George Kirby DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby struggled in a 9-2 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday. Kirby allowed five runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings of work while striking out four and walking one. The veteran hurler was making his season debut after missing the first two months of the season with right shoulder inflammation, so his less-than-stellar start can be forgiven. When he's on, Kirby has been a very good fantasy starter and should return to those standards once he gets a few more starts under his belt. Fantasy gamers shouldn't hit the panic button just yet.

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson announced on Wednesday that right-hander George Kirby (shoulder) will come off the 15-day injured list and make his 2025 season debut on Thursday in Houston against the Astros. Wilson said the rest of the team's starting rotation will slot in behind Kirby, with Emerson Hancock starting Friday, Bryan Woo going on Saturday, and Luis Castillo taking the hill on Sunday. The skipper also said that Kirby will likely be on a 75-80-pitch limit in his first start of the season in Houston. The matchup against the Astros isn't terrible, but the 27-year-old will have a limited fantasy ceiling and lower floor than usual, especially after giving up four runs on 10 hits in four innings in his final minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma last Friday. Kirby deserves to be rostered in all fantasy leagues as a control artist with limited strikeout upside.

Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby (shoulder) made his third minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Friday night and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits (two home runs) while walking none and striking out four in four innings pitched. While the results weren't all that great for Kirby in this one, the primary takeaway is that he didn't suffer any setbacks with his shoulder and hit 97.5 mph with his four-seam fastball. The 27-year-old hasn't been a big strikeout guy to this point of his career, but he's useful in fantasy for his pinpoint control, and he has yet to walk any of the 21 batters he's faced so far on his rehab assignment. Kirby is getting closer to making his 2025 season debut, but he only threw 64 pitches on Friday night, so it would make sense for the M's to give him one more rehab start. If Kirby is available on your league's waiver wire, pick him up now.