Roto Riteup: May 30, 2013

Announcement! Today’s Roto Riteup author will be stopping by Reddit next Tuesday at 1 PM EST for a fantasy baseball themed AMA, so make sure to place a mark your calendars.

On today’s agenda:
1. Dustin Pedroia is dominating despite a UCL tear in thumb
2. A.J. Pierzynski’s hot return
3. Jackie Bradley Jr. is back
4. Michael Young lands on Bereavement List

Dustin Pedroia is dominating despite a UCL tear in thumb
Yes, America, you read that right. The scrappy second baseman has a completely torn UCL and is still hitting .332 with three homers and eight steals, delighting fantasy owners across the land. It is believed Pedroia tore his UCL during the first game of the year, so it’s not like the injury has changed his performance at all throughout the season. Pedroia’s power is down a tad, and his batting average is buoyed by a nice BABIP, but simply playing through this injury is impressive enough for this author. Pedroia’s ranking has to go down a spot or two simply because of the risk involved, but there’s currently no reason for owners to be overly concerned.

A.J. Pierzynski’s hot return
Before heading to the Disabled List, Pierzynski was hitting a sad .263, but he’s been hitting a salty .333 in the first six games since his return. While the sample size is extremely limited, Pierzynski’s pre-DL line was lowered by a massive slump due to his injury, so A.J. may now be truly hitting to his potential. Pierzynski’s 2013 has been somewhat of a repeat from 2012, in which he is hitting for more power at expense of his batting average. Hitting in a potent Texas lineup makes Pierzynski a top-15 and possibly top-12 catcher in standard leagues.

Jackie Bradley Jr. is back
While JBJ may be back in the big leagues,he’s not going to be playing a whole lot. With Shane Victorino needing a quick DL stint, JBJ is only in the majors to serve as a backup outfielder, with Mike Carp and Daniel Nava receiving a majority of ABs at the corners. Bradley Jr. struggled when he opened the season with the Red Sox, but he’s looked like his old self upon his return to the minors. Despite the hype he received during Spring Training, Bradley doesn’t really profile as a future fantasy option in mixed leagues.

Michael Young lands on Bereavement List
Young will miss the Phillies’ next few games following the loss of a loved one, leaving the Phillies to fill his spot with Freddy Galvis and the newly recalled Cesar Hernandez. Young has had his ups and downs while in Philly, and he’s been on a little bit of a cold streak lately. Just make sure to adjust your daily lineups accordingly while Young is on the DL, and note that neither of his replacements are anything worth looking at.