Rafael Devers has yet to make his Giants debut, and the left-handed slugger already leads the team in the 2025 All-Star Game fan voting.
Yes, you read that right.
A day after the 28-year-old’s shocking blockbuster trade from the Boston Red Sox to San Francisco, MLB released the first All-Star return, with Devers amassing 796,382 votes.
It's Monday, June 16 and the Astros (41-30) take on the Athletics (29-44). Lance McCullers is slated to take the mound for Houston against Mitch Spence for the Athletics.
The Athletics are flying high. They are coming off a series sweep of the Kansas City Royals, including a 4-0 shutout in game two of the series.
The AL West-leading Astros are playing amazing baseball at the moment. They have a 4.5-game lead and have won eight of their last 10 games.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Astros at Athletics
Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
Time: 10:05PM EST
Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, Space City Home Network
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Odds for the Astros at the Athletics
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Astros (-162), Athletics (+135)
Spread: Astros -1.5
Total: 10.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Athletics
Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Lance McCullers vs. Mitch Spence
Astros: Lance McCullers, (1-2, 4.91 ERA) Last outing (Chicago White Sox, 6/10): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
Athletics: Mitch Spence, (2-1, 3.67 ERA) Last outing (Los Angeles Angels, 6/10): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Astros at Athletics
The Astros have won 8 of their last 10 games
The Under is 40-28-3 in Astros' games this season
The Athletics have covered the Run Line in 5 straight games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline, and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Astros and the Athletics
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Astros and the Athletics:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Athletics at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 10.0.
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With some Boston Red Sox fans only starting to recover from the infamous Mookie Betts trade, the club made another one of the most controversial moves in the franchise’s history.
The Red Sox killed any momentum from sweeping the Yankees and winning eight of their last 10 games. They shipped Devers to San Francisco for an underwhelming return, and though they shed the $254 million remaining on his contract, they reminded their frustrated fan base that pinching pennies takes precedence over assembling a winning ballclub.
Before we turn the page, it’s important to explain how we got here. Boston’s offseason signing of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman led to the club asking Devers to move from third to designated hitter. Devers, who led all American League third basemen in errors for seven straight seasons, scoffed at the idea but ultimately acquiesced and became one of the league’s most productive DHs.
Breslow and manager Alex Cora described the meeting as “productive,” but Devers still never showed a willingness to play first. According to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox felt that Devers’ $313.5 million contract “comes with responsibilities to do what is right for the team, and that Devers did not live up to those responsibilities.”
That may be true, but it doesn’t excuse the club’s poor handling of one of its biggest stars.
While Devers should have put his anger aside and put on a first baseman’s mitt, poor communication from Breslow and Co. doomed the relationship from the start. Devers took reps at third base in spring training, and Bregman was signed with the expectation that he’d shift to second base. Instead, Bregman immediately took over at third, blindsiding the club’s longest-tenured player.
In a vacuum, there’s a valid argument for trading a stubborn $300 million DH. But the timing of the move was inexcusable. Not only did Breslow’s bold decision destroy the good vibes surrounding a team that finally found its stride, it also exposed the short-sightedness of a front office with a fragile ego. It’s fair to assume the Red Sox would have gotten much more in return for Devers had they waited for a bidding war around the MLB trade deadline.
We could go on about why Breslow and the Red Sox deserve all the criticism they’re getting, and will continue to get for the foreseeable future. But what’s done is done, and it’s time to figure out what’s next for a franchise that can’t seem to get out of its own way.
Five years from now, the Devers deal won’t be judged solely by the lackluster return of Hicks, Harrison, Tibbs, and Bello. Instead, it will be evaluated by how the front office utilizes the $254 million freed up by dumping Devers’ contract. Big names expected to hit the free-agent market next winter include Kyle Tucker, Pete Alonso, Dylan Cease, and Zac Gallen. Of course, recent history suggests the Red Sox won’t be willing to outbid other big-market teams for players of that caliber.
Bregman’s uncertain future in Boston also becomes an even more pressing issue. His three-year, $120 million contract includes an opt-out after each of the first two seasons. Locking up the two-time World Series champion long-term should be a priority.
Devers’ absence also opens the door for Masataka Yoshida’s return from the injured list. Yoshida had offseason shoulder surgery that has prevented him from throwing, but he can now return to his DH role. He slashed .280/.349/.415 with 10 homers and 56 RBI in 108 games as the Red Sox DH last season.
In all likelihood, Devers won’t be the only notable Red Sox player moved this season. The club is considerably worse without his bat in the lineup, meaning it could get ugly over the next month heading into the trade deadline. Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Walker Buehler, and Aroldis Chapman are among their most valuable trade chips if they decide to sell, and they could be on the trade block even if the team remains in contention.
It’s impossible to predict where Boston goes from here, because whether it’s Breslow or Chaim Bloom leading the charge, the organization has no real sense of direction. One of the league’s richest clubs remains obsessed with financial flexibility despite consistently failing to put those funds to good use.
Nonetheless, the Red Sox will look to ignore the noise and pick up where they left off when they begin their three-game series in Seattle on Monday. They’re now 6.5 games back in the AL East with a 37-36 record and only a half-game out of a playoff spot, making the timing of the Devers deal even more confounding.
After the Mariners series, Boston will head to San Francisco for a must-watch series against Devers and the Giants starting on Friday.
Breslow and Red Sox CEO/president Sam Kennedy will address the media via Zoom before Monday’s game at 8 p.m. ET.
Jacob Wilson’s incredible Athletics rookie campaign keeps getting better.
After taking home AL Rookie of the Month for May, the 23-year-old led AL shortstops with 562,696 All-Star votes after MLB released the first return on Monday afternoon.
A’s in MLB All-Star Game voting: – Jacob Wilson 1st among AL shortstops – Brent Rooker 7th among DHs – Tyler Soderstrom 14th among outfielders pic.twitter.com/tVPQojuhxn
Despite the A’s holding a 29-44 record, it’s unsurprising to see true baseball fans give Wilson his flowers during the 2025 MLB season.
Wilson has the game’s second-best batting average at .367, behind Aaron Judge’s .378, and is carrying a .915 OPS with 98 hits, 38 RBI and eight home runs. A staple in manager Mark Kotsay’s lineup, Wilson also has played 67 of a possible 73 games in 2025.
The A’s selected Wilson, the son of former MLB All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson, No. 6 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, and he’s quickly ascended into one of the game’s brightest young stars and everyday starters.
Wilson is primed to be the AL’s starting shortstop in the 2025 All-Star Game on July 15 in Atlanta. But he isn’t the only Athletic to show up on the league’s first All-Star voting return.
Brent Rooker sits at seventh among designated hitters and Tyler Soderstrom 14th among outfielders. Rooker is slashing .278/.350/.497 with 80 hits, 41 RBI and 15 homers, and Soderstrom .254/.343/.459 with 68 hits, 45 RBI and 14 homers.
If nothing, the A’s have a solid trio of bats who potentially can help the franchise claw back into the MLB playoff race.
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is making his Los Angeles Dodgers pitching debut, 643 days after the two-way superstar had elbow surgery.
Ohtani will start and pitch an inning or two against the San Diego Padres in the series opener.
“He’s ready to make his debut on the mound,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the NL West leaders beat San Francisco.
The Japanese right-hander has been throwing simulated games recently in preparation for his return while still wielding his powerful bat in the lineup. Typically, pitchers returning from injuries go on minor-league rehab assignments, but Ohtani is an exception.
The three-time MVP is batting .290 with 25 homers, which leads the National League, 41 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in the leadoff spot.
While Ohtani won’t be throwing deep into the game, just his presence on the mound figures to bolster a staff that has been decimated by injuries. The Dodgers have eight starters, including Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, and six relievers on the injured list.
Since Ohtani already is on the roster as the designated hitter, the Dodgers are essentially adding an extra pitcher without having to make a corresponding roster move.
Ohtani helped the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title — and his first — last season, the first of a 10-year, $700 million contract.
He hasn’t pitched since 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. He had a record of 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts. His last mound appearance was on Aug. 23, 2023, when he got hurt during a start against Cincinnati. He had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018, and is recovering from right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023.
“There’s been a lot of anticipation,” Roberts said. “It’s good for our team. Our guys are excited about this potential. And obviously, most important, I’m excited for Shohei.”
As a pitcher, Ohtani has a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings in his major league career.
It's Monday, June 16 and the Red Sox (37-36) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (36-34). Lucas Giolito is slated to take the mound for Boston against Logan Gilbert for Seattle.
Tonight is the first game of the Red Sox's 10-day game road trip. It's also the first game for the Red Sox after trading superstar Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.
The move was likely inevitable after Devers refused to take up first base following Triston Casas' season-ending injury.
With Devers' numbers down and the massive contract, the front office likely felt their hand was forced.
The Mariners host the Red Sox after sweeping the Guardians. Despite their three-game winning streak, the Mariners have still lost six of their last 10 games.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Red Sox at Mariners
Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
Time: 9:40PM EST
Site: T-Mobile Park
City: Seattle, WA
Network/Streaming: ROOTNW, NESN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Red Sox at the Mariners
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Red Sox (+150), Mariners (-181)
Spread: Mariners -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Mariners
Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Lucas Giolito vs. Logan Gilbert
Red Sox: Lucas Giolito, (2-1, 5.45 ERA) Last outing (Tampa Bay Rays, 6/10): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Red Sox at Mariners
The Red Sox have won 4 of their last 5 series
Each of the Mariners' last 3 home games against the Red Sox have stayed under the Total
The Red Sox have covered the Run Line in 7 of their last 9 road games against the Mariners
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline, and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Mariners
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread, and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information, and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Red Sox and the Mariners:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Boston Red Sox at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
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It’s never easy switching sides in one of sports history’s greatest rivalries, but former Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi now has done so twice between his various roles with San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Zaidi’s seven seasons as the Giants’ top executive were sandwiched between a role as Dodgers general manager from 2014 to 2018 and now serving as a special advisor in Los Angeles — and he recently addressed the popular, albeit silly, fan theory that he simply was spying on San Francisco during his time in the Bay in a Q&A with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser.
“[Given] your Dodgers-Giants-Dodgers trajectory, I’m sure you’ve heard this fan theory that you were a Dodgers plant all along,” Slusser asked Zaidi this weekend as his current team played his former. “What’s your response when you hear things like that?”
“I have definitely heard that,” Zaidi told Slusser. “I know this whole thing is like, ‘Yeah, he really just came to sabotage the team and leave it in a mess.’ And if that’s true, if you look at the standings, I guess I did a pretty bad job of sabotaging.”
The Giants, who feature plenty of players on their roster brought to San Francisco by Zaidi, currently trail the Dodgers by just two games in the NL West standings despite losing two out of three in their series over the weekend. Now led by legendary Giants catcher Buster Posey as POBO, however, the team is right in the thick of the MLB playoff race at 41-31 after three consecutive seasons of .500-or-lower baseball.
But before that, Zaidi’s regime with then-manager Gabe Kapler at the helm produced the winningest team in franchise history with the 107-win squad in 2021, which fell to — ironically enough — the Dodgers that postseason in the NLDS.
So, it certainly is safe to say Zaidi wasn’t doing a great job of ruining the Giants during his tenure. And as the Dodgers put together a super team in Southern California, it wasn’t difficult for fans to compare San Francisco’s struggles in recent years to its biggest rival.
Now, as the race between the Giants and Dodgers is the tightest it has been in years, Zaidi is focused on giving his new job his all, too — and it’s quite a different role than he’s used to.
“I joked a lot when I first got to the organization that it’s kind of like when you’re a kid and you get taken to a really expensive department store and your parents are like, ‘Don’t touch anything. Don’t break anything,’ ” Zaidi told Slusser. “That’s kind of how I felt, because it’s been a really successful team and organization since I left. They certainly don’t need me, don’t need my thoughts or advice, they’ve clearly demonstrated that with the recent run of success. …
“I’m not really involved in the day-to-day. I’m just kind of around to advise, to serve as a sounding board. One of the things that I’ve really enjoyed being back is, when you’re in a leadership management role, sometimes it’s just putting out fires constantly, you don’t always have time to sit with a scout or an analyst or someone in player development and really be able to dive deep on topics. My schedule now is allowing that a little bit more, and so I’ve gotten to do that more than I would the last few years and that’s been a lot of fun.”
With the way the Giants are rolling this season and how happy Zaidi appears in his new role, it looks like all parties are satisfied — no matter how wild the theories were.
The week began with Boston calling up top prospect Roman Anthony. It ended with the Red Sox trading slugger Rafael Devers. In between, they swept the rival Yankees.
What’s next for this team is anyone’s guess.
Boston took two of three from the second-place Rays and then swept the first-place Yankees to pull a game above .500. The Red Sox are 9-17 in one-run games, but they won three of those in a row against Tampa Bay and New York.
All of that seemed to signal a potential turning point for a team that’s struggled to sustain success since trading Mookie Betts after the 2019 season. But now the post-Betts era has become the post-Devers era.
It appeared Devers would be a franchise cornerstone for years to come after the Red Sox signed him to a 10-year contract in 2023. Now he’s been sent to San Francisco following a tumultuous start to this season. When the Red Sox added Alex Bregman, it opened a new can of worms over where Devers would play, and his relationship with the team went south.
So Boston moves forward — with Devers gone and Bregman and fellow infielder Triston Casas on the injured list. The Red Sox scored at least eight runs in four of five games from June 4-9. Then they held opponents to one run or fewer in three of their next five.
Anthony is baseball’s top-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Boston drafted him with the 79th pick in 2022, and the 21-year-old outfielder had a .914 OPS at Triple-A Worcester when called up.
He’s 1 for 17 at the plate so far. Now he might be under even more pressure — both this year and in the future. Boston has just one winning season since trading Betts to the Dodgers.
Next in line?
MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 prospect is Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler, who was drafted 72nd in 2021. He’s 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 13 starts this year at Triple-A Indianapolis.
The Pirates, of course, already have one outstanding young pitcher in Paul Skenes, and even he hasn’t been able to prevent them from falling 15 games under .500. Pittsburgh ranks dead last in the majors with 3.18 runs per game.
Excitement about Chandler’s future? Sure. Can he fix what’s holding the Pirates back? Perhaps not.
Trivia time
Devers began his career in 2017. Since then, he leads the Red Sox with 215 home runs. Betts is still fourth on that list with 85, even though that only includes three of his seasons in Boston.
Who are the two players between Devers and Betts on that list?
Line of the week
Spencer Strider struck out 13 in six scoreless innings in Atlanta’s 4-1 victory over Colorado. The Braves desperately could use some positive signs from Strider, who is 1-5 with a 4.35 ERA. Atlanta took two of three from the Rockies but is still eight games under .500.
Comeback of the week
The Arizona Diamondbacks scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat San Diego 8-7. Geraldo Perdomo’s three-run triple tied the game with one out, and then Josh Naylor scored Perdomo with a grounder.
San Diego’s win probability topped out at 98.7% in the ninth, according to Baseball Savant.
Trivia answer
J.D. Martinez, with 130 homers for the Red Sox since then, and Xander Bogaerts with 115.
NEW YORK — The New York Mets head into 10 straight games against NL East rival Atlanta and Philadelphia after getting swept in a series for the first time this season.
New York was held to one hit in 20 plate appearances with runners on base, when the Tampa Bay Rays closed a three-game sweep with a 9-0 victory.
“You hate to get swept here at home, but you’ve got to move on,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s 162 (games), you’re going to go through stretches where this is going to happen. Obviously we’ve got to play better. We didn’t execute, we didn’t play clean baseball and they made us pay.”
New York hadn’t been swept in 36 series of two or more games dating to last Aug. 9-11 at Seattle, its third-longest streak and the longest since a team-record 58 from May 15, 1987, through May 11, 1988.
The Mets stranded 30 runners in the series and batted .148 (4 for 27) with runners in scoring position against the Rays, who are a big league best 18-6 since May 20.
Starters Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning combined to throw just 13 innings for the Mets. Paul Blackburn, who will replace the injured Kodai Senga in the rotation, allowed four runs while getting just one out in relief.
Megill and Canning gave up six runs apiece as the Mets division lead was cut to 2 1/2 games over Philadelphia.
Atlanta shuffled its rotation to line up Spencer Schwellenbach, defending Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale and Spencer Strider in the series against the Mets. Ronald Acuña Jr. is hitting .390 with seven homers and 14 RBIs in his first 21 games since returning from a torn ACL.
“When you look at that team, on paper, that’s a really good team,” Mendoza said. “Obviously they’ve had some struggles. The three guys that we’re facing, they’re elite pitchers. And then you look at their lineup, they’re healthy. We’ve got to get ready. The next 10 days, we’ve got to play well.”
ARLINGTON, Texas — Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Civale walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth.
“Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple of innings, just getting back out there and settling in and getting used to the new team, new catcher and all of the above.”
The White Sox acquired Civale a day after he said he wanted to remain a starter — for the Brewers or another team — following his demotion to the Milwaukee bullpen. The Brewers made the move to clear the way for hard-throwing prospect Jacob Misiorowski to join the rotation.
Civale (1-3) pitched a scoreless first inning despite three walks, thanks in part to Wyatt Langford’s double-play grounder.
The fourth walk ended up costing Civale when Adolis García scored on the first Texas hit — a two-out double from Ezequiel Duran in the second inning.
The Rangers made it 2-0 on Marcus Semien’s sacrifice fly in the fifth, when Civale allowed three hits but struck out Jake Burger to end the inning with runners at second and third.
“Credit to him for grinding through that and getting through five innings,” said manager Will Venable, who was ejected after a couple of close calls didn’t go Civale’s way in the first inning. “Not his sharpest day, but with these veteran guys that have experience, they’re able to navigate tough situations.”
All 123 of Civale’s regular-season appearances in the major leagues have been starts. This is the third consecutive year he has been part of a midseason trade. Milwaukee got him from Tampa Bay last year. The Rays acquired him from Cleveland in 2023.
“It never gets easier,” Civale said. “There’s comfort in experience that you have, but every time it’s new and it’s a different challenge in itself. You’re trying to make that adjustment as quick as you can. Was out there trying to compete and I wasn’t filling up the zone like I would have liked to.”
Milwaukee sent Civale, who is eligible for free agency after this season, to the White Sox for first baseman Andrew Vaughn and $807,000 in cash.
Civale said he had no issues with anybody in the Brewers clubhouse, or the coaches there. He just wanted to remain a starter, like he had also been for all 86 of his minor-league appearances.
The outing against Texas lowered Civale’s ERA to 4.67 this season, when he is making $8 million. He has allowed nine runs over 24 innings in five starts since a stint on injured list with a strained left hamstring.
Civale threw just six of his first 19 pitches for strikes, and it was during that stretch that home plate umpire Marvin Hudson, the crew chief, gestured into the Chicago dugout. Moments later, he ejected Venable.
The second career ejection for Venable, a first-year manager, came on Father’s Day. The first was on Mother’s Day. Venable was a bit wide-eyed when that was pointed out to him.
“I was unaware of that,” Venable said. “But that is an interesting coincidence.”
"Right now we’re tinkering with shapes, so I can’t really tell you what exactly is happening," Tong noted about the slider. "We’re tinkering with a few things, but really happy with the progress of that."
The 21-year-old right-hander is also mindful of the need to limit his walks.
"The most obvious one for me is the walks right now," he said. "They’re definitely there. I do think – and I’m really confident -- that they’re not always gonna be there. It’s just more getting my feet wet and getting into the season. Last year happened for me right out of the gate, and this year it’s just a little bit slower when it comes to that.
"It’s just being more consistent, and knowing that when I’m in the zone we’re gonna have a lot of success. And just feeling confident in that. So I think just being in the zone early and often, and having the ability to put away hitters is something I’ve shown I can do – I just need to do it a little more consistently."
Tong's promotion to Triple-A Syracuse might not be imminent, but it will be a mild surprise if it doesn't come before the calendar flips to July.
It's Monday, June 16 and the Orioles (30-40) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (39-32). Zach Eflin is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Ryan Pepiot for Tampa Bay.
Both Baltimore and Tampa Bay are coming off series sweeps of their opponents over the weekend. The Orioles outscored the Angels 19-7, while the Rays outscored the Mets 24-9.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Orioles at Rays
Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
Time: 7:35PM EST
Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
City: Tampa, FL
Network/Streaming: MASN2, FDSNSUN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Orioles at the Rays
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Orioles (+107), Rays (-129)
Spread: Rays -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Rays
Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Zach Eflin vs. Ryan Pepiot
Rays: Ryan Pepiot, (3-6, 3.31 ERA) Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Rays
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Orioles and the Rays:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Rays
The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against divisional opponents
The Rays' last 3 games have gone over the Total
The Rays have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.30 units
Baltimore is 6-3 when Zach Eflin pitches this season
Tampa Bay is 5-9 when Ryan Pepiot pitches this season
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Farhan Zaidi, begrudgingly, watched his former and current teams battle it out in a three-game series between the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend at Dodger Stadium.
San Francisco’s former president of baseball operations, who was fired shortly after the 2024 MLB season, now is an advisor with Los Angeles, where he was the general manager from 2015-2018 before joining the Giants.
With the Giants and Dodgers squaring off for the first time this season, Zaidi spoke exclusively to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser for a Q&A about his time with San Francisco, his current role with Los Angeles and his candid thoughts about watching the Giants this season both up close and from afar.
“It is strange,” Zaidi told Slusser when asked if the weekend series is strange for him. “If I had my choice, I would just disappear or go to like a Caribbean island for three days and then come back once it’s over. It’s strange. It’s uncomfortable. Because, as I said, I do want to see the Giants do well. I do work for the Dodgers, so obviously I want the Dodgers to do well. I kind of just want this series to be over, and I want both teams to go on and be playing other teams.”
Zaid constructed the majority of the Giants’ roster that has exceeded expectations so far this season, and while he is pleased to see his former organization’s success in 2025, he does not take any solace in San Francisco’s winning ways.
“I don’t really take any responsibility or satisfaction from the fact that the team’s doing well,” Zaidi shared with Slusser. “I am very happy for the people who I had relationships who are still there because I understand the grind of the day-to-day season, and I know how much it sucks when you’re not playing well, and I know how much better it is when you are playing well.
“I know how hard those guys have worked to get the team to this point. I’m just happy for the players and the people in the organization who I know. Success is the goal and that is really validating, so I’m happy for them.”
This weekend’s Giants-Dodgers series might have been the first for Zaidi this season, but it certainly won’t be the last.
When the Orange and Black return to Dodger Stadium for what could be a pivotal four-game series on Sept. 18, Zaidi might want to plan a vacation.
It's Monday, June 16 and the Rockies (14-57) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (30-41). Carson Palmquist is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Jake Irvin for Washington.
The Nationals have lost eight consecutive games and are coming off being swept in a three-game series to the Marlins and Mets over the past seven days.
For Colorado, the Rockies are coming off a 10-1 win over the Braves that snapped a two-game losing streak. The Rockies are 2-7 in the past nine games and have gone 0-5 when Palmquist pitches this season.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Rockies at Nationals
Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
Time: 6:45PM EST
Site: Nationals Park
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming: COLR, MASN
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Odds for the Rockies at the Nationals
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Rockies (+168), Nationals (-204)
Spread: Nationals -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Nationals
Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Carson Palmquist vs. Jake Irvin
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Nationals
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Rockies and the Nationals:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Washington Nationals on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Nationals
The Nationals have won 6 of their last 8 home games against the Rockies
9 of the Nationals' last 11 games (82%) have stayed under the Total
The Nationals have failed to cover the Run Line in 6 of their last 8 games
Washington is 7-7 on the ML when Jake Irvin pitches this season
Colorado is 0-5 this season when Carson Palmquist pitches
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Red Sox legend David Ortiz wants young stars to use Boston’s shocking trade of left-handed slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants as a lesson. In a conversation with baseball content creator Yancen Pujols on Monday, “Big Papi” detailed why he believes there is much to learn from the 28-year-old’s fallout in Boston.
“Players need to take this as an example, nobody is indispensable … You need to be smart and understand the situation. Your worst enemy is your ego,” Ortiz said.
David Ortiz says Rafael Devers' ego was what ruined his relationship with the Red Sox pic.twitter.com/L0DRQHLOt6
Ortiz’s comments were directed toward Devers’ unhappiness with his role in Boston and how, despite the three-time MLB All-Star playing under the 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed with the Red Sox in 2023, no one player is above a franchise.
After playing third base for the first eight years of his MLB career, Devers was moved to designated hitter this season to make way for Alex Bregman, whom the Red Sox signed to a three-year, $120 million free-agent contract this past offseason. Then, after Triston Casas suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon in early May, Boston asked Devers to step in at first base, which he never did.
Devers simply was turned off by the Red Sox wanting him to change positions multiple times. That fact left Ortiz wanting MLB’s up-and-comers to know that, even if you are a stud like Devers, you’re still just a part of a team – and movable.
“The organization is always going to be there,” Ortiz reiterated in an interview with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal published on Monday. “Players come and go. As a player, sometimes you’ve got to put your ego aside and understand that once you get paid, you’ve got to find a way to do what you’re told.
“That’s a message for all young players who think they turn out to be bigger than the game. I’m not saying that Devers was like that. He’s humble. He’s a good kid. But sometimes when you’re young and immature, you (don’t realize that).”
It is unknown if Devers would still be with the Red Sox had they not signed Bregman or had Casas not gotten injured. But the what-ifs don’t matter now, as Devers is San Francisco-bound and expected to work with manager Bob Melvin and president of baseball operations Buster Posey on figuring out his new role(s).
Devers exits Boston for San Francisco after posting a .905 OPS over 73 games as a full-time DH during the 2025 MLB season. Through the national noise and Ortiz’s comments, it’s clear most believe the Giants landed a potential National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, and that the Red Sox are in the dumps.