Jordan Wicks DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jordan Wicks has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. The left-hander was included on the roster that traveled for the Tokyo series. However, Wicks doesn't appear to have made the domestic Opening Day roster. Wicks showed flashes of potential last season, but finished with a 5.48 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across 11 games (10 starts) with the Cubs last season. He figures to be one of the first pitchers recalled if the Cubs need a starter at some point this season. Wicks being optioned means Colin Rea should be locked into the fifth starter role in Chicago.

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.