Grayson Rodriguez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez was working on his new pitch, a sweeper, during Thursday's practice. This sweeper is different from the slider that he relied on 15.8 percent of the time last season (third-most used pitch). Last season, Rodriguez logged 116 2/3 innings and saw his season cut short due to a lat injury in August. However, before the injury, the former top prospect held a 3.86 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He tallied an impressive 130 punchouts and served up walks at a solid 7.3 percent rate. He also generated a 3.72 xERA and a .231 xBA, which suggests that he could see some minor positive regression during the 2025 campaign. Last season, his slider was ineffective, as it generated a high .270 xBA and a .513 xSLG. A new sweeper could not only strengthen his repertoire but could also increase the success of his slider. Fantasy managers should expect the 25-year-old to be the rotation's ace during the 2025 season.

According to Jake Rill of MLB.com, Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (lat) will be a "full-go" for spring training. The 25-year-old missed the final two months of the 2024 season with a lat injury. Over 116 2/3 innings of work last summer, the right-hander held a 3.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with a 13-4 record. Under the hood, the former top prospect generated a strong 30.0% whiff rate and 26.5% strikeout rate. In addition, he also generated a solid 3.72 xERA and .231 xBA, which were both above the average marks. This was a nice improvement compared to the 4.35 ERA and 1.34 WHIP he held during his rookie campaign in 2023. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during spring training, as the former 11th overall selection could operate as the Baltimore ace during the entire 2025 season.

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias is optimistic that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) will have a normal, full spring training in 2025. Rodriguez's 2024 campaign ended early due to a right-lat issue, but it's no longer a concern. Specifically, the 24-year-old starter missed the final two months of the regular season for the O's, but he resumed throwing off a mound in September and should be full-go for spring training, barring a setback this winter. The former 11th overall pick in 2018 improved in his second big-league season, going 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA (3.66 FIP), a 1.24 WHIP, a career-high 130 strikeouts and only 36 walks in 116 2/3 innings over his 20 starts before injuring his lat. The rising young pitcher should once again be a coveted early-round target as a high-end fantasy starting pitcher now that he shouldn't have any injury question marks going into 2025.

Baltimore Orioles right-handed starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (lat) won't make a return to the mound this season, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The right-hander has been working his way back from a strained lat muscle that he suffered in the end of July. It doesn't sound like he suffered a setback, but more that the team just ran out of time to get him ready to pitch. The Orioles were hopeful to at least have Rodriguez available out of the bullpen during a postseason run. That won't happen as Rodriguez will finish the season with a 3.86 ERA across 20 starts.

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat) is "moving in the right direction" but "time is not our friend." Elias left open the possibility of Rodriguez temporarily pitching out of the bullpen when he returns. Rodriguez is recovering from a strained right lat and has been throwing off a mound, but he's running out of time to get stretched out as a starting pitcher with the end of the 2024 regular season quickly approaching. When the 24-year-old is activated from the injured list, he could build his arm back up by coming on in relief out of the bullpen at the end of September. From there, it would be the team's call as to whether they trust him enough in a starting role in the playoffs. He has been out since late August but was a solid rotation piece for the O's and fantasy managers before his injury, going 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts in his 20 starts.