Roto Riteup: May 26, 2015
If you were expecting a return to David Wiers at the Roto Riteup, I am here to make your day so much better.
On today’s agenda:
1. The Yankees had a day
2. A couple minor leaguers of note
3. Various news and notes
4. Streaming Pitcher Options
The Yankees had a day
Facing Jeremy Guthrie in the Big Apple yesterday, the Yankees bats woke up from their nap to smash him around around for 11 runs. Guthrie did not bring #TheGoodStuff to his outing, but his mistakes weren’t always major, he just has a lower margin for error with his lack of stuff.
Chase Headley, Brian McCann, Brett Gardner, Stephen Drew, and Slade Heathcott all hit homers, and every starter recorded a hit. If you stacked some Yankees in DFS yesterday, congrats on winning all the money.
A couple minor leaguers of note
These players may be of note because I own them in a dynasty league, or there may be another reason.
Grant Holmes, SP, LAD
Prior to yesterday’s rain-shortened outing, Holmes last four starts had been sparking; Holmes had given up two earned over 22 innings, striking out 27 and walking nine in Low-A. Barely 19, Holmes may be ready for a quick promotion. Holmes can’t match up to the pedigree of Julio Urias, but he’s a name to watch in the Dodgers system.
Brett Phillips, OF, HOU
As a nearly 21-year old in High-A, Phillips was hitting .326/.389/.552 in 192 plate appearances heading into Memorial Day. Over the last two years, Phillips has 10 homers and nine steals in 68 games at High-A. Phillips is ready to advance to Double-A, and he could be in the majors late next year.
Various news and notes
Austin Jackson will likely be activated by the Mariners later this week. After missing a few weeks with a sprained ankle, the Mariners are waiting to bring him back to the majors until after they get back home to natural grass.
Jonathan Lucroy is on track to be activated from the DL next week after undergoing an X-ray to determine the health of his healing toe.
Johnny Cueto was scratched Sunday with a stiff elbow, but the Reds say he’s not expected to miss his next turn in the rotation.
Streaming Pitcher Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.
A pitcher for today: Clay Buchholz at MIN (Mike Pelfrey)
Buchholz will have some room for error in Target Field.
A pitcher for tomorrow: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It’s not a good day for starters. Let’s see what Wiers says tomorrow.
Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.
Surprisingly, Pelfrey has been pitching okay, so it’s not a given Buchholz and the Red Sox will win or do well.
Agreed, that Twins line up outside of Dozier and maybe Hunter/Plouffe should scare no one. Yet, somehow they have actually been a pretty good offense over the last month or so. I would probably still roll with Buchholz though, even though a win isnt guaranteed, his underlying numbers hint he should pitch well enough to be streamable.
Quick SS question, I currently own Erick Aybar who after a terrible start has heated up in the last month thanks to being moved the leadoff and some help from a friendlier BABiP. He won’t set the world on fire, but has chipped in a couple of steals, put up some nice Runs scored and has hit over .300 to help my Batting Average rates. Essentially, he has been what Erick Aybar always has been for Fantasy purposes.
That said, I have had Ben Zobrist stashed on my DL and now that he is back one of them needs to go. I liked Zobrist coming into the year, but I am nervous about his knee injury and how it might hurt his power potential. Should I stick with Aybar or is there hope that Zobrist will hit enough to be worth starting at SS?
do you have anyone else you can dump/bench of extra lame pitcher?
I’d hold off to see if Zorbist returns to being Zorbist, usually it takes a little while for players to return to “normal” once they come off the DL.
Sometimes it’s best to hold on to someone slightly productive than not.
Eh, kinda. My two most “cuttable” guys are Rubby De la Rosa and Rusney Castillo, but I hate to do so since that league is already incredibly thin on pitching and I want to see what Castillo can bring to the table. Normally I would cut Rubby, but he has a nice start lined up this week against the Brewers that I think he should do well at.
their ROS projections are fairly similar. for me, zobrist’s track record and multi-eligibility win out unless you’re hurting for the couple extra steals.
16 team points league. I’ve been offered Chase Anderson for either Dilson Herrera or J.P. Crawford (the other owner wants to hear more about the expected recovery time) from my prospect bench. I’m usually of the opinion that you can’t have enough SS prospects on your prospect bench given how difficult that position is to fill with a fantasy producer. But I also have Corey Seager, so I feel as though I’m in good shape there.
My pitching staff has struggled so I’m trying to buy some time until guys like Strasburg and Hughes pitch more effectively.
If I’m able to obtain Anderson, which pitcher from the bottom of my rotation should I drop? Colome of Tampa Bay, or Trevor May of Minnesota? Another fringe candidate is Wada, but I love his K rate, despite his failure to go deep into games and earn extra points through IPs.
Apart from Dylan Bundy, I have no help coming from my prospect bench.
Keep the starters as insurance against injury and drop a bench bat? Currently, Max Muncy and Danny Valencia. Valencia is a nice guy to have around as he’s 3 position eligible and he mashes lefties.
I’d deal Herrera simply because he’s on the Mets.
deal Herrera, drop May.
Mike W- then drop Erick Aybar and keep the other two, pitching is pretty woeful in general everywhere.
True, the upside is we are starting to see some of the prospects that could be decent impact Fantasy starters for some owners. I’m slowly starting to believe in guys like Chase Anderson, Nate Karns, Jesse Chavez and maybe even Lance McCullers.
Thanks Zach. Curious on everyone’s opinions on buying high on Braun? I was thinking of going after him with Shelby Miller. Would love to move Miller before the regression. Thoughts?
OBP points League, disregarding positions. ROS:
Adam Jones or Todd Frazier?