Roto Riteup: May 24, 2013
There were five games yesterday and five topics today. That is known as symmetry.
On today’s agenda:
1. Chase Utley to the 15-day disabled list
2. An update on Mark Teixeira
3. Jered Weaver may return next week
4. Quick take on Kevin Gausman
5. Zack Wheeler: Three weeks away?
Chase Utley to the 15-day disabled list
While Chase Utley is certainly no stranger to the DL, he was reintroduced to it again yesterday with an oblique strain. The move is being made retroactive to May 21 and the Philadelphia Phillies are calling it a “very mild” Grade 1 strain, Utley may return as soon as June 5. With seven home runs and five steals, Utley was enjoying another productive season, at least while he was healthy enough to play. If one is looking to buy low, then now is the chance. There is good potential that an Utley owner, already harboring doubts regarding Utley’s health in the preseason, has now become fed up. Test the trade waters, as when he is healthy, Utley is almost a top five fantasy second baseman.
An update on Mark Teixeira
After hitting in simulated games as well as spending time in extended spring training, it appears as though Mark Teixeira may be starting his rehab assignment at Double-A as soon as Tuesday. Just last week Teixeira mentioned that he felt good enough to return to the majors by June 1, however he may miss that optimistic date by a few days. He isn’t the Tex of years past, however he is still a solid hitter in a very good home park. Don’t sleep on him, as he could still provide solid counting numbers for the rest of the season.
Jered Weaver may return next week
Weekly leaguers take note that Jered Weaver could return in the middle of of next week. Whether or note Weaver returns earlier or later in the week depends on how his bullpen session goes this weekend. Though a certain author has noted doubt regarding Weaver’s fantasy value going forward, Weaver has not pitched his way out off of fantasy radars just yet. A gambling man (or gal) may roll the dice and make a move for Weaver, however the prudent thing would be to take a wait-and-see approach. Whether or not to start him twice this week depends on how the reports sound from his upcoming bullpen session.
Quick take on Kevin Gausman
This won’t read as a real scouting report, but wow, this kid has a cannon. Despite some surname pronunciation difficulties, watch Gausman strikeout Edwin Encarnacion on a 97 mph fastball for Gausman’s first major league strikeout. Grabbing Gausman now wouldn’t be too soon. As Cistulli cataloged in yesterday’s Daily Notes, Gausman certainly has strong fantasy appeal. One can find Gausman available in over 70% of both Yahoo! and ESPN leagues and 40% of CBS formats.
Zack Wheeler: Three weeks away?
Certain reports are placing Zack Wheeler a mere three weeks away with June 12 as his potential major league debut. After receiving a cortisone injection last week for mild inflammation in his right (throwing) AC joint, Wheeler has already made one start. He lasted five innings and only struck out two for the day, but for the season he has a 2.45 strikeout to walk ratio. Wheeler has struggled with the long ball, however given the context that most of the PCL — and especially Reno, his home park — is a launching pad, it is hard to read too much into his elevated home run tally. Wheeler should be free to own in over half of CBS leagues, 80% of Yahoo! leagues, and over 95% of ESPN formats. If one happens to be deciding between Gasuman and Wheeler, lean Gasuman for now, as at least he will give you numbers for now.
You can catch David spouting off about baseball, soccer, esports and other things by following him on twitter, @davidwiers.
Not sure you mean “stolid”? Though that might apply.
Given his recent batting average trend, stolid could apply, but yes, thanks for catching that.
Nothing like getting a wide strike zone for your first ever K, LOL.
Yeah, that zone was, umm, interesting.
I added Gausman on Wednesday, but I wasn’t able to catch Gausman’s start or even look at the box score. What happened, the good and the bad?
J.P. Arencibia happened… that was the bad.
His fastball was great, his command was spotty, and got tagged for a two-run homer by JPA.
i thought his command was better than avg. the strikeout of bonifacio? was a thing of beauty, down and away 3 straight times then weiters called for a fastball up and away, he hit the spot perfectly and boner was still swinging down and away. if anything it seemed gausman only pitched around bautista, other than that he was aggressive and that caught up to him a bit when guys were sitting fastball.
Sorry I posted this in another article, but I am torn here and could use some guidance/advice. Was offered Verlander for my D. Wright in a 12 team redraft 5×5. My everyday 3B would then be Matt Carpenter. I am currently doing well but could def use an ace. Am I crazy for being so split? Thoughts anyone? Much appreciated.
SP is deep and 3B is pretty shallow. What type of pitcher would be you be bumping off? If it is a marginal starter and you really could use an ace, I don’t have see anything wrong with this.
I say that as someone who likes Carpenter, but I don’t know if I would love him as my primary 3B.
David, thanks for the reply. I’ve got CC, Shields, Kuroda, AJ, Milone and Estrada sitting currently. I like Carp too, and I do think he is a .295 hitter…but he’s a 2-cat guy. The trade is fair in my opinion, I just don’t know if I can do it/if it makes sense (long way to go but I am currently atop the standings).
Dropped Dempster for Wheeler in my fantasy league. Dempster has been absolutely atrocious over the last five starts. A zero for 3 weeks is better than Dempster at this rate.
How do you think Hart’s numbers will compare to Teixeira’s from the point they are both back? If you could only stash 1 would it be Hart or Teixeira?
I’d lean towards Teixeira, unless you need someone who is both 1B and OF eligible. They are close, but I’ll give the edge to Tex.
David,
Need your help, man. Currently working on a trade involving one of my pitchers for a hitter. I was originally targeting a shortstop after Rutledge was sent down, but someone dropped Rollins and I was able to snag him with the #1 waiver priority.
My offense: C Perez 1B Goldschmidt 2B Altuve 3B Longoria SS Rollins OF Jones OF Choo OF Willingham UTL Moreland BN Frazier DL Stanton DL Hill NA Tavarez
My pitching: Bumgardner, Zimmerman, Harvey, Peavy, Lester, Miller, Buchholz, Garza
His offense: C Rosario 1B Rizzo 2B Phillips 3B Zimmerman SS Segura OF Trout OF Harper OF Heyward UTL Reynolds BN Castro BN Wells
Im trying to buy low on Heyward, and he wants J. Zimmerman. I tried Peavy but he didn’t bite.
Would you do this trade? Looking at the numbers, Heyward just seems really unlucky, with a decreased ISO the only alarming thing I see. BB%, K%, LD%, Fly Ball % all look very good, but a horrible babip is holding his average back. Even his IFFB% is lower than usual.
So what do you think? Thanks!
10 team mixed standard 5×5 h2h
I think Jordan Z for Heyward is a great trade for you. I’d pull that trigger pretty quickly. Being a relatively shallow league at 10-team mixed, there will always be good pitching available to help offset what you lose from Zimmermann.
What do you think about Heyward and his ISO bouncing back? Thanks for the reply!