Roto Riteup: May 11, 2022

When you get all your work done for the week before Friday:

some days you shock the world and other days you shock yourself

(Cut4 x @coronaextrausa) pic.twitter.com/WNdUDkMF5V

— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 10, 2022

 

On the Agenda: 

1. COVID Issues
2. Closer Chaos
3. Quick Hits
4. Various News and Notes
5. Streaming Pitchers

 

COVID Issues

Max Stassi was placed on the IL without a designation which points to COVID-19. No news yet on whether he tested positive or is just experiencing symptoms. 

 

Closer Chaos

Felix Bautista got the save on Tuesday for the Orioles, striking out the only batter he faced in the victory over the Cardinals. The Orioles gave the save opportunity to Dillion Tate, but he ran into trouble immediately and Bautista closed it out. Bautista has been fantastic this season, but Jorge Lopez seems to be entrenched in the role for now, but was placed on the Bereavement List on Tuesday prior to the game. 

 

Quick Hits

Carlos Correa was placed on the IL with his finger issue. Good news is the finger isn’t broken. The bad news is he isn’t ready to play. The move will be retroactive to May 6th. 

Paul DeJong was optioned to AAA on Tuesday. DeJong has struggled mightily for the last year and a half so this was a matter of time. Brendon Donovan played shortstop on Tuesday and went yard, but he is a short term solution. It wouldn’t be surprising if we see top prospect Nolan Gorman in the Majors very soon. Gorman is hitting .307/.360/.693 with 12 home runs and three stolen bases in AAA so far and has nothing left to prove in the minors. He should be stashed in all formats. 

Chris Paddack was placed on the IL with elbow inflammation. Paddack is exploring options, but it sounds like TJ is on the table. He can be dropped in most formats. 

C.J. Abrams was optioned to AAA. Abrams wasn’t playing full time and looked overmatched often when he did play. There is little doubt about his talent, but he had never even seen AAA before and is just 21 years old. He could be back at some point this season, but he is droppable in redraft formats where you can’t stash him. 

Mitch Garver was placed on the IL with a flexor strain. Sam Huff has been recalled to replace him on the roster. This likely means that Jonah Heim will get more playing time which is great because he has been fantastic so far this season, hitting .341/.460/.634 with three home runs. Heim won’t keep this up, but his underlying numbers show that some of this is legitimate. He has great exit velocity numbers paired with darn good contact skills. 

Nick Madrigal was placed on the IL with back tightness. It doesn’t appear to be serious, but the Cubs are playing this conservatively. 

Wander Franco left Tuesday’s game after grounding out in the fourth inning. The Rays stated this was to give him extra rest as he has been dealing with some sore legs. Keep an eye on this in case it is more than the team is saying. 

 

Various News and Notes

Ryan Pepiot will make his Major League debut on Wednesday versus the Pirates.

Brandon Drury – Cincinnati Reds (6) pic.twitter.com/0YP5CzSkCT

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) May 10, 2022

Pepiot has been fantastic in the minor leagues, throwing 26.1 innings with a 2.05 ERA and a 33% strikeout rate. He has a plus fastball along with an elite changeup and a usable slider. The question will be his command and control. He has walked 12 already in AAA this season in those 26 innings, so there is some risk. He has a great matchup for his debut, so he is streamable today.

Reid Detmers no-hit the Rays on Tuesday, allowing just one walk and striking out two in the victory.

What a moment!

A no-hitter for Reid Detmers!

(MLB x @budweiserusa) pic.twitter.com/UZ9ohyejRd

— MLB (@MLB) May 11, 2022

Detmers was fantastic, inducing a ton of weak contact and getting out of innings quickly. You would love to see more swing and miss, but that hasn’t been a big part of his game in the Majors as of yet. The curveball is fantastic, but the fastball isn’t great and it doesn’t get many whiffs. This was a fantastic moment, but I don’t know that I am buying on him yet and he is likely more of a sell high.

Kyle Bradish threw seven innings versus the Cardinals, allowing two earned runs on four hits and no walks while striking out 11.

Kyle Bradish, 7th, 8th and 9th Ks. pic.twitter.com/2pAVUMEa0C

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 11, 2022

Bradish was absolutely filthy in this one, getting a 40+% CSW on both his fastball and slider. Command will still be an issue for him which will lead to homers, but with Camden playing so pitcher friendly, he could be helped by the park a fair amount. He won’t do this every outing, but he is a viable steamer in shallower formats and should be rostered in every deeper league.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today: Nick Martinez vs CHC

Martinez has pitched really well lately and has a decent matchup here at home. 

High Risk Options: Adrian Houser at CIN, Joey Wentz vs OAK, Zach Logue at DET, Ryan Pepiot at PIT. 

 

Pitcher for Tomorrow: None

A few interesting options but none that I feel super comfortable with.

High Risk Options: Taijuan Walker at WAS, Jordan Hicks vs BAL, Taylor Hearn vs KC, J.T. Brubaker vs CIN, Clarke Schmidt at CHW, Beau Brieske vs OAK. 

 

For those of you that would like to see how these picks play out, I have a doc I put together to track the stats from the recommended pitchers. It does not include the “High Risk Options.”