Roto Riteup: June 14, 2012

Special note: Matt Cain’s perfect game netted me 91 fantasy points. For reference, a score of 300 on the week usually results in a win. If you have a good story — fantasy or otherwise — about last night’s perfecto, please share in the comments.

Kevin Youkilis is likely going to be moved before the trade deadline. This much we know. What we don’t know, however, is where he will end up. Youk’s value this year and next year depends on what happens over the next two months, so it’s time to dig in. While we can’t make a 100% accurate prediction, fantasy owners can at least plan ahead and forecast likely landing spots. So, I’m doing that for you; because you’re lazy, and I have a gift.

• Arizona is one prime destination for Youk. The Diamondbacks haven’t gotten great production from the hot corner (.293 wOBA), and they have pitching to deal. The D’Backs are still a ways off in the West, but they’re only five games out of the Wild Card, and Youkilis has another year left on his deal should the team choose to exercise his option. Moving Youk to the Arizona desert would mean more homers and a higher batting average for fantasy owners, though his RBI and runs scored could dip.

• The White Sox are another option for Youkilis, as Chris Cwik outlined here. The South Siders would give Youkilis a comfy home against competition he’s faced before, but his numbers wouldn’t be much better than they were in Boston.

• Another major competitor for Youkilis’ services is the LA Dodgers. The Dodgers have been running a cadre of players out at the hot corner, but all of them are better off in utility roles. LA is not friendly to right-handed hitters, so buyer beware if he ends up there.

• In non-Youkilis news, Kyle Drabek could have major elbow problems. Drabek felt a “pop” in his throwing elbow yesterday, but he was not feeling any pain afterward. Last time I felt a major popping sensation, I tore muscles, so this is really scary. I’ve long been a fan of Drabek’s stuff, but his results have left something to be desired. When elbow injuries come into play, players’ command is usually the problem, not their velocity. Well, Drabek’s command is already suspect (at best), so another setback could completely derail his major league career. If he does have a serious injury — think Tommy John surgery — even owners in the deepest of dynasty leagues can be fine giving up on him. Stashing him on the DL is not going to be worth the fifteen seconds it takes to navigate to that webpage.

For those of you who play daily fantasy games like FanGraphs: The Game, or just like to stream players, here are a couple matchups you may be able to exploit.

A Pitcher for Today: Scott Diamond vs PHI
The Phillies don’t scare me, and while Scott Diamond is nothing special, he’ll do.

A Pitcher for Tomorrow: Dillon Gee vs CIN
I have a good feeling, even though guys like Joey Votto and Jay Bruce scare me.

A Hitter for Today: Josh Reddick at COL (Alex White)
If Seth Smith somehow finds his way into the lineup, I’d love to play him.