Roto Riteup: August 16, 2021

There is no sport like baseball:

Tyler Gilbert's dad had an amazing reaction to his son's no-hitter. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/11MGrvvLIF

— MLB (@MLB) August 15, 2021

1. COVID Issues
2. Quick Hits
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitchers

 

COVID Issues

Merrill Kelly was placed on the IL after testing positive for COVID. He will miss at least the next 10 days. 

 

Quick Hits

Joe Ross was placed on the IL with a partially torn UCL. This is awful news as it likely leads to Tommy John Surgery. He is droppable in all formats. 

Adalberto Mondesi suffered a setback in his rehab assignment and will be shut down. The Royals are characterizing the setback as tightness in his oblique. While this doesn’t necessarily sound bad, this is an example of why these oblique injuries are so tricky. 

Yu Darvish was placed on the IL with back soreness. This doesn’t sound like it will keep him out long. 

Bryce Wilson was placed on the IL with what the Pirates are calling a “general shutdown.” It doesn’t sound like he will be shut down the rest of the season, but that they are giving him some extra rest. 

Jesse Winker left Sunday’s game after injuring his intercostal strain. Consider him day-to-day at this time, but considering he already missed multiple games last week with the injury, this could easily end him up on the IL. 

Willians Astudillo left Sunday’s game after being hit on the foot with a pitch. 

 

Various News and Notes

Triston McKenzie threw eight scoreless innings in the victory over the Tigers, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out 11. 

Triston McKenzie was nearly perfect in his 8-inning, 11-strikeout gem for the @Indians. pic.twitter.com/Zo2WjCmlaK

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 15, 2021

McKenzie was overpowering in this one, carrying a perfect game into the eighth inning and throwing all three of his pitches for 30+% CSWs. There is no question of the talent McKenzie has if he can harness it and stay healthy.

Eduardo Rodriguez threw six innings allowing just an unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out six. Rodriguez was really good in spite of the walks, sporting a 31% CSW in the victory over the Orioles. Rodriguez has awful surface stats, but he has gotten unlucky. His xERA is 3.66 and a career best walk rate. He is pretty available in leagues and should be picked up in all formats.

DJ Peters went 2-for-4 with two home runs in the victory over the Athletics.

DJ Peters – Texas Rangers (3) https://t.co/gqYOHflmPF

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) August 15, 2021

Peters has struggled since arriving in Texas, but he now has three home runs in his last three games. He has Major League power and usually walks at a double digit rate, though he hasn’t recently. He is someone to continue to monitor.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today: Griffin Jax vs CLE

Jax performed well in his last few appearances and has a nice matchup. 

High Risk Options: Carlos Hernandez vs HOU, Matt Harvey at TB, Wil Crowe at LAD.  

 

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Tyler Anderson at TEX

There are a lot of great options today, but Anderson against an awful Rangers lineup is my favorite. 

High Risk Options: Tanner Houckat NYY, J.T. Brubaker at LAD, Spencer Howard vs SEA, Dylan Bundy at DET, Daniel Lynch vs HOU, Bailey Ober vs CLE, Reynaldo Lopez vs OAK, Elijah Morgan at MIN.

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 the recommended pitchers. It does not include the “High Risk Options.”