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Just a little reminder that you can post any questions you have in the comments section in the Roto Roundup, so go ahead and post any trade offers you have received, roster decisions you need help with, or any question you may have about your rosters or specific players.
Roy Halladay: Is he done?
Roy Halladay had one of the worst starts of his career yesterday afternoon, giving up 9 runs on 4 hits, 4 hits!!, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts in just 2.1 innings. After the game, we learned that he was going to be placed on the 15 day DL with a shoulder injury. I recall asking, in these pages, whether he was hurt or not, then he went on and pitched great for three starts. But since then, he has given up 18 runs on 13 hits, 6 walks, and 4 home runs in just 6 innings over his last two starts. While listening to the Phillies game on my drive to the airport yesterday, the Phillies announcers mentioned that Halladay had given up 3 runs in one inning for the 7th time this season. Two years ago, his ERA was 2.35, so he didn't give up 3 runs per nine innings, yet he has done so 7 times this season in his 7 starts.
For more on the Halladay injury, make sure you check out The Good Phight, SB Nation's Phillies site.
Yu Darvish: Simply dominant
Rangers starter Yu Darvish seems to have made the adjustment from a good starter to an ace in a little over a year in the major leagues. He was excellent in Japan, and now he might be one of the most dominant starters in the game. Yesterday, he held the Red Sox to 3 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and 14 strikeouts in 7 innings of work. He did not factor in the decision, but is now 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA, 1.88 FIP, 0.92 WHIP and a 72-15 K-BB rate in 45.1 innings. He is striking out an absurd 40% of the hitters he faces. A 40% K% is something only four other pitchers have accomplished this season. All four are closers. Amazing.
For more on Darvish's dominating performance, check out Lone Star Ball, SB Nation's Rangers site.
More Roundup
The Marlins put up two touchdowns on Roy Halladay and the Phillies yesterday, and their offense was lead by rookie Marcel Ozuna and Adeiny Hechavarria. Ozuna went 4-5 with 2 doubles, 3 runs, 3 RBI and a walk, raising his triple slash line to .478-.520-.783 with a HR, 4 runs, 4 doubles, and 4 RBI in 23 at bats since his call up. Ozuna will be playing every day while Giancarlo Stanton is on the DL.
Ozuna's teammate Adeiny Hechavarria had the best game of his career yesterday, going 2-4 with a bases loaded triple and a bases loaded home run, for 7 RBI on the day. Unfortunately for Hechavarria, he is hitting under .200 on the season, so I wouldn't rush out an grab him off of your league waiver wire.
Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has never been a guy I have targeted in the past, but maybe I am wrong on him. Maybe I should be higher on him. Yesterday, he went 3-5 with a HR, 2 runs and 3 RBI in the Braves 9-4 win over the Mets. He is now hitting .313-.380-.453 with 2 HRs, 10 runs and 15 RBI in 17 games this season.
Another guy I have been down on is Mets third baseman David Wright, as the power has dropped over the years. This season, Wright appears to be healthy, and the power has returned. Wright went 2-3 with a HR, 2 runs and 2 RBI in the Mets 9-4 loss to the Braves, raising his triple slash line to .313-.425-.576 with 5 HRs, 20 runs, 23 RBI and 6 stolen bases. He is on pace for 29 HRs and 35 stolen bases this season.
It's easy to forget that Orioles third baseman Manny Machado should be in AA or AAA right now, because he is just 20 years of age. Yesterday, he went 1-4 with a walk, HR, 2 runs and 2 RBI, and is starting to look like a star. He is now hitting .309-.352-.522 with 5 HRs, 23 runs, 21 RBI, 3 stolen bases and a 24-9 strikeout to walk rate in 32 games this season. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to slumps and if he can improve his plate discipline as the season goes on. He has hit in 9 of his last 10 games, with multi-hit games in six of those nine.
Angels outfielder Mike Trout has had a slow start to the 2013 season, but, remember, last year at this time, he was just getting his crazy good season started. He went 2-5 with a HR and 2 runs scored in the Angels 8-4 loss to the Orioles, raising his triple slash line to .275-.340-.504 with 5 HRs, 20 runs, 22 RBI and 5 stolen bases. He has homered in three of his last five games, and is on pace for a 26 HR/26 SB season. I think he will easily exceed the stolen base amount.
Injury Updates
For the Brian McCann owners out there, make sure you get him in your lineups, as the Braves will be activating him later today. I see him playing 3-4 times per week initially, then 5-6 times per week come June.
Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Eaton is rehabbing in minor league games right now and is due to return at the end of the month. He has not played in the outfield yet and is only DHing.
Closer News
The Reds turned to reliever J.J. Hoover to close out a 3 run lead yesterday. Why you ask? Why didn't they bring in Aroldis Chapman in the save opportunity? The reason was that Chapman had thrown a total of 51 pitches over the last two days. Hoover might be a speculative add should Chapman get hurt down the road.
More fantasy goodness from Fake Teams
Fantasy Baseball: Two-Start Pitchers for Week 6
OBP League Waiver Wire: Are Juan Uribe and James Loney worth an add?
Minor League Level Review (AAA): Could Olt's Struggles Be Vision-Related?