Roto Riteup: March 31, 2013

Ladies and gentlemen, today is the day that the games matters. Make sure you set your lineups and to start keeping track of your innings or games started limits.

On today’s agenda:
1. Collin Cowgill as the New York Mets’ starting center fielder
2. A Texas Ranger gets the green light on the base path
3.The Arizona Diamondbacks finally choose their fifth starter

Collin Cowgill to be the Mets center fielders
He may not have gotten much attention early on, but Cowgill has earned himself some playing time as the center fielder for the Mets. While not a world burner, he did have two seasons of 25+ stolen bases in the upper minors. The various projections systems don’t see much in him for steals, but I would take the over on them. A season where he hits .260 and brings 25 stolen bases along the way is a rosterable player in almost any format. After all, those number are essentially what Cameron Maybin brought to the table last season, though expectations were certainly different. For a waiver wire pickup, Cowgill has a lot of upside. He should be available in virtually all ESPN and Yahoo! formats.

2. Leonys Martin will be running this year
Manager Ron Washington told a group of reporters that he is “we were turning him [Martin] loose.” Although Washington didn’t commit to naming Martin as the center fielder, Martin is the likely answer there, but a platoon situation involving him and Craig Gentry hasn’t been ruled out. Even if the it does become a platoon situation, Martin, being left-handed, figures to get the most time there. Add in the fact that the coaching staff has expressed distinct desire to see him run more, expect some good stolen base numbers. Martin could swing plenty of runs scored with that Texas offense, add in those coming steals and you have yourself a player who transforms from a waiver wire pick up to a great sleeper pick. Combined between Yahoo! and ESPN, Martin is owned in just 3% of fantasy formats. Go ahead and grab him.

3. Patrick Corbin wins the Diamondbacks final rotation spot
In the wake of a trade (Trevor Bauer), plenty of speculation, and two top prospect being sent down to the minors (Randall Delgado and Tyler Skaggs), the Diamondbacks are finally moving forward with Patrick Corbin as their fifth starter. Really all four pitchers can be justifiably owned in deeper mixed leagues, but for now of course, Corbin offers the most value. All that aside, I still view Corbin as more of a stream candidate than a true fixture in fantasy leagues. If you play in a 14-team NL-only format., then sure, grab and hold on to him. Assuming that isn’t the case, keep track of him and stream him as needed.