Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.It wasn't a good day to be a top-ten closer on Wednesday. Both Mariano Rivera and Huston Street are on the shelf for a few days.
After the game Wednesday night, the Yankees told the media that Rivera was unavailable due to tightness in his groin. The 39-year-old Rivera, who has battled this injury for a while, sat out the final game of the Baltimore series but feels that he'll be back to full duty after a few days of rest.
Street seems just as optimistic after being shut down indefinitely due to biceps tendinitis in his right arm. He hopes to test the arm this weekend. If all goes well he'll be back to action in short time.
Rivera leads the league in saves with 38. He's also struck out more then a batter per inning and has a superb 1.78 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. While he's resting, expect Phil Hughes to get the majority of the save opportunities, just like he did on Wednesday night. Damaso Marte could also get some ninth inning work if Rivera's rest period is extended.
Street has 33 saves in 34 opportunities this season and also strikes out more then a batter per inning. While he tries to recover from biceps tendinitis the Rockies will use Franklin Morales to close, like they did on Wednesday. You'll also likely see Matt Herges and Rafael Betancourt, especially against heavily right-handed lineups.
Bits From the Box Scores:
• C.C. Sabathia, on Wednesday, became the first American League pitcher to win 16 games. He struck out nine over seven innings and only gave up one earned run.
• Not only did Ubaldo Jimenez win his sixth game in seven starts on Wednesday, but he lowered his ERA to 3.28.
• Chris Coghlan extended his hitting streak to ten games on Wednesday. He's batting .393 over the last month with four home runs. It's a shame most fantasy owners aren't reaping the rewards as he's only owned in 33% of fantasy leagues.
• Brad Penny sure seems to like the climate in San Francisco. On Wednesday he only allowed five hits in eight scoreless innings of work.
• Scott Kazmir struck out eight in 6.1 innings and only allowed three hits and an earned run. He still took the loss although he pitched very well. King Felix Hernandez just pitched better. Hernandez threw eight scoreless innings and allowed only four hits.
• He doesn't know the difference between a bruise and a fractured wrist, but he does know how to hit and run. Brandon Phillips hit his 19th home run on the season and already has 22 stolen bases. He'll surely reach the 20/20 plateau.
• Ted Lilly pitched a gem on Wednesday. He pitched eight scoreless innings striking out five and walking none.
• He's not in the lineup every day and that doesn't seem to bother Seth Smith. In only 53 at-bats over the last month Smith has a .340 batting average and three home runs with ten RBI. On Wednesday he hit his 12th home run of the season and you should keep an eye on Smith. If he earns more playing time he could be a fantasy force in all leagues, not just NL-only formats.
The Afflicted: You already know about Street and Rivera, but Jarrod Washburn will also miss his next start. Washburn blames a sore left knee for his poor start to his Detroit career. On the good side of injury news, the Marlins expect Nick Johnson to play as early as Thursday night.
Lineup Lock Time: Cleveland and Detroit play at 1:05 PM ET on Thursday.
