Roto Roundup

Roto Roundup: Miguel Cabrera, Matt Moore, Ricky Nolasco, and Others

Ray Guilfoyle highlights some of the top fantasy performers from Sunday's MLB games including Matt Moore, Homer Bailey and the promotion of Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar.

By Ray Guilfoyle@faketeams May 20, 2013, 7:00am EDT

If you have any fantasy baseball questions, make sure you post them here in the comments section of the Roundup. I will answer your questions as soon as I can.

Miguel Cabrera: Best hitter ever?

During the Sunday Night game of the week on ESPN, the announcers were discussing just how great Miguel Cabrera is. One of them, I forget who, said that Miggy could be, when his career is over, considered one of the greatest hitters ever. And you really can't argue that point either. Cabrera responded by going 4-4 with 3 home runs, 4 runs and 5 RBI, raising his triple slash line to .387-.457-.659 with 11 HRs, 34 runs, 47 RBI and a 23-21 K-BB in 173 at bats.

Could he put up back to back Triple Crowns? I think he can. He is on pace for a Base Ruthian-like 42 HRs, 134 runs and 181 RBI.

For more on Miggy's huge game, and the Tigers, make sure you check out Bless You Boys, SB Nation's Tigers fan site.

Matt Moore: Taking that next step

Rays starter Matt Moore struggled to reach the hype given to him heading into the 2012 season, as he struggled with his command. This season, he is showing flashes of getting over the problems with the free pass. Yesterday, he limited the solid Orioles lineup to just one run on 5 hits, a walks and 3 strikeouts in the Rays 3-1 win. He is now 8-0 with a 2.29 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and a 54-26 strikeout to walk rate in 55 innings. He has given up 2 runs or less in 7 of his 9 starts this season, and is holding opposing hitters to a .174 batting average.

For more on Moore and the Rays, make sure you check out DRaysBay, SB Nation's Rays fan site.

Ricky Nolasco: trade bait come mid-June?

ESPN's Buster Olney wrote about the possible trade market for starting pitchers in the next two months, and one of the starters he mentioned was Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco. Nolasco has had an up and down season thus far, but he stifled the surging Diamondbacks lineup yesterday. Nolasco limited the DBacks to one run on 5 hits, a walk and 11 strikeouts. He moved his record to 3-5 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a solid 50-14 K-BB rate in 61.1 innings this season. He has given up 3 runs or less in 7 of his 10 starts thus far, going six or more innings in seven of his ten starts as well. He is an innings eater who could help some teams come July.

Make sure you check out Fish Stripes, SB Nation's Marlins fan site, for more about Nolasco and the Marlins.

Round'em up

The Rangers finally called up Jurickson Profar yesterday, but it was due to Ian Kinsler going on the DL, so I am not sure how long he will be up. I imagine he will play everyday until Kinsler comes back, but when he returns, I have to think Profar heads back to AAA unless he tears it up. He will play second base and probably bat in the lower third of the Rangers lineup.

Indians starter Justin Masterson went head to head with Mariners ace Felix Hernandez yesterday. You would think that King Felix would have had the upper hand in this matchup, but that was not the case. Masterson threw a gem, shutting out the Mariners on 3 hits, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts in 7 innings yesterday. He is now 7-2 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 71-26 K-BB rate in 70 innings this season. Masterson has taken a big step forward in the strikeout rate this season, as his K/9 has jumped from 6.94 K/9 to 9.13 K/9 thus far.

Red Sox starter John Lackey had his best outing of the season yesterday, shutting out the Twins on one hit, no walks and striking out 5 in the Red Sox 5-1 win. The win was Lackey's second of the season, and he now owns a 3.31 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 32-8 K-BB rate in 32.2 innings. He has given up two runs or less in four of his six starts this season. Could we see the old John Lackey this season?

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton is struggling to start the 2013 season, and is under much scrutiny as a result. Yesterday, he went 1-3 with a run scored, and he is now hitting .216-.271-.351 with 5 HRs, 19 runs, 12 RBI and a 48-11 K-BB rate in 171 at bats this season. Can he turn his season around? I think so. But the real question is when? Will he put up his usual 30 home run season this year?

Closer News

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman pulled a Kenley Jansen yesterday in Philadelphia. He entered the ninth inning, to protect a one run lead, after an excellent outing for starter Homer Bailey. Chapman was able to get just one out before serving up back to back home runs to Erik Kratz and Freddy Galvis. If he served the home runs up to Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, I would understand, but Kratz and Galvis? Maybe the two of them got luckly and connected barrel of bat to the ball, and maybe Chapman just didn't have his best stuff, or his location was bad, but his owners may want to grab Jonathan Broxton just in case this is the start of a trend.

Chapman has now blow his last two save opportunities, and has given up runs in three of his last seven appearances, raising his ERA to 3.32.

Dodgers closer Brandon League blew his second save of the season yesterday, giving up 2 unearned runs, and allowing the two base runners he inherited to score as well. He has now allowed runs in 9 of his last 12 appearances. It is news if he tosses a scoreless inning, actually.

My choice to take over the Dodgers closer role, Kenley Jansen, hasn't had a good weekend. After giving up two home runs to blow the save on Saturday night, Jansen gave up 2 runs on a hit and a walk. He earned his 9th hold, but got the loss. Somehow that doesn't make sense to me. How do you get credit for a hold but get the loss?

Fake Teams Podcast

Make sure you check out the Fake Teams podcast ,hosted by Andrew and Zack, to be posted later today. I was their guest on the podcast last evening, and ramble on about how I got involved with Fake Teams, and my thoughts on Paul Konerko and Yoenis Cespedes.