Roto Riteup: October 4, 2022

​​Pretty amazing career:

4/9/2001: Albert Pujols homers in his first regular season home at-bat with the Cardinals.

10/2/2022: Albert Pujols homers in his last regular season home at-bat with the Cardinals.

Full circle. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/76E3giMCJk

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2022

On the Agenda: 

1. Sleeper and the Bust DK Contest
2. Closer Chaos
3. Quick Hits
4. Various News and Notes
5. Streaming Pitchers

 

Sleeper and the Bust DK Contest

On most Tuesday’s and Friday’s and some other days, Paul Sporer and I will be doing a $5 draftkings game for anyone that is interested. Will add a link once available. 

 

Closer Chaos

Felix Bautista was placed on the IL, ending his season. Bautista had stated that he could pitch if the Orioles would let him, but with the team being eliminated from postseason contention, there is no reason to risk making anything worse. Bautista is the front runner coming into the 2023 season for saves in Baltimore. 

 

Quick Hits

Evan Longoria was placed on the IL with a fractured right thumb. This will end his season. Longoria is likely going to be entering free agency with the Giants being unlikely to pick up his team option for 2023. 

Edward Cabrera was placed on the IL with an ankle sprain. Cabrera had a pretty impressive 71.2 innings with the Marlins this season with a 3.01 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and a strikeout an inning. He should be in line for a rotation spot out of spring training in 2023. 

TJ Friedl left Monday’s game with a leg injury. Consider him day-to-day at this time.

Various News and Notes
Jesus Luzardo threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out 12 in the victory over the Braves on Monday.

Jesús Luzardo's 3 1st Inning Ks. ✝️🦎 pic.twitter.com/1ve25Ugypu

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 3, 2022

Luzardo was fantastic once again, finishing the season strong and lowering his ERA from 3.53 to 3.32. The talent has never been in question for Luzardo, but he has struggled to stay healthy and can struggle with command, but his home run rate is under one per nine this year and he only gave up one multi homer game which was back in the beginning of May. His price will definitely go up, but if he is still outside the top 125-150, he could be a nice bargain.

Akil Baddoo went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and a walk in the victory over the Mariners on Monday.

It's no surprise that Miguel Cabrera drives in the game's first run with a little help from the speedy Akil Baddoo! #DetroitRoots@MiguelCabrera | @AkilBaddoo pic.twitter.com/l3XWwz6tGK

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 4, 2022

Baddoo has struggled mightily this year which resulted in a demotion earlier this year, but he has played well over the last two weeks, hitting .314 with a home run and four stolen bases while playing premium defense during that time. It is a small sample, but he has been leading off as well in each of the Tigers last five games as well. He will be free in most leagues and could be a post hype sleeper in deeper formats.

Drew Waters went 2-for-4 with a home run in the victory over the Guardians on Monday.

Drew Waters told me a couple days ago that he's been working with the Royals hitting coaches on his pull-side power from the right side. That's two righty homers from him now in this series/this season.

His latest: 379 feet to break the game open in a big way. pic.twitter.com/xlFlV4irrn

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) October 4, 2022

Waters struggled initially when he was called up, but he is now hitting .407 with four home runs and has walked four times since September 22nd. The hot streak is great and some of the underlying numbers have improved, but he is still below league average in most of the contact numbers. This is encouraging, but the former top prospect will need to continue to improve the hit tool if he wants to stick in the Majors next year.  

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today:  Michael Lorenzen at OAK.

Lorenzen has pitched well since his return and gets a nice matchup in Oakland. 

High Risk Options: Eduardo Rodriguez at SEA, Braxton Garrett vs ATL, Daniel Lynch at CHW, Luis Cessa vs CHC. 

 

Pitcher for Tomorrow: None

Some decent high risk options, but none that I feel comfortable with unless I am desperate. 

High Risk Options: Aaron Civale vs KC, Adrian Sampson 샘슨 at CIN, Johan Oviedo vs STL, Jon Heasley at CLE, Tyler Alexander at SEA. 

 

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.”