Roto Roundup: Aroldis Chapman, Adam Jones, Ian Kennedy and Others

Diamondbacks starter Ian Kennedy has one heckuva breakout season in 2011. He went 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA, 3.22 FIP and 3.50 xFIP with a 1.09 WHIP and a 3.60 K/BB ratio. After his Saturday start, he is 3-4 with a 4.47 ERA,
3.84 FIP and 4.02 xFIP. I wasn't buying his 2011 breakout, but he has been one unlucky starter in 2011. Thus far in 2012, his strikeout rate is down to 7.19 vs 8.03 in 2011, and his BABIP is .318 vs .270 last season, so he has some work to do to duplicate his breakout season in 2011.

Reds closer Sean Marshall got hit around yesterday vs the Yankees. He got just one out, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and nearly blowing his second save of the season. In 14.1 innings this season, he has struck out 21 and walked just 3, but has given up 22 hits and 8 runs for an ERA of 5.02 and a WHIP of 1.74. Here is quotes from Reds manager Dusty Baker, on reliever Aroldis Chapman, after yesterday's game, via John Fay at the Cincinnati Enquirer:

"He’s been so good in the eighth," Baker said. "Like I said, you’ve got to graduate to that position. Who knows maybe graduation time is here? We’re got to discuss it, talk about it. Matter of fact, we already talked to him about it.

It appears Chapman will get a chance to close going forward. He has struck out 38 and walked 7 in 21.1 scoreless innings this season. I imagine he will shoot up closer rankings come Monday.

More Roto Roundup after the jump:

Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow dominated the Mets yesterday, tossing a complete game shutout. He gave up just 3 hits, walked one and struck out 8 to move his record to 5-2 with a 2.63 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 54-17 strikeout to walk ratio in 61.2 innings. He has given up one run or less in 6 of his 9 starts this season. Could this finally be his breakout season?

Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman injured his knee stretching for a throw at first base last night, and appears headed to the DL. First base prospect Matt Adams was pulled from his AAA game last night, so expect a callup. With Allen Craig on the DL, Adams could see plenty of action while Berkman is out.

After going 0-3 last night, the Marlins sent struggling first baseman Gaby Sanchez down to AAA. Sanchez is hitting just .197-.244-.295 with 1 HR and 11 RBI and has recently been dropped to 7th in the order. Logan Morrison stands to gain some first base eligibility as a result.

Since giving up 12 runs in 2.2 innings vs the Cardinals back on May 2nd, A.J. Burnett has pitched brilliantly over his next 3 starts. Yesterday, he limited the solid Tigers lineup to just 2 runs on 7 hits, 3 walks, but struck out just two batters in 6 innings to earn his second win of the season. He lowered his ERA to 4.78 and now has a WHIP of 1.33. Take away his terrible May 2nd start, and he has given up just 8 runs in 35 innings this season. He appears to be a solid NL-only league option this season.

Burnett's teammate Andrew McCutchen continued his hot streak yesterday, going 2-4 with 2 HRs and 4 RBI. He is now hitting .346-.405-.566 with 7 HRs, 24 runs, 20 RBI and 7 stolen bases this season. I just traded him for Zack Greinke in an NL-only keeper league as I needed an ace starting pitcher.

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones is having a breakout season as he hit his 14th HR of the season yesterday. He went 3-4 with a HR and 2 RBI and is now hitting .310-.356-.619 with 14 HRs, 29 RBI, 34 runs and 6 stolen bases. He won't come cheap in 2013 and should be a top 5-10 outfielder.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw threw a complete game shutout vs one the best lineups in baseball last night. He gave up just 6 hits, walked none and struck out 4 to move his record to 4-1 this season. He lowered his ERA to 1.90 and his WHIP to 0.88 and now owns a 51-12 strikeout to walk ratio in 61.2 innings. He has traded strikeouts for ground balls this season as he has induced 10 or more ground ball outs in 6 of his 9 starts this season. He has seen his ground ball rate rise to 48.2% from 43.2% in 2011, and his strikeout rate drop to 7.44/9 from 9.57/9 this season.

Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager went 3-4 with a HR and 3 RBI yesterday, and is now hitting .292-.310-.496 with 5 HRs and 26 RBI this season. Who saw this coming?

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki went 0-1 with a walk yesterday, and was pulled from the game before his third at bat in a blowout loss. Tulo has been disappointing this season, hitting .268-.340-.408 with 4 HRs, 23 runs and 16 RBI. Tulo is one of the more streaky hitters in all of baseball, so you have to be patient with him. He has lowered his strikeout rate from 13.0% to 10.2% this season, and is walking at just under 9% this season, so his plate discipline is not a reason for his slow start. His HR/FB rate has practically dropped in half, but I think that will change in the near future.

Marlins outfielder Emilio Bonifacio was placed on the DL with a sprained left thumb yesterday. Bryan Peterson should get most of the starts in center field while he is out.