Roto Riteup: May 5, 2015

I’m not sure how Zach Sanders allowed Star Wars day to go by without a word about it, especially seeing how we’re getting a new Star Wars film this year. Unacceptable.

On today’s agenda:
1. Alex Cobb encounters a setback
2. Consider Yunel Escobar
3. Quick thoughts on Chase Whitley
4. Streaming Pitching Options

Alex Cobb encounters a setback
The Rays rotation took another potential body blow yesterday as Cobb will be shut down for two or three days and then re-evaluated. He had been on the recovery path, however he was scratched from a scheduled session of flat ground throwing on Sunday. Details are still scarce and what could be construed as good news is Rays manager Kevin Cash called it just “a little bit of a setback.”

Consider Yunel Escobar
With Anthony Rendon now hampered by an oblique strain and Hanley Ramirez being removed from yesterday’s game with a shoulder sprain, Escobar is a player who can fill in at both third base and shortstop. He lacks the power of Rendon or Ramirez, but in the short term Escobar is serviceable at either position.

Prior to yesterday’s 5-for-5 game Escobar had been hitting at a .271/.326/.376 clip in 92 plate appearances. He’s shown a walk rate close to or above 10% as recently as 2013 and has been moved up to the two-hole in recent games. The right-handed hitting Escobar doesn’t show a significant platoon split, owning a 104 wRC+ against southpaws and a 99 wRC+ versus righties. For a player widely available, Escobar offers some average, the occasional dinger and potential for a solid on-base percentage. He’s available to pick up in 85% of CBS formats as well as 95% of ESPN and Yahoo! leagues.

Quick thoughts on Chase Whitley
After experimenting with a curve throughout spring training, it appears as though Whitley has adopted it into his arsenal. The new pitch has been thrown 19 times thus far as per Brooks Baseball, though it should be noted at the time of writing the Roto Riteup, Whitley’s game yesterday was yet to be hand charted. Whitley managed to generated 11 whiffs out of 90 pitches yesterday and posted six strikeouts to go with them. Now with an 11:1 strikeout to walk rate in two starts spanning 12 innings, he may be worth an add as a spot-starter in deep leagues. Standard 12-team formats can leave him to the waiver wire as a stream candidate, but make sure to pay attention to his pitch repertoire as the season progresses. If the curve ball becomes another weapon to go with his already stellar change-up and solid slider, the 25-year-old could be on the verge of a breakout. He’s owned in 20% of CBS leagues and less than 5% of ESPN or Yahoo! formats.

Streaming Pitching Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.

A pitcher for today: Jesse Chavez at MIN (Trevor May)
Chavez can miss bats as his career 8.55 K/9 as a starter suggests. The Twins have struggled in the early weeks against right-handed pitching to the tune of a 23rd ranked 84 wRC+ and the sixth highest strikeout rate. Chavez is available in 50% of CBS formats, 75% of Yahoo! and 90% of ESPN leagues.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Alex Colome at BOS (Justin Masterson)
After cruising through the Baltimore’s 2nd best offense against right-handers in his season debut — albeit he lasted just five innings — Colome heads to Fenway to take on another quality offense. It’s a risky start, but I like Colome enough to start him in my deeper leagues. He’s free to grab in 78% of CBS leagues as well as more than 90% of Yahoo! and ESPN leagues.