Roto Roundup: Evan Longoria to the DL, Craig Kimbrel the Full-time Closer in ATL?

I am back at it after a very busy weekend. I had a draft on Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday morning, with a Phillies game on Saturday night mixed in, so I didn't have much time to post too much this weekend.

Going forward, I will be posting the daily Roto Roundup, covering the MLB action from the prior day, and Jeremy will do write up the minor league recaps once their season starts.

On to Sunday's action in MLB. Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria landed on the DL with a strained left oblique muscle. He will be out at least 3 weeks, and I wouldn't be surprised he is out a bit longer. Infielder Sean Rodriguez will take over at third base, with Ben Zobrist playing second base. 

We learned on Friday that Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday had an emergency appendectomy and will be out of action for up to three weeks. Outfielders Jon Jay and Allen Craig will take his spot in left field while he is out. The Cardinals have yet to place Holliday on the DL, but that should happen by today or Tuesday.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has not announced who the full time closer will be, but his decision to bring lefty Johnny Venters to pitch the 8th inning of an 11-2 game is all you need to know. Craig Kimbrel will be the full time closer in Atlanta for the time being.

More Roto Roundup after the jump:

Royals outfielder Alex Gordon went 4-6 with 4 runs scored in the Royals win vs the Angels on Sunday. Is this the year Gordon breaks out and frustrates many fantasy owners who have given up on him?

Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu went 5-5 with a HR and 2 RBIs. Abreu is the ageless outfielder who could put up another 20-20 season in 2011.

Angels closer Fernando Rodney blew a save on Sunday by giving up 2 runs on a hit and 3 walks. Rookie Jorden Walden pitched a scoreless 8th inning giving up one hit and striking out two.

Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia threw a complete game shutout of the Padres on Sunday, giving up just 4 hits while striking out 9. Garcia had a terrible spring training, and is a perfect example of why you can't look at spring training stats. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 3-5 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs on Sunday, leading the Tigers to a 10-7 win over the Yankees. I think Miggy will put up a 40-120 season for fantasy owners in 2011, and is making people forget about his DUI in early March.

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is usually a slow starter in April as he is a career .235 hitter in April. But Tex must think the seasons started in May this year, as he launched his 3rd HR of the season in Sunday's loss to the Tigers.

Orioles rookie Zach Britton held the Rays to one run on 3 hits in his first major league start. He was called up earlier in the day, and allowed 3 walks while striking out 6 in his 6 innings of work. It was enough for his first major league win, and he should be added in mixed leagues.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista appears to be picking up where he left off last year, as he hit his 2nd HR in 3 games on Sunday. I think he can breach the 30 HR mark this year.

Twins closer Joe Nathan earned his first save of the season the hard way, giving up a run on 2 hits and 2 walks in the Twins 4-3 win on Sunday. Nathan and Matt Capps will share the closer role for the time being.

Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan went 4-4 with 2 HRs and 4 RBis on Sunday. I drafted Ramon Hernandez in my keeper league draft on Sunday with the hope he gets more at bats this season.

Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez will miss his next start due a cut in one of the fingers on his right hand. As a Jimenez owner, I am not too concerned, but the bigger issue would be if his reduced velocity continues after his finger heals.

If you are a Jordan Zimmerman owner knowing he was starting on Sunday afternoon, you probably saw the final score of the Braves-Nats game and thought he got knocked around. Well, he actually pitched well. In his 6 innings of work, he gave up 2 runs, on 4 hits, 3 walks but just 2 Ks. When your team loses 11-2, you gotta like the fact that Zimmerman was not the reason.

Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz gave up 4 HRs in his 6+ innings of work on Sunday. He gave up just 5 hits, walked 2 and struck out 3. Red Sox pitchers did not fare well this Opening Day weekend and Buchholz did not help.