Roto Riteup: July 13, 2022

Is this the best play in baseball?

Josh Smith hits an inside-the-park home run for his first career home run! Baseball!! pic.twitter.com/DfYMmP4ySm

— MLB (@MLB) July 12, 2022

On the Agenda: 

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

 

COVID Issues

Albert Almora was placed on the COVID-IL on Tuesday. No word whether he tested positive or is just experiencing symptoms. 

Jonah Heim was scratched from the lineup on Tuesday with an undisclosed illness. No word on whether he will be placed on the COVID-IL. 

 

Quick Hits

Aaron Hicks left Tuesday’s game with a leg injury after fouling a ball off of his leg. X-rays were negative following the game. Consider him day-to-day for now. 

Trevor Story left Tuesday’s game with a bruised hand after being hit by a pitch. The Red Sox are characterizing the injury as a hand contusion so it sounds like he may have avoided serious injury. Consider him day-to-day. 

Matt Strahm left Tuesday’s game after being hit with a comebacker on the wrist. Consider him day-to-day for now. 

Garrett Cooper left Tuesday’s game after fouling a pitch off of his knee. X-rays were negative. Consider him day-to-day for now. 

Nick Martinez left Tuesday’s game after being hit on the foot with a comebacker. The Padres are calling a minor ankle sprain. Consider him day-to-day for now. 

Mike Trout left Tuesday’s game with back spasms. Consider him day-to-day for now. 

Max Kepler left Tuesday’s game with a leg injury after fouling a pitch off of it. Consider him day-to-day for now. 

Alex Colome left his appearance in the eighth inning with a hamstring cramp. Consider him day-to-day for now.

 

Various News and Notes

Thairo Estrada went 2-for-5 with two home runs in the victory over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. 

Thairo Estrada – San Francisco Giants (8) pic.twitter.com/kJUb0JA7iK

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) July 13, 2022

Estrada has played well when he gets the opportunities, hitting .259/.311/421 with nine home runs and 12 stolen bases in 283 plate appearances. With the Giants missing both Evan Longoria and Tommy LaStella, he could be in for more playing time, but his upside is limited due to the platooning ways of the Giants.

Yermin Mercedes went 3-for-3 with a home run and a walk in the victory over the Diamondbacks.

Yermin Mercedes – San Francisco Giants (1) pic.twitter.com/Nmh6WSdr54

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) July 13, 2022

Mercedes is hitting .296/.387/.519 with yesterday’s home run in just 31 plate appearances since debuting with the Giants. Mercedes has hit at just about every spot over his 11 years in baseball, but he struggles to play defense which limits his ability to stay on the field. The Giants could surely use his bat, but he could find himself as a short side platoon DH, which wouldn’t be super enticing.

Leody Taveras went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a stolen base in the loss to the Athletics. Taveras is now hitting .328/.352/.507 with two home runs and three stolen bases since being called up. Taveras was a huge “sleeper” heading into last year, but struggled before being demoted. He is striking out about 27% of the time right now which has been an issue for him before, but his swinging strike rate is actually pretty decent and he is making a ton of zone contact. He should be picked up in most formats on the power/speed upside alone.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today: Spencer Watkins at CHC

Watkins has quietly been very good and has a nice matchup. 

High Risk Options: Aaron Civale vs CHW, Chad Kuhl vs SD, Brady Singer vs DET, Josh Winckowski at TB, JT Brubaker at MIA. 

 

Pitcher for Tomorrow:  None

Short slate without great options. 

High Risk Options: Zach Thompson at MIA

 

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.”