Roto Riteup: August 30, 2022

Tough time to be a Giants fan when the team can’t even manage to pay the power bill on time:

https://twitter.com/irapolis/status/1564450468599930880?s=20&t=6J_rwuhMpXb1JE3EgoP9ZQ

On the Agenda: 

1. Sleeper and the Bust DK Contest
2. COVID Issues
3. Closer Chaos
4. Quick Hits
5. Various News and Notes
6. Streaming Pitchers

Sleeper and the Bust DK Contest

On most Tuesday’s and Friday’s and some other days, Paul Sporer and I will be doing a $5 draftkings game for anyone that is interested. Will add a link once available. 

COVID Issues

Adrian Sampson 샘슨 and Justin Steele were placed on the restricted list as the team plays in Toronto. We had previously heard Steele would be out, but Sampson was an addition to the list. Both are expected to take their turns in the rotation when the team travels to St. Louis later this week. 

Closer Chaos

Clay Holmes was activated off of the IL on Monday by the Yankees. Holmes pitched a scoreless seventh inning on Monday. With Aroldis Chapman and Scott Effross on the IL, it shouldn’t be long for Holmes to get the closer job back as long as he is right. 

Nick Martinez pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 1 to pick up his seventh save of the season. Manager Bob Melvin  stated prior to the game that Martinez was his preferred closer at the moment. With Josh Hader continuing to struggle, Martinez has a lot of value if he can secure the full time role in San Diego. 

Quick Hits

Tony Gonsolin was placed on the IL with a forearm strain. This was unexpected for fantasy managers and likely for the Dodgers who yesterday stated they would be moving to a six man rotation for at least the next few weeks. With Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw on the IL and Walker Buehler done for the year, it seems likely that Michael Grove and Ryan Pepiot will join the rotation until they get healthy. 

Matthew Boyd is expected to be activated from the IL on Tuesday. Boyd has been recovering from Tommy John Surgery, but has pitched well in AAA. He is not expected to be a starter right now, but could be a cheap source of wins in leagues where you might have starts limits as he is expected to be a multi-inning reliever. 

Rowdy Tellez left Monday’s game with a knee issue. The Brewers are calling it tendinitis so consider him day-to-day for now. 

Various News and Notes

According to Mark Berman of FOX Sports Houston, the Astros are expected to call up Yainer Diaz and Hunter Brown when rosters expand on September 1st. Diaz is a catching prospect that has hit well, but it is hard to see where he fits in the Astros lineup with bth Christian Vazquez and Martin Maldanado. Brown is an interesting pitching prospect who has dominated in AAA with plus stuff and improved command. With Justin Verlander undergoing an MRI on Tuesday, he could find a home in the Astros rotation as they protect other starters down the stretch. 

TJ Friedl went 1-for-4 with a home run in the loss to the Cardinals. 

TJ Friedl stays hot! pic.twitter.com/B7U9d1G6PN

— ATBBTTR (@ATBBTTR) August 30, 2022

Friedl has quietly been very good in August, hitting .378 with three home runs and a stolen base while hitting fifth in the lineup in four of the last five games. He has power, speed and a good hit tool and just needs a place to play and now has that in Cincinnati, making him an interesting deeper league pickup.

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today:  Erick Fedde vs OAK

This is a risky pick but there are not many good options. 

High Risk Options: Dakota Hudson at CIN, Mitch Keller at MIL, Adrian Houser vs PIT, Spenser Watkins at CLE

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Bailey Falter at ARI

Falter has pitched well as of late, but this is more about a nice matchup in a good park. 

High Risk Options: Tommy Henry vs PHI, Anibal Sanchez vs OAK. 

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.”