Roto Riteup: June 19, 2023
Happy first Father’s Day, Nolan Arenado:
Dad strength activated. 💪
Nolan Arenado clobbers his second homer of the day. pic.twitter.com/xxQwO1aaZd
— MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2023
On the Agenda:
- News and Notes
- Bumps and Bruises
- Streaming Pitchers
News and Notes
Forget about the floor – Eddie Rosario is what’s actually lava. Already on a three-game homer streak, Rosario went double-dong on Sunday to give him 5 HR and 10 RBI in his last four games. Rosario might not start vs LHP but 17% rostered on Yahoo is downright unconscionable. Since the start of June, Rosario has a .339 AVG, with 8 HR, 15 R, and 19 RBI. Again, less than 20% rostered.
Jordan Hicks earned his second Save in a row on Sunday and seems to be in the driver’s seat for the Cardinals closer, at least until Ryan Helsley returns. But given Helsley is dealing with always-ominous “forearm strain”, we probably shouldn’t assume anything is short-term.
Jordan Walker homered for his second game in a row on Sunday, adding a stolen base and continuing to mash since returning from the minors. Since coming back up on June 2, Walker has a hit in 13 of 15 games, with 4 HR, 6 R, 8 RBI, and 1 SB. Huh – it’s almost like prospect development isn’t always linear, or something. The Cardinals lineup is about to get more crowded, however, with Lars Nootbaar (lower back) likely to be activated today. Nootbaar went 4-for-5 on Sunday for Triple-A Memphis, blasting a pair of home runs in his second rehab game.
The Reds won their eighth game in a row on Sunday, continuing to be driven by youthful exuberance and bombs, with Jonathan India, Spencer Steer, and Jake Fraley all going yard. But that young blood is about to get a shot of Geritol in the arm, with Joey Votto set to make his season debut soon. In 21 games at his Triple-A rehab, Votto slashed .176/.337/.338, with 3 HR, 10 R, and 10 RBI.
The Pirates entered the year with two elite catching prospects and it looks like Henry Davis will beat Endy Rodriguez in the race to the bigs, with Davis set to be promoted today. The former number-one overall pick in 2021 has a .285 AVG and .433 OBP across 51 games at Double- and Triple-A, with 11 HR, 29 R, 30 RBI, and 9 SB.
Lance Lynn turned back the washing machine clock on Sunday, striking out 16 batters but taking the L in a 5-1 loss against the Mariners. Getting a pile of K’s is fine, and all but I’m not sure how many fantasy managers actually collected them considering Lynn had a 10.93 ERA in his previous three starts. Salute to anyone who decides to roll with Lynn in his next start against the Red Sox on Saturday.
Seth Lugo (calf) could be activated for a start against San Francisco on Tuesday after throwing a successful bullpen over the weekend. Lugo has a 4.10 ERA for the season but prior to the start in which he hurt his calf (2 IP, 5 ER), he was running a 3.18 ERA over 39.2 IP.
Sunday was a good day in the house of Naylor. Josh Naylor collected four hits and has now gotten multiple hits in 11 of his last 20 games, posting a .410 AVG over 86 PA, with 1 HR, 13 R, 21 RBI, and 2 SB. Should’ve bought the dip. Bo Naylor didn’t get any hits but did make his first start since getting called up from Triple-A, scoring one run.
I continue to be enraged by the sub-40% rostering of LaMonte Wade Jr., who went 7-for-21 in Week 12, with 1 HR, 6 R, and 8 RBI. Wade Jr. is now slashing .279/.416/.465 for the year, with 9 HR, 38 R, 28 RBI, and 2 SB. He’s higher on the Razzball player rater than Xander Bogaerts, Anthony Santander, Steven Kwan, Hunter Renfroe, and Starling Marte (among others) but apparently remains available on many waiver wires. Please do your part to correct this egregious mistake.
Bumps and Bruises
Harrison Bader (hamstring) is set to come off this most recent trip to the IL on Tuesday according to manager Aaron Boone. That’ll mean goodbye to Billy McKinney but we’re setting the over/under for Bader’s (inevitable) next trip to the IL at 29.5 games.
Alex Cobb was placed on the 15-day IL for an oblique strain in what the Giants are saying is an extra-precautionary move in order to avoid a more serious injury. With the injury, the San Francisco rotation remains in shambles, even with the recent return of Alex Wood. Expect even more bullpen games in the future but also the rumbles should increase for top prospect Kyle Harrison to make his debut in the bigs. Harrison has a 3.42 at Triple-A so far this season, with 80 K in 47.1 IP.
Matt Vierling is 9-for-21 with 3 HR since returning from the IL but was scratched on Sunday with lower back tightness. But manager A.J. Hinch doesn’t consider it serious and we should always take baseball managers at face value. Consider him day-to-day.
Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch in the second inning, leaving with a left-hand laceration. Consider him day-to-day.
Tim Anderson was scratched on Sunday with shoulder soreness. Consider him day-to-day.
Streaming Pitchers
Streaming Pitchers for Today: None. Nothing but high-riskers on a short-slate Monday.
High Risk for Today: Brandon Williamson, CIN vs COL; Jordan Lyles, KC @DET
bring on kyle harrison!