Roto Roundup: Eric Hosmer Debuts Tonight, David Price Dominates the Blue Jays, Chase Utley Starting Rehab Assignment?

Early last evening, we learned that the Royals called up the best first base prospect in baseball-Eric Hosmer, and demoted Kila Ka'aihue to AAA. Hosmer will play first base everyday and many Fake Teams readers, and prospect experts like Kevin Goldstein and Keith Law think he will hit right away at the big league level. As Kenny stated in his fanpost, the one he posted minutes before my Hosmer story last night, Hosmer should be picked up in all leagues. Royals Review questions the promotion, as I did, so head on over and check out what Royals fans think about the decision to promote Hosmer.

Astros closer Brandon Lyon was diagnosed with a partially torn rotator cuff that will not require surgery at this time, so fantasy owners should go out and add Mark Melancon if they need a closer. Melancon has pitched 15+ innings this year in relief with a 1.72 ERA, 2.57 FIP and 3.02 xFIP. He was a solid strikeout pitcher in the minors and last year when he had a K/9 of 9.28, but this year has seen it slip to 6.89. He also walks 3.45 batters per nine innings.

Astros outfielder Jason Bourgeois went 1-2 with a run scored, RBI, 2 walks and 2 SBs and is now hitting .391-.429-.500 with 11 SBs in just 46 at bats this season. Bourgeois has attempted 13 SBs and has been on base a total of 21 times, 3 via the walk, and 18 hits. Yet 4 of his hits have gone for extra bases (3 doubles and a triple), so he has been on first base 17 times and attempted 13 SBs. Gotta love the SBO%. Of course, this all assumes, he has not attempted to steal 3B. Even still, a very nice SBO%.

Reds outfielder Jay Bruce went 3-4 with a HR and 3 runs scored. Bruce has started the season hitting. 257-.328-.459 with 6 HRs, 15 RBIs, 19 runs scored and 4 SBs. Does he reach the 30 HR level in 2011?

More Roto Roundup after the jump:

Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan went 3-4 with a run scored and 3 RBIs on Thursday. Hanigan is hitting .246-.313-.393 with 2 HRs, 11 RBIs and an excellent 4-6 K/BB rate. 

Red starter Homer Bailey came off the DL to pitch a gem on Thursday, holding the Astros to one run on 4 hits, a walk and 7 strikeouts in 6 IP. Bailey was once the Reds top prospect but has yet to reach his potential due to sub-par performance and injury. Is 2011 the year he puts it all together?

Tigers starter Rick Porcello is another former top prospect who has struggled in the big leagues. Yet Porcello held the Yankees to two runs in 7 IP on Thursday, giving up 10 base runners while striking out 3. Porcello is now 2-2 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. After starting the season giving up 10 runs in his first 2 starts, he has given up just 6 runs in his last 4 starts covering 26+ IP.

Giants stater Jonathan Sanchez put up all kinds of crooked numbers on Thursday, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, 6 walks and 6 strikeouts. He threw 93 pitches, only 48 for strikes, of which 10 were first pitch strikes to the 24 batters he faced. For the season, Sanchez is 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a 46-26 K/BB rate. Not the Sanchez from 2010.

Rays starter David Price gave up just one unearned run and striking out 10 in 8 2/3rd innings on Thursday and was the Fake Teams Fantasy Player of the Day.

Red Sox starter John Lackey got knocked around by the Angels on Thursday, giving up 8 runs on 10 hits, 3 walks and just 1 strikeout in 4 IP. Lackey has been "lacking" this year, and last, as he is now 2-4 on the season, with a 7.16 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and a .317 BAA. Lackey has had 3 solid starts and 3 horrific starts this season, and you may want to bench Lackey till he can become a more consistent starter.

Angels shortstop Erick Aybar went 4-6 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and 2 SBs on Thursday. He is hitting .342-.364-.425 with 7 SBs this season.

Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo went 1-3 with a HR, 2 walks and 2 RBIs on Thursday and is now hitting .255-.288-.500 with 6 HRs and 17 RBIs on the season. He has homered in 3 of his last 4 games with 10 RBIs. With Kendrys Morales not close to returning, Trumbo should get more playing time going forward. He needs to learn to take a walk to become an everyday regular.

Trumbo's teammate Peter Bourjos went 3-4 with 4 runs scored vs the Red Sox and is now hitting .307-.350-.482 with 2 HRs, 9 RBIs and just 3 SBs this season. Where are the SBs? His 35-7 K/BB rate in 114 at bats needs to improve for sure.

Lance Berkman went 1-2 with a HR and 4 RBIs yesterday, and I still can't believe how well he is hitting this season. He is now hitting .392-.462-.775 with 10 HRs and 32 RBIs. I think the phrase "you can't stop Lance Berkman, you only hope to contain him" is certainly appropriate at this point. He will probably win owners many championships this season as he was probably a late round pick in most drafts this season.

It appears Tony LaRussa agrees with me, as he again went to Eduardo Sanchez in the 9th inning yesterday. Sanchez got the ball in the 9th inning, a day after giving up a game winning HR to Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton on Wednesday. Sanchez earned his 3rd save of the season, but he did walk 2 and induced Mike Stanton to hit into a double play after walking the leadoff batter. As I mentioned to another fantasy owner yesterday, it says alot for TLR to go back to Sanchez after he gave up the HR on Wednesday.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is going to get some game action in the next few days as he was assigned to the Phillies extended spring training. He will then rehab with one of the Phillies minor league affiliates. Utley is probably a few weeks away, but this is music to fantasy owners.

Royals outfielder Melky Cabrera went 3-4 with a HR, 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs on Thursday and is now hitting .293-.317-.466 with 3 HRs, 20 runs scored, 20 RBIs and 3 SBs. Cabrera is having a solid start to the season after a sub-par season last year.