Roto Riteup: May 18, 2015
It is important for this Roto Riteup author to clarify that sitting around in your sweats spitting sunflower seed shells into a cup isn’t at all depressing or a cause for concern.
On today’s agenda:
1. Mike Wright’s debut
2. Corey Dickerson may need the DL
2. Various news and notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options
Mike Wright’s debut
Orioles starter Mike Wright had a great MLB debut yesterday, striking out six over seven-and-third without allowing a run. A former third-round pick in 2011, Wright was finally shining through as a 25-year-old in Triple-A before getting a call to the bigs.
Wright’s fastball averaged 94-95, scattering in a few breaking balls here and there. Wright didn’t generate a ton of swings-and-misses (nine in 90 pitches), and before this year, he hadn’t posted good strikeout rates since he was a 23-year-old in his second go around in Double-A, so I’m not expecting a repeat performance. Wright may have what it takes to be a big league starter, but the Orioles have a crowded back of the rotation, and he doesn’t seem to be anything special for fantasy owners.
Corey Dickerson may need the DL
The Rockies’ outfielder has been dealing with a plantar fasciitis issue as of late, and while he’s been playing through it, Dickerson may not be able to hold out for much longer. Colorado manager Walt Weiss has opined that Dickerson may need to go to the disabled list, but nothing is certain at this point. Dickerson’s offensive performance seemingly hasn’t suffered while he’s played through his injury, but an outfielder who can’t move is a liability in the field to his real life team. If you own Dickerson, start looking for an injury fill-in should the Rocky (Rockie?) be placed on the shelf.
Various news and notes
Jaime Garcia will be returning to the Cardinals rotation after making a pair of minor league rehab starts. Jaime got smacked around in his Triple-A start, and he may never be the frontline type starter again, but he’s still probably a major league rotation piece when he’s healthy, which isn’t often.
The Twins are sending Kennys Vargas to the minors, likely taking away one of the bold predictions I made before the year. Vargas hasn’t performed as (I) expected this year, so while the Twins may not have a plethora of options, they couldn’t continue to carry a bat-only player who wasn’t hitting.
Streaming Pitcher Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.
A pitcher for today: Lance McCullers, Jr. vs OAK (Drew Pomeranz)
In only a half slate of games, McCullers is the most enticing option available. This may be a day to sit out.
A pitcher for tomorrow: Carlos Frias at SFG (Tim Hudson)
Frias is a fun starter with a limited repertoire, and playing in San Francisco can help eliminate any mistakes he may make.
Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.
Zach, who do you see as the better streaming option for Tuesday, Frias or Nate Karns going against Atlanta?
Karns not pitching tomorrow, its Ramirez.
Are they not skipping Ramirez this turn? Last week, I thought the Rays announced because of days off they would skip Ramirez and his scheduled start and instead roll with Karns. Furthermore, Karns is listed as the starter for Tuesday’s game on Yahoo for what it’s worth.
If Karns is indeed starting, I have irrational love for him.
Thanks for the reply. I did some more digging and it seems over the weekend, Cash said they are indeed going with Ramirez tomorrow and are skipping Karns to help limit his innings. Damn shame cause I loved this matchup for him even if the Braves lineup has been surprisingly productive.
Boggles my mind that there has not been any attention given to Carlos Carrasco. He was a hot draft choice and many people would certainly like to know wheter he’s a bust or if his near 5.00 ERA is expected to reverse. I can’t believe that more attention hasn’t been given to him with all the preseason discussion that went his way.
His FIP, xFIP, and SIERA are all in the 2’s, career best K%. Sky high BABIP and low LOB%. Was featured 4 days ago as the “ultimate buy low”: http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/your-american-league-starting-pitcher-acquisition-targets/
http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/your-american-league-starting-pitcher-acquisition-targets/
He may not live up to his draft day value, but he should still be fine over the course of the year.
If Dickerson hits the DL, does this mean that we finally see Rosario get some OF time like he was rumored to get?
Doubtful, considering how quickly the Rockies gave up on Rosario playing there this spring. My guess is the aforementioned Drew Stubbs would see an increase in playing time and maybe they call up someone like Brandon Barnes or Kyle Parker from AAA.
Rosario’s lack of defensive ability basically forces him to be a First Basemen or emergency Catcher and that’s about it.
Nah, it’ll be Stubbs.
Zach: 16 team league (points) question for you.
It looks like Corey Dickerson will be heading for the DL soon and that’s a major blow to my team in the OF. After Moss and J.D. Martinez I don’t have much.
I can pick up Raburn (a platoon favorite of mine) for 3 consecutive games vs. lefties. But then he’s back to the bench. So, Van Slyke or Blanco (4 vs. Rockies later in the week). One shares time in LF but is a batted ball distance surger according to Podz, and the other is swinging a hot bat with little power but heading off to a park where singles become doubles and so forth.
And should I even consider using Francoeur this week? Rocs pitchers had a nice little vacation in Los Angeles, but now it’s back to Hell City for pitchers.
BTW: I watched some of Wright’s performance vs. the Angels yesterday. Right now Bud Norris is sick, but he has been bad and is there any reason to believe he’ll improve when he gets back? Gausman is hurt.
In an AL only league, I’d keep Wright on the radar. I like how he used high strikes yesterday and his velocity was good. The other thing that was impressive about him (Jim Palmer asked about this) was his ability to compose himself on those occasions when he fell behind batters. He stepped off the mound for a few seconds and then resumed pumping in strikes.
Buck Showalter tends to run a meritocracy. If you perform, you play, e.g., Miguel Gonzalez in 2012— he came out of nowhere. (Paredes this year.)
Go with Van Slyke. He’s the most talented of the bunch you listed. If Pagans sore back forces him to the DL, maybe you can make an argument for Blanco, but I would stick with Van Slyke just based on pure upside of when he DOES get into the line up.
Thanks.
Any thoughts on Shaun Marcum starting for CLE tomorrow? He’s been around a while and has maybe the slowest fastball in the league, but he’s made it work in the past.
I would avoid him until you see what his results and stuff look like. He’s had so many arm injuries in recent years and the fact the team thought Bruce freakin Chen was a better option to start games earlier this month scares me off.
Stay far away.
Thoughts on Ortiz moving forward? He was just dropped in my 12 team mixed and I have the number 1 waiver priority. Currently have EE as my 1B and Grandal as a C,1B backup.
I would grab Ortiz and dump Grandal, depending on who your main Catcher is. Ortiz won’t come close to last years numbers, but I still think he will put up better numbers than Grandal will and I say that as someone who like Grandal.
Grandal plays too inconsistently to be of use at any spot except C
If you’re not using Grandal at C, no use having him on the roster.