Roto RIteup: July 30, 2026

Don’t call my name, don’t call my name…Heribertooooo

On the Agenda: 

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

Closer Chaos

The Diamondbacks have relieved reliever Paul Sewald of his closer duties, effective immediately. He has allowed 12 earned runs over his last 11 appearances (9.1 innings), blowing two of his last three save opportunities. Lefty Brandyn Garcia earned the save on Wednesday. Juan Morillo, who wasn’t available after appearing in the previous two contests, likely heads a committee that includes Garcia, Jonathan Loáisiga, and Kevin Ginkel. Morillo has a 20.5% K-BB% and Ginkel’s is 17.1%.  Justin Martinez is throwing live bullpen sessions and should return sometime in late-August. Sewald will pitch in lower leverage situations for now. He could reclaim his role at some point, regardless, he is an easy drop in all formats.

Pete Fairbanks pitched a rare clean ninth inning on Wednesday, notching his 15th save of the season. Perhaps it’s his last one with the Marlins, as he’s a strong candidate to be dealt before Monday’s trade deadline. The Marlins aren’t expected to run a full fire-sale of top assets, but Fairbanks is one of the players most likely to go. Right-handers Michael Petersen or Calvin Faucher could step up for ninth-inning duties. Anthony Bender may be a couple of weeks away from being activated. He was having a stellar season (2.62 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 41:12 K:BB in 34.1 IP) before a stress fracture in his right shin derailed him in June.

The trumpets are back for the return of Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz, who has been sidelined since April 13. Díaz entered the ninth with a three-run lead on Wednesday.

Edwin Díaz is back off the injured list, and so are the trumpets 🎺🕺 pic.twitter.com/T2a7ntGjxR

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 30, 2026

He earned the save, but gave up two doubles (one of the ground rule variety) and a run. Díaz’s return makes Tanner Scott droppable in shallower leagues. I would recommend holding onto Scott in 15-teamers as well as in 12-teamers where the free agent or waiver wire alternative are underwhelming.

Quick Hits

In what may have been his last start with Detroit, Tarik Skubal became the fastest Tigers pitcher to reach 1,000 strikeouts.

Skubal reached the milestone in 857 innings, which is 87.2 fewer innings than it took Max Scherzer as a Tiger. Randy Johnson is the only southpaw to reach 1,000 strikeouts quicker than Skubal. Sadly, Skubal’s excellent start was ruined by the Orioles, who came back from a 7-0 deficit after Skubal exited the contest. The Orioles won the game 10-9 in 12 innings. The Tigers are now four games out of the final AL wild-card spot, as the chances of the Tigers dealing increase further. Late Wednesday night, Jeff Passan announced that Skubal will be traded. His top suitors are the Dodgers and Brewers, though the Yankees, Braves, and Rays are all interested as well, and now the Chicago Cubs have entered the chat.

San Francisco Giants 25-year-old rookie backup catcher Daniel Susac hit his first two career home runs in his 45th game. Here is the first one, off opener Thomas Pannone 파노니:

The second one was a late-inning cheapie off Brewers corner infielder Andrew Vaughn. The Giants pounded the Brewers 16-3 in one of the Brewers’ rare bullpen games. Luis Arraez and Heliot Ramos had four hits apiece.

Quero the Hero! Edgar Quero hit an RBI single in the 12th inning to defeat the Yankees 6-5.

Sneaky Spencer Jones hit a three-run bomb earlier in the contest for the Yankees. Rookies Sam Antonacci and Munetaka Murakami hit back-to-back dingers off Paul Blackburn in the eighth.

Various News and Notes

Making his first big-league start since May 29, 2025, Braves 23-year-old pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver threw 69 pitches (43 for strikes) over 4.1 innings against the Mets. Smith-Shawver gave up two runs on four hits and two walks, punching out four batters, including this one:

In my Wednesday column, I speculated that Smith-Shawver could stick around in the Braves rotation at the expense of Grant Holmes.

Hayden Wesneski earned a win in his season debut following a 14-month absence due to Tommy John surgery. Wesneski allowed seven hits, two walks, three runs and punched out four in 5.2 innings in the victory over the Angels. Wesneski will be a popular target in 15-team FAAB this Sunday.

In a cruel twist of fate, Curtis Mead broke his wrist getting hit by a pitch in his Red Sox debut on Monday. Mead is expected to need 6-8 weeks to recover, but is not expected to undergo surgery. The Red Sox recalled infielder Nick Sogard to take his spot.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is back in his second (first?) home, MLB’s injured list. Buxton’s right hip has been bothering him throughout the season. He missed games earlier this season because of it, as well as the All-Star game, getting placed on the IL on July 7, right before the break. This IL stint is a re-aggravation of the hip injury, officially a right hip impingement.

It may difficult to continue to hold Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia in redraft fantasy leagues, including 15-teamers. The latest news on him isn’t good:

More bad news for the #Royals. Maikel Garcia felt similar pain symptoms in his hand during last night’s rehab game. He was supposed to DH today but is now headed back to KC for further evaluation.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 29, 2026

Fellow Royals corner infielder Vinnie Pasquantino headed back to the injured list on Wednesday due to right wrist soreness. Pasquantino suffered a fractured hamate bone in mid June and returned exactly one month later.

In his first at-bat of Wednesday’s game against the Red Sox, Nick Kurtz was plunked hard on the forearm by Patrick Sandoval.

Kurtz was in pain after a scary hit-by-pitch, but he's staying in the game 💪 pic.twitter.com/THBlkSJatE

— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 30, 2026

Kurtz stayed in, but was replaced at the turn of the inning. Tests were taken immediately, and the A’s officially diagnosed his injury as a contusion. Let’s hope for the best case scenario where Kurtz won’t have to go on the injured list again.

The Los Angeles Angels traded struggling backstop Logan O’Hoppe to their division rivals, the Texas Rangers. Reliever Chase Silseth was included in the deal that yielded 19-year-old  minor-league outfielder Angel Arredondo. O’Hope can join Danny Jansen, Kyle Higashioka, and Elias Díaz on a fishing expedition once they’re eliminated from the playoffs.

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% on Yahoo)

Pitcher for Today: Roki Sasaki, LAD (45%) vs. SEA

Sasaki has had his share of bumps and bruises this season. His last two starts against the New York teams went well, and I’m confident he will get the job done today with the Dodgers, favored and at home, against this inconsistent Mariners offense.

Other Options: Noah Cameron, KC (20%) at MIN

Cameron is coming off his best outing of the season (7 IP – 2 H – 0 ER – 3 BB – 8 K) against the Tigers last week. Cameron pitched after an opener and was able to call all his own pitches for the first time. He takes his talents to Minnesota today, facing a Buxton-less squad and one that has struggled against southpaws this season (92 wRC+, 10th worst in MLB).

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Kyle Leahy,  STL (34%) at TOR

Leahy is in the midst of a mini-breakout. Over his last six starts, he sports a 1.15 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and a 29:8 K:BB in 31.1 innings. They face a Blue Jays offense that has scored the fewest runs in the Majors and whose star hitter (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) has yet to hit a dinger at home this season.

Other Options: Shane Drohan, MIL (39%) at LAA

Drohan struggled in last week’s home start against the Rockies, but a healthy elixir usually lies in a matchup with the hack-a-lack Angels, whose 25.1% strikeout rate among their offense ranks dead last in the Majors.