Day IL with an ankle injury. Freeman has been dealing with this ankle injury all season and reportedly slipped in the shower and made it worse. There is no timetable for his return. The move is retroactive to March 31st. 

Various News and Notes

Cedric Mullins went 1-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base in the loss to the Red Sox on Thursday. 

Mullins has been great to start the season, hitting .308/.400/.692 with three home runs and two stolen bases. Today was the first day this season he led off for the Orioles which is exciting if he can continue to do that. However, he has struggled against lefties in recent years and that has continued so far this season, so there is a chance he begins to platoon if he doesn’t improve there.

Geraldo Perdomo went 1-for-5 with a grand slam in the loss to the Yankees on Thursday.

Perdomo has started off the season well, hitting .320/.321/.480 with this home run and a stolen base. Perdomo has been hitting at the bottom of the Diamondbacks lineup over the course of the season, but did hit second in this one with Ketel Marte sitting. Perdomo isn’t much more than an accumulator that hits at the bottom of the lineup, but he does play every day and could pick up eligibility at other positions at some point in the season.

Nick Lodolo threw 6.2 innings allowing one unearned run on four hits and no walks while striking out four in the loss to the Brewers on Thursday.

Lodolo was cruising in this one, throwing his curve for a 36% whiff rate and keeping the Brewers hitters off-balanced throughout the outing. Lodolo’s stuff has never been in question, but he can struggle with command and injuries. He is healthy right now and his command has been great so this may be finally time to buy in.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today: Tylor Megill vs TOR

Megill was good in his first start and I am not afraid of the Blue Jays. 

High Risk Options: Zack Littell at TEX, Osvaldo Bido at COL, Tyler Mahle vs TB, Jake Irvin vs ARI, Jonathan Cannon at DET, Randy Vasquez at CHC. 

Pitcher for Tomorrow: AJ Smith-Shawver vs MIA

Smith-Shawver was great in spring and is facing one of the worst offenses in baseball. 

High Risk Options: Griffin Canning vs TOR, Matthew Boyd vs SD, Richard Fitts vs STL, Marcus Stroman at PIT, Mitchell Parker vs ARI, Jack Kochanowicz at LAA, Davis Martin at DET, Germán Marquez vs ATH. 

For those of you that would like to see how these picks play out, I have a doc I put together to track the stats from my recommended pitchers. It does not include the “High Risk Options.”