Roto Riteup — Presented by DraftKings: May 29, 2014

While y’all suckers are slaving away at your desk tomorrow, the current Roto Riteup author would like you to think of me sitting pantless in front of the TV, slowly drinking myself to death.

On today’s agenda:
1. Carl Crawford to DL, but don’t expect Joc Pederson
2. Matt Cain to start Saturday
3. A.J. Pollock sits on top
4. Fun with Arbitrary Endpoints
5. The Fast and Furious Fast

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Carl Crawford to DL, but don’t expect Joc Pederson
After severely screwing up his ankle, Crawford is going to need a DL stint, and it may turn out to be an extended one. Crawford was hitting a scorching .333 in May, coming up with four homers and five steals, but this is yet another setback for the left-hander since signing his massive contract.

Of course, fans are going to clammer for the addition of Pederson, and while a 40-man roster spot is open, it’s not a likely move. First, the Dodgers still have a full outfield with Yaisel Puig, Andre Ethier, and Matt Kemp, and calling up Pederson would require playing him everyday. Second, calling up Pederson now would accelerate his arbitration clock, and even the cash-infused Dodgers should be concerned.

Matt Cain to start Saturday
Cain is slated to go Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals after hamstring troubles moved him off of Monday’s start and a two-start week. Cain has not bounced back from a poor 2013 as I hoped he would, but his fantasy numbers have still been salvageable, so if you have him you should be looking to move him.

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A.J. Pollock sits on top
Yesterday marked the third straight game in which A.J. Pollock led off for the Diamondbacks, finally crawling out of the bottom of their lineup after smashing the ball all year long. Pollock was hitting a gorgeous .290/.339/.500 through Tuesday, far outperforming the rest of Arizona’s outfield. Pollock’s performance has likely led to sustained playing time even after Mark Trumbo returns from injury, as he’s far outpacing Gerardo Parra and Cody Ross. Pollock’s HR-rate this year is likely to drop, but the stolen bases are real — he stole 36 bags in AA back in 2011, his last full season in the minors.

Fun with Arbitrary Endpoints
Unless noted, stats are through Tuesday

Ben Revere, career through Monday: 1562 PA, 0 HR
Ben Revere, Tuesday: 5 PA, 1 HR

Scott Kazmir, April: 38.1 IP, 1.91 ERA, 35 K, 7 BB, 1 HR
Scott Kazmir, May: 21.1 IP, 10 K, 6 BB, 2 HR


The Fast and Furious Five

SP: Wade LeBlanc, $5,500 – @SEA
SP: Gerrit Cole, $9,700 – @LAD
1B/OF: Mitch Moreland, $3,600 – @MIN (Samuel Deduno)
OF: Jay Bruce, $3,700 – @ARZ (Josh Collmenter)
OF: George Spring, $5,000 – vBAL (Ubaldo Jimenez)

LeBlanc lets you spend more elsewhere, and as a lefty, he has a chance to shut down Seattle. Bruce will crush any meatball Collmenter leaves for him, and Moreland should at least nab a walk if he’s willing.


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

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Mike
11 years ago

Not very timely with Kazmir stats; he threw a 1-run 8K 0BB complete game last night.

ATrain
11 years ago
Reply to  Zach Sanders

That point being that SSS means nothing? Why even list them?