Roto Riteup: July 22, 2013

In the baseball internet system, fantasy news and notes are considered especially important. At Rotographs, the aforementioned notes are included in an elite article known as the Roto Riteup. These are the stories.

[DUN DUN]

On today’s agenda:
1. Matt Kemp returns, leaves
2. Roy Halladay throws off a mound
3. Clay Buchholz heads off to Dr. James Andrews’ office
4. Fun with arbitrary endpoints

Matt Kemp returns, leaves
After missing a couple of weeks due to shoulder pain, Kemp returned to the Dodgers lineup yesterday before leaving in the ninth with an ankle injury. Kemp rolled his ankle rather severely whilst attempting to score with Kurt Suzuki blocking the plate, and while the Dodgers are saying it’s nothing serious, it certainly didn’t look like that is the case. The right-hander hit a double and a homer in his nine innings off the DL, so at least the injury didn’t come after a brutal day at the plate. Despite all the name recognition and money he’s receiving, Kemp has actually been one of the league’s ten worst players this year, but I don’t think anyone expects that to continue for long.

Roy Halladay throws off a mound
After getting brutally smashed by his opponents earlier this year, Halladay underwent shoulder surgery in mid-May, and he made a big step yesterday by throwing off a mound for the first time since surgery. Halladay only threw 20 pitches, but Philly’s pitching coach says his arm slot is much closer to where it resided during 2010, before any of his current struggles reared their ugly heads. At this rate, Halladay hopes to be back with the Phillies for the last month of the season, which will leave him just enough time to prove he’s healthy before hitting the open market in November.

Clay Buchholz heads off to Dr. James Andrews’ office
Buchholz has been out of action since the beginning of June thanks to shoulder and neck problems, and the stud right-hander has had many-a-problem healing. The Red Sox don’t think that anything serious is wrong, and they’re hoping Dr. Andrews will allow them to put their minds at ease. At this point, when Buchholz returns is anybody’s guess.

Fun with arbitrary endpoints
It’s been far too long since this recurring feature was last used.

Ervin Santana, last calendar year: 30 starts, 197.1 IP, 162 K, 45 BB, 32 HR; 3.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP

Michael Saunders, last 24 games: 82 PA, 2 HR, 8 BB, 20 K; .293/.366/.479 (.373 BABIP)

Joe Saunders, last 10 starts: 62.1 IP, 38 K, 14 BB, 5 HR; 2.60 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

Ichiro Suzuki, last 33 games: 134 PA, 4 HR, 6 BB, 14 K, 8 SB; .317/.348/.476 (.333 BABIP)

Julio Teheran, last 8 starts: 50 IP, 50 K, 10 BB, 7 HR; 2.88 ERA, 1.12 WHIP