Roto Riteup: July 3, 2026

Endy’s Game this year is apparently power.

On the Agenda: 

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

Closer Chaos

The Chicago White Sox haven’t officially demoted Seranthony Domínguez from their closer spot, but they’re keeping their options open. Domínguez’s last save was on June 14 and the White Sox only have two saves since then: Sean Newcomb on June 23 and Tyler Schweitzer this past Tuesday. Schweitzer was promoted last Saturday and optioned on Wednesday. On Thursday, Grant Taylor took the loss and blew a save, his second blown save in his last five appearances. Taylor remains their best option, but Domínguez and lefties Sean Newcomb and Bryan Hudson will occasionally mix in for opportunities. Taylor is the only roster-worthy of the quartet.

Quick Hits

The news on Royals lefty Kris Bubic isn’t great. Dealing with both elbow and shoulder injuries, Bubic received a cortisone shot on Thursday and will be shut down through the All-Star break. Bubic can safely be dropped in all formats.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May was stuck by a Dominic Smith line drive in the first inning, but first he took it on the old ratio chin, with five runs and two walks allowed. His right ankle X-ray results were negative, so let’s see if he will be able to make his next start.

Seattle Mariners outfielders Julio Rodríguez and Victor Robles both left Thursday’s contest against the Angels early. J-Rod was hit in the back of his helmet while running the bases in the first inning. He was replaced by Robles, who was pulled in the fifth due to a right forearm injury after getting plunked by Walbert Ureña in the third. Weston Wilson replaced Robles and probably watched his back for the rest of the game.

Emerson Hancock will piggyback Logan Gilbert in Saturday’s start, how fun!? Unless, of course, you have Hancock or Gilbert on your team.

Hunter Greene shall return to Major League Baseball on the day of America’s 250th birthday, and the 100th day since the start of the Reds season. Greene’s last start in the Majors was 283 days ago.

Various News and Notes

Another excellent start for Rays southpaw, Ian Seymour. He allowed three hits, one run, and one walk with eight punchouts in eight innings. Seymour’s slider grades out at a 123 (Stuff+), his WHIP is 1.02 and he’ll likely be a ratio-helper in the second half. Scour your 12-team league’s free agents and add him immediately if he’s available. He currently lines up for two home starts against the Yankees and Mariners.

Walbert Ureña walked four batters, but allowed just one hit and one run over 5.2 innings, along with six punchouts. Thanks to Seymour and Ureña for making me look good in yesterday’s Roto Riteup.

Carter Jensen’s 20-game hit streak ended on Wednesday.

He got right back to business on Thursday, taking Ian Seymour deep (his only run allowed in the game) with a leadoff bomb in the bottom of the first.

Mariners starter Bryce Miller was brilliant once again. He threw seven shutout innings, with just two hits, no walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings. Miller brought his ERA down to 1.71.

Here is Manny Machado’s 17th dinger of the season, courtesy of struggling starter, Roki Sasaki:

Sasaki has been getting crushed lately. He has allowed seven home runs and 19 earned runs in four starts since that scoreless, 7-IP gem with a career-high 10 strikeouts against the Angels on June 5.

Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy had a terrific day at the plate on Thursday in a 14-4 victory over the Marlins.

McCarthy went 2-4 with three runs and four RBI, including that two-run shot. He has pulled his batting average all the way up to .298.

The Jacob Misiorowski–Chase Burns duel wasn’t quite the acefest most expected. Don’t get me wrong, these are two beastly pitchers and they pitched well, it just wasn’t a 1-0 game with 25 combined strikeouts. Burns was solid (6 IP – 4 H – 2 ER – 2 BB – 4 K) and Misiorowski punched out 10 Reds. Les Miz had five runs scored on him, though four were unearned. His ERA continues to sparkle and glisten at 1.47.

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% on Yahoo)

Pitchers for Today: Jake Bennett, BOS (19%) at LAA

Perhaps he’s due for some regression, but it’s a fine matchup for the rookie southpaw. Over his last three starts (v NYY, at COL, v TOR), Bennett has a 1.53 ERA (3.05 xFIP) and a 17:2 K:BB.

Other Options: Anthony Kay, CHW (15%) at CLE

The Guardians’ active roster ranks dead last against southpaws in wRC+ (79), ISO (.104) and SLG (.317).

Pitchers for Tomorrow: Sean Burke, CHW (49%) at CLE

This is not a case of simply picking on the Guardians, who are better against RHPs, yet still below average (97 wRC+ ranks 23rd). It’s more so due to the state of this slate where most of the starters are well over 50% rostered, and those who aren’t are guys like Griffin Canning, who simply cannot be recommended. Burke is having a solid breakout season (3.69 ERA, 4.18 xFIP, 1.22 WHIP, 24.5% K%, 8.5% BB%) and has seven straight starts of six strikeouts or greater.

Other Options: Jack Flaherty, DET (48%) at TEX

I don’t recommend it strongly. I know he twirled a gem after being activated from the IL last week (5 IP – 0 ER – 9 K), but he rarely throws two good games in a row these days, and he hasn’t made it out of the fifth inning in half of his starts (8 of 16). His upside in this matchup is high, but the floor is actually whatever you call the space below the basement.