Roto Riteup — Presented By DraftKings: September 18, 2014

Today’s Roto Riteup is being brought to you in heartbreak central, aka Oakland, California. I saw the events of the game unfold…I don’t really want to talk about it anymore.

On today’s agenda:
1. Carlos Carrasco does it again
2. Thoughts on the Colorado Rockies catchers
3. Norichika Aoki is on fire
4. The daily five

Carlos Carrasco does it again
Yesterday Carrasco tossed a complete game shutout against the Houston Astros. He allowed just two hits and a walk while sitting down 12 Astros on strikes. Despite the strikeouts, Carrasco worked efficiently and required just 98 pitches for the night. Carrasco induced an incredible 23 whiffs and got ahead of batters 0-1 in the count 22 times out of 30 batters faced.

He’s surrendered a total of seven runs in his past 54 innings pitched, the eight games he’s started since being reinstated to the rotation. Though many of you are probably near or past your innings limit, at this point Carrasco seems like a must-start. Keith Law (someone who is much smarter and talented than myself, as if that needed to be said) opines the new slider for Carrasco is what’s giving him this new look. Also of note, Carrasco is now working exclusively out of the stretch. A pitching/mechanics expert could better weigh in on the wind up vs the stretch, but the fact remains Carrasco has seem all the right numbers go up where they should as well as other numbers going down. He’s already owned in over 70% of ESPN and CBS formats however he is still available in 45% of Yahoo! leagues.

Thoughts on the Colorado Rockies catchers
Sure he had the day off in Colorado’s 16-2 romp over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, but Michael McKenry is still worth speaking on. In eight games started — plus one pinch hit appearance — this month, McKenry is hitting .444/.559/.741 in 35 plate appearances. For the year he’s at a cool .325/.412/.519 with seven dingers in 178 PAs. McKenry won’t keep this pace up, duh, though there are encouraging signs. He’s trimmed his strikeout rate as well as his swinging strike rate and O-swing%. McKenry has done this while managing to boost his walk rate 12.4% against his career 9.0% rate. Fewer strikeouts and more walks tends to improve a hitter’s numbers and McKenry is no exception. A .391 BABIP certainly helps as well, however with not even two full weeks remaining, I’m prepared to ride the hot hand a bit. Wilin Rosario has posted a disappointing season as injuries have taken their toll. To his credit Rosario has bounced back from his latest injury to post nine hits in seven games, including a pair of pinch hit appearances. Both Rosario and McKenry and right-handed so a platoon is basically ruled out. Given Rosario’s recent injury history I expect about a 50/50 time share for the final games of the season. I still like Rosario for next season, however if you’re looking for an OBP surge, go with McKenry.

Norichika Aoki is on fire
Yesterday: 3-for-4 with a walk
Tuesday: 4-for-5 plus a steal
Monday 4-for-5 with a walk

After a less-than-stellar first half of the season where he hit for .260/.328/.322, post All-Star Break Aoki has crushed the ball to the tune of a .303/.371/.382 line. A .291 versus .331 BABIP is part of the explanation but Aoki is a career .280+ hitter with an OBP north of .350. You’ll never get much power out of him so set expectations of rate stats and a steal or two. With his poor start to the season many fantasy owners bailed on him, as a result one can find him available in 60% of CBS leagues and over 65% of ESPN and Yahoo! formats.

The daily five
Starting pitcher: Felix Hernandez — $11,800
Besides the obvious reason, Felix is awesome, I expect the Los Angeles Angels to sit some people in the wake of them clinching the AL West.

Starting pitcher: Kyle Kendrick — $6,500
I don’t love Kendrick (unless we’re talking Anna Kendrick), but Kendrick is facing the San Diego Padres and their 27th ranked 83 wRC+.

Infielder: Russell Martin — $4,700
The Pittsburgh Pirates in general and Martin in particular have crushed right-handed pitchers. Brandon Workman may have a tough day.

Outfielder: Josh Harrison — $4,500
Another Pirates hitter who mashes righties.

Other hitter: Michael Cuddyer — $4,500
A power righty who holds the platoon advantage over Vidal Nuno.

Remaining budget: $18,000

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