Roto Roundup: Brett Lawrie Debuts, Ubaldo Jimenez Knocked Around

Blue Jays third base prospect Brett Lawrie went 2-4 with an RBI in his first major league game last night. He batted 9th in the Jays lineup, and committed an error at third on a ground ball. I think we can get used to Lawrie hitting well and not fielding so well. How soon before we see him hitting in the middle of the Blue Jays lineup?

New Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez got knocked around in his first start in his new uniform. He gave up 5 runs on 7 hits, 3 walks and 7 strikeouts in 5 innings. He threw 108 pitches in the 5 innings of work, but was pitching against one of the better lineups in the AL in the Rangers. 

Reds first base prospect Yonder Alonso went 2-4 with a double and a run scored yesterday afternoon and is hitting .462-.500-.615 in his first 13 at bats in the big leagues. He has been taking grounder at third base to increase his flexibilty and his chances of getting more at bats going forward.

Speaking of Reds prospects, when are they going to put up the white flag and finally trade catcher Ramon Hernandez to allow top prospect Devin Mesoraco to be called up. Mesoraco went 1-4 with his 11th HR of the season last night. He is now hitting .301-.374-.485 with 11 HRs and 60 RBIs. 

More Roundup after the jump:

Mets first baseman Ike Davis will miss the rest of the season and could have microfracture surgery if his ankle doesn't improve in the next month. Any chance we see him playing in spring training in 2012? I doubt it.

It looks like the Padres like to play away from home as they have been scoring some runs on the road of late. Last night they scored 15 runs in Pittsburgh, hitting 4 HRs in the process. First baseman Jesus Guzman was one of the hitting stars as he went 2-5 with a HR, 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Robert wrote an article on Guzman on Friday saying he won't keep up his hot start, but should provide some value in mixed leagues. 

Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-3 with a walk and an RBI last night. I mentioned Ellsbury as an MVP candidate in Friday's Roto Roundup, and ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted the same last night:

Buster_ESPN Buster Olney 

Jacoby Ellsbury is crazy-locked in right now... Short swing, great plate discipline, power. Definite MVP candidate.

3 hours ago 

Ellsbury is having a terrific season in the Red Sox lineup, and could be a first round pick in fantasy drafts in 2012.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 2-4 with a run scored and 2 doubles last night to extend his hitting streak to 19 games. He is now hitting .300-.365-.483 with 15 HRs, 54 RBIs and a 101-39 K/BB rate in 400 at bats this season. He is making a strong case for NL Rookie of the Year.

Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton batted third for the first time this season, I think, and responded with a 3-5, RBI and SB effort. Manager Jack McKeon stated that he thinks Stanton could be a 30-30 hitter one year, and maybe he will get more green lights on the basepaths in the last two months of the season.

Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist went 3-4 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs last night. He will be one of the top ranked second baseman going into 2012 fantasy drafts, as he is hitting .280-.373-.500 with 15 HRs, 64 RBIs, 75 runs, 12 SBs and a solid 86-60 K/BB rate this season.

The Mariners called up recently acquired, and former Dodger, outfield prospect Trayvon Robinson and batted him 9th in their lineup last night. Tray went 1-3 in his first major league start in left field. He hit .289-.374-.562 with 26 HRs, 71 RBIs, just 9 SBs and a 126-48 K/BB rate in just 377 at bats in AAA this season, but his SB total dropped from 47 in 2009 to 38 in 2010 to just 9 this season.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana went 2-4 with a HR and 5 RBIs last night and is on pace for a 25-81 season at the plate even though his BA is much lower than many expected. Could he be the #1 fantasy catcher going into 2012 drafts?

Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo held the Astros AAA lineup to just one run in 8 innings last night, giving up just 4 hits, a walk and striking out 6 to win his 13th game of the season. He lowered his ERA to 3.56, his WHIP to 1.29 and now owns a 130-47 K/BB rate in 149+ innings pitched this season. 

The Royals called up second base prospect Johnny Giavotella yesterday and he went 2-3 with a walk, run and RBI in his first major league start. In AAA this season, he hit .338-.390-.481 with 9 HRs, 72 RBIs, 9 SBs and a solid 57-40 K/BB rate in 453 at bats. He will be the Royals everyday second baseman going forward and the Royals now have their infield of the future up in the big leagues now with Eric Hosmer at first base, Giavotella at second, Alcides Escobar at shortstop and Mike Moustakas at third base.

Phillies starter Vance Worley held the Giants to 2 runs in 7 innings last night to win his 8th game of the season. He gave up 7 hits, a walk and struck out 6 and is now 8-1 with a 2.35 ERA. Why wasn't this guy higher ranked on prospect lists?