Roto Riteup: September 18, 2026

How nice of Luis Medina!

On the Agenda: 

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

Quick Hits

Sorry about the Jeffrey Springs “revenge game” streamer recommendation! He was actually cruising through three innings of a 0-0 game, but then the, um, springs came off. Jonathan Aranda doubled, Junior Caminero, and Liam Hicks walked, Chandler Simpson singled, and it kept uncoiling from there. Springs was charged with six earned runs. Meanwhile, Drew Rasmussen threw five scoreless innings, reducing his ERA to a sparkling 2.72 mark and earning his 15th win.

The game’s only home run was also the A’s only run—Lawrence Butler’s 17th of the season.

You hate to see it, but the Dodgers clinched their fifth straight NL West title in an 8-2 victory over the Reds. Late to the production party, but at least Kyle Tucker finally showed up:

Tucker went 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. He’s batting .343 with four dingers in his last eight games.

For the Reds, Sal Stewart hit his 32nd home run of the season, popping it off reliever Blake Treinen in the fourth inning.

Stewart has 109 RBIs, two shy of Alec Burleson’s Major League lead.

The San Diego Padres poured it on the Rockies, compiling 15 hits in a 9-2 victory. Michael King struck out six and earned his 12th win.

Here is Jackson Merrill’s lovely triple, his only hit of the game:

My dudes Dustin Harris (3-for-5, 1 R, 3 RBI) and Samad Taylor (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI) continued to step up just when we needed them.

Various News and Notes

Well, that was quick. The Astros called outfielder Joey Loperfido ahead of Tuesday’s contest and demoted him before Thursday’s, since Taylor Trammell was on paternity leave for the birth of his baby boy, Truett. Loperfido only saw one pinch-hit at-bat.

The Dodgers plan to activate reliever Edwin Díaz ahead of Friday’s game against the Giants. Don’t start him, though. He will return to a role of lower leverage.

Speaking of relievers who may not close, Devin Williams threw a bullpen session and may be on the verge of activation. It’s not certain whether he’d immediately return to ninth-inning duties. Kodai Senga has been doing a solid job. I would advise against adding Williams while in search of saves help in this final week. In deeper formats, I’d rather take a shot on Rico Garcia (Orioles) or Erik Tolman (Nationals).

Cade Povich will be promoted ahead of Friday’s tilt with the Brewers and will start the game. Povich has a big “Do Not Stream” sign hanging on him. He’s rocking a 6.03 ERA and 1.38 ERA over 13 starts at Triple-A despite a typically-strong K-BB% of 17%.

In other news:

Luis Castillo to the bullpen pic.twitter.com/kOp4DNf9sc

— Vlad Sedler (@RotoGut) September 17, 2026

Castillo’s roto ratios over 29 innings with the White Sox: 7.76 ERA, 1.79 WHIP

The Wizard Cal Quantrill should toe the rubber this Saturday when the Rangers host the Blue Jays. Quantrill dealt with back tightness in his last start. If all goes well this weekend, he will wrap his amazing season up with a bow, against the Twins next week. Quantrill has a 2.90 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 5.7% walk rate in 108.2 innings so far.

The Angels may be worst team in the AL (59-94) but they’re doing their best to stave off the the league’s cellar dwellers (Rockies). Here’s Wade Meckler with the walk-off single in a 5-4 victory over the Twins:

Walbert Ureña was electric yet again, allowing just four hits over seven scoreless innings with nine punchouts and no walks to bring his ERA down t0 2.74, Ureña is one of only nine starters with an ERA under 3.00 who have pitched over 140 innings this season.

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% on Yahoo)

Pitcher for Today: Zac Thornton, NYM (22%) vs. PHI

The Phillies are playing for a playoff spot and the Mets are hoping to play spoiler. Zac officially dropped the ‘h’ (or was it the ‘k’?) a couple of months ago, and has been a true bright spot in this rotation, posting a 3.13 ERA (3.95 xFIP) in 12 starts since joining it in late June. The Phillies are not a very stout offense against southpaws (18th, 94 wRC+) and have been getting stifled by mediocre ones, including Yusei Kikuchi and Martín Pérez. Zac Attak!

Other Options: Connor Prielipp, MIN (6%) at LAA

It won’t be quite as hot as it’s been over the last few weeks in Anaheim and the Angels own one of the highest strikeout rates against lefties, at nearly 25 percent. The Twins should be road favorites here. Prielipp and the gang will get it done.

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Jackson Jobe, DET (27%) at CHW

Jobe has turned up the dial recently, boasting a 15:3 K:BB with just three runs allowed over his last two starts of five and 6.1 innings. The White Sox can be feisty, but the third overall pick of the 2021 draft should step up for the occasion.

Other Options: Cal Quantrill, TEX (50%) vs. TOR, Michael McGreevy, STL (28%) vs. WSH, Jacob Lopez, ATH (30%) at CLE

Quantrill is the pick for ratio protection, McGreevy for the win, and Lopez for the strikeouts.