Jordan Wicks DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Chicago Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks (oblique) was seen throwing a live batting practice session at spring training camp on Wednesday. Wicks had issues with his right oblique last year and finished the season on the injured list with a strain, but he appears to be fully healthy now. The 25-year-old southpaw only made 11 appearances (10 starts) in his second year in the big leagues with the Cubs in 2024 and finished with a bloated 5.48 ERA (5.32 FIP) and 1.63 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 20 walks in 46 innings pitched. He is competing with the likes of Javier Assad (oblique), Colin Rea, Ben Brown and Cody Poteet for the fifth rotation spot in spring training. The former first-round pick only has an 18.4% strikeout rate in his 80 2/3 big-league innings, so he'll need to mix up his pitches and induce weak contact on the mound to be successful. Wicks will be worth a look in NL-only leagues and as a matchup-based streamer if he wins a rotation spot.

The Chicago Cubs placed left-hander Jordan Wicks (oblique) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 18) on Friday with a right-oblique strain and recalled pitcher Trey Wingenter from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Wicks will not pitch again this year after already spending two-plus months on the IL earlier this season with the same injury. The 25-year-old southpaw returned on Sept. 1 and allowed 15 earned runs on 24 hits (seven home runs) while walking 10 and striking out 10 over 18 innings in his four starts versus the Nationals, Yankees, Dodgers and A's. His oblique issues limited him to 11 outings (10 starts) at the big-league level in 2024, and Wicks wasn't very effective with a 5.48 ERA (5.32 FIP), a 1.63 WHIP, 42 strikeouts and 20 walks in 46 innings in his second year in the big leagues. He will now rehab his oblique this offseason and hope to be at full health for spring training in 2025.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jordan Wicks (oblique) was activated off the 60-day IL on Sunday morning and is slated to start the series finale as the Cubs look to complete a three-game sweep against the Washington Nationals. Wicks hit the IL back in June with an oblique strain and will likely remain in the starting rotation throughout the remainder of the regular season. Prior to the injury, the southpaw held a 4.18 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 28 frames. The 25-year-old held an above-average 25.0% K rate and a 28.0% whiff rate. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues needing a depth starting pitcher should look at Wicks on the waiver wire this weekend. DFS players should consider placing Wicks in their starting lineup as the Nationals have posted a mere .131 ISO against southpaws this season.