Roto Riteup: April 5, 2026

Was that the best defensive game by an outfielder ever?

On the Agenda:

1. Closer Chaos
2. Various News and Notes
3. Quick Hits
4. Streaming Pitchers
5. Six Picks

Closer Chaos

Everyone expected Jordan Romano to be a locked in closer second in MLB with three saves, right? Well, that’s where we are. It wasn’t the prettiest (just scroll up for Jo Adell’s heroics) but Romano pitched a “perfect” 9th with a strikeout. It’s still hard to trust that this is legit, but it keeps happening.

Seranthony Domínguez got his first save of the year, taking advantage of another Blue Jays blown save (not Jeff Hoffman this time, though). He gave up a hit and walked a batter, to go with one strikeout. He has not been impressive, but the job does seem to be his. I trust him even less than Romano, though his job might be safer.

Abner Uribe got his second hold leading into Trevor Megill’s second save in game one vs. Kansas City Saturday. Uribe had a K in 1.1 IP; Megill had 2 K and 2 BB in the ninth. Uribe will just have to keep piling up holds and waiting for his chance, it seems. I do think he is the better pitcher of the two, but Megill is good enough to hold the job.

Dennis Santana got a win pitching a scoreless ninth after the Pirates tied the game up bottom eight. Coming into a tie game there could be a sign that he is still in the closer picture, or it could mean they were choosing not to use their closer in a non-save situation. Regardless, he is their top RH high leverage guy. There will be saves.

Santana got the win because Ryan Helsley blew his first save of the year. He faced four hitters and gave up a run on two hits and a walk. The walk was intentional, so not as bad as it might look, but not a great night for Helsley. For now, that’s just a one-off – even the best blow a save here and there.

Eli Morgan got a save for KC, but it was one of those “three innings, we are up by a lot so just finish this out” kinda deals.

Mason Miller got his third save, striking out all three batters he faced. Aroldis Chapman took the loss in that one, failing to keep the game tied in the top of the 9th. He’s still the guy in Boston. Paul Sewald got his third save, striking out two in the process. He seems locked in. Jhoan Duran got his third, as well, and he is definitely locked in.

Emilio Pagán walked two and allowed a hit, but kept the Rangers off the board for his third save. I just have too many concerns about Pagán and if I rostered him anywhere, I would be trying to sell high. David Bednar locked down his fourth save despite giving up a run on three hits and a walk. He also struck out two. Weird night for closers, eh?

Various News and Notes

So…is this the real Jordan Walker breakout? Is it finally happening? Walker was 3-4 Saturday wtih a stolen base, a run scored and 5 RBI thanks to a grand slam.

Walker now has a 170 wRC+ but, more importantly, he has made major strides on his plate discipline. He is striking out less, walking more, being more aggressive in the zone while chasing less, and making more contact. And he is doing that without sacrificing the elite exit velocities that have made him so promising. If you can still go get Walker, you should. All the right signs are there and the upside is worth taking a shot on the small sample.

Munetaka Murakami bested Shohei Ohtani.

White Sox's Munetaka Murakami hits 4th HR in 1st 8 MLB games, besting Shohei Ohtani's record by Japanese playerhttps://t.co/ga0jwlz6Dq

— MSN Sports (@MSNSports) April 4, 2026

Fine, so “fastest Japanese born player to four home runs” isn’t exactly the most important Ohtani accomplishment to surpass, but it’s still something! Murakami has basically been as advertised – 35.3% K-rate, 14.7% BB-rate, and 4 HR in 34 PA. That’s 12 K, 5 BB, 4 HR, and just 13 balls in play. Go check out his pre-season projections and…they are pretty much spot on, except for the bonkers HR/FB rate. He won’t keep up a 178 wRC+, but he looks every bit the three-true-outcomes slugger we hoped he would be.

Speaking of Japanese stars, after a somewhat shaky first start, Tatsuya Imai bounced back in a big way Saturday. Tasked with a tough Athletics lineup in a brutal park for pitchers, Imai delivered 5.2 shutout IP, tallying 9 K while walking three and allowing just 3 H. His velocity was down, but he managed 18 whiffs, including at least one on each of his pitches – except his curve, which he threw only three times and didn’t induce a swing. This looks like the guy we were getting excited about before the season started.

Andy Pages hit his third HR Saturday as part of a 3-5 effort that also included his first stolen base of the year. His K-rate is down to 12.9% and while that doesn’t seem likely to continue, he very well may have taken a real step forward from last year. And last year was already quite good.

Cedric Mullins was 2-5 with a couple runs and a couple steals. He hasn’t really gotten going yet, but the playing time will be there and the Rays will let him run wild, so he could have some fantasy value if he can just get on base. Meanwhile, Steven Matz threw 6 IP, striking out eight and walking two, allowing just one run on two hits. He’s now 2-0, but the first start was ugly and I am more inclined to ask what this says about the Twins than what it says about Matz.

Jesús Luzardo struck out 11 over 5.2 IP at Coors Saturday. The Phillies seem to have figured out that park. Or maybe the Rockies offense is just that bad? Clay Holmes didn’t have the K’s Luzardo got, but he did pitch seven shutout at San Francisco, allowing just two walks and three hits. Do you want more than 4 K? Sure, but you’ll take that start.

Quick Hits

Sal Frelick left the second game of Saturday’s double-header after grabbing his side, but it sounds like nothing to worry about. He thinks his back just tightened up between games. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sits today, but doesn’t seem likely to be more.

Brendan Donovan is dealing with groin soreness and missed Saturday’s game. Leo Rivas stepped in to play 3B in Donovan’s absence. The Mariners are treating this like a day-to-day issue it seems, but groins can be tricky things. If he needs an IL stint, that may be the opening Colt Emerson needs to make his debut.

Mookie Betts left the Dodgers game with back tightness and it sounds like he is going to miss a couple of days, minimum.

Mookie Betts (back) will undergo an MRI tonight. Dodgers will wait on test results before making an IL decision, but Dave Roberts said Betts is unlikely to play at least the next couple of days. https://t.co/RBRi9R0pF6

— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) April 5, 2026

Hyeseong Kim 김혜성 appears to be the replacement for Betts if an IL stint is necessary. We should get news today, but this could also be a situation where we only find out Monday if the Dodgers wait a day to see how Betts responds before making a move.

There’s no wait for news on Justin Verlander, though.

Justin Verlander is going on the 15-day IL with left hip inflammation, retroactive to April 1.

Tigers will bring up Keider Montero

— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) April 4, 2026

Montero not only got the call but will get the start today. Montero’s spring and his lone Triple-A start have been more of the same from him – he’s a useful MLB pitcher but not a guy with fantasy impact.

I was hoping to have an update on Juan Soto today, but the only update so far is that he didn’t play Saturday. It sounds like a visit to the IL is still possible, but I suspect the Mets will wait as long as possible to make that call. The IL can be backdated three days, so we might not have more info immediately.

Luis Gil is set to rejoin the Yankee rotation next week, likely Friday against the Rays. The Yankees haven’t needed a 5th starter so Gil was biding his time in Triple-A. Gil will make his first Triple-A start today and that one might be worth watching. Gil had HR issues in Spring Training, but also flashed the strikeout potential we expected – but didn’t get – in 2025.

Streaming Pitchers

Pitcher for Today: None. Kyle Harrison ticked up to 50% rostered overnight, so he is out. And I said yesterday I didn’t love the other options. Lance McCullers at Sacramento? Maybe Nick Martinez facing the Twins? Gamble on Slade Cecconi getting a tired Cubs lineup in a double header? Nothing excites me.

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Janson Junk (5%) MIA vs. CIN

Cincinnati isn’t as scary away from Great American Ball Park, and Miami is a tough place to hit. Junk isn’t a star, but he does enough to take a shot here.

Other Options: He’s 5% rostered! What other options do you need?

Six Picks

A new addition to my Roto Riteups will be sharing my Ottoneu Six Picks lineups. You can read more about Six Picks here but the concept is simple: six lineup spots (C, CI, MI, OF, SP, RP); $120 to fill those six spots; Ottoneu FanGraphs Points scoring. The only thing to keep in mind: Your SP will only score points if he starts and your RP will only grab points if he relieves. So no grabbing an RP-eligible player slated to start today.

Here is my Sunday lineup:

• Cal Raleigh – $24 – Cal finally gets his first.
• Willson Contreras – $11.50 – I’ll go after Walker Buehler.
• Trea Turner – $34.50 – Gotta have some Coors action.
• Roman Anthony – $15.25 – I’ll go after Walker Buehler.
• Kodai Senga – $7.25 – Can the Giants hit?
• Jeff Hoffman – $6.25 – The Jays rebound and so does Hoffman.