Roto Riteup: July 26, 2015

Today is Parents Day in the United States. So call your parental units, or better yet go visit them. They may tell you to get your hair cut or ask why you aren’t married yet or question your major…wait, I’m projecting here. Whoops!

On today’s agenda:
1. Nick Castellanos‘ apparent power surge
2. Brock Holt time, again
3. Streaming Pitching Options

Nick Castellanos‘ apparent power surge
Including yesterday, Castellanos has powered three home runs in his past five games, and he is now up to 10 dongers on the year. Don’t look at his rate stats — .245/.292/.393 is pretty tough — but Castellanos has been quite good against left-handers this season. Currently sporting a .338/.419/.431 line versus southpaws (good for a 143 wRC), the strong batting line against them is new at the major league level, though his minor league track record corroborates the story. Via Minor League Central, Castellanos posted a .311/.384/.455 triple slash across his MiLB career. While that isn’t setting the world on fire, I’m not shocked to see his power shine through at the major league level, at least when facing an opposite-handed pitcher. It should be noted I’m not drinking the kool-aid on him just yet — his .467 BABIP vs LHP is going to come down — however his 35.8 percent Hard% against lefties is seven percentage points above average and rates in the top-50 (minimum 70 plate appearances). I’m not ready to endorse Castellanos as my starting third baseman or even CI yet, but as a budget pick in DFS I have been utilizing him when the platoon advantage presents itself with solid results.

Brock Holt time, again
With Dustin Pedroia back on the 15-day disabled list due to his hamstring again, it is now time to grab Holt. He’s been a personal favorite for some time now as he is eligible almost everywhere in addition to having a solid bat. What Holt lacks in power he makes up for with solid rate stats. It appears as though the Red Sox have handed him the No. 2 spot in the lineup in addition to second base, instantly making him a worthy pick up in all but the shallowest of leagues. With guaranteed playing time in a solid hitter’s park, there isn’t much downside to picking up Holt. He’s free to grab in over 40 percent of CBS settings and more than 60 percent of ESPN or Yahoo! leagues.

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Streaming Pitching Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.

A pitcher for today: Mat Latos at SD (Odrisamer Despaigne)
So after Erasmo Ramirez blew up in my face and on the mound yesterday, I almost just double-downed on Matt Moore again. That’d be too much of a cop out, and I may be a liar, a pig…but I am not a porn star! Assuming Latos doesn’t get traded, I like him on the road against a Padres lineup that rates towards the bottom of offensive stats against right-handers. You may stream him with comfort in 40 percent of CBS leagues, half of of Yahoo! formats and more than 65 percent of ESPN settings.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Kevin Gausman vs ATL (Alex Wood)
I’m looking for five-plus innings and a handful of strikeouts from Gausman on Monday. He’s up against a pretty “meh” Braves offense, though Freddie Freeman is back and could give him fits. Gausman can be picked up in 70 percent of CBS formats as well as over 90 percent of ESPN or Yahoo! leagues.