Roto Riteup: March 27, 2026
Let’s get this party started!
Sorry, Oneil, you’re not invited.
On the Agenda:
- Various News and Notes
- Quick Hits
- Closer Chaos
- Streaming Pitchers
Various News and Notes
It was a great Opening Day for rookies! Several went deep on Thursday including Chase DeLauter (x2), Carson Benge, JJ Wetherholt, and Munetaka Murakami.
Highly heralded Tigers prospect Kevin McGonigle didn’t hit a homer, but had a grand day at the plate, going 4-5 with two doubles, and two RBIs.
Per Ryan Phillips of SI.com, he was the first Tigers player in 80 seasons with an extra-base hit in each of his first two PAs.
Dominic Canzone started his first full major league season off in style, knocking out two dingers, including this 444-foot blast off Shawn Armstrong, the longest homer of the night:
Reds rookie cleanup hitter Sal Stewart went 3-4. Two of those hits were against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet.
Quick Hits
Tanner Bibee struck out seven, allowed three home runs, and did not return for the sixth inning due to discomfort (inflammation) in his right shoulder. We should know more about his status later today. If Bibee misses time, veteran southpaw Logan Allen로건 would likely take his place.
D-Backs’ strong side DH Pavin Smith was scratched before their Opening Day tilt with the Dodgers due to left elbow soreness. He will undergo an MRI on his elbow on Friday. Tim Tawa replaced Smith in the lineup.
Closer Chaos
The only chaos involving Orioles new closer Ryan Helsley was him wreaking havoc on the three Twins he punched out to earn the save:
The Angels sneakily placed Kirby Yates (left knee inflammation) on the IL on Tuesday. Former dominant Jays closer and failed Phillies closer Jordan Romano stepped on Thursday and locked down his save opportunity against the Astros. Romano was pitching well in the spring, and with no official naming of a closer in Anaheim (which is not L.A.), Romano could certainly run away with the job.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol did not name a closer before the season, but we knew the relievers likely to earn the highest leverage opportunities – righties Riley O’Brien, Matt Svanson, Ryne Stanek, and lefty JoJo Romero. Svanson replaced starter Matthew Liberatore in the top of the sixth inning of a wild game. Svanson served up three singles, was pulled after only getting one out, and earned three runs. JoJo Romero allowed two hits in the seventh, then was pulled for Riley O’Brien who struck out Junior Caminero looking to end the inning, then took care of business in the eighth. Stanek came out for the ninth and closed the game out, but allowed three walks.
RosterResource has already moved Svanson out of their “closer commitee” and replaced him with Stanek. It’s only Day 1, but my gut tells me that Marmol won’t be naming a sole closer anytime soon.
Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in Yahoo)
Pitcher for Today: Mike Burrows, HOU (43%) vs. LAA
The Astros will be big home favorites on Friday. Burrows is a former Pirates prospect who had an incredible stretch after the All-Star break and is ready to step it up to the next level.
Other Options: None
Pitcher for Tomorrow: David Peterson (36%) vs. PIT
Home favorites and a tough matchup for the Pirates whose best hitters struggle against southpaws.
Other Options: Joe Boyle, TB (3%) at STL
For those interested, we’ll have a tracker for all our Roto Riteup streamer suggestions coming soon.
Featured image credit: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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.
Oli Marmol, smh.