Joey Estes DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Athletics right-handed pitcher Joey Estes will begin the season in the starting rotation. Estes was competing alongside Mitch Spence for the final spot in the rotation. Estes has held a 4.63 ERA during camp with a 1.20 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings. He tallied eight punchouts and served up only one free pass. During the 2024 campaign, the 23-year-old logged a career-high 172 2/3 innings in the major leagues. He posted a 5.01 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP. Estes showed elite control as he allowed walks at a stellar 5.0 percent rate. However, he generated a high 9.7 percent barrel rate and ground balls at a low 24.9 percent rate. Fantasy managers in AL-only formats should consider stashing Estes, as he could have value as a streaming option in favorable matchups. Given his low strikeout upside, he should not be targeted in standard formats.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Joey Estes suffered a tough loss on Tuesday versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Estes earned a quality start with 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball. He also allowed three hits, one walk and struck out five on the evening. Unfortunately for Estes, one of those hits was a solo home run to Jose Siri and that would help the Rays win 1-0. Despite the loss, Estes performed very well in this outing. Estes is now 5-6 on the season with a 4.44 ERA in 18 games (17 starts), but has performed better in August with a 3.00 ERA in four starts. Despite his recent success, he doesn't offer much in the strikeout or win department, making him nothing more than a streamer in very favorable matchups. With his next start versus the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, Estes can be avoided.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Joey Estes authored a complete-game shutout with four strikeouts in Wednesday's masterful showing against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. Estes came out of nowhere with this effort, striking out Angels outfielder Taylor Ward to complete the shutout on just 92 pitches for his third win of the year on Wednesday. The 22-year-old right-hander has been unpredictable at times in 2024, but he's got a modest 4.39 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 43:13 K:BB through 55 1/3 innings (10 starts) overall for the A's. He'll face a more difficult assignment against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in his next projected start on Tuesday, so fantasy managers should think twice before picking up Estes from waiver wires and starting him in a less favorable environment.