Roto Riteup: May 30, 2023

What’s Australian for “badass” because Russell Crowe isn’t the only one fightin’ ’round the world:

On the Agenda:

  1. Bumps and Bruises
  2. News and Notes
  3. Streaming Pitchers

Maybe I’m doing the Tuesday Riteup because Monday was a holiday. Maybe I’m doing it because I knew Mason could use a day off. Cedric Mullins left yesterday’s game after visibly wincing while running to first, with what manager Brandon Hyde later said was a right abductor groin strain. He’s set to undergo further testing but an IL stint seems a strong possibility.

Pete Fairbanks was placed on the 15-day IL with left hip inflammation a day after feeling it lock up while warming up to enter their 11-10 win over the Dodgers. He’s scheduled for more tests on Tuesday. Jason Adam is the clear replacement, even with the Rays often doing Rays things with their bullpen. Adam picked up the Save on Sunday and also picked up four Saves during Fairbanks’s previous trip to the IL from April 29 – May 16.

Lars Nootbaar left in the third inning with back spasms after crashing into the wall while making a catch in the second inning. Consider him day-to-day but he’ll likely be out today with the Cardinals not playing on Wednesday and Thursday.

Max Muncy missed Monday’s game after being pulled on Sunday with hamstring tightness but appears to have dodgered any bullets and is now expected back in the lineup today.

Carlos Santana missed Monday’s game with back tightness but it isn’t expected to be a serious issue. Consider him day-to-day.

Anthony Rizzo was initially expected to start on Monday after injuring his neck in a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. on a pickoff attempt on Sunday but was later scratched. Consider him day-to-day.

Tyler O’Neill’s rehab is at a standstill according to manager Oliver Marmol, as his back again failed to respond after starting to hit off of a tee last week. His situation remains as murky as ever, with no clear timeline in sight.

Giancarlo Stanton will start a rehab assignment today and could return by the end of the week. Which is late June in Giancarlo-time.

Josh Donaldson is on a rehab assignment and could also return to the Yankees sometime this weekend. He’s 3-for-9 over three games at Triple-A, with four walks.

You’re not going to believe this – Lance McCullers Jr. suffered a setback in his recovery from a forearm strain suffered in February. He had been throwing bullpens earlier in the month but will now go back to throwing on flat ground. The Astros had been hoping for a return around the All-Star break but that seems to now be in jeopardy.

News and Notes

Triston McKenzie will make what will likely be his final rehab start today and barring no setbacks would return to the rotation next Tuesday against Boston. Sure, it’s easy to erase Hunter Gaddis from Cleveland’s rotation but with Aaron Civale also returning this week, who will get the cut between Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen? Allen made a masterful case for staying yesterday, shutting out the Orioles for seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out 10. But two nights earlier it had been Bibee’s turn, as the rookie struck out nine Cardinals in six innings, allowing just one run on two hits and one walk.

A year to the day that he suffered his second ACL tear, Royce Lewis made his reintroduction in style on Monday against Houston, hitting a three-run homer in the third inning before tying the game up in the eighth with a two-out single before the Twins ultimately won in extra innings. Lewis’s perennial promise has only been matched by his propensity for injury. In 2022, he slashed .313/.405/.534 with 5 HR over 153 PA at Triple-A and hit 2 HR with a .300 AVG in 41 PA in the majors before getting hurt. And before getting called up this season, Lewis hit 4 HR in 35 PA at Triple-A. If he happens to be hanging around your waiver wire, go ahead and correct the mistake.

Bobby Miller was again impressive in his second start of the year, albeit against lesser competition than Atlanta. Miller allowed 1 ER on four hits over six innings against the Nationals, striking out four. Considering how stingy Washington is with whiffs, this is a pretty good total. Miller will look to successfully complete the two-step with a start at home against the Yankees on Sunday.

Ryan McMahon went deep for the fourth straight game (on the road, no less), equaling the four home runs he hit in his previous 45 games. Unfortunately, he’s still only slashing .226/.293/.377 on the road, with a .295 wOBA and 68 wRC+, and until that changes, he’ll be just as frustrating to roster as most Rockies are.

Corey Seager continues to try and make up for lost time, hitting his second home run in four games (after a grand slam on Friday) and now has 4 HR and 19 RBI in his 11 games since returning from the IL.

The Gary Sánchez Experience is making the latest stop on its North American tour in San Diego, after already playing San Francisco and New York in 2023. Brett Sullivan will likely be sent down, leaving Sanchez to battle for playing time with Austin Nola and his 33 wRC+. To be fair, none of the above names will have any fantasy relevance outside of the deepest, most obscure leagues. But I wanted an excuse to imagine Gary Sanchez as a one-man band touring across the country in a cargo van, so here we are.

Streaming Pitchers

Streamers for Today: Kyle Gibson, BAL vs CLE. In his past two starts (@TOR, @NYY), Gibson has been superb, allowing a total of just 1 ER over 14 IP, with eight strikeouts.  I just wouldn’t count on many strikeouts from a Cleveland offense whose .280 wOBA vs RHP might be tied for last with Oakland but has a 19.4% K% that is tied for first.

High Risk: Zack Greinke, KC @STL. Greinke has a 2.73 ERA over five starts in May and the Cardinals are mired in an offensive slump. Counterpoint: Greinke’s fastball and changeup both sit in the high-80s.





2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jimmember
9 months ago

Welcome back, FanGraphs!

fartinyourface
9 months ago
Reply to  Jim

Wee!