Roto Roundup: Jason Kipnis Called Up, Brett Lawrie Warming Up, Justin Verlander/Jered Weaver Dominant Again

The Indians finally called up second base prospect Jason Kipnis yesterday and he will play second base everyday starting tonight. I was wondering how much longer the Indians were going to go with Orlando Cabrera at second base, but now we know. Kipnis was hitting .281-.363-.485 with 12 HRs, 54 RBIs, 64 runs and 12 SBs in 90 games at AAA Columbus. Kipnis hit a home run in the recent Futures game off of Julio Teheran, if I remember correctly. Kipnis is a must add in all leagues as he has power and can steal a few bases.

If I told you at the beginning of the season that Albert Pujols would have a triple slash line of .272-.345-.505 with 21 HRs and 57 RBIs on july 21st, you would have laughed at me. Right? Well that is what fantasy owners have received by drafting Pujols #1 overall this season. Definitely disappointing, and one has to wonder where he will be playing in 2012. I think he will stay in St.Louis, but you never know. The bigger question for fantasy owners is is he still a first round pick? I say yes, but where in the first round?

More Roundup after the jump:

Blue Jays third base prospect Brett Lawrie had 3 more hits last night and is 6 for his last 10 at the plate in his last 2 games. I remember reading that the Jays want him to play 10 games, or something close to that, before calling him up, but I wonder if he will be called up sometime next week.

Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin must be really mad at the Marlins for dealing him to the Padres and he took it out on them in their recent series. Yesterday he went 4-5 with 2 runs scored and 2 SBs. For the series, he went 9-15 with 5 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 5 SBs. He is now hitting .277-.333-.407 with 5 HRs, 24 RBIs, 26 runs and 19 SBs. On the road this season, he is hitting .295-.351-.474 with 4 of his 5 HRs. He appears to be coming into his own, and wonder what his stat line would look like if he played his home games somewhere other than Petco Park.

Brave outfielder Jason Heyward went 2-5 with a HR, 3 RBIs and 3 strikeouts yesterday. Of course, he homers after I traded him, as a $10 S1,  in the UBA league. Actually, I got a $29 S2 Tim Lincecum in return, and I needed pitching, so I dealt him instead of $5 S2 Bryce Harper. I own him in my other keeper league at $23 for next year and right now can say I probably won't keep him. Anyway, Heyward has had a terrible season this year, hitting just .229-.320-.412 with 10 HRs, 26 RBIs and 5 SBs.

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was pulled after two at bats yesterday after injuring his wrist on a swing, but x-rays showed just inflammation, so he should be fine to go this weekend.

Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin is struggling lately. In his last 5 starts, he has given up 21 runs in 28 innings, with a 22-18 K/BB rate. Yesterday he gave up 5 runs in 4+ innings, where he gave up 4 hits but walked 7. His ERA has blown up from 2.71 on June 21st to 3.60 today. Is he hurt?

Angels starter Jered Weaver shut out the hot Rangers on 7 hits in 7 innings last night to win his 13th game of the season. He walked just 2 and struck out 6 lowering his ERA to 1.81. He is one of the top 3 starters in the AL right now.

Justin Verlander was Justin Verlander again yesterday. He held the Twins to just one run in 8 innings, giving up just 5 hits, no walks and striking out 9 to win his 13th game of the season. He lowered his ERA to 2.24 and his WHIP to a microscopic 0.88. 

Who saw this coming from Ian Kennedy this year? Kennedy shutout the Brewers for 7 innings last night, giving up just 4 hits, walking two and striking out 5. He is now 11-3 with a 3.22 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 118-39 K/BB rate in 142.1 innings. Kennedy and Daniel Hudson form a very good top of the rotation in Arizona.