Roto Riteup: May 15, 2024

Me after any workout:

Chris Martin had the best reaction after snagging this line drive 😂 pic.twitter.com/PXysKRvZle

— MLB (@MLB) May 15, 2024

On the Agenda: 

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

 

Sleeper and the Bust DK Contest

On most Tuesday’s and Friday’s and some other days, Paul Sporer and I will be doing a $5 draftkings game for anyone that is interested. 

 

Closer Chaos

A.J. Puk threw a scoreless tenth inning to register his first save of the season versus the Tigers. Puk started the season in the rotation, but struggled mightily and was transitioned back into a reliever while on a rehab assignment. With current closer Tanner Scott being unreliable, the Marlins may turn to Puk at some point for the role, but it remains to be seen when that torch is passed. 

Quick Hits

Ronel Blanco was ejected from his start after being caught using a foreign substance. 

Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco has been ejected for use of a foreign substance on his glove.

(via @NBCSAthletics) pic.twitter.com/Rx2buc4uHN

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 15, 2024

Blanco will likely be suspended for 10 games for the infraction.

Patrick Bailey was placed on the 7-Day IL due to a recurrence of his concussion symptoms. This is very troubling as it appeared he was in the clear, but he will need more time off. There is no timetable for his return.

Elias Diaz left Tuesday’s game with a hand issue. This apparently has been an issue for a little bit now and is not considered serious, but he will not be in the lineup on Wednesday according to manager Bud Black. Consider him day-to-day for now.

John Schreiber left Tuesday’s game after being hit in the leg with a comebacker. There was no update following the game. Consider him day-to-day for now.

 

Various News and Notes

Trey Lipscomb went 3-for-3 with three stolen bases in the victory over the White Sox on Tuesday.

Trey Lipscomb adding on!💪

He is 3/3 with a BB today👀 pic.twitter.com/CtOYd0lq7v

— optimistic nats fan (@optimistic5518) May 14, 2024

Lipscomb doesn’t have much pop in his bat, but he does make a lot of contact and can run a ton. He already has 10 stolen bases on the season and while he won’t contribute much more than the speed, he does play regularly and can volume some relevance in deeper formats.

Andrew Vaughn went 2-for-7 between the White Sox’s double header on Tuesday versus the Nationals, hitting two home runs in the process.

ANDREW VAUGHN… AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/oKS0fArTNU

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 15, 2024

Vaughn has struggled this season, hitting just .211/.271/.329 with three home runs and a stolen base. The underlying numbers say he should be better going forward. He has a 90% z-contact and his exit velocities are in line with last season. He has been pulling the ball less and his IFFB rate is up dramatically while his HR/FB rate is down. There isn’t much reason to think he won’t improve, but the breakout many projected when he was a top tier prospect just doesn’t seem in the profile any longer.

Ryan Weathers threw eight scoreless innings versus the Tigers, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out four in the no-decision on Tuesday.

A classic "only in baseball moment"

Ryan Weathers completed 8 IP for the first time tonight. His dad, David, first completed 8 for the then-Florida Marlins on 9/6/93 v. the San Diego Padres. Like Ryan tonight, David allowed just 3 H and 0 R. Ryan would debut with SD in 2020. pic.twitter.com/1GCazdBFCZ

— Louis Addeo-Weiss (@addeo_louis00) May 15, 2024

While Weathers was able to prevent any real scoring threats all game, he didn’t really overpower the Tigers, posting just a 19% CSW in the outing. This was much more about the lack of talent on the offensive side of the ball for Detroit. Weathers has done a decent job of limiting base runners from scoring, but he has been lucky in that regard as well. He is nothing more than a team streamer in deeper formats or a straight streamer in shallower formats.

 

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today: Alec Marsh at SEA

Marsh has pitched well and gets a struggling Mariners offense. 

High Risk Options: Casey Mize vs MIA, Robert Gasser vs PIT, Griffin Canning vs STL, Trevor Rogers at DET, Austin Gomber at SD.

 

Pitcher for Tomorrow: None

Short slate without a lot of options.

High Risk Options: Taijuan Walker at NYM, Cooper Criswell vs TB. 

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 my recommended pitchers. It does not include the “High Risk Options.”