Roto Riteup: August 16, 2015
Today’s Roto Riteup is brought to you by baseball. Baseball, where we the same game for eight months out of the year and no one complains.
On today’s agenda:
1. Various news and notes
2. Streaming Pitcher Options
Various news and notes
Chase Utley hit a homer yesterday in what I wound pose was his last game as a Phillie, considering that the team has already announced that the second baseman won’t play in today’s game against the Brewers. Expect Utley to be a member of the Angels, Yankees, or Giants by the end of the weekend.
After looking good over his last handful of outings, Matt Shoemaker disappointed against the White Sox yesterday, getting knocked out in the second innings after allowing six runs on three walks and a homer.
Remember how Francisco Lindor was struggling to adjust to the big leagues? After reaching base three times last night, Lindor’s line is up to .296/.329/.408 over 239 plate appearances. Everything seems to be going to plan with Lindor — good average, a tiny bit of pop, and a few stolen bases — but he isn’t walking at the rate expected after showing impressive discipline in the minors.
Freddie Freeman will be returning for the fantasy stretch run, as the Braves are planning to call him up Wednesday when he’s completed a rehab assignment. This is Freeman’s first injury-plague season, a year in which he’s shown some power progression in his age-25 season. Freeman could help turn the tides in a few head-to-head matchups when he returns.
King Felix Hernandez took a royal deuce on the field yesterday, giving up three homers and 10 earned runs without making it out of the third inning. Felix is technically having a down year, what with a 8.65 K/9, 2.53 BB/9, and 0.94 HR/9 this season. I’m not going to be the one who predicts the beginning of the end for Felix — mostly because it would make me very sad — but if this is indeed that, it will be a slow one, since his offspeed stuff will keep him afloat even as his fastball fades.
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: Henry Owens vs SEA (Vidal Nuno)
The Red Sox can do some hitting against LHP, so Owens may get some run support. If things are working, his changeup can help keep Trumbo and Cruz at bay, and his slider can keep Seager and Cano off the plate.
A pitcher for tomorrow: Jeremy Hellickson at PIT (Gerrit Cole)
Hellickson has been not-so-great this year, but I don’t hate him away from home, even if he’s been worse on the road this year.
Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.
I know I’m being irrational and this question will probably look foolish in a week or so, but is Anthony Rendon EVER going to start hitting? I hung onto the dude all year through his numerous injuries with the hope he would be a big second half boost at 2B for my team. Instead, I am stuck relying on Delino Deshields Jr. because Rendon has been so awful since coming back. Any reason to buy a late August/September surge coming from Rendon this year?
I am going through the same frustration. 2B was supposed to be all set until Rendon decided he hates hitting a baseball. I stocked up on $1 backups like Justin Turner and Derek Dietrich, just to make sure 2B is not a total punt for me this year.
Speaking as a former Rendon owner, I doubt it. He seems so lost this year.
I punted on him befire he hit the DL a second time and am so glad I did.
I’m holding for now to see if he does anything with three games in Denver. If he stays cold there, I’ll need to move on.