Roto Riteup: June 17, 2025

Just close your eyes and fly!

On the Agenda: 

1. Trades (and Rumors)
2. Quick Hits
3. Various News and Notes
4. Streaming Pitchers

 

Trade (and Rumors)

Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday for Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, James Tibbs III, and Jose Bello. This came out of nowhere, but was also not surprising considering the issues he had with the team in spring training. Devers is still an elite bat, but his numbers could take a dip in the larger park and less potent offense. Harrison was optioned down to AAA, but the Red Sox have good pitching development and this could be a great landing spot for the former top pitching prospect. Until Alex Bregman and Wilyer Abreu are healthy, this will likely lead to more playing time for David Hamilton. 

 

Quick Hits

Cade Povich was placed on the IL with hip inflammation. There is no timetable for his return. 

Lance McCullers Jr. was placed on the IL with a foot sprain. The hope is that he will return after a minimum stay on the IL. 

Dane Myers left Monday’s game after getting hit with a pitch. 

Consider him day-to-day for now.

Various News and Notes
Lucas Giolito threw six scoreless innings versus the Mariners, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out 10 in the victory.

Giolito was fantastic, getting a 41% whiff rate or better on all of his pitches. Giolito has been up and down this season, but that is to be expected from a Tommy John surgery returnee. The upside is immense, but there will be struggles.

Shohei Ohtani made his first start of the season on the mound on Monday, allowing one run on two hits and no walks without any strike outs in an inning of work.

Ohtani will likely not have much value as a pitcher for this season as the Dodgers will let him build up slowly and be very careful with him, but his stuff did look good and he threw three pitches all about the same amount which was good to see. He will continue to act as an opener for now, but we shall see in his next start how much the Dodgers intend to push him as a pitcher.

 

Streaming Pitchers (Under 50% in CBS)

Pitcher for Today: Mike Soroka vs COL

The Rockies are the worst team in baseball and struggle on the road. Soroka’s stuff has been pretty good when he can command it well. 

Other Options: Bailey Falter at DET, David Festa at CIN, Slade Cecconi at SD. 

Pitcher for Tomorrow: Mitchell Parker vs COL

A lot of interesting risky options, but Parker has the best matchup. 

Other Options: Andrew Heaney at DET, Eduardo Rodriguez at TOR, Patrick Corin vs KC, Stephen Kolek at LAD, Paul Blackburn at ATL. 

For those of you that would like to see how these picks play out, I have a doc I put together to track the stats from my recommended pitchers. It does not include the “Other Options.”