Roto Riteup: July 19, 2019

by
July 19, 2019

Sometimes I like to blow off a little steam…

On the Agenda:
1. Quick Hits
2. Streaming Pitchers

 

Quick Hits
Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia was first to report that the Phillies have “investigated the possibility” of trading for Zack Greinke.

Greinke has posted a 2.95 ERA (3.88 SIERA), 0.95 WHIP, 23% K, and 3% BB in 20 GS this season and is currently the seventh ranked pitcher on the ESPN Player Rater. He’s making over $30 million annually and warrants a significant haul, but with the Phillies being linked to several starters, we’ll have to keep watch and see if a change happens.

Ender Inciarte was activated from the 10-day injured list and started in center field – hitting eighth – going 0-for-4 with a strikeout against the Nationals. Austin Riley was on the bench yesterday (pinch-hit appearance) and has been awful really since June at this point. While it seems like Inciarte will be more of a part-time guy, there’s a decent chance we see him, Nick Markakis, and Riley all get playing time based on matchups.

Niko Goodrum went 3-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base against the Indians yesterday, and is now hitting .341/.400/.512 with two home runs and four stolen bases in 41 AB this month.

Goodrum’s teammate Harold Castro logged his fourth multi-hit game in his last seven overall – going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. There’s no way he keeps his recent hot streak up (.317 BA, 10 extra-base hits, 2 HR, 2 SB in 126 AB this season, .400 BA this month), but ride the wave in deeper formats if need be.

Merrill Kelly allowed one earned run in seven innings against the Brewers on Thursday with six strikeouts and zero walks. He’s allowed three earned runs or less in eight of his last nine.

Tim Locastro swiped his second stolen base in his last three games, and ninth overall for the season. He may not be a good hitter, but he has a modest five-game hitting streak going, gets time in the lead-off spot, and is incredibly fast.

Zach Davies allowed one earned run over seven innings against the Diamondbacks – yielding five hits and walking three with ZERO strikeouts. This is now the fourth-straight start that he’s held the opposition to one run or fewer, but his skills are awful and he’s sporting an 11/8 K:BB during that time (23.1 IP).

Keston Hiura upped his hitting streak to eight games and notched his fifth stolen base of the month yesterday. His BABIP is obviously elevated this month (.520 coming into Thursday), but he’s hitting the ball with authority (13% Barrel) and displaying above-average speed.

Yordan Alvarez returned to the Astros lineup and went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.

In the same game, George Springer swatted his fourth home run in four games (22nd of the season).

Mike Trout returned to the Angels lineup after a four-day hiatus and went 1-for-4 with a double.

Ramon Laureano posted his third multi-hit game in a row and is now hitting .439/.480/.976 with six home runs and three stolen bases in July. He has 13 HR and eight stolen bases since June and should be owned everywhere.

Jurickson Profar hit his fourth home run in as many days in his matchup against the Twins on Thursday.

Matt Chapman was held out of this game as a precautionary measure, with Chad Pinder filling in at third base.

Mike Fiers improved his streak of games allowing three earned runs or less to 15 against the Twins yesterday. He’s outperforming his SIERA by a sizeable margin and offers almost zero upside, but he’s obviously found a way to continue his success.

Kyle Gibson logged his second quality start against Oakland this month – yielding three earned runs over seven innings pitched – with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Mitch Garver hit his fourth home run in 31 AB this month (16 on the year) and Eddie Rosario mashed a pinch-hit three-run home run.

Stephen Strasburg wasn’t necessarily his best from a pitching perspective against the Nationals on Thursday, but he was able to swat a three-run home run off of Touki Toussaint; his fourth longball of his career.

After posting four quality starts in his last five outings at Triple-A Gwinnett, Kyle Wright was obliterated by the Nationals. I love Wright long-term and think he’s nice buy-low in dynasty/keeper leagues, but his MLB exposure in 2019 has been abysmal to say the least.

Jordan Luplow hit his ninth home run in 90 AB against LHP this season. Yesterday’s blast was a two-run shot off of Matt Boyd.
Speaking of Boyd, he continues to generate a ton of strikeouts (eight in six innings yesterday), but has now allowed four earned runs or more in six-straight starts.

Jose Ramirez hit a two-run home run in four AB on Thursday. The bomb was also off of Matt Boyd, and brings him up to four in July (10-game hit streak, .340 BA). He’s contributed in the stolen base department, and with the power seemingly coming around, the “buy low” window will officially start to close.

Tommy Edman went 1-for-5 with a grand slam out of the leadoff spot against the Reds on Thursday.

He’s worth keeping an eye on.
Eugenio Suarez blasted his third home run in his last four games and seventh in the month of July against the Cardinals yesterday.

Bubba Starling went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, his first extra-base hit, and his first stolen base. Not for nothing, he has a hit in five-straight games (six played) with five strikeouts and three walks in 20 AB.

Jorge Soler went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer – his fourth of the month and 26th of the season – against the White Sox. He’s hitting .340/.431/.640 in July and ranks among the top-tier of the league in Barrel%, Hard-Hit%, xWOBA, xSLG, and Exit Velocity.

Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers both homered against the Blue Jays, and Chris Sale generated 12 strikeouts in six innings in what was his best start since June 5th against the Royals.

Matt Beaty hit his second home run in as many days against the Phillies on Thursday, and has an arguably sustainable .307/.331/.500 line for the season with four home runs in 114 AB.

Alex Verdugo and Enrique Hernandez also homered for the Dodgers, with Kike doing it twice.

Dinelson Lamet allowed three runs (one earned) in four innings pitched against the Marlins, with five strikeouts and two walks.

Fernando Tatis Jr. rebounded from a horrid performance on Wednesday to post his 15th home run of the season.

Caleb Smith failed to log a quality start for the first time since returning from injury, but it was still a good showing against San Diego (5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K).

Noah Syndergaard and Madison Bumgarner both had excellent performances on Thursday night, but Pete Alonso tried to play hero as he hit a home run against the Giants in the 16th inning to give NYM the lead. It was his second in as many days and 32nd of the season, but unfortunately not enough for the win.

Gio Urshela hit his third home run of the month and second of a four-game series against the Rays. He’s now up to a .305/.354/.486 line for the season.

Aaron Hicks continued his hot July by going 2-for-4 with a solo-home run against the Rays in Game 1 of a double-header.

Austin Meadows hit his 15th home run of the season and third home run in as many days when he started Game 1 of a double-header against the Yankees with a solo-shot on Thursday. Yandy Diaz followed that up with one of his own, but the Rays were eventually swept in the double-header.

Domingo German was quality yet again in Game 1, and is sporting a 1.50 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 18/2 K:BB in 18 IP (three GS) this month.

Yonny Chirinos and Charlie Morton gave up a combined 10 runs (nine earned) in 10.2 IP against the Yankees between the two games.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay times reported that Matt Duffy will be activated from the injured list this weekend.

Brendan McKay has been recalled from Triple-A Durham and will start tonight against the White Sox.

Jake Kaplan of the Athletic reported that Aledmys Diaz could be activated against the Athletics next weekend.

Anthony DiComo reported that Brandon Nimmo isn’t expected to begin a rehab assignment until August.

As I noted yesterday, Kevin Gausman is on track to start on Sunday against the Nationals according to Mark Bowman.

Max Scherzer threw from 90 feet yesterday, and Nationals manager Dave Martinez isn’t ruling him out for Sunday’s game against the Braves, but urges that he won’t let him pitch until he’s “100 percent.”

Wilmer Flores was activated from the 10-day injured list but did not see any game action.

Evan Woodberry suspects that both Daniel Norris and Spencer Turnbull will be shut down in September due to innings limits.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Less than 50% owned)
Pitcher for Today: Ryan Yarbrough vs CWS
Yarbrough has really turned things around in six-of-seven dating back to June 8th. The White Sox fare better against LHP, but – as seen in the Keller blurb – they don’t have Eloy Jimenez, and they sport the seventh-worst RPG mark in the league (4.3).

High-Risk Option: Tyler Mahle vs STL
Mahle has allowed 3 ER or less in all six starts at home. He’s also getting unlucky at large, and has seen some sizeable skill improvements as well. The Cardinals are 22nd in wRC+ against RHP (87), despite hitting Mahle hard in their first meeting in April.

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Griffin Canning at SEA
Last two starts haven’t gone well, but the Mariners are 28th in wRC+ over the last 14 days (72) and sit in the bottom-tier against RHP in K% (25%).

High-Risk Options: Jake Junis at CLE, Trent Thornton at DET





 

Fantasy Baseball and Tampa Bay Rays enthusiast. Restaurant manager by day, fantasy analyst by night. Contributor to Rotographs, Baseball HQ, Fantasy Pros, and co-owner of Friends with Fantasy Benefits. Follow me @MikeWernerFWFB.

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kjrushing89member
4 years ago

Love the detailed league breakdown

2
lukin
4 years ago
Reply to  kjrushing89

McKay is starting but stream Yarborough?

0
Mike Werner
4 years ago
Reply to  lukin

Apologies, I copied my streamers from the previous day over. McKay would replace Yarbrough in this instance.

1