Roto Riteup: August 14, 2026

What a moment in the Field of Dreams game!

On the Agenda: 

1. Quick Hits
2. Field of Dreams Game
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitchers

Quick Hits

These Green Monster masks are so cool. Here’s Caleb Durbin’s grand slam.

Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft threw a complete game on just 85 pitches. He struck out 10, walked one and allowed one run, an Owen Caissie homer in the ninth.

Cade Cavalli pitched the best game of his career on Thursday. He completed a personal-best eight innings (103 pitches) and punched out 10 batters. Cavalli had a no-hitter going until the seventh when he allowed a single to Cubs first baseman Michael Busch, the only hit of the game. Cavalli now boasts a 3.36 ERA and has thrown at least six innings in seven consecutive starts.

Other masterful pitching performances on Thursday:

• Logan Gilbert: 6 IP – 4 H – 0 ER – 1 BB – 7 K
• Payton Tolle: 8 IP – 2 H – 0 ER – 2 BB – 4 K

Remember, Tolle struck out 14 hitters in his previous start. With this latest performance, Tolle lowered his ERA to 2.97.

Forty-two-year-old Max Scherzer struck out four for the Blue Jays and is now 10th on the all-time strikeout list (3,516). He’s 18 strikeouts behind Gaylord Perry and 38 behind active (well, kind of active) leader, Justin Verlander.

Field of Dreams Game

The Field of Dreams game on Netflix between the Phillies and Twins was spectacular. Kyle Schwarber hit two home runs, including a leadoff bomb, and was the game’s “MVP”. Schwarbs leads the Majors with 37 home runs.

There were 26 members of the Hall of Fame who emerged from the cornfields. The representatives from the Phillies and Twins were Mike Schmidt (age: 76), Steve Carlton (81), Jim Kaat (87), Bert Blyleven (75), and Joe Mauer (43).

Here were the other Hall of Fame members who walked out:

• C: Joe Torre (86), Iván Rodríguez (54)
• CI: Tony Perez (84), Paul Molitor (69), Fred McGriff (62), Jim Thome (55), Scott Rolen (51), Adrián Beltré (47)
• MI: Tony La Russa (81), Cal Ripken (65), Jeff Kent (58)
• OF: Andre Dawson (72), Harold Baines (67), Larry Walker (59), Andruw Jones (49)
• SP: Fergie Jenkins (83), CC Sabathia (46)
• RP: Rollie Fingers (79), Lee Smith (68), Trevor Hoffman (58), Billy Wagner (55)

Brandon Marsh hit his 17th dinger of the season and stole the only base in the game. Luke Keaschall was the only Twins hitter to hit one out. The Phillies beat the Twins, 7-1.

The most impressive feat of the game: a vintage performance from Aaron Nola, a la 2018: five innings, one run allowed and nine strikeouts.

Various News and Notes

The Seattle Mariners optioned rookie shortstop Colt Emerson to Triple-A and selected the contract of Brock Rodden. Rodden is 26 and was their fifth-round pick in 2023 (160th overall). In 92 games at Triple-A Tacoma (410 PA), Rodden slashed .262/342/.499 with 54 R, 19 HR, 65 RBI, and 8 SB.

Infielder Edouard Julien cleared waivers and was outrighted to the minors. He played sparingly over the last couple of months, managing a meager .208 average and just 3 HR and 20 RBI in 276 plate appearances.

#OldFriend (unless you despise the Dodgers), Tony Gonsolin, signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. He was a free agent as he recovered from his TJS in August. Gonsolin was placed on the 15-day IL and it is unknown whether he will pitch for the Royals this season. Perhaps in the playoffs. (#TooSoon?)

The San Francisco Giants claimed fallen Astro Shay Whitcomb off waivers and immediately optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento. We might see him in that Giants uniform in September.

Carlos Rodón did not allow a run in his 4.1 inning rehab start with Double-A Somerset. He did punch out seven batters in the outing. He may make one more rehab start in Triple-A, or may be called back to the Yankees rotation next week.

This stat took my breath away:

Cal Raleigh in 2025:
60 HRs

Cal Raleigh in 2026:
51 Hits pic.twitter.com/g4o7zy3x7i

— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) August 13, 2026

Makes you wonder if he’s a one hit wonder like Berlin. Ok, that’s not fair to Brady Anderson him. Raleigh averaged more than 30 homers per season from 2022 to 2024. The closest Anderson came to his 50 HR from 1996 was 24 in 1999.

Ok, so maybe Berlin wasn’t Brady Anderson-esque. No More Words from me on the topic.

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% on Yahoo)

Pitcher for Today: Landen Roupp, SF (36%) vs. COL

Roupp has had a bit of a rough stretch, walking nine batters in his last two starts. There’s no better way to boost a pitcher’s confidence than a matchup with the “road” Rockies.

Other Options: Jackson Jobe, DET (31%) vs. CHW

Jobe posted a sub-2.00 ERA in five rehab starts then threw five scoreless innings against the Giants in his first Major League start since May of 2025. This may be a bit of a tougher test, but the White Sox offense has been reeling of late and might be running into a juggernaut here in Jobe.

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Hayden Wesneski, HOU (22) vs. SEA

Wesneski has been pitching well, rocking a 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a walk rate of eight percent. The matchup is a good one here against an offense that has scored the third fewest runs since the All-Star break.

Other Options: Grant Holmes, ATL (25%), vs. ARI

The pitcher with nine lives. Everytime ATL management start talking about moving Holmes to the bullpen, he wags the Diketme Mutombo finger on ’em in the form of twirling a gem. Over his last two starts (vs. MIA, at NYY), Holmes has pitched 12 scoreless innings with three walks and seven punchouts.