Roto Riteup: August 21, 2013

Today’s Roto Riteup celebrates the author completing a good chunk of the Cinderella jigsaw puzzle he has neglected to work on for the past two weeks.

On today’s agenda:
1. Mike Trout misses second straight game
2. Astros call up Max Stassi
3. Clay Buchholz to start rehab assignment

Mike Trout misses second straight game
Trout sat out Tuesday’s game due to some tightness in his right hamstring, but the outfielder is set to return in the next day or two. Trout is such an immense talent that missing even two games is big news, and we all know that the goal of the Roto Riteup is to be a SEO driver of only the hottest of internet clicks.

Astros call up Max Stassi
With backup catcher Carlos Corporan heading to the DL with a concussion, Houston has called Stassi up from Double-A to fill the vacancy. Stassi was acquired by the Astros when Jed Lowrie was shipped out of town, and the backstop has flashed excellent power in just over 300 plate appearances this year. With an ISO over .250, the right-hander showed power that translates across positions, making his ability to play behind the dish even more appetizing.

While Stassi has nice potential, Houston already has a solid young catcher in Jason Castro, who actually made the All-Star team this year. Stassi will back up Castro the rest of the way and likely report to Triple-A at the beginning of the 2014 campaign, but at some point the Astros are going to have a make a choice about who the future is at the position.

Clay Buchholz to start rehab assignment
After throwing three simulated innings yesterday, Buchholz is looking at a Friday bullpen session and a rehab outing on Sunday. Buchholz’s shoulder has been a big problem over the past couple of months, but the right-hander could be a big contributor to both the Red Sox and fantasy owners in September. The Red Sox currently have a solid starting five with Jon Lester, Jake Peavy, Felix Doubront, Ryan Dempster, and John Lackey, but there’s always room for a pitcher with Buchholz’s talents.

If the team is worried about putting too much pressure on the right-hander’s shoulder, Boston could simply elect to stick Buchholz in the bullpen to build up arm strength in preparation for the postseason. Or, the BoSox could slide Buchholz into their rotation and demote the struggling Dempster to the bullpen. Buchholz was an absolutely dominant starter who may have been a waiver wire casualty due his lengthy DL stint, so go check all your leagues to make sure he’s not available for some reason. If he is, plan on picking him up if he can make it through Sunday’s rehab kickoff without any issues.