Roto Roundup: Brett Anderson, Casey Kelly, Mark Teixeira, and Others

This year is the first year that I have actually prepared for my fantasy football draft. I used to have a partner in the league, and I relied on him to do most of the research, but no more. So, I am finding that there was so much that I was missing in the past. I never followed any of the preseason games, but just like fantasy baseball, preseason is just as important to watch as spring training games. Every year in spring training, there are position battles that affect fantasy drafts, and the same goes for the preseason games. I have my only fantasy football draft tonight, so I may not get to the Roto Roundup for Wednesday morning.

Most starting pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery struggle with their control and get hit around in their first few starts. Not Athletics starter Brett Anderson. Anderson tossed 7 shutout innings vs the Indians last night, giving up just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 to win his 2nd straight start. Anderson is now 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA, a 0.57 WHIP and an 11-2 strikeout to walk ratio in 14 innings pitched. In addition to the 11 strikeouts, he has induced a whopping 24 ground ball outs in those 14 innings. So, 35 of the 42 outs he has induced have come from the ground ball or the strikeout. Impressive.

The Red Sox stated over the weekend that they have interest in bringing back outfielder Cody Ross next season, and you really can't blame them. Ross went 2-4 with a double and 3 RBI yesterday afternoon, and is now hitting .281-.343-.522 with 19 HRs and 67 RBI in 356 at bats this season. The soon-to-be 32 year old outfielder is on pace for 24 HRs and 84 RBI this season, and as many predicted back in spring training, Ross is a good fit in Fenway Park.

In case you missed it over the weekend, Reds first baseman Joey Votto will start a rehab assignment in Low A tonight and could return next weekend. There are reports that he could return as soon as Saturday vs the Astros.

Mark Teixeira left Monday night's game vs the Blue Jays after straining his left calf. He was sent for an MRI after the game, but the results of said MRI were not available, but manager Joe Girardi indicated that Teixeira will be out at least thru the weekend. We will learn more today about the extent of his injury. He is having a down year at the plate, as he is hitting .255-.335-.478 with 23 HRs, 65 runs and 81 RBI. He is on pace for his lowest HR and RBI totals since his rookie season back in 2003. Sounds like another Yankee power hitter currently on the DL.

Update: Teixeira is expected to miss 1-2 weeks, per Sweeny Murti:

Teixeira said MRI revealed Grade 1 strain, left calf. Thinks he could be out anywhere from 1-2 weeks. Of course, it could be more too.

— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) August 28, 2012

More Roto Roundup after the jump:

I remember reading one of the more popular fantasy baseball writers saying that fantasy owners should stay away from Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez at the beginning of the season. His reasoning was that he didn't hit well in Milwaukee in his career and he was getting old, if my memory serves me correctly. I disagreed, and ranked him higher than he, and others, did back in spring training. Ramirez went 3-5 with 2 HRs and 4 RBI last night, and is now hitting .295-.352-.532 with 20 HRs, 76 runs and 81 RBI this season, and is on pace for 26 HRs and 103 RBI. I guess he likes hitting in Milwaukee too.

Marc Normandin told you to pick up Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez a few weeks ago, and I hope you listened as Gomez just keeps producing for fantasy owners. Gomez went 4-5 with a HR and 3 runs scored in the Brewers romp over the Cubs last night. For the season, Gomez is hitting .257-.303-.470 with 14 HRs, 55 runs, 38 RBI and 27 stolen bases this season. He doesn't really help or hurt you in the batting average category, but the recent power and speed certainly have. In his last 11 games, he has hit 3 home runs and stolen 6 bases.

Mariners ace Felix Hernandez was his normal self again last night as he tossed a complete game 5-hit shutout of the Twins last night, walking 1 and striking out 5 to earn his 13th win of the season. He is now 13-5 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 184-46 strikeout to walk ratio in 196.2 innings pitched. I wonder why it has taken the Mariners so long to extend him as his current contract ends in 2014.

Padres starter Casey Kelly had a major league debut to remember last night, as he tossed 6 shutout innings vs the NL wild card leading Atlanta Braves. Kelly gave up just 3 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4 to win his first major league start.

There aren't too many hitters hotter than Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre right now. Beltre went 3-3 with a HR and 4 RBI last night, helping the Rangers beat the Rays 6-5. Beltre raised his triple slash line to .315-.351-.530 with 25 HRs, 74 runs and 81 RBI. In his last 10 games, he is 18-41 with 6 HRs, 10 runs and 13 RBI. He is in the top 10 in the American League in RBI, BA, SLG and OPS.