Roto Riteup: May 3, 2022

I am not there yet, but I will be soon.

the key to getting good at a game is thinking about the game until the game is no longer enjoyable in any way

— Denny Carter (@CDCarter13) May 1, 2022

On the Agenda: 

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

 

Closer Chaos

Jhoan Duran threw a clean ninth inning versus the Orioles to register his first save of the season. As if there wasn’t enough confusion on who is “the guy” in Minnesota. This appears to be a committee with Emilio Pagan and Duran as the lead guys, but I don’t know that either take it over fully unless one implodes. Pagan seems like the most likely guy to get saves for now, but he is also the most likely to self-destruct considering his homer issues. 

 

Quick Hits

Robinson Cano was designated for assignment by the Mets on Monday. Cano struggled to start the season and the Mets have made the decision to move on. It seems unlikely that he has any fantasy value moving forward as if he gets a new job it will likely be as a bench player. 

Yusmeiro Petit signed a minor league deal with the Padres on Monday. Petit is just a middle reliever, but it is noteworthy as he did win eight games under Bob Melvin in 2021 in Oakland. He can be a deeper league relief streamer in San Diego once he is on the team. 

 

Various News and Notes

Jose Miranda made his Major League debut on Monday, going 0-for-4 while batting sixth for the twins. Miranda is a top prospect for fantasy with a unique blend of power and hit tool. Miranda has hit at every level and is expected to at the Major League level, however, his weakness is defense. Miranda profiles to be a DH long term and may have issues getting playing time at third especially if he doesn’t hit well out of the gate. He was replaced defensively in the ninth inning of his debut which shows the lack of confidence in his defensive ability. I think he should be picked up in most leagues, but there is risk here. 

Jake Odorizzi threw 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out three in the victory over the Mariners. 
Odorizzi was very good in this one, keeping the Mariners off balance with a steady diet of fastballs and cutters. His other pitches weren’t thrown much and were pretty ineffective when they were. This was a nice win for him, but he doesn’t offer a ton of upside moving forward when he doesn’t have two-start weeks.

Jordan Montgomery threw five innings in the no-decision versus the Blue Jays, allowing two earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out five.

Jordan Montgomery, Dirty Breaking Balls. 😨 pic.twitter.com/QSeBTIatkh

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 3, 2022

Montgomery was fantastic, throwing his three pitch mix with no pitch with less than a 42% CSW, but the curve and the change were the stars with a 55% CSW and an 86% whiff percentage for the curve and a 42% CSW and a 55% Whiff percentage on the change. Montgomery has shown flashes in the past of potential greatness and this may be the next stepping stone.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today:  Brad Keller vs STL

Keller won’t get you many strikeouts, but he has been great so far this season. 

High Risk Options: Michael Wacha vs LAA, Bruce Zimmermann vs MIN, Michael Pineda vs PIT. 

 

Pitcher for Tomorrow:  None

Some interesting high risk options, but none that I truly trust. 

High Risk Options: Elieser Hernandez vs ARI, Kyle Bradish vs MIN, Kris Bubic vs STL. 

 

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