Roto Riteup: June 13, 2017

Can you guess which player does not belong in this picture?

Third NL @esurance #ASG ballot update:
1B Zimmerman
2B Murphy
3B Bryant
SS Cozart
C Posey
OF Harper, Blackmon, Heyward pic.twitter.com/ACIlCObiGt

— MLB (@MLB) June 12, 2017

On the Agenda:

1. Capitol City Closer Chaos

2. MLB Draft!

3. Bat Adams

4. Various News and Notes

5. Streaming Pitcher Options

 

Capitol City Closer Chaos

Oh look… I get to write about the Nationals closing situation… Yah for me… Matt Albers blew a save for the Nationals on Monday and took the loss in a 11-10 ball game against the Braves. Albers walked Nick Markakis and Matt Adams before surrendering what would be the go ahead three run shot from Tyler Flowers. Shawn Kelley would come in to finish off the inning. The Nationals have built a powerhouse team, but lack stability in the 9th inning. In shallower formats, it is best to avoid the situation, but in deeper formats a name to speculate on is Trevor Gott. Gott has been fantastic in AAA, only surrendering one home run in 30 innings pitched and walking less than two batters per nine. He was also very good last season in a tiny sample at the Major League level.

 

MLB Draft!

I don’t pretend to be a MLB draft analyst. However, after watching some tape of Angels draftee Jordon Adell, I am smitten. Dude has serious power and speed. He will probably swing and miss a fair amount, but is young and can develop the hit tool. Look at these numbers from high school:

calling Jordon Adell’s high school numbers “video game numbers” is probably an understatement:

.562/.667/1.437 w/ 25 HR, 21 SB in 35 games

— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) June 13, 2017

We do have a fantastic MLB Draft guru on staff in Eric Longenhagen, so look out for all his work on the players that have been and will be drafted.

 

Bat Adams

I am officially changing the nickname of Matt Adams! He hit two homeruns in Monday’s contest versus the Nationals. He crushed a three-run shot against Stephen Strasburg in the third inning and then a solo shot in the eighth versus Jacob Turner. Since arriving in Atlanta, he has hit eight home runs and slashed .270/.323/.607. Some may point to the bonus of playing in Sun Trust and their short right field porch, but he has hit five of his eight bombs on the road. Only six players in MLB baseball have more home runs than he does in the last 30 days. He is extremely under owned at this point (13.3% in ESPN and 38% in CBS.) You may suggest better nicknames in the comment section.

 

Various News and Notes

Lance McCullers was placed on the 10-day DL with discomfort in his back. It is hard not to freak out with McCullers history of injury, but this appears to not be anything super serious and may be nothing more than some gaming of the new 10-day DL system to help limit McCullers innings total. Houston has a twelve game lead on the rest of the division and may be trying to save McCullers arm for a postseason run. He threw 89 innings last season, but has already thrown 76.2 innings this season. McCullers has been a top 10 starting pitcher in fantasy this season and should continue to be a top tier option as long as he is healthy.

Braves manager Brian Snitker announced that Sean Newcomb will get another turn in the rotation and will face the Marlins on Friday. Newcomb will be a common streamer and DFS option for the matchup, but I will be fading the pitcher. The Marlins are top ten in the Majors against left handed pitching in wOBA and slugging as well as 23rd in strikeouts. Newcomb looked impressive in his, but relied primarily on the fastball and curve. While both those two pitches were good, the lack of a third pitch is concerning and if he cannot have confidence in showing it, then it is a matter of time before he struggles.

Yoenis Cespedes left Monday’s game with a heel injury. He is considered day-to-day at this time. Cespedes had just returned from a DL stint, but had expressed not feeling 100%. This appears to be a minor thing and not a reinjury that could have landed him back on the DL.

Josh Reddick was removed from Monday’s game with a “mild concussion” according the Astros. In this day in age, concussions are given serious weight and not taken lightly. One would suspect no matter the severity, Reddick would hit the 7-day DL.

 

Streaming Pitcher Options

A pitcher for today: Jharel Cotton vs Mia

I keep going back to the well with Cotton, but it’s not a great slate and there’s a chance the Marlins will be missing Giancarlo Stanton who is dealing with a hand issue (though Stanton is expected back on Tuesday.)

A pitcher for tomorrow: Francisco Liriano vs TB

Tampa Bay leads the Major Leagues in most strikeouts versus left-handed pitching. Liriano can strike people out. If you don’t have cushion in the ratios then buyer beware, but if you are looking for cheap K’s and are chasing wins, then here is your guy! Should be a cheap DFS option as well.