George Kirby DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said that the team is "hopeful" they'll see right-hander George Kirby (shoulder) back with the team by the end of May. Dipoto said the plan for Kirby is to make "at least two, maybe three" minor-league rehab starts. Kirby could start his rehab assignment as early as this weekend if he's feeling good, so his 2025 season debut is on the horizon. The 27-year-old was forced to start the regular season on the injured list due to inflammation in his right shoulder that initially cropped up in spring training in March. Although fantasy managers would like to see more with Kirby's strikeout rate, his impeccable control alone makes his rosterable in all leagues when he's healthy. He was a first-time All-Star in 2023 in his second MLB season and went 14-11 with a 3.53 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 179:23 K:BB in 191 innings (33 starts) a year ago.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (shoulder) felt great after completing his bullpen session on Monday and is expected to throw again on Sunday. After the session, Kirby noted that he "felt great" and described his session as "nasty." Fantasy managers should monitor his status over the week, as Kirby could be cleared to embark on a rehab assignment this weekend. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since the start of the campaign due to right shoulder inflammation. While the right-hander will need to increase his workload significantly before being in contention to return to the majors, this was a great step in the right direction. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Kirby in all standard formats as he will carry solid SP2 value in all formats when he returns. Last summer, Kirby held a 3.53 ERA with a stellar 1.07 WHIP across 191 innings of work.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (shoulder) is slated to throw live batting practice on Monday. This will be the first time he faces live hitters since being shut down with this shoulder injury in March. The 27-year-old was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status after his session, as this is an important step in his recovery process. If he continues to perform well, he could eventually be cleared to embark on a rehab assignment in the coming weeks. Last season, the right-hander held a strong 3.53 ERA with an impressive 1.07 WHIP across 191 innings of work. While he only tallied 179 punchouts, his elite control gave him significant value in all formats. When he does return, he will carry a solid SP2 value as he should improve your WHIP ratio.