Roto Riteup: May 17, 2015

Today’s Roto Riteup author would like to inform you that non-crispy hash browns are an affront to Uncle Sam and everything he holds dear.

On today’s agenda:
1. Travis Wood to the bullpen
2. Fun with arbitrary endpoints
2. Various news and notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options

Travis Wood to the bullpen
After picking up his first career save yesterday, it appears Travis Wood will continue to be a member of the Cubs’ bullpen. Wood helped a tired Chicago pen get some much needed rest, but this wasn’t just a fill-in job, as Tsuyoshi Wada looks to take Wood’s place in the rotation. Wood was excellent in 2013, and he’s raised his strikeout rate this year, but his career has been plagued by a mediocre fastball and the homerun ball. Wood won’t be able to be a high-leverage reliever, but he’ll pick up innings as the third lefty and the pen’s long man.

Fun with arbitrary endpoints
All stats are for May’s games through Friday

Justin Upton: 61 PA, .321/.410/.491, 2 HR, 7 SB; .385 BABIP
Michael Brantley: 61 PA, .360/.475/.680, 4 HR, 5 SB; .318 BABIP
Marlon Byrd: 55 PA, .341/.491/.878, 6 HR; .333 BABIP
Brian Dozier: 63 PA, .316/.365/.614, 3 HR, 2 SB; .326 BABIP

Chris Young: 19 IP, 16 K, 5 BB, 0 HR, 0.47 ERA; 2.26 FIP, 4.45 xFIP
David Phelps: 18.1 IP, 15 K, 4 BB, 0 HR, 1.96 ERA; 2.17 FIP, 3.23 xFIP
Wandy Rodriguez: 18.2 IP, 16 K, 3 BB, 1 HR, 3.38 ERA; 2.94 FIP, 3.88 xFIP

Various news and notes
– Hunter Pence has been activated from the DL by the Giants, so make sure he’s back in your lineups. With Pence back in the swing of things, Nori Aoki and Gregor Blanco will have to share time until — not if — Angel Pagan gets injured. The Giants have seen what Blanco can do before, and while Aoki may have slightly more upside, I can’t blame them for staying with what they know.

– Nick Franklin was activated by the Rays yesterday after missing the start of the season with an oblique injury. Franklin will likely take ABs from Tim Beckham, Logan Forsythe, and Asdrubal Cabrera while rotating through the middle infield. It’s unclear how Tampa Bay will blast through this logjam, but despite Joe Madden being gone, I’d expect them to figure out a way to get everyone time.

– Justin Morneau going to the DL with a concussion is an awful sign. Morneau really struggled with concussion issues just a couple years ago, so any recurrence is a scary thing, and not just for his career.

– Joe Blanton’s back in the bigs! The chunky right-hander has been called up by the Royals and will be on the roster starting today. He’s not fantasy relevant, but it’s a fun bit of nostalgia.

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Streaming Pitcher Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.

A pitcher for today: Noah Syndergaard vs MIL (Wily Peralta)
If you’re a gambling (wo)man, knuckleballer Steven Wright starts against the Mariners in Safeco.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Lance McCullers, Jr.
In only a half slate of games, McCullers is the most enticing option available. This may be a day to sit out.