Roto Riteup: July 13, 2013

In anticipation of the Chicago meet up, the present author is getting acclimated to the local tastes via the Half Acre Brewing Company.

On today’s agenda:
1. Brett Lawrie, second baseman?
2. Welcome back, Jedd Gyorko
3. Jarred Cosart’s debut

Brett Lawrie, second baseman?
The latest chapter of the saga known as Brett Lawrie’s 2013 season has taken yet another twist. While the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t openly state that Lawrie will return and see time and second base, they did allude to the possibility of it happening. We do know that Lawrie has been playing second base in the minors and will probably continue to do so until promoted. If Lawrie comes back and gains second base/middle infield eligibility, that will increase his value both this and next year. He’s been disappointing from an offensive standpoint this season, however slotting him in your 2B/MI spot for the rest of the season and all of next year could help ease the frustration.

Welcome back, Jedd Gyorko
While waiting for Lawrie to gain MI eligibility, one can plug in Jedd Gyorko. Yesterday Gyroko was activated from the disabled list and started at second base. Prior to hitting the DL Gyroko was hitting a solid .282/.341/.461 with eight home runs. The power shouldn’t be too surprising — even given his home park — as he hit 30 home runs last year across Double and Triple-A. He also hit 25 dingers between High-A and Double-A in 2011, so his power isn’t a new development.

Gyorko is currently available in 50% of both ESPN and Yahoo! leagues, though just 20% of CBS formats. As good as Jed Gyorko has been and despite Jed Lowrie being an Oakland Athletic, this will always be my favorite Jed.

Jarred Cosart’s debut
Yesterday Jarred Cosart made his major league debut and did so in dominant fashion. He lasted until the seventh inning before surrendering a hit and finished with eight innings of shut out ball. He only manged two strikeouts — while allowing a trio of walks — and four whiffs on the day. While he was already sent down — most likely to keep him on regular rest as well as to maintain the 10-day minimum — Cosart could very well be back on in the majors on July 23.

True, his minor league walk rates are less than ideal, but Cosart is a fairly highly touted pitching prospect. He should be a fixture in the Houston rotation for the rest of the year — or at least until they cap his innings — and he’ll offer a reasonable strikeout rate. Walks and wins will be too many and too few respectively, so Cosart is more of a deep league/keeper league player for now. If he shows an improvement in his command and control, Cosart could be fantasy relevant in standard 12-team mixed leagues yes this season, but don’t hold your breath. Of course Cosart is just 23-years-old and has time to develop. He could be a solid sleeper pick for 2014.

Bonus: Aaron Hicks has an absolute cannon.