Roto Riteup: June 20, 2019

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June 20, 2019

I get knocked down, but I get up again.

On the Agenda:
1. Slam Central/Double-Dongs
2. Various News and Notes
3. Streaming Pitchers

 

Slam Central/Double-Dongs
We had three grand slams and seven total players with two home runs yesterday. Let’s take a quick look at all of them.

Gleyber Torres: 1-for-3, 2 runs, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB

Gleyber is hitting .289/.424/.444 this month and now has 16 HR on the year.

Mike Trout: 3-for-6, 2 runs, 2 HR, 7 RBI

 

It’s a privilege to watch this man play night-in, night-out.

Wilson Contreras: 2-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 runs, 1 BB

 

He’s throwing a little swag into those home runs too. Contreras ranks fourth among catchers and is on pace to crush his career-best numbers from 2017. His BA will come down a bit, but his Barrel% and Exit Velo are both trending in the right direction. He’s one of the few catchers that you don’t have to worry about.

Brian Dozier: 3-for-7, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 RBI

 

Dozier is finally starting to turn things around. He’s hitting .327/.389/.735 with 5 HR, 12 RBI, and 12 runs scored in the month of June. His power metrics are close to mirroring his 2017/2016 seasons, so I’m actually not too worried about his power. His speed however, is something I’m a little more concerned about despite his sprint speed being nearly identical to his last five seasons (two stolen base attempts this season).

Jason Kipnis: 2-for-2, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 RBI, 2 BB

 

Kipnis has hits in three of-his-last four with three home runs during that time. At this point in his career he’s an average runner with sub-par power metrics. I don’t think he’s a .227 hitter (.272 xBA per Baseball Savant), but even with some positive regression you’re looking at an AL-Only asset.

Domingo Santana: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2 runs, 5 RBI

Santana’s career-year was in 2017 when he hit 30 HR and notched 15 SB with a .278 BA (.371 OBP). This year he currently has 15 HR and 5 SB with a .279 BA (.338 OBP). He hasn’t snagged a base since May – his speed has always been slightly above average – and he’s been caught twice (15-of-19 in ’17). Despite the possible stolen base decline, we should see another 30 HR/double-digit steal campaign with decent BA.

Rowdy Tellez: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 RBI

 

Yesterday was Tellez’s second multi-home run game of the season. He owns a good Barrel%, great Hard-Hit%, and solid Exit Velocity, unfortunately, his BA will probably end up around .230 and he plays in a lineup that’s averaging less runs per game than the Orioles.

Chris Taylor: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 1 2B, 3 runs, 4 RBI

 

Corey Seager has been out since June 12th, and Taylor has hits in seven-of-nine since. He’s a must own in most formats right now.

 

Various News and Notes
Max Scherzer was absolutely brilliant in the night cap of yesterday’s double-header against the Phillies – throwing seven innings of four hit ball – generating 10 strikeouts with two walks.

Scherzer has a 0.93 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with a 44/5 K:BB ratio in 29 IP during the month of June! He also hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since April 20th.

Adbert Alzolay will be called up from Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs today.

Alzolay is fourth on the Fangraphs Cubs prospects list, and has compiled a 3.09 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 36.5% K, and 4.8% BB spanning 32 IP at Triple-A. He’s expected to back up Tyler Chatwood, and could prove serviceable if the Cubs plan on keeping him up for a bit. He’s worth a pick-up in 15-team leagues based on his two 60-grade pitches (fastball/curve) with decent command.

Rich Hill was forced to leave yesterday’s game against the Giants before he threw a pitch in the second inning, and is headed to the 10-day IL.

Hill has dealt with multiple left arm issues in the past, so this is quite concerning. Ross Stripling would be the likely candidate to take his spot in the rotation, but they could decide that Julio Urias deserves a chance. My preferred pick-up would be Stripling for now, but monitor the situation to see where the Dodgers are leaning.

Rafael Devers left yesterday’s game against the Twins with right hamstring tightness after running from first-to-third on a Xander Bogaerts double. He dealt with multiple left hamstring issues last season, and isn’t expected to play on Friday. He could be sent to the IL fairly soon.

Chris Paddock will start on Saturday for the Padres.

The Padres are obviously attempting to limit his innings. He was a sell candidate for me about a month ago, but with his recent skid paired with an obvious inning cap, people will no doubt be reluctant to buy. If you have him you have to ride it out at this point.

Blake Snell had his third rough outing in four starts this month after failing to get out of the first inning against the Yankees. Things will get better, but the eight walks in his last 3.2 IP is certainly alarming.

Trevor Story suffered a thumb injury (X-rays negative) in yesterday’s game against the Diamondbacks.

Ugh. Let’s see how this plays out, but maybe Garrett Hampson truthers (that includes me) will get another legitimate shot, depending on how things shake out here. The X-rays were negative which is great, but based on the amount of pain he seems to be in I’m worried.

Roberto Osuna suffered his third blown save (second in last three tries) against the Reds yesterday. The Bullpen Report will no doubt be covering this situation, but Ryan Pressly has been flat-out lethal and could start mixing in if things don’t improve.

Trey Mancini left yesterday’s game against the Athletics with a left elbow contusion, but he’s expected to be fine in fairly short order.

The Rays placed Yandy Diaz back on the IL with a right hamstring injury – Daniel Robertson was promoted from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Diaz is expected to only need a minimum stay.

Pablo Lopez was placed on the 10-day IL with a right shoulder strain. The Marlins will be calling up top prospect RHP Zac Gallen to start today against the Cardinals (as reported by Craig Mish of FNTSY).

Yoan Moncada and Jose Altuve both made their returns to their respective starting lineups. Altuve went 0-for-4 and Moncada went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Updates on multiple rehabbing Athletics starters:

Bryan Hoch reported that Jordan Montgomery will be headed back to New York to get an MRI on his pitching shoulder.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Less than 50% owned):
Pitcher for Today: Dylan Bundy at SEA
Bundy has been up and down as of late, but he is facing a struggling Mariners team and is not in his homer happy park.

High Risk Options: Glenn Sparkman vs MIN, Zac Gallen at STL
Gallen was the 12th ranked prospect on the Fangraphs Marlins list prior to the start of the season, and has posted a 1.77 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 33% K, and 5% BB in 91 IP at Triple-A New Orleans this season.

 

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Griffin Canning at STL
I promise I’m not picking on STL. The Cardinals offense is 25th in wRC+ the last seven days (73) and sit league-average against RHP. Canning is a consistent source of strikeouts, and will do very well if he keeps the ball in the park.

High Risk Options: Mike Leake vs BAL





 

Fantasy Baseball and Tampa Bay Rays enthusiast. Restaurant manager by day, fantasy analyst by night. Contributor to Rotographs, Baseball HQ, Fantasy Pros, and co-owner of Friends with Fantasy Benefits. Follow me @MikeWernerFWFB.

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Creamymember
4 years ago

Amazing re-cap. Great highlights; chock full of info . . .

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Mike Werner
4 years ago
Reply to  Creamy

Thank you!

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