Roto Riteup: March 27, 2014
There are plenty of roster decisions to go over in today’s Roto Riteup, but that doesn’t mean we’re too busy to include some arbitrary endpoints.
On today’s agenda
1. Tanner Scheppers gets Rangers’ Opening Day nod
2. Nicholas Martinez makes Opening Day Rotation
3. Marcus Semien makes the White Sox
4. Clayton Kershaw to miss Sunday’s start
5. Erasmo Ramirez to start game two for Seattle
6. Fun with arbitrary endpoints
Tanner Scheppers gets Rangers’ Opening Day nod
Despite never before starting in the big leagues, Scheppers is going to get things kicked off for the Rangers this year. Texas has been decimated by injuries so much so that Joe Saunders is a prominent member of their rotation, so it’s not as if Scheppers has elevated his game to Ace status while you were at work yesterday. Scheppers hasn’t started a game since 2011, and he only has 8 starts over three minor league seasons. The fireballing right-hander was pretty good last year when he only had to use two pitches, but at least he throws a curveball to help mitigate platoon splits. Don’t count of Scheppers to be anything special as a starter, but he’s worth a shot regardless.
Nicholas Martinez makes Opening Day Rotation
Nick Martinez will be pitching in the majors to start the season, due to Texas’ pitching injuries discussed above. Martinez dominated at both High-A and Double-A last year, but he may be a little overmatched in a the majors right now. Martinez has solid potential, but odds are he’ll only be in the majors until one of the bigger names returns to health.
Marcus Semien makes the White Sox
With Gordon Beckham heading to the DL, Semien slots in as the White Sox starting pivot man. Semien is going to end up being a much better real-life player than fantasy one, but he could provide a smidge of value in deep or AL-only OBP leagues.
Clayton Kershaw to miss Sunday’s start
Baseball’s most dominant pitcher is being scratched due to inflammation in his upper back. News is still slim as of writing, but we do know the inflammation is on the upper-left side, which makes things scarier than being closer to Kershaw’s non-pitching shoulder.
Erasmo Ramirez to start game two for Seattle
When your other options are Blake Beaven, Roenis Ellias, and rookie James Paxton, it’s not surprising that Erasmo is going to get the bump to No. 2 status. Ramirez has the trust of manager Lloyd McLendon, and the move up means he’ll get two starts in the first week of the regular season.
Fun with arbitrary endpoints
– Dustin Ackley, spring training: 64 PA, .410/.438/.656, .500 BABIP
– Joe Blanton, since leaving OAK: 736 IP, 4.82 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 3.39 K/BB, 1.5 HR/9
– Jason Vargas in KC: 3 GS, 20.1 IP, 5.31 ERA, 2 K, 10 BB, 4 HR
Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.
Dang, Ackley must have decided to quit walking during spring training.
I am counting on Ackley maintaining that .500 BABIP through the regular season .
Any news on Gausman’s status in Baltimore? The most recent “official” stuff I have been able to find is from Sunday and had Norris beating him out. Is he getting sent down or staying in the pen?
He’s going down. It’s been that way since they signed Ubaldo.
Given that Semien can steal a few bases, which really only matters in fantasy baseball, why would he be a better real life than fantasy baseball player?
Agree completely. If 2B is really so shallow that the author of this piece ranked Jose Altuve as a 1st round draft pick, you would think Semien would be incredibly fantasy relevant. Projections have him going for 15 HR / 15 SB with full playing time. For a 2B, that’s gold even with the projected low average.
Is Marcus Semien for real? 15HR/15SB seems like a very bold projection. He doesn’t seem to have very good reading on pitches to steal.
Projection systems say for real if playing time is real. 21 HRs and 24 SBs at 3 minor league stops last year.
No clue what the eye test says, have only seen 1 AB (spring training). But with dual eligibility (3B, soon to be 2B) and the crap that is MI depth this year I’d assume he is fantasy relevant for any league with a MI spot and a perfect bench player.
This is not a complaint: why do Roto Rite-up and Bullpen Report have different dates in their title even though they usually are posted at around the same time?
This was released today and the Bullpen Report was released yesterday.
The Roto Rite-Up is daily or nah?
During the season, Bullpen Report will be posted at night once most games have ended, while Roto Riteup is posted close to first thing in the morning the next day.
Cool.
BR at night, RR in morning.
Should I grab Erasmo for more than this week? I’m thinking of dumping Lackey for him. Good move?
How sad is it that the Rangers, who currently have virtually zero starting pitching ,just cut Tommy Hanson .Looks like he is done .
Mini-Fearless Prediction Pick em’
Most Relevant 2014 AL-West Fantasy Pitcher:
T. Scheppers, Rangers
E. Ramirez, Mariners
H. Santiago, Angels
T. Milone, A’s
Erasmo, Hutchison, Carrasco, or Richards?