Dane Dunning DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers placed Dunning on waivers earlier this week and will begin his 2025 campaign at the top level of the minor leagues. Dunning was competing for a spot in the starting rotation but ultimately fell short. During spring training, the 30-year-old struggled as he served up a high 8.18 ERA with a 1.91 WHIP across 11 innings of work. He held a 4:14 BB:K and allowed four long balls. Last season, Dunning appeared in 26 games (15 starts) and logged 95 innings to the tune of a 5.31 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP. He tallied 91 punchouts and allowed walks at a high 9.5 percent rate. In addition, Dunning also generated a high 45.8 percent hard-hit rate. With Dunning starting the season in Triple-A, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter will have a spot in the rotation.

The Texas Rangers placed pitcher Dane Dunning on outright waivers on Sunday. If the 30-year-old is not claimed by another team, Texas can outrightthe former first-round draft pick to the minors. The righty pitched well for the 2023 World Series champion squad, posting a 3.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 172 2/3 innings pitched, but that season looks more like an outlier compared to career marks. Last season, Dunning worked as both a starter and reliever, registering a 5.31 ERA (4.31 SIERA), 1.44 WHIP, and a 12.1 percent K-BB% over 95 IP. If he is picked up by another team, he has the potential to be a solid innings-eater, however, the ERA, WHIP, and sub-9.00 K/9 don't make him very appealing for fantasy.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Texas Rangers and right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning have agreed to a $2.66 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. Dunning battled injuries this past summer and logged just 95 innings of work and held a mere 5.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. His 95 innings were his lowest total since his debut season in 2020. Under the hood, Dunning generated a rough 45.8% hard-hit rate, 10.9% barrel rate, and 90.4 mph average exit velocity, which were all significantly below the average marks. Given this contract agreement, fantasy managers should expect Dunning to compete for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. If he earns a spot, he could be worth a late flier in deep AL-only formats, as he held a modest 3.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 2023.

Texas Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday. Dunning has had a very underwhelming year for the Rangers, posting a career high 5.38 ERA in just 90.1 innings pitched. That would be the fewest amount of innings Dunning has pitched in a season since joining the Rangers in 2021. The 29-year-old has mainly been used out of the bullpen in the second half of the season, making just two starts since being moved to the bullpen in late June. He's also been dealing with a shoulder injury he sustained in July. With his 6.86 ERA in August, and the Rangers well out of the playoff picture, Dunning simply wasn't going to keep his spot on the club. Fantasy managers needing help with relief pitchers should turn to Rangers reliever Kirby Yates, who has posted a 2.08 ERA and recorded six saves over the last 30 days.

Texas Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning is making the start on Monday in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. This will be Dunning's 14th start of the season and his second in a row after he had been moved to the bullpen. In his last start on Aug. 14 against the Boston Red Sox, he allowed four earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out three in five innings for a no-decision. Before that start, he hadn't started a game for Texas since June 16. The 29-year-old is getting a Pirates team that has really struggled of late, but he still won't provide much upside for fantasy managers as a streamer. In his 21 appearances (13 starts) this year, Dunning has pitched to a 4.92 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP and a 22.4% strikeout rate. His 10.5% walk rate is the highest of his career.