Wednesday Roto Round Up: Wieters-mas Eve Eve

OFs Luke Scott and Nolan Reimold, Baltimore Orioles: On the eve of Wietersmas Eve, both players homered - Scott as the DH and Reimold as the LF after sitting out the first part of the game against tough righty Roy Halladay.  Does this mean Ty Wigginton is the odd man out?  That is a different question than "should it mean".

SP Rick Porcello, Detroit Tigers:  Very quietly the 20-year-old rookie has a 6-3 record with a 3.48 ERA.  His K:BB is 2.0 with 32 K in 52.3 innings isn't compelling, but a groundball % over 50 mitigates that.  Porcello has to be considered a darkhorse ROY candidate as Wietersmas Day arrives.

RP Jesse Chavez, Pittsburgh Pirates: In his first 8th inning appearance as a potential closer, Chavez blew-up and allowed the winning HR to Reed Johnson.  Sean Burnett was brought into finish the 8th.  With Matt Capps pitching poorly all season, Chavez looks like the sleeper for saves.  Just remember he has not pitched in any high pressure situations and just blew it in his first.

UT Jake Fox, Chicago Cubs:  In his 2009 debut, the minor leagues home-run leader in 2009 ripped a double off Sean Burnett.  While the Cubs certainly need his bat, where he is going to get regular ABs is yet to be determined.  Derrek Lee is entrenched at 1B, and Micah Hoffpauer appears to be the same player with a little more glove.

SP Trevor Cahill, Oakland A's:  Another rookie whose dreams of a ROY award are smashing on Wietersmas Eve.  However, one needs to look past Cahill's season totals - 4.45 ERA, 54.2 IP, 24 Ks, 24 BBs - and see what he has done in May - 3.89 ERA, 34.2 IP, 17 K and 9 BB.  I doubt he can overcome Witers or the 20-year-old in Detroit pitching for a 1st place team, though.

OF Jay Bruce, Cininnati Reds:  The second-year outfielder clubbed two more HRs tto bring his season total to 14.  Strangely, he is hitting just .241.  Just 22, one would figure he wouldn't already have the profile of a 33-year-old slugger. 

OF Angel Pagan, New York Mets:  In his 10th consectuve start, Pagan went 2-4 with a couple runs scored from the lead-off spot.  His AVG is .296, and he has four SBs.  Like Gary Sheffield and Fernando Tatis, Pagan is a quality mixed league option as long as the team remains so injured,

SP Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox: Five innings of work.  Twelve runners allowed.  It was his best start of the season.   I was offered Matsuzaka for B.J. Ryan, and think Ryan may be less harmful.

OF Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks:  In a 3-4 night, Upton stole his 5th base.  The SB total is a career high and two more than his previous career totals.  The month of May, he is hitting Joe Mauer-lite - 388/455/765 with 7 HRs, 21 RBIs and 4 SB.

8th Inning Set-up: Dennis Reyes STL (8), Jose Mijares (5) and Matt Guerrier MIN (7), Merkin Valdez SF (2)

Saves: Ryan Franklin STL (12), Kevin Gregg CHC (7), Joe Nathan MIN (8), Brien Fuentes LAA (13), Heath Bell SD (14), Brian Wilson SF (10)

Blown Saves: Brian Wolfe TOR (1)