Seranthony

Domínguez

Domíguez was summoned in the ninth inning with a three-run lead to close it out against the Blue Jays. He worked around a walk and a broken-bat single, striking out one batter to shut the door on Toronto for his first save of the season.

Domínguez entered a tie game with two outs and Daulton Varsho on second in the ninth and struck out Kazuma Okamoto to end the threat. He would have stranded the automatic runner in the 10th, but on a two-out grounder to third, Miguel Vargas was a little off on his throw to first and Munetaka Murakami came off the bag on his stretch, resulting on an error on Vargas (though Murakami was at least a much at fault). That led to a doubly unearned run, since the automatic runner can’t be an earned run anyway. Domínguez then retired Jesús Sánchez and got the win after the White Sox scored twice in the bottom of the inning.

The deal, which was agreed to on Friday, is now official. The 31-year-old hurler is expected to open the season as the White Sox’ closer, which makes him relevant for fantasy purposes. Domínguez registered a 3.16 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 79/36 K/BB ratio over 62 2/3 innings between the Orioles and Blue Jays in 2025. He has 40 career saves to his name, with a high of 16 coming during his rookie campaign with the Phillies back in 2018.

Passan also notes that Dominguez is expected to close for the White Sox this upcoming season. Dominguez pitched to a 3.16 ERA in 62 2/3 innings with the Orioles and Blue Jays last season with a 79/36 K/BB ratio. The 31-year-old also has experience at the end of games with 40 career saves. The White Sox aren’t likely to win many games, but Dominguez has been reliable enough to push for 20 saves if he keeps the role over the full season.

The trade is now official. Domínguez remains one of the more reliable setup arms in baseball and will bolster Toronto’s high-leverage mix in front of closer Jeff Hoffman. The hard-throwing 30-year-old has posted an impressive 3.24 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 54/24 K/BB ratio across 41 2/3 innings (43 appearances) this season. His exit from Baltimore likely pushes Andrew Kittredge and Yennier Cano into the ninth-inning mix while Félix Bautista (shoulder) remains on the injured list.

Passan adds that the Orioles will receive pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown in the deal. Domínguez remains one of the more reliable setup arms in baseball and will bolster Toronto’s high-leverage corps in front of closer Jeff Hoffman. The hard-throwing 30-year-old has posted a solid 3.24 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 54/24 K/BB ratio across 41 2/3 innings (43 appearances) this season. His exit from Baltimore likely pushes Andrew Kittredge and Yennier Cano into the ninth-inning mix while Félix Bautista (shoulder) remains on the injured list.

Mansolino added that Bautista is dealing with significant shoulder inflammation, and the team will need the swelling to subside before they can assess potential structural damage. The 30-year-old closer is expected to be “out a while,” with Mansolino noting it’ll be “weeks, not days” before he returns. While there’s still a chance for a late-season comeback, fantasy managers should brace for an extended absence as the Orioles are likely to proceed with caution. It’ll be Seranthony Domínguez handling the closing duties for the moment in Baltimore.

Bautista was not available to pitch on Wednesday night, but all we knew at the time was he “wasn’t feeling right.” Now we know that he has been managing a shoulder injury that has caused a dip in velocity in recent appearances. The 30-year-old was not a lock to be traded at the deadline, but was one of the bigger names on the relief pitcher market. The injury significantly decreases the chances that he gets moved. Since the start of June, Seranthony Dominguez has thrown the highest-leverage innings in the Baltimore pen asides from Bautista, so it figures that he may get the first crack at closer duties in the short term.

Felix Bautista had pitched in each of the last two games, so it was Domínguez who was given a chance to lock down the save on Sunday. He was given a two-run lead and did allow two hits, including a solo home run to Sean Murphy, but he did enough to claim his second save of the season. There is not a closer competition in Baltimore.

Domínguez has been unavailable the past two days after sleeping wrong, which has led to back soreness. Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters they’re hoping to have him available for Sunday’s showdown against Atlanta.