Roto Riteup: May 10, 2019

by
May 10, 2019

What’s cooler than being cool?

On the Agenda:
1. Two-HR Games
2. Various News and Notes
3. Streaming Pitchers

 

Two-HR Games
We had three players hit multiple round-trippers yesterday!
Tyler Austin: 2-for-6, 2 runs scored, 6 RBI

 

That was Austin’s fourth career multi-home run game. He’s played sparingly this season, and two home runs in Coors Field won’t change that. However, yesterday was a good reminder that we should keep tabs on him in deeper formats/NL-Only in case Brandon Belt goes down.

Jordan Luplow: 2-for-3, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI

 

Luplow hasn’t received enough playing time as of yet, but like Austin, is another name for deep-league owners to keep their eye on. He’s flashed some stolen base ability in his minor league career, and has some power as well (50% Hard-Hit per Baseball Savant).

Tommy La Stella: 2-for-4. 2 runs scored, 4 RBI

This is now the THIRD TIME that La Stella has hit multiple home runs in a game THIS SEASON! His line is now at .256/.350/.567 with 9 HR, 23 RBI, 19 R, 147 wRC+, and an amazing 11 BB versus 6 K. His launch angle is nearly double what it was last season (10 HR in a little over 800 career at-bats), and he’s chasing less than ever before. His barrel and hard-hit rates don’t give me a ton of reason to think this power outburst will continue, but you have to at least consider him in deeper leagues.

 

Various News and Notes
Eloy Jimenez will be traveling with the White Sox this weekend, and will be beginning a minor league rehab assignment a few days later.

Those in weekly formats probably won’t be able to use him until Monday the 20th at the earliest, but those in daily transaction leagues could get him back sooner. He wasn’t hitting well prior to the ankle injury, but this is an uber-talented player who will have months to turn things around. He’s well worth trading for or picking up if you’ve struggled offensively to begin the year.

This isn’t really fantasy related, but Josh Reddick made an absolutely sick play in the top of the ninth inning against the Rangers yesterday. The play saved a three-run homer, and possibly the game for the Astros.

Notice Reddick robbed Hunter Pence – who had already hit his sixth home run of the season earlier in the game – and is hitting .343/.416/.687 over 77 PA. Wow.

Dee Gordon exited Thursday’s game against the Yankees in the top of the third inning after getting hit in the right wrist by a JA Happ fastball.

Ryan Divish reported that X-rays performed on the ailment were, “inconclusive” and that he’ll have to undergo a CT scan. The news is awful for fantasy owners and the Mariners alike, as he’s obviously one of the best sources of batting average and stolen bases in the game. J.P. Crawford was scratched from Triple-A Tacoma’s game yesterday, and will likely be receiving the call.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday that Aaron Judge has yet to do any baseball activities, despite making, “improvements” each day. Seems to me like Judge and Giancarlo Stanton still have a way to go in their respective recoveries. On a positive note, Aaron Hicks is expected to be activated from the IL on Monday against the Orioles. He’s been out all season with a back issue. He should be activated and/or picked up in all formats.

Staying in New York, the Mets sent Steven Matz to the 10-day IL due to a nerve issue in his left arm.

Owners that have Matz on their team should come up with a contingency plan, as something tells me that this isn’t the last time we’ll hear about this in 2019.

Jed Lowrie is getting close to a return.

There some talks of Lowrie being activated earlier, and even Todd Frazier being DFA’d in the process, but both seem to not be true at the present time. It’ll be a very interesting situation once Lowrie does arrive in the bigs from a playing time perspective. Todd Frazier will obviously lose time, but other Mets players will be impacted in some manner as well. Definitely something to watch.

Shawn Kelly was placed on the 10-day IL due to an infection, leaving Chris Martin as the lead candidate for saves in Texas. LeClerc will surely get the role back in time, but Martin is a worthwhile speculative add if you’re in need of a couple saves.

Carlos Martinez update:

Martinez should be stashed in most places. If he’s healthy and gets back into the rotation, we know what his upside is. He’s also free.

Buster Posey was placed on the 7-day concussion list yesterday. The thought is that this shouldn’t be a long absence. In the meantime, Stephen Vogt and Aramis Garcia will fill in catcher duties. Fantasy owners can grab Jonathan Lucroy or James McCann if they need a replacement – they’re the two hottest players at the position over the last week.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Less than 50% owned)
A Pitcher for Today: Jake Odorizzi vs DET
The Tigers offense is awful on the road, as well as against RHP and over the last week. Odorizzi has allowed three runs over his last four starts combined, to go along with a 23/6 K:BB (24.1 IP).

High-Risk Option: Pablo Lopez at NYM
Strikeout per inning, 50% GB, 3.64 SIERA, the Mets offense is dead last in wRC+ (45) over the last week…..sign me up.

A Pitcher for Tomorrow: Anthony DeSclafani at SF
DeSclafani is posting the best skills of his career, and already logged a QS against SF earlier this week. Now he’ll be in a better ballpark that’ll help mitigate his home run risk. The Giants have been better of late, but I think he’ll be fine.

High-Risk Option: Michael Pineda vs DET
The Tigers own the third-worst RPG on the road and have been terrible against RHP. Pineda hasn’t been great of late, but he posted a QS against the Tigers on April 13th, and will do so again tomorrow.





 

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.

8 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
feslenraster
4 years ago

Can anyone explain La Stella?

0
stonepie
4 years ago
Reply to  feslenraster

swing change. it could be like when daniel murphy went through the same thing years ago (profile wise). he has the plate discipline where if he could be a monster if things hold. his xwoba is .363 which is impressive

2
feslenraster
4 years ago
Reply to  stonepie

thanks

0
Cliff B
4 years ago
Reply to  feslenraster

He’s swinging at breaking balls less (32% vs. 45% in ’18) and hitting the ones he does swing at (.411 xWOBA vs. .190 in ’18). Same with fastballs, swinging at fewer and missing fewer. Chasing fewer and not missing the ones he does chase. Striking out at a 5.9% clip, career best. Launch angle, as stonepie said, 16.1, and barreling 6.3%.

Love the Baseball Savant Chase Miss % graphs.

2