Roto Riteup: July 24, 2023

Save your weak “Hall of Very Good” takes that only tell me you weren’t paying close enough attention for long enough – he’s 100% deserving:

Hall of Famer, Scott Rolen 👏 pic.twitter.com/SWiZ663RUa

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 23, 2023

On the Agenda:

1. News and Notes
2. Bumps and Bruises
3. Comeback Trails
4. Streaming Pitchers

News and Notes

Adam Wainwright (old-man arm) will return to the St. Louis rotation for a two-start week, first going to Arizona tonight before returning home for a tilt against the Cubs. In his three starts before hitting the IL, Wainwright posted a 19.13 ERA after allowing a total of 17 ER in 8 IP. IE. Don’t you dare try hit a seven by rolling with Waino because he’s getting two starts.

Alex Verdugo had a date with Mr. Pine on Sunday due to the monster slump he’s been as of late, slashing just .127/.222/.255 in July, with a .218 wOBA and 27 wRC+. Adam Duvall got the start in right field in his place but this is just a mental break and we should expect Verdugo back in the lineup for Boston’s series against the Braves starting on Tuesday.

Jon Gray took an 112 mph heater off his shin last week but will still make his scheduled start against the Astros tonight. Gray has only posted a 20% K% but has a 3.31 ERA (4.47 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP over 18 starts and 103 IP, collecting six wins along the way.

Nathan Eovaldi is coming off picking up a win against the Rays, going six scoreless innings, but will have his next start skipped. Eovaldi’s strikeout rate has plummeted lately, with his walk-rate going the opposite way, as he’s run just a 16% K% and 14% BB% over his last four starts after posting a 25% K% and 5% BB% in his first 15 starts.

Don’t worry – I’m sure this has nothing to do with it:

Bumps and Bruises

J.D. Martinez (hamstring) was a late scratch on Sunday and manager Dave Roberts says he’ll also be held out on Monday. But considering the Dodgers didn’t even deem this worth an MRI, a return on Tuesday seems likely.

Lars Nootbaar left Sunday’s gam e in the seventh inning with a sore right heel. Consider him day-to-day.

Gleyber Torres went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run on Sunday but was removed late due to hip tightness. Consider him day-to-day but the issue doesn’t seem too serious and Torres will get an extra day of rest with the Yankees having Monday off.

Comeback Trails

Max Fried (forearm) will need another rehab assignment on Wednesday before rejoining the Braves rotation. After going scoreless in his first two rehab starts, Fried got knocked around in his most recent one at Triple-A, allowing three runs in 3.1 IP on six hits and two home runs. If he stays on track, this schedule will line up Fried to face the Angels at home next Tuesday – Los Angeles is fifth in wRC+ and sixth in wOBA vs LHP but with a bottom-10 K%.

Aaron Judge (toe) had two simulated at-bats on Sunday and manager Aaron Boone said he’s scheduled to take more coming up as he moves toward full batting practice. The toe has been good enough for him to also run the bases but the Yankees remain mum on what his actual timetable is, as well as whether or not he’ll need a rehab assignment.

Clayton Kershaw went from having a scheduled simulated game on Monday, to it turning into bullpen, before getting completely pushed out of it. But don’t worry! Manager Dave Roberts says nothing to see here because Kershaw hasn’t suffered a setback. Which we should, of course, totally take at face value. Baa-ha-ha; baa-ha, ha-ha.

Charlie Blackmon (fractured hand) took dry swings on Sunday but we won’t have a clear timetable until he’s able to take real batting practice. A best-case ballpark seems to take us at least a week into August until he makes his return.

Andrew Vaughn (foot) hasn’t played since July 18 and while the White Sox remain hopeful he’ll be able to return to the lineup on Tuesday, they also won’t rule out the possibility he’ll need an IL stint. Keep your lineup heads on a swivel.

Streaming Pitchers

Streaming Pitcher For Today: Patrick Corbin, WSN vs COL – I know, I know; it’s Patrick Corbin, he of the 4.89 ERA (4.88 FIP) and 1.54 WHIP, as well as a contract that should come wrapped in a ski mask. But those numbers also show how much of a man of extremes he’s been, with his starts consisting of a mix of blowups and gems, with a healthy dose of mediocrity. In Corbin’s 20 starts, he’s allowed six or more runs four times and two or fewer runs nine times. Colorado has managed to win five of eight games since the All-Star break but remains a mediocre offense that tends to struggle on the road.

High Risk Pitcher For Today: Graham Ashcraft, CIN @MIL – After a strong April (2.10 ERA over five starts) Ashcraft got positively lit up, with a May/June stretch that saw him post an 11.08 ERA, though his opponents (ATL, LAD, @COL) certainly didn’t do him any favors. Since getting thumped by Atlanta on June 24, Ashcraft has a 1.82 ERA over four starts and 24 IP but a 4.54 FIP doesn’t exactly scream future success. Luckily, the Brewers offense has been mostly brutal – since the start of June, Milwaukee’s .293 wOBA vs RHP is the fifth-lowest in baseball.

Streaming Pitcher For Tomorrow: Ken Waldichuk @SFG? Rich Hill @SDP? No thank you and no streams for you!