Roto Riteup: September 14, 2020

Quite possibly the best tweet of the season:

Brent Suter vs. Simone Biles, Floor Routine.

Suter is on the left. pic.twitter.com/1b3Jtz7mCz

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 12, 2020

On the Agenda:
1. COVID Issues
2. Quick Hits
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitcher

COVID Issues
The positive test that forced Major League Baseball to postpone two games between the Giants and Padres was a false positive. According to Alex Pavlovic, Alex Dickerson was the player that tested positive, but he already has had two negative tests since. The teams played a double header on Sunday and will play another in the last series of the year.

Quick Hits
Ji-Man Choi was placed on the 10-Day IL with a hamstring injury. This likely ends his season at least from a fantasy sense. Nate Lowe becomes the likely main beneficiary of Choi hitting the IL.

Nolan Arenado did not play on Sunday due to a sore shoulder. Arenado is having issues with his AC joint. The Rockies haven’t put him on the IL yet, but this could explain some of Arenado’s struggles this season. Consider him day-to-day at this time.

Spencer Howard was placed on the IL with a shoulder issue. Howard left his start on Saturday with the injury. He can be dropped in all redraft leagues at this point.

Brent Rooker was placed on the IL with a broken forearm. This was an ugly injury and the prospect was likely going to be a bench bat rest of the way for the Twins. Rooker will fight for a spot on the roster next spring.

Sonny Gray was placed on the IL with a back injury. Gray was fantastic this season until his last until his last two starts raised his ERA from 1.94 to 3.94. It is hard to tell if this IL stint is to give him some time off to get right or if the injury was what was affecting his pitching. With the Reds likely not in the playoffs, it seems unlikely that Gray returns this year.

Kevin Gausman was scratched from his start on Sunday due to elbow tightness. Gausman is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday. Consider him day-to-day at this time.

Jeff McNeil was removed from the game on Sunday due to an intestinal issue. Consider him day to day for now.

Eddie Rosario left Sunday’s game with a wrist injury. Consider him day-to-day at this time.

Various News and Notes
Clint Frazier went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the victory versus the Orioles on Sunday. More importantly than that was the comments manager Aaron Boone made about him following the game. Boone stated Frazier has earned regular at bats even after Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton return from the IL. Frazier has hit five home runs and stolen two bases in 111 plate appearances. with a .280/.387/.516 triple slash. Frazier is a former top prospect that has been blocked since being traded to the Yankees. If he can hold a regular role, he could be an impact player moving forward into the future.

Sixto Sanchez threw a complete game versus the Phillies, allowing one run on three hits. It was the first game of the double header on Sunday, so it is a bit less impressive than a traditional complete game, but the outing was another impressive outing bringing his ERA down to 1.69 for the season in 32 innings pitching. Sanchez is making a play for the Rookie of the Year title and could be drafted as a top 20 pitcher next year.

Alec Mills threw a no-hitter versus the Brewers on Sunday. Mills was good, but a lot of this was on the Brewers and their really poor at bats. Mills dropped his ERA from 4.74 to 3.93, but only struck out five in the game. He gets the Twins for his next start on Saturday.

Brad Keller threw a complete game against the Pirates, striking out two. Keller has been able to get deep into games this season without racking up many strikeouts. He has had great success this year inducing weak contact on the ground and not allowing a single home run yet this year. He gets the Brewers next who have been pretty awful at the plate this year.

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)
Pitcher for Today: Mitch Keller at CIN
Keller is expected to come off the IL and gets a struggling Reds team.

High Risk Options: Vince Velasquez at MIA

Pitcher for Tomorrow: None

High Risk Options: Julio Teheran vs ARI, Tyler Andersonat SEA