Hayden Wesneski DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski shined on Sunday, punching out 10 in a 7-3 win over the Angels. He allowed three runs on five hits and no walks in six innings. His sweeper was his most effective pitch in the outing, inducing seven whiffs on 13 swings. This was his third straight good start to begin the year, as he's yet to give up more than three runs in a start. He has looked like a new pitcher since joining the Astros and is a solid option off of the waiver wire.

Houston Astros right-hander Hayden Wesneski (foot) is getting X-rays on Friday after he was hit on his left foot by a comebacker in a minor-league game on Thursday, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. The good news is that Wesneski was seen doing drills in camp on Friday, so it doesn't sound like a serious injury. The 27-year-old will open his first year in Houston as the team's No. 5 starter, and he could get some nice run in that role after Luis Garcia was recently shut down with right-elbow soreness. Wesneski has more fantasy appeal in deeper leagues as a matchup-based streamer as a starter, but his stuff has played better in a relief role in his first three big-league seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He went 3-6 in 2024 with a 3.86 ERA (4.51 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP with 67 strikeouts and 21 walks in 28 outings (seven starts).

Houston Astros pitchers Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrighetti -- each of whom made at least 28 starts in 2024 -- are locked into the starting rotation. Right-hander Hayden Wesneski, who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs this offseason in the deal that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago, is penciled in as the No. 5 starter, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. With Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier and Lance McCullers Jr. all rehabbing injuries, prospect Colton Gordon and Ryan Gusto will also compete for a rotation spot this spring. The 27-year-old Wesneski has only 22 starts in 68 MLB outings over the last three years with the Cubs. He's posted a 4.21 ERA and 14.8 K-BB% of his 109 innings as a starter, though. He should open up his first year in Houston in a starting role, but it may not last for long.

According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Chicago Cubs are sending right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski to the Houston Astros in a package to acquire star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Wesneski was initially drafted by the New York Yankees but has spent his entire big-league career with the Chicago Cubs. Across his first three seasons in the majors (190 innings), the right-hander posted a 3.93 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Wesneski saw time as both a starter and a reliever and logged 22 starts over his 68 total games. Last summer, the 27-year-old generated a modest 4.17 xERA and .234 xBA. In addition, he posted a 23.7% K rate and 7.4% walk rate, which were both just above the average marks among qualified pitchers. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during Spring Training as he may earn a spot in the Opening Day rotation.

The Chicago Cubs activated right-hander Hayden Wesneski (forearm) from the 15-day injured list on Friday and designated right-hander Shawn Armstrong for assignment in a corresponding move. Wesneski will return to Chicago's bullpen for the final stretch of the 2024 season over the next week and a half. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since late July with a strained right forearm and should slot into a middle-relief role for the Cubbies, leaving him with virtually zero fantasy appeal to close out the season. Wesneski made four minor-league rehab appearances with Triple-A Iowa before being activated and will return to a 3-6 record with a 3.94 ERA (4.73 FIP), a 1.20 WHIP and a 58:21 K:BB over 61 2/3 innings in 25 appearances (seven starts) in 2024 in his third year in the majors with Chicago.