Roto Riteup: September 22, 2020

Running towards the finish line in the fantasy season like:

The unit that could. 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/iMfA8MExEh

— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2020

On the Agenda:
1. Remaining Schedule
2. Quick Hits
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitchers

Remaining Schedule

Quick Hits
According to Jon Heyman, the appeal for Aroldis Chapman has been pushed back to next year due to issues with the availability of witnesses. This seems a bit ridiculous considering everyone was supposed to meet via Zoom. However, if Chapman is to serve a suspension, it won’t be until next year.

Ken Giles will undergo Tommy John surgery. Giles sustained the injury at the beginning of the year, but was able to work his way back, but apparently re-aggravated it. He will likely miss all of 2021.

Nolan Arenado was placed on the 10-Day IL with a shoulder injury, ending his 2020 season. Arenado was disappointing this year and there has to be some speculation that it may have been because of this injury. His name will be active in trade rumors in the offseason as he has voiced his displeasure with the Rockies organization.

Cole Hamels was placed on the IL with shoulder fatigue. This will end Hamels’ regular season, though that would insinuate that he had much of one to begin with. This may be the end of the road for the 36-year-old lefty.

Josh Naylor left Monday’s game with a leg injury. He injured the leg sliding into second base after a double in the eighth inning. Naylor was part of the Mike Clevinger trade with San Diego and has some prospect pedigree, in spite of his knife skills being his claim to fame. Consider him day-to-day at this time.

Kris Bryant left Monday’s game with an oblique injury. This could end his fantasy season as the Cubs have locked up their playoff spot already. If it is, Bryant will finish the 2020 season with only two more home runs and five more runs batted in than me. Bryant could end up being a non-tender candidate for the Cubs in the offseason, as weird as that sounds.

Carter Kieboom left Monday’s game with a hand injury after being hit in the hand with a pitch in the sixth inning. Kieboom looked to be in a lot of pain, but x-rays after the game were negative. Consider him day-to-day for now.

Various News and Notes
Jared Oliva made his Major League debut on Monday, going 0-for-1 with a strike out in his only plate appearance. Oliva has been a stolen base machine in the minor leagues, stealing 69 bases in his last two seasons between High-A and AA. He should get an opportunity to play next year for the rebuilding Pirates and will be a trendy sleeper in drafts next year.

Evan White went 1-for-3 and a home run in the victory over the Astros. White has struggled mightily this season, posting a .181/.263/.350 triple slash, but he has hit seven bombs in 179 plate appearances. White was an older prospect and was brought up to the Majors a bit faster than expected for the rebuilding Mariners. He should be the everyday first baseman coming into next year and has the tools to be an above average player at a weak position in fantasy.

Marco Gonzales threw eight scoreless innings versus the Astros, allowing seven hits and only one walk and striking out six. Gonzales dropped his ERA to 3.06 and has 59 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched. Being in Seattle has allowed Gonzales to fly under the radar a bit, which means he will likely go for much cheaper than he should heading into 2021, but he has fantastic control and good enough stuff to make it work.

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)
Pitcher for Today: Keegan Akin at BOS
Akin has pitched well and Boston isn’t a tough matchup anymore.

High Risk Options: Griffin Canning at SD, Caleb Smith vs TEX, Reynaldo Lopez at CLE, Johan Oviedo at KC, Nick Pivetta vs BAL.

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Carlos Martinez at KC
Martinez hasn’t been great since returning from the IL, but this is a nice matchup and the Cardinals need this win.

High Risk Options: Garrett Richards vs LAA, Danny Duffy vs STL, Jaime Barria vs SD.