Roto Riteup: July 29, 2022

This was so much fun to watch

BOOM BOOM!! pic.twitter.com/kaZl9sDWlH

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 28, 2022

Until you realize how it started:

Trey Mancini homered off of Josh Lowe's face.😬 pic.twitter.com/Y4xgBHOo90

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 28, 2022

On the Agenda: 

1. Sleeper and the Bust DK Contest
2. COVID Issues
3. Trades (and rumors)!
4. Quick Hits
5. Various News and Notes
6. Streaming Pitchers

 

Sleeper and the Bust DK Contest

On most Tuesday’s and Friday’s and some other days, Paul Sporer and I will be doing a $5 draftkings game for anyone that is interested. Will add a link once available. 

 

COVID Issues

Andrew Chafin was placed on the restricted list as the Tigers play a series in Toronto. He should return once the Tigers return to the States. 

 

Trades (and rumors)!
Andrew Benintendi was traded from the Royals to the Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for three minor leaguers. Benintendi had been strongly linked to the Yankees for a while, but there was some concern that his vaccination status could prevent him from ending up in the Bronx due to his inability to play in Toronto in the regular season and potentially in the playoffs. However, shortly after the trade was announced, there were reports that he intended to get vaccinated after the trade. Once in New York on Thursday, he denied those reports, but stated he was open to getting vaccinated and that “we will cross that bridge when we get to it.”

According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees are shopping Joey Gallo to multiple teams, but have not found a suitable offer as of yet. This is not surprising as Gallo has been awful this season which allows me to share some of my tweets from yesterday:

This just shouldn’t be possible https://t.co/LvxOPCVbYA

— Justin Mason 🇺🇦 (@JustinMasonFWFB) July 28, 2022

However, Joey Gallo has the 6th best barrel percentage in all of baseball for hitters with 250 plate appearances, but the third worst zone contact in the leagues. When he make ms contact, it’s great. He just doesn’t.

— Justin Mason 🇺🇦 (@JustinMasonFWFB) July 28, 2022

Tyler Naquin was traded to the Mets on Thursday for Phillip Diehl. Naquin likely won’t gain extra playing time in New York and just be a platoon bat moving forward best used for DFS.

 

Quick Hits

Tyler Wells was placed on the IL with side discomfort. This definitely sounds like the dreaded oblique injury which typically takes 4-to-6 weeks to return from. This makes him droppable in most formats. 

George Springer left Thursday’s game with elbow discomfort. This sounds like it was precautionary, but consider him day-to-day for now. 

Max Meyer will undergo Tommy John Surgery. This is a huge bummer as Meyer just got to the Majors. He will likely miss all of 2023 and look to return in 2024. 

Corey Seager left Thursday’s game with a leg contusion after fouling a pitch off of his leg. Consider him day-to-day for now. 

 

Various News and Notes

Brady Singer threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out 10 in the no decision versus the Yankees. 

Brady Singer, Pretty 95mph Back Door Two Seamer. 😍 pic.twitter.com/ByaWFLckaJ

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 29, 2022

Brady continues to make strides in spite of being a two-pitch guy. He had a 48% whiff rate on the slider and had 20 called strikes with the sinker. Most importantly the command and control were both impeccable versus one of the best offenses in baseball. He still likely needs a third pitch long term and he needs to be able to regularly harness his stuff, but this is a great example of what it looks like when he does.

Spencer Howard threw five scoreless innings versus the Angels, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out five in the victory.

Happy birthday to @Rangers starter Spencer Howard, who is turning 26 tonight.

Coincidentally, his mustache is turning 42. pic.twitter.com/dxmNvzKEzb

— tristatebb (@tristatebb) July 29, 2022

This was a great line for Howard, but it was not an overly impressive start. Howard threw 55% fastballs and 37% cutters and really struggled with command, but the Angels are just so depleted, they never took advantage. I like Howard as a young pitcher because of his clean mechanics, but he only threw his curveball five times and it has been his best pitch this season. He is nothing more than a matchup streamer right now as I need to see him begin to trust the curve and potentially the change up before I can see him being counted on regularly.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today:  None

There are some high risk options but none that I am truly confident in. 

High Risk Options: Madison Bmgarner at ATL, Dean Kremer at CIN, James Kaprielen at CHW. 

 

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Reid Detmers vs TEX

Detmers has been great since returning from the minors and has a nice matchup. 

High Risk Options: Jake Junis vs CHC, Mitch Keller vs PHI, Glenn Otto at LAA, Drew Smyly at SF. 

 

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.”