Roto Riteup: July 11, 2013

Today’s Roto Riteup spent some time alone with the office cat yesterday, and an immediate friendship was not evident.

On today’s agenda:
1. Matt Cain gets smacked, perhaps hurt
2. Matt Harvey will have start skipped
3. Prospecty Stuff

Matt Cain gets smacked, perhaps hurt
Cain struggled to start the year, but the right-hander had been pretty good since mid-May. Cain didn’t make it out of the first inning against the Mets yesterday, getting pulled after throwing only 36 pitches. Cain only allowed three earned yesterday, but he’s now allowed 11 earned over his last two starts, combining for only three innings of work and seven walked batsman. Cain’s velocity hasn’t been a problem, but it seems like controlling his stuff is a big issue. It’s entirely possible Cain is hurt and will need a DL stint, which in this case may not be the worst case scenario. Prior to his last two starts, Cain hadn’t allowed more than three earned, nor pitched less than six innings in any of his last four outings.

Matt Harvey will have start skipped
Harvey was supposed to get a start on Sunday, but the Mets are going to skip the right-hander and allow him to get some extended rest during the All-Star break early next week. Harvey has had a blister on his pitching hand, and while it didn’t appear to be hurting him on the mound, the Mets showing caution here is smart. Harvey could use a bit of scaling back due to him working late into games and being a youngin’, so it’s great timing for the Mets to give him time off. Harvey may still miss a start or two in the last month of the season, but this skipped start means he’s more likely to pitch for you in your inevitable trip to the head-to-head finals.

Prospecty Stuff

Prospecty note number one: the Cubs finally signed their first round draft pick, third baseman Kris Bryant. Bryant ended up simply signing for slot value, so the lack of an early signing is a bit weird, but whatever. Bryant has tremendous power, and even if he can’t stick at the hot corner, it sounds as if there’s no doubt his bat can play elsewhere. If the Cubs are aggressive, Bryant could have a Zunino-like rise to the majors, making it to the bigs after the super-two deadline next year.

Prospecty note number two: Mark Appel, the only man selected before Bryant, has already been promoted by the Astros. Appel pitched five innings in the rookie league, and now he’s headed to Single-A ball. Appel struck out six of the 20 batters he faced, allowing two earned in five innings.

Prospecty note number three: Danny Hultzen is still having problems with his shoulder, and he’s been shut down. Hultzen’s set-back is supposedly minor, but it’s a shoulder issue, and he’s being completely shut down for the next 10 days. Before developing shoulder problems earlier this year, Hultzen was about to be called up to the bigs. At this point, we’re looking at a potential September cameo, but that’s about it.