Roto Riteup: June 29, 2023

I was busy – did anything cool happen last night?

27 up. 27 down.

The 24th perfect game in AL/NL history belongs to Domingo Germán. pic.twitter.com/SyUJb0cKm6

— MLB (@MLB) June 29, 2023

Domingo Germán had that sticky-icky stuff on Wednesday but instead of leaving it on his fingers, this time he used it to roll up the A’s and smoke ‘em in a primo outing. A perfect outing, one might even say. Germán struck out nine batters over the 24th perfect game in MLB history and I’m sure his fantasy owners were all totally starting him – he did, after all, allow a total of 15 ER in his previous two starts. No word on whether the perfecto will eventually be stricken from the record via Goo Gone.

On the Agenda:

1. News and Notes
2. Bumps and Bruises
3. Streaming Pitchers

News and Notes

According to manager Aaron Boone, Carlos Rodón will make (possibly) his final rehab start on Saturday and, barring no setbacks, could be on track to make his New York debut at home on July 7 against the Cubs.

Merrill Kelly 켈리 hit the IL after what was initially thought to be a calf injury actually turned out to be a blood clot. Kelly also dealt with a more serious clot in his shoulder in 2020 but Dr. Tony Lovullo believes they caught this one early and that Kelly might only require a short stint on the IL, much as Ian Kennedy did last season with a similar issue. In (un)related news, Kelly going down puts my sweet Bane Cook one step closer to a Main Event IL blackout bingo, in which the “winner” is the team that has every last one of his drafted players go down with an injury…Fingers crossed, everyone – with a little bit of luck, we can do it!

Taking the place of Merrill Kelly for the time being, Brandon Pfaadt is being recalled to start against the Rays today. The rookie got blown up in his first five starts in the majors earlier this season (8.37 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 17% K%) but has been solid in the minors since, going 3-0, with a 3.16 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 25.2 IP, with 28 K. The Rays are probably still not an ideal matchup for a triumphant return.

Dustin May threw for the first time since going on the injury list in mid-May, playing catch before Wednesday’s game. No further word on his timetable; prior to hitting IL, May had a 2.63 ERA (3.25 FIP) over nine starts and 48 IP, with a 0.94 WHIP but just 34 K.

Ke’Bryan Hayes (lower back) was officially placed on the 10-day IL after being out since last weekend. The injury isn’t thought to be super serious and Hayes would be eligible to return by next Tuesday. Even with Pittsburgh’s recent struggles, Hayes had been turning things around prior to his injury, slashing .337/.337/.518 over 83 PA in June, with 3 HR, 8 R, 13 RBI, and 2 SB.

Yu Darvish was scratched with an illness from his Tuesday start and was still feeling it on Wednesday. With Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove confirmed to start the final two games in Pittsburgh, if healthy, Darvish would instead pitch over the weekend in Cincinnati. Going from facing one of baseball’s coldest teams in a pitcher’s park to one the hottest in an adorable little park masquerading as a major league park, is probably not ideal for a pitcher who has a 7.27 ERA (3.54 FIP) over his last five starts.

Already on the 60-day IL with a left scapula injury, Chris Sale will undergo an MRI today, after which a firmer timetable for his return should emerge. Spoiler alert: any return, whether this year or next, will always be short-term. Just like my grandpappy used to always say; you just can’t trust the long-term health of anyone that attacks poor, defenseless uniforms with scissors. Nope, no sir-ee.

Bumps and Bruises

After hitting a first-inning home run, Nolan Arenado later left St. Louis’s 10-7 loss to the Astros with lower back tightness. Consider him day-to-day but hopefully, it’s nothing serious, as Arenado is currently in the midst of a stellar June. Over 92 PA, he’s slashing .298/.348/.619, with 7 HR, 9 R, and 18 RBI.

Michael Conforto was pulled with hamstring tightness after the first inning of their 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays, likely injuring himself chasing down a fly ball. Consider him day-to-day. Conforto only has a .236 AVG in 2023 but has been a fantasy boon otherwise, in his bounce-back season, currently sitting at 12 HR, 39 R, 42 RBI, and 2 SB in 276 PA.

Masataka Yoshida (forearm) missed his second straight game after getting plunked over the weekend. Continue considering him day-to-day.

Streaming Pitchers

Streaming Pitcher for Today: Luis Ortiz, PIT vs SDP – Ortiz is coming off his best start of the season in a win over Miami (8 IP, 1 ER, 5 K) and now has a 3.24 ERA over 25 IP in June.

High Risk Pitcher for Today: Zack Greinke, KCR vs CLE – Greinke has a brutal 9.00 ERA over four starts in June and throws an 88 mph fastball – you said high-risk, right?

Streaming Pitcher(s) for Tomorrow: Alex Wood, SF @NYM; Carlos Carrasco, NYM vs SF