Chris Flexen DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Chicago Cubs signed free-agent right-hander Chris Flexen to a minor-league deal on Monday that is pending a physical, sources tell The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma. Flexen will stay in Chicago in 2025 after going 3-15 for the White Sox with a 4.95 ERA (4.80 FIP) and 1.52 WHIP with 123 strikeouts and 63 walks over 160 innings in 33 appearances (30 starts) in 2024. He was even worse the prior season with the Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies, going a combined 208 with a 6.86 ERA (6.22 FIP) and 1.67 WHIP with 74 strikeouts and 38 walks in 102 1/3 frames over 29 outings (16 starts). The 30-year-old veteran has a career 4.95 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with a well below-average 16.4 percent strikeout rate in his seven MLB seasons. Flexen will enter spring training with the Cubs as pitching depth and should be avoided in all fantasy leagues.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen was on his game in Thursday's 7-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, tossing 6 frames of shutout ball and earning his third victory. Flexen limited the Angels to five hits and a walk while notching seven strikeouts. While the 30-year-old has been good in three of his last four starts, it doesn't do much to salvage a season where he went 3-15 with a 4.95 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. Hopefully next year Flexen won't be on the White Sox and can be a viable streamer in the right matchups, but he has a long way to go.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen is scheduled to toe the slab to begin the second half of the season in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Kansas City Royals. Flexen hasn't been particularly relevant in fantasy in 2024, posting a 4.82 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 71:36 K:BB over 97 innings, but he should draw some interest in deep leagues against a middling Royals lineup on Friday. In four appearances versus Kansas City in his career, the 30-year-old soft-throwing right-hander has a 2.25 ERA and 12:4 K:BB across 20 frames during this stretch. Consider Flexen a low-end streaming option for fantasy purposes in his first start post-All-Star break.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen threw six innings of one-run ball in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over the Rays. Flexen allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out eight. The 29-year-old's previous high-water mark for strikeouts this season was four. The win brings his record to 2-3 with a 4.29 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Over his last five appearances (three starts), Flexen has pitched well, posting a 1.61 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 7:18 BB:K over 22 1/3 IP. While that is commendable, you likely aren't trusting him for fantasy with a career ERA of 4.90 and 1.47 while pitching for the second-worst team in baseball.

Chicago White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen is lined up to start on Friday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. It will be Flexen's fourth start of the season. The 29-year-old former 14th-round pick by the New York Mets in 2012 has appeared out of the bullpen for the Pale Hose his last two times out and is now sporting a 6.41 ERA (5.75 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings pitched. Flexen has been more effective in his two relief appearances than his three starts, and the matchup against Tampa doesn't really make him attractive as a streaming sleeper in deep fantasy leagues on Friday. He'll be making the start on three days of rest. Flexen could be sent right back to Chicago's bullpen once Mike Clevinger is finally ready to make his season debut.