Cardinals strategize a lean 2026 rotation, prioritizing cost-conscious external bets and solid internal depth after a 2025 revenue setback. With Miles Mikolas and possibly Sonny Gray off the books, St. Louis Eyes one- or two-pitch external anchors while grooming Liberatore, Pallante, McGreevy, and Matthews to shoulder innings. Targets span Márquez, Ober, Detmers, and Young, offering a mix of upside and affordability to kickstart a new era.

Week 22 fantasy closer updates center on clear saves and opportunistic pickups. Dennis Santana locksthe Pirates’ ninth inning, turning in two saves and shrugging off a midseason stumble as his job looks safe for fantasy purposes. Jose A. Ferrer stepped in for Washington with three saves in four appearances, signaling a likely closer-by-committee trend at the Nationals down the stretch. Randy Rodriguez still carries upside in San Francisco, showing the ceiling for saves when the Giants can run his arc. Victor Vodnik has grabbed two saves in Colorado, offering a viable late-inning option in the Rockies bullpen.

Deeper-league intrigue runs through Reid Detmers in Los Angeles, JoJo Romero in St. Louis (alongside Riley O’Brien sharing ninth-inning duties), and Calvin Faucher in Miami as Anthony Bender’s season-ending tibia injury clears room for late-inning opportunities. Raisel Iglesias posted five saves on the week, a reminder that the closer role can swing fast. Hunter Gaddis and Tanner Scott emerge as hot-handed back-end options, while bullpen dynamics in Texas and Arizona intensify as teams chase late wins and playoff positioning.

The MLB trade deadline approaches, and several starting pitchers are expected to be on the move. Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals tops the list, likely to be traded as he has a player option for 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks should consider dealing Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, both free agents after the season. The Baltimore Orioles are set to part with Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, and Tomoyuki Sugano, while Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals is a strong candidate for a trade. Other potential names include Nick Martinez of the Cincinnati Reds and Aaron Civale from the Chicago White Sox.

Alongside these possible trades, there are pitchers who may step into starting roles after trades. This deadline is crucial for teams looking to bolster their rotations for a playoff push. Players like Nestor Cortes from Milwaukee and Patrick Corbin of Texas could also be on the move, impacting the league's pitching landscape significantly.

Cam Appenzeller, a standout pitcher from Chatham Glenwood, is making headlines as he prepares for the 2025 MLB draft. After a remarkable basketball season leading his team to the state tournament, he returned to pitching on April 23. His impressive stats include a 1.37 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 30.2 innings, demonstrating his potential as a top prospect. Appenzeller has gained national attention, ranked 58th by MLB.com among draft prospects, and is compared to Reid Detmers, a first-round pick in the MLB draft.

Appenzeller's powerful fastball peaked at 94 mph, complemented by a slider and changeup. His commitment to the University of Tennessee could provide a safety net should he choose to pursue college ball. With the MLB draft approaching, the next few weeks are pivotal for this promising talent.