Roto Riteup: June 25, 2026
It looks like there’s no one at this game, though I think I saw a Meckler Heckler.
On the Agenda:
- Closer Chaos
- Quick Hits
- Various News and Notes
- Streaming Pitchers
Closer Chaos
Cade Smith has hit a rough patch in this series with the White Sox. He allowed two runs on two hits and one walk on Monday. On Wednesday, Randal Grichuk and Braden Montgomery smashed back-to-back ninth-inning bombs off Smith. Before this week, Smith was on an immaculate run, earning 17 saves with a 34:4 K:BB over 18 appearances (20 innings). Smith is a top-three closer in the league and will take a lot more stinkers to lose his job. He could have dead-arm, or perhaps he’s hurt, but my guess is this is just baseball.
Starter-turned-long-reliever Carmen Mlodzinski recorded the rare three-inning save on Wednesday, after Braxton Ashcraft pitched a six-inning gem with 10 punchouts. Mlodzinski threw 30 of 39 pitches for strikes. This was nothing more than a long relief opportunity. There’s no chaos afoot. Gregory Soto remains the Pirates closer.
Pete Fairbanks wasn’t very sharp in the series with the Texas Rangers. Or perhaps Joc Pederson owns him. Pederson hit a ninth-inning homer off Fairbanks on Tuesday, then did it again on Wednesday. Fairbanks has a 6.75 ERA, but isn’t likely to lose his job just yet. Setup man Anthony Bender has been the Marlins best reliever this season. He owns a 2.84 ERA in 31.2 innings (33 appearances) and has raised his strikeout rate, from 20.6% in 2025 to 28.5% so far this season.
New managers of Elvis Alvarado are All Shook Up after his latest outing on Wednesday. Alvarado entered the ninth for a save chance with a 1-0 lead, but Rafael Devers tied it up My Way. Alvardo figured “That’s All Right”, but rookie Victor Bericoto figured It’s Now or Never and crushed a walk-off bomb, Returning to Sender. Alvarado gave up two runs in his previous outing on Sunday, and it appears to be Heartbreak Hotel for the young closer-in-training as he will likely move down the bullpen hierarchy, offering opportunities for Justin Sterner or even Mason Barnett. Manager Mark Kotsay wishes there was A Little Less Conversation on matters of the ninth inning, but as the old saying goes, garbage in, garbage out.
Quick Hits
Rays starter Griffin Jax was excellent against on Wednesday. He allowed two runs, but neither were earned, as he racked up seven strikeouts over five innings (88 pitches). Jax pulled his ERA down to 3.33 on the season. It was 8.00 as a reliever.
Otto Lopez won’t stop. Here’s his go-ahead two-run homer off Cole Winn in the eighth inning on Wednesday:
Lopez leads the Majors with a .340 batting average. He ranks among the top 13 hitters on our Player Rater.
Wyatt Langford has five home runs in his last seven games.
Jorge Soler homered in two of three games in the series against the Orioles, since being activated.
Samuel Basallo crushed two dingers off Angels starter José Soriano. At least fantasy managers will always have April:
We will never forget the April 2026 Jose Soriano linsanity run pic.twitter.com/aHMd9NXj0N
— AT (@BaseballWRLD_) June 24, 2026
Paul Goldschmidt hit two home runs as well, both off Tarik Skubal. Here’s his second one:
Goldschmidt was 5-10 with 2 HR in his career against Skubal entering Wednesday’s contest. Among hitters with at least 80 plate appearances against southpaws, Goldy leads the Majors in AVG (.405), OBP (.488), SLG (.784) and OPS (1.272).
Saving the best for last, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson had a doubleheader for the ages. He went 5-for-9 with 3 R, 2 HR, 1 SB, and 11 RBI. If you’re curious, the record for most RBI (13) in a day is held by Nate Colbert, who also hit five home runs for the Padres in that August 1, 1972 doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves. Swanson is finally over the Mendoza Line, pulling his average up from .189 to .202 in a single day. Not bad for a nine-hole hitter.
Various News and Notes
Badly in need of starting pitchers with Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera going on the IL in the last couple of days, the Cubs traded for veteran southpaw, David Peterson. In 68 innings with the Mets, Peterson had a 6.09 ERA (4.05 xFIP) and a 3-6 record. Peterson should be able to maintain a starting role over the next month. Matthew Boyd will be activated on Friday, and Ben Brown and Jameson Taillon should be back not long after the All-Star break. Peterson is penciled in to make his Cubs debut on Friday.
He’s certainly willing, but apparently no longer able. Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel is scheduled to undergo surgery on his right elbow. There is no timeline for his return, though we can likely stick a knife in it for 2026.
Rookie infielder Edwin Arroyo was not the player optioned when Elly De La Cruz was activated on Wednesday. Instead, it was boom/mostly-bust outfielder, Will Benson. Arroyo is now a bench bat with virtually no fantasy value.
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz left Wednesday’s contest early due to left hamstring discomfort.
Reynaldo López will start Friday’s contest as he makes his return to the Atlanta Braves rotation following the demotion of J.R. Ritchie. López threw 58 pitches in a Sunday relief appearance and will have his pitch count limited to 60 in this start. He lines up next to face the Cardinals at home next week.
Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in Yahoo)
Pitcher for Today: Tatsuya Imai, HOU (36%) at DET
It’s a light Thursday slate and most of the starting pitchers are either way above 50% rostered or aren’t worth the time of day. Picking between Imai and Troy Melton in this Astros-Tigers contest is tough, but Imai is my choice. Despite the Tigers’ lefty-heavy lineup, I expect Imai to build upon his recent start (11 Ks, 20 whiffs against the Guardians). The Tigers’ active offense has a 24% strikeout rate against RHPs, the fourth-highest mark.
Other Options: Troy Melton, DET (31%) vs. HOU
Imai is the more volatile choice and the Tigers are home favorites, but I believe Yordan Alvarez score a few off Melton today.
Pitcher for Tomorrow: Joey Cantillo, CLE (28%) vs. SEA
Cal Raleigh isn’t right and the Mariners have been brutal against southpaws — an 86 wRC+ (third worst) and a .218/.299/.339 slash against them.
Other Options: Walker Buehler, SD (23%) vs. LAD
I promise you my brain isn’t taking a trip on a Ferris wheel. Expect Buehler to step up and pitch well against his former squad. Over his last four starts (at TEX, at BAL, vs. CIN, at PHI), Buehler sports an impressive 1.71 ERA, and a 22:5 K:BB.
Vlad writes for RotoGraphs and is the head of fantasy baseball content at FTN Fantasy. He is a Tout Wars Expert League champ, member of the CDM Fantasy Sports Hall of Fame and has been nominated for FSWA writing awards six times. Vlad has been playing fantasy baseball since 1995, winning 42 NFBC leagues since 2012 and ranking in the top percentile in NFBC’s Online Championship contest (33% win rate, 52% cash rate; 64 leagues). Much to the chagrin of his colleagues and most baseball aficionados, Vlad is a lifelong Dodgers fan who claims his first gut call at age 9 was Kirk Gibson’s 1988 World Series home run. You can follow him on X and BlueSky @RotoGut.
Mlod had the rare thee-inning save, not the oh-so-common three-out save.
Enjoyed the Elvis writeup!
Heh, thank you
What do we think about Elvis in real life, irrespective of role / saves? The swing-miss has been dominant. The full season line is good enough but since returning from the minors in June he’s had a 42 K% and 0 BB. 15% Swstr% on the season, 113 Stuff+, 2.84 SIERA. There’s just that sticky 2.21 HR/9, but his minor league track record doesn’t show a big HR problem. Easy enough to blame on the park I guess. Is it too risky to hold him and see what happens? Alternative is someone like Morejon who’s more bankable but no shot at SVs.
To me, he’s in the cluster of guys that would be the fantasy baseball equivalent of a JAG RB in fantasy football – Just A Guy. A meh RB is valuable if he has the starting gig no matter what. To me, it’s the same with half the closers in baseball.
Alvarado probably isn’t good (though anyone who throws 99 is always worth keeping tabs on), but he seems to have the gig and does get Ks and that has value. Maybe the HR thing works itself out but he also had massive control problems in the minors which could rear its ugly head at any time.
It’s also worth noting that, while he was a bit part in a 2019 trade early in his career, he has been either waived or allowed to walk in minor league free agency (which is effectively being waived) by 3 other teams before landing with the cheapest team in baseball that was and is desperate for pitching.
Great response!