Roto Riteup: June 14, 2015

You won’t find any white hot pitching matchups to watch today, but you will find some white hot analysis in today’s Roto Riteup.

On today’s agenda:
1. Here comes Byron Buxton, Francisco Lindor
2. Various news and notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options

Here comes Byron Buxton, Francisco Lindor
Top-whatever prospect lists are officially being emptied, with the top tiers being called up to help their teams continue to push for a playoff berth. Buxton and Lindor are top prospects, but defense plays a key role in their value, something fantasy owners can’t profit from.

Despite just 59 games in Double-A and no experience in Triple-A, Buxton is being called up by the Twins, presumably to take over in center. Just 21 years old, Buxton projects to have some growing pains offensively, but he should provide the Twinkies with good defense in center and speed on the basepaths. If you need steals in a redraft league, Buxton is worth the gamble; otherwise, I’m not convinced he’ll be ready to help your fantasy teams this year.

Lindor, unlike Buxton, has experience at Triple-A, hitting .279 in 57 games this year. Lindor doesn’t have the eventual power potential of Buxton and doesn’t run as often, but his strikeout rates are low and he should be able to hold his own against MLB pitching — at least in terms of an empty batting average. Lindor is up for his defense, and since the rest of the Indians shortstop options aren’t hitting, either, they’ll live with what he gives them with the stick. Playing the middle infield gives Lindor more value than Buxton, and he’s worth snagging in 14-team leagues with a MI slot.

Various news and notes
Remember Corey Luebke? Well the lefty is making his back from a second Tommy John surgery, and he pitched his first inning of his rehab assignment yesterday. Luebke was awesome for the Padres in 2011 and started out 2012 just fine before needing surgery. The Padres will want to tread lightly with Luebke if they can, but he could be up around the All-Star break and fight for a spot in the rotation.

Justin Verlander made it through five innings in his 2015 debut, his fastball sitting at 93 as it did last season. Verlander is certainly still a decent MLB starter, but he’s no ace, and isn’t really interesting as a standard mixed league option. Let someone else pay for his name value.

Sean Doolittle was transferred to the 60-day DL, likely ending his 2015 season, to make room for A.J. Griffin’s return from the DL. Griffin will continue rehabbing in Triple-A and could rejoin the A’s rotation next month.

Streaming Pitcher Options
If you enjoy streaming pitchers, tune into the Roto Riteup for recommendations each and every day.

A pitcher for today: Mike Foltynewicz at NYM (Dillon Gee)
If Folty can navigate Lucas Duda, he could be in line for an impressive start.

A pitcher for tomorrow: Erasmo Ramirez vs WAS (Gio Gonzalez)
Erasmo over his last three starts: 17.1 IP, 15 K, 2 BB, 0 HR, .313 BABIP, 1.56 ERA.