Roto Riteup: June 1, 2016

The Red Sox are ridiculous, annoying, and bordering on unfair. Not only did Mookie Betts smash three home runs on Tuesday, his teammate Xander Bogaerts extended his hitting streak to 24 games, less than a week after Jackie Bradley Jr. saw his hitting streak snapped at 29. This is your top “must avoid” team for streaming, as their 126 wRC+ is now 10 points higher than the next best offense (Pirates, 116).

The Red Sox recalled Rusney Castillo and his .241/.302/.317 Triple-A slash-line, by the way, as Bradley’s off to the paternity list (congrats!, since I’m sure you read RR daily).

On the agenda:
1. Julio Urias returns
2. Various News and Notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options

Julio Urias returns
The Dodgers were busy Tuesday, cutting ties with one prospect and getting ready to promote another. Alex Guerrero was hit with the DFA treatment, the far less actionable of the moves. The other, and forgive the lede-burying, is that Julio Urias was recalled to replace Alex Wood. Wood’s off to the DL with left elbow soreness and is set for an MRI, which is worrisome. The 25-year-old was in the process of turning in another pretty solid season (3.99 ERA, 3.24 FIP), and while there was no velocity decline screaming injury, any elbow soreness is a major concern. Urias, meanwhile, disappointed in his debut on Friday, surrendering three runs on five hits and four walks in just 2.2 innings against the Mets. Still, the 19-year-old is electric, striking out nearly 30 percent of Triple-A batters he’s faced on the year without much in the way of control problems. Friday may have just been nerves or a rough first go, and while the Dodgers want to keep Urias on an innings limit this season (he could pitch out of the bullpen at some point this year), he’s probably in line to start Friday against the league’s worst offense, the Atlanta Braves.

Various News and Notes
Updating some items from yesterday: Dustin Ackley is done for the year with a torn labrum; Caleb Joseph hit the 15-day DL following testicular surgery; David Wright received a pain-killing injection for the herniated disk in his neck; Bryce Harper remains day-to-day with a knee contusion. Sticking on the day-to-day front, Cameron Maybin left Detroit’s game with an apparent hand injury after fouling a ball off his left mitt.

The Rockies hit seven home runs as a team, including two each for Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon. More like Jon Moscnot, am I right? James Shields was likewise rocked, surrendering 10 runs to the Mariners in 2.2 innings.

Brad Boxberger returned from the DL and might be headed right back for it, straining a muscle in his side in his first inning of work. Looking for off-board bullpen help? How about Noah Syndergaard, who dialed up some 101 MPH heat in a scoreless inning of relief? Or maybe Christian Bethancourt, who touched 95 MPH and also threw a 53 MPH eephus?

Miguel Sano left Tuesday’s game with a hamstring strain and was promptly placed on the DL. He was in a pretty nice groove at the dish, and this opens up quite the outfield hole – Byron Buxton had already been recalled to replace Danny Santana, Darin Mastroianni is on the DL, and the call-up options are fairly uninspiring. Buxton, who doubled in his first game back up, and Oswaldo Arcia should have steadier playing time now.

Danny Valencia homered again. #FreeDannyValencia. Seriously, he’s going to hit the trade market at some point, right?

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

A pitcher for today: Robbie Ray @ HOU (Mike Fiers)
This is a big dice roll on ceiling. Robbie Ray doesn’t have the tidiest line – a 4.67 ERA and 4.42 FIP – but he’s striking out nearly a quarter of batters he faces. In the Astros, he finds an opponent striking out more than all but one other team, with a slightly below-average offense, to boot. The Astros are a dangerous streaming option given their power, but the upside’s there, too.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Matt Moore @ MIN (Kyle Gibson)
I know, I know. Matt Moore has struggled to a 5.31 ERA with a 4.52 FIP beneath it, he’s giving up home runs and hard contact, and has generally been tough to rely on. Conversely, he’s striking out 22.1 percent of batters he faces and draws a Twins team that has a collective .296 OBP and .332 SLG against lefties, complete with a 24.2-percent strikeout rate. Were there ever a time, this is it.





Blake Murphy is a freelance sportswriter based out of Toronto. Formerly of the Score, he's the managing editor at Raptors Republic and frequently pops up at Sportsnet, Vice, and around here. Follow him on Twitter @BlakeMurphyODC.

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Jim Lahey
7 years ago

May HR Leaders:
Adam Duvall, Khris Davis – 11
Jonathan Lucroy, David Ortiz, Todd Frazier, Mark Trumbo – 9
Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr, George Springer, Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Beltran, Yeonis Cespedes, JD Martinez, Miguel Sano, Chris Carter – 8

whole bunch of surprises….