From Here On Out
Starting Pitcher Schedules and Closer Updates
March and April were the most fun I’ve ever had working on this newsletter.
I felt totally freed up creatively with the new season, and I sank more time into the structure of my writing process than ever before. Idea generation has never been the issue. There’s always a big macro topic I want to tackle. What I’ve aimed to improve is everything in between research and publishing. Outlining, editing, and distributing on social media.
I think that’s why offseason content comes more naturally to me. There’s less pressure to publish before more actionable news breaks.
Still, I know consistency is important, and the key for me has been finding repeatable topics that stay fresh. That’s why the Sunday night pieces have focused on rotation schedules and closer updates. It’s what led to the batting order notes becoming a weekly thing at Rotoworld.
And it’s largely been a success. I’m proud to have released something every Sunday night or Monday morning this season. I haven’t done that before, and I plan to keep it going through September.
That blistering pace I was on to start the year cooled in May, which feels natural given it’s been a 3 month grind dating back to spring training. At the same time, I know I could publish more frequently if I streamlined my research and writing process. I just need to take care of some things first.
When the goal is to build something that lasts, a day without an article stops feeling like a loss. It’s still bittersweet in the moment, knowing that kind of progress takes time.
But that’s the point of stepping back. Not to take two steps forward once. It’s to keep taking them from here on out.
Starting Pitchers
Arizona Diamondbacks — I’m avoiding this rotation wherever possible with matchups against the Dodgers and Nationals. Michael Soroka has the best K-BB% and lines up for two starts despite the tough draws. He’s my favorite of the group this week.
Athletics — Gage Jump is a bench-and-see despite two starts at the Cubs and Astros. JT Ginn (at CHC) shows the best skills in this rotation and would be my pick if I had to start one.
Atlanta Braves — There’s a case that everyone is usable here. Bryce Elder gets two home starts against the Blue Jays and Pirates. Martín Pérez draws the Pirates at home, and regression is coming for him. Grant Holmes gets the Blue Jays. Usable is the operative word. These aren’t arms I’m shoving into lineups.
Baltimore Orioles — Shane Baz is worth firing up with two road starts in Boston and Toronto. Trevor Rogers is usable at Fenway.
Boston Red Sox — Starting everyone other than Bello.
Chicago Cubs — Ben Brown has a new sinker this year and he’s been sensational in the rotation. Now he draws a juicy home matchup with the Giants. Shota Imanaga has been hit hard in three straight starts, but I’d still run him out at home against the A’s.
Chicago White Sox — David Sandlin (at MIN, at PHI) is a risk/reward two-step. Shying away from this rotation otherwise.
Cincinnati Reds — Andrew Abbott (vs. KC) and Nick Lodolo (at STL) are tricky calls that hinge on who else you can start.
Cleveland Guardians — Slade Cecconi (at NYY) is the only sit.
Colorado Rockies — Nothing here.
Detroit Tigers — Jack Flaherty (at TB) is a fringe arm who’s underperforming. Troy Melton carries a 1.42 ERA through two starts, but the metrics under the hood aren’t promising.
Houston Astros — Spencer Arrighetti, Kai-Wei Teng, and Mike Burrows are all streamable against the Pirates, though none are must-starts. Peter Lambert at home against the A’s is uninspiring but fine. Tatsuya Imai remains a wild card in the same matchup.
Kansas City Royals — Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are who they are, and both draw a road matchup in Minnesota. Noah Cameron gets the Twins as well, plus a second start in Great American Ballpark. I’d lean toward passing.
Los Angeles Angels — Walbert Ureña at home against the Rockies is my favorite start in this rotation outside of Jose Soriano. Grayson Rodriguez also gets the Rocky Road matchup; use him if you have him, but this is a test he needs to pass. Reid Detmers is capable of brilliance or a letdown every time he toes the mound. I’d rather sit him for a trip to Dodger Stadium, but keep him rostered and start him if you have to. I’m benching him for the Ureña matchup in one league, for instance.
Los Angeles Dodgers — Emmet Sheehan visits the D’Backs and hosts the Angels. Start Roki Sasaki against the Angels and Justin Wrobleski in Arizona. Keep tabs on River Ryan in the minors, but I’m not expecting anything immediate.
Miami Marlins — Eury Pérez is out eight weeks just as he looked to be turning a corner. Brutal. Max Meyer is a start, albeit with a tough draw in Washington. Sandy Alcantara gets two, one in Washington and one against the Rays. Janson Junk lands on the IL now too, leaving a staff that’s suddenly very thin.
Milwaukee Brewers — Jacob Misiorowski is an obvious start even in Coors. Kyle Harrison gets the Coors matchup plus a second one at home against the Giants. Shane Drohan goes Monday. Coleman Crow and Brandon Sproat are deeper-league streams at home versus San Francisco.
Minnesota Twins — Connor Prielipp is fringy despite two home matchups against the Royals and White Sox. Bailey Ober got blown up on Saturday and is on the IL. Zebby Matthews (vs. KC) is still struggling with the long ball.
New York Mets — Christian Scott is a start in San Diego. Passing on Jonah Tong and Sean Manaea.
New York Yankees — Start them all with home matchups against Cleveland and Boston.
Philadelphia Phillies — Aaron Nola is a hold-your-breath start with two home matchups against the Padres and White Sox. Andrew Painter is tough to trust at home against the White Sox.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Tough matchups for a rotation I mostly start without thinking twice. Bubba Chandler (at HOU, at ATL) gets a two-step. Jared Jones draws the Astros on the road after a poor ‘26 debut. Mitch Keller is a shy-away against the Braves. I’d start everyone except Keller, though Chandler and Jones carry more risk than Braxton Ashcraft.
San Diego Padres — Michael King (vs. NYM) is the only one I feel great about. Randy Vásquez draws a road start in Philadelphia and a home date with the Mets.
San Francisco Giants — Trevor McDonald is a high-risk, high-reward play with two road starts, at Milwaukee and at Wrigley. Start everyone other than Adrian Houser.
Seattle Mariners — Start them all. Luis Castillo is the odd man out for now.
St. Louis Cardinals — Dustin May draws the Rangers at home and lines up for a two-step the following week. He’s just above replacement level and the only Cardinals starter I’m looking at. Regression is coming for Michael McGreevy.
Tampa Bay Rays — Start them all besides Steven Matz. Griffin Jax (vs. DET, at MIA) is a nice two-start play.
Texas Rangers — The entire rotation is in play, including MacKenzie Gore in St. Louis (though I prefer him at home). Kumar Rocker is a home streamer who draws the Guardians.
Toronto Blue Jays — Gausman and Yesavage are the only weekly must-starts.
Washington Nationals — Cade Cavalli has two risk-reward starts, against the Marlins and at the Diamondbacks. Foster Griffin is a shy-away in Arizona.
Closers
Arizona Diamondbacks — Paul Sewald has been a terrific value with 14 saves. His fly ball approach will lead to a higher ERA than his 0.75 WHIP would indicate.
Athletics — Scott Barlow has the team’s last two saves in what’s been a true committee all year. He and Hogan Harris are the “favorites” for chances going forward.
Atlanta Braves — The top arms in this bullpen have been unbelievable, including Robert Suárez, Dylan Lee, and Didier Fuentes. Raisel Iglesias will keep getting ninth-inning chances as long as he’s this effective.
Baltimore Orioles — One save as a team since May 12th, and it went to Anthony Nunez. The lack of opportunities has hidden a really strong campaign from Rico Garcia. He’s my closer pick until Ryan Helsley (elbow) returns.
Boston Red Sox — Aroldis Chapman hadn’t pitched since May 20th before entering Sunday’s game. He’s the only closer with 100% of his team’s saves.
Chicago Cubs — Daniel Palencia has missed time and the team has just 10 saves total, so it hasn’t been smooth, but he remains the locked-in closer.
Chicago White Sox — Grant Taylor is the club’s best reliever, but they prefer using him in a multi-inning role, which keeps Seranthony Domínguez in the closer’s seat.
Cincinnati Reds — They have just four saves since April 20th, split between Sam Moll, Tony Santillan, Tejay Antone, and Pierce Johnson (on the 15-day IL). It’s a messy fantasy situation best avoided.
Cleveland Guardians — Cade Smith deserves his own tier directly behind Mason Miller.
Colorado Rockies — Antonio Senzatela has three saves, but he isn’t a 5x5 roto factor until he’s the primary ninth-inning weapon. I’d expect him to be one of the more popular relievers floated for trade this July.
Detroit Tigers — Kenley Jansen is hurt. Will Vest has an ERA over 7. Kyle Finnegan has more walks than strikeouts. Very uncertain where to look for saves in the short term.
Houston Astros — Josh Hader (biceps) is close to returning from the IL. Bryan King has led the team with six saves in his absence.
Kansas City Royals — All eyes on Daniel Lynch IV after Lucas Erceg imploded over the weekend. We’ll see if they go with Lynch despite his left-handedness.
Los Angeles Angels — They have a league-low six saves, four by Jordan Romano, who was DFA’d at the end of April. It’s a sad situation. Ben Joyce (shoulder) recently resumed throwing after a setback in his rehab, and Sam Bachman is the talent play for the time being.
Los Angeles Dodgers — Tanner Scott leads them with five saves. Will Klein, Blake Treinen, and Kyle Hurt have each earned one over the past couple of weeks.
Miami Marlins — This is similar to Palencia and the Cubs. Pete Fairbanks is the locked-in closer, even if his 2026 hasn’t been the cleanest.
Milwaukee Brewers — Trevor Megill’s seven saves lead Abner Uribe’s five. Chad Patrick has mixed in for a couple, and Shane Drohan and Aaron Ashby will play matchups too. It’s Megill if I had to choose one name.
Minnesota Twins — This is the least appealing closer-by-committee by a mile.
New York Mets — Just nine saves as a team, eight of them belonging to Devin Williams. He’s the closer. There simply haven’t been as many opportunities as expected yet.
New York Yankees — David Bednar is the guy.
Philadelphia Phillies — Jhoan Duran is the guy.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Gregory Soto has fully taken over the closer role. This is a situation to watch around the trade deadline, though.
San Diego Padres — Mason Miller is so, so good.
San Francisco Giants — Caleb Kilian has three of the team’s four saves in May. He’s the favorite for the next chance, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it went elsewhere.
Seattle Mariners — Andrés Muñoz has his highest K-BB% since 2022 but has been unlucky in the ERA department.
St. Louis Cardinals — Riley O’Brien has 14 saves with the skills to back it up.
Tampa Bay Rays — Bryan Baker’s 16 saves rank third in the majors behind Miller and Smith.
Texas Rangers — Jacob Latz has the team’s seven most recent saves.
Toronto Blue Jays — Jeff Hoffman had been pitching well before imploding in spectacular fashion on Saturday. Manager John Schneider had been using Louis Varland outside of save situations, but you have to wonder if that’ll stop given Hoffman’s latest meltdown.
Washington Nationals — Clayton Beeter added two saves this weekend, putting him in a three-way tie for the team lead alongside Richard Lovelady and Gus Varland.
great stuff brendan...what are your thoughts on Montero and Stephen miles?