Roto Riteup: April 8, 2016

It was a weird day for baseball. The Diamondbacks mascot lost all self-control, there was closure in the Hunter Pence scooter case, the San Diego Padres signed James Loney to a minor-league deal help their punchless offense, the White Sox are signing Chance the Rapper to help their ailing brand, and John Oliver’s weird costume prank continued to invade Yankee Stadium

It’s taken the whole league less than a week to lose their collective heads. Don’t lose yours.

On the agenda:
1. Schwarber set for MRI
2. Castro kindly asks that you add him
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitcher Options

Schwarber set for MRI
Kyle Schwarber will undergo an MRI on his ankle and knee today, and fantasy owners who spent a top-40 pick on him should be on high-alert all day waiting on that news. The Cubs are calling the injury a sprained left ankle – initial X-rays were negative – but the video of his outfield collision with Dexter Fowler leaves this owner worried until the good(-ish) news is more certain. And here we thought players with catcher eligibility playing elsewhere were a boon in part because they were safer.

That eligibility makes Schwarber one of the most valuable fantasy assets in the game, as he possesses 30-homer power and isn’t too big a drain on the batting average. If he were to miss time, Jorge Soler would need to be scooped up anywhere he’s not already owned (47 percent of leagues). Here’s hoping if that’s the case, you play in a one-catcher league where the replacement level isn’t too low.

Castro kindly asks that you add him
Here in 2016, it takes a lot to carve out a place in the Yankees history books. They’re full, overflowing even, and most everything’s been done. When you’re a light-hitting middle-infielder, it’s even more difficult. So what Starlin Castro’s done during opening week is nothing short of remarkable. Castro homered for the second day in a row on Thursday, pushing his season RBI total to eight through three games and tying a Yankee record for most runs batted in during a player’s first three games with the team. He’s not going to knock in 1,000, of course, but Castro is less than 100 percent owned after being the 14th second-baseman off boards, and he’s eligible at short, too. It’s been hard times for Castro the last few years. Still just 26, his failure to fulfill all of his vast upside may leave him undervalued as a potential .275-15-8 bat.

Various News and Notes
The Phillies are already on their third presumed closer of the season, as Jeanmar Gomez is next in line to get saves. Ken Giles, meanwhile, is doing his best to improve Luke Gregerson’s job security, surrendering a pair of home runs Thursday. Dylan Bundy made his first appearance since 2012, working a scoreless eighth inning. Sam Dyson got into trouble entering a second inning of relief, and Shawn Tolleson eventually let his runner come around to score the winning run. Not a great start for that bullpen.

Anthony Rizzo tripled, homered, and knocked in six runs. He’s very good. Bryce Harper homered and is very, very good, too. Also quite good, again, apparently? Jay Bruce, who hit a pair of home runs on Thursday. He’s been quite bad for two consecutive seasons but there are some mildly encouraging signs in his profile that suggest a potential bounce-back campaign.

Remember yesterday when we noted that Andrew Heaney was off to the DL for the Angels? Nicholas Tropeano officially got the call. He’ll start Monday and is of interest against the Athletics.

Adam Jones sat due to soreness in his rib cage, soreness that came on late in Wedesday’s game. Keep an ear out for the word “oblique” on Friday, and note that Ben Revere could be out three-to-four weeks with a similar injury, as covered yesterday. The Joey Rickard hype train could pick up even more steam if Jones misses time, as Rickard hit lead-off Thursday and smacked a home run to improve to 5-for-11 on the year.

Tyler White and Preston Tucker both homered for the Astros. White is firmly on the watch list, as a hot start could help him lock down playing time once Evan Gattis returns. There’s a lot to like with Tucker except for the playing time.

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: Matt Shoemaker vs TEX (A.J. Griffin)
Friday’s slate of streaming options is really unattractive, with most interesting low-ownership names facing good lineups or in bad parks. I’m kicking the tires on Matt Shoemaker, who’s hardly owned at all and draws a Texas offense that stands to strike out a lot this year. Projection systems like Shoemaker to split the difference between his 2014 and 2015, and if he can, he’s an interesting name.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Nate Karns vs OAK (Rich Hill)
With a bit of deep sleeper buzz, Nate Karns makes his first start of the season at his friendly home confines against an opponent off to a rather middling start at the dish. With a nine-percent ownership tag, Karns is worth keeping an eye on for his appreciable strikeout potential, buoyed by a tough rising fastball and a pair of solid secondary offerings.