Roto Riteup — Presented By DraftKings: April 23, 2014

Guess what day it is, Roto Riteup readers?! It’s the day after Earth Day, when I take a giant bag of paper and shove it into the garbage can to offset all the good everyone did yesterday because I don’t like change.

On today’s agenda:
1. Gordon Beckham on the mend
2. Hishashi Iwakuma’s almost ready
3. Another SP lost to TJ
4. Manny Machado begins rehab assignment
5. The Fresh Five

Want to win $10,000 playing Opening Day fantasy baseball? All first time depositors get a free entry into this contest by clicking the link!

Gordon Beckham on the mend
Beckham has missed the entirety of the 2014 season to date, but he’s ready to be activated from the DL this weekend. In his absence, Marcus Semien has hit a paltry .225, so odds are he’ll be the casualty and be forced back to the minors for another go-around in Triple-A. Some may call for Conor Gillaspie to be out of a job so that Semien can continue to develop, but after some serviceable play last year and a .302 average in 2014, I can’t see Robin Ventura making that call.

2013 was Beckham’s best year since he broke into the league in 2009, and since he’s only in his age-27 season, there’s still a tiny glimmer of hope that he’ll become an average hitter this season.

Hishashi Iwakuma’s almost ready
Kuma will start his rehab assignment over the weekend despite developing a blister on his right middle finger. Kuma has had these blisters in the past as a result of throwing sexy splitters, and he’s not even remotely concerned that this incarnation will bother him. Throwing the other day, Iwakuma’s fastball was sitting at its normal 89-90, so after building up some stamina, the right-hander will be back in the Mariners rotation at the beginning of May.

Another SP likely lost to TJ
Brewers “prospect” Johnny Hellweg has been diagnosed with a torn UCL, and once he gets the word from Dr. James Andrews, he’ll head someone cold for Tommy John surgery. Hellweg isn’t much of a prospect anymore, and he got absolutely rocked in the majors last season, but it’s still never fun to lose a young guy to a serious injury.

Manny Machado to begin rehab assignment
The phenomenal third baseman will start at High-A on Friday in his path back from a super serious knee injury. He’ll then head on up to Triple-A when the weekend is over, then slide back down to Double-A to stay closer to home base in Baltimore. Like Iwakuma, Machado should be back in early May, and hopefully he’ll be in semi-top form.


The Fresh Five

SP: Jarred Cosart, $6,800
I don’t like Cosart, but I don’t like the Mariners offense stuck in Safeco, either.

SP: Wade Miley, $8,400
I like Miley outside of Arizona.

C: Jason Castro, $4,200
Castro gets to square off against Chris Young.

2B: Jose Altuve, $4,200
Ditto.

OF: George Springer: $3,400
Tritto.

We know you play in all sorts of leagues. So to help you fine-tune the analysis you’d like to read, we’ve added three tags to the categories on the right: Roto, Head to Head, and Daily Fantasy Update. Use these to get the information that is most relevant to your leagues!

This post, covering one of the leading sites for daily fantasy, is sponsored and made possible by the generous support of DraftKings. FanGraphs maintains complete editorial control of the postings, and brings you these posts in a continued desire to provide the best analytical information on the latest in baseball.





Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Satoshi Nakamoto
9 years ago

Too early to drop Springer? What’s the chance Houston puts him back at Triple A? Absolutely pointless since they’ve already started his service time clock?

TH_Binn
9 years ago

To quote the theme song from my favorite TV show, you “should really just relax.”

Satoshi Nakamoto
9 years ago
Reply to  TH_Binn

I guess he has been facing some tough pitchers from SEA and OAK. He gets to see a lot more of them in the upcoming schedule too. Gonna be a couple weeks before he sees easier pitching.

I’m thinking of dropping him for Gregory Polanco.

FeslenR
9 years ago

yes too early…Polanco won’t be up yet.

Kyle
9 years ago

If you are in a shallow, redraft league and you like a guy on the wire more, I say go for it. Springer is still young and has a lot of pressure riding on him. It is going to take him some time to get used to get going and with his surrounding cast not very intimidating I think pitchers are going to go after him in the early runnings.

Jackie T.
9 years ago

If you want advice making decisions based on one week of evidence, you might be in the wrong place.

Satoshi Nakamoto
9 years ago
Reply to  Jackie T.

True it’s only been a week but Polanco’s Minor league numbers show he’s gonna have a much better average than Springer.
Springer’s a luxury sitting on my bench but the Pirates lineup is better and Polanco looks like he’ll adjust better than Springer. Was just trying to spark some discussion.

Steve
9 years ago

Drop one prospect for another prospect and go through the same thing? hmmmm….Must be a first time fantasy player

orions55
9 years ago
Reply to  Steve

I think that’s a little harsh. I get what he is thinking. Do you grab the prospect with more upside over a current MLB prospect that has looked overmatched so far this year? If Springer is on my bench, I’d drop him immediately for Polanco. It’s one thing to start slow and hit the ball well, but In the at-bats I’ve seen (especially in the 7th inning last night), Springer looks like he is guessing at pitches. Plus, if Polanco has a quick start, he becomes tradeable. Just my observation…

centerfield ballhawk
9 years ago

Bird in hand… Satoshi. Give Springer some time to breathe and spread his wings.