Roto Riteup: March 31, 2018

Panik at the Disco!

.@JoePanik has accounted for both of the @SFGiants runs this season.

They were homers off guys named Kershaw and Jansen. ? pic.twitter.com/pjzJWxhJpb

— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2018

On the Agenda:
1. Zunino placed on the 10-day disabled list
2. Hicks Suffers Intercostal Strain
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitchers

Zunino placed on 10-day disabled list
The Mariners placed catcher Mike Zunino on the 10-day disabled list with a right oblique strain.

Another tough break for Mariners as catcher Mike Zunino placed on DL with strained oblique. https://t.co/czjbC8gbU6 pic.twitter.com/5Phh4J03Yo

— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) March 31, 2018

Seattle has called up David Freitas – a defense-first backstop – as they plan to pair him and Mike Marjama behind the plate until Zunino returns. Neither are fantasy viable. Both Ben Gamel and Mitch Haniger have suffered oblique injuries recently (Gamel continues to nurse his), equating to multi-week absences. Fantasy owners should plan on being without Zunino for at least the first month.

Hicks Suffers Intercostal Strain
The Yankees placed Aaron Hicks on the 10-day disabled list due to a right intercostal muscle strain.

The #Yankees place Aaron Hicks on DL, after being removed in the opener. OF Billy McKinney replaces him on roster

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 30, 2018

Billy McKinney was added in a corresponding move. The former Cubs and Athletics prospect knocked five home runs with 13 RBI this spring but is only worth adding in deep AL-Only formats at the moment. Jacoby Ellsbury is currently getting at-bats down in Tampa at the Yankees training complex. The plan is to speed up his recovery from a right oblique strain to return from the disabled list when eligible on April 5th. Aaron Boone said that Aaron Judge will likely see playing time in center field due to Hick’s injury as well.

Various News and Notes
Starling Marte began his 2018 season by hitting out of the sixth spot – going 2-for-5 with a walk, run, triple, and a caught stealing. The majority of Marte’s career has seen him hit leadoff, second, or fourth, but with the addition of Corey Dickerson, a full year of Josh Bell, and a healthy Gregory Polanco, the lineup slot could be something that sticks – at least against RHP. His Spd score was 7.1 in 2017 (7.7 in 2016, 47 SB), which resulted in a 21-for-25 success rate on the base paths. If his spot in the lineup sticks, and fantasy owners get uneasy, there could be a nice buying opportunity for someone like Marte.

Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario went 1-for-4 with a run scored and three walks in his 2018 debut – hitting out of the second spot in the lineup. The Tigers should allow him to accrue 500 AB’s this year – and despite not having plus power – will post a healthy OBP with a slightly above-average hit tool as well. He’s a nice CI in 20-team mixed leagues, or AL-Only formats that use OBP.

Lorenzo Cain stole his second base in as many days while swatting a pair of doubles in five at-bats against the Padres on Friday. While he’s managed to steal 26 or more bases in three of-the-last four seasons, playing for the Brewers could yield to a career-high mark barring health. Milwaukee was second in stolen base attempts per game as a team in 2017.

Trea Turner was dropped to sixth in the Nationals lineup yesterday – going 0-for-3 with a walk.

Davey said he likes Trea Turner hitting sixth so he can “focus on hitting” and doesn’t have to worry so much about getting on base.

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 30, 2018

Hitting out of this spot would obviously be a detriment to his overall at-bat total – while also – creating less opportunities for run production due to hitting behind Bryce Harper/Anthony Rendon instead of in front of them. It’s hard to gauge what the final Nationals lineup might look like since Daniel Murphy isn’t involved yet, but fantasy owners should keep tabs on this throughout the coming days/weeks.

Red’s manager Bryan Price expressed that he will be implementing a four-man rotation in the outfield this season. This also lead to him keeping true to his word, and not sticking Billy Hamilton in the leadoff spot to open the season. He went on to go hitless in four at-bats, with three strikeouts. Jesse Winker received the nod out of the leadoff spot and will likely stay there against RHP based on his plate skills. This will be a situation to monitor moving forward, but for now, Billy Hamilton and Adam Duvall remain the only Reds outfielders that should be owned in 12-team mixed leagues. If Duvall does sit two-to-three days a week, then he becomes more of an NL-Only, deeper mixed commodity.

Streaming Pitchers
A Pitcher for Today: Kyle Gibson @ Baltimore (recommended yesterday)
A Pitcher for Tomorrow: Francisco Liriano vs. Pittsburgh
The Pirates were 24th in wOBA against LHP in 2017, and Liriano had a solid Spring. There aren’t many streaming options available, so use Liriano at your own risk.