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.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jordan Wicks (oblique) is nearly ready to return to the big league roster. The left-hander was scratched ahead of his start at Triple-A Iowa on Friday. The organization did this so they could have Wicks fresh for a possible start this weekend against the Washington Nationals. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said they could reshuffle their starting rotation over the next few days. Wicks hasn't been great for the Cubs this season, but he gives the team another viable arm down the stretch of the September. The southpaw has a 4.18 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 32/10 K/BB ratio across seven games (six starts) with the Cubs this season. He could be a streaming option against the Nats lackluster offense, but isn't a great long term fantasy option.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks (oblique) made his second minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday and allowed four earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three in two innings of work. Wicks threw 59 pitches. The 24-year-old southpaw has not looked good at all in his first two rehab starts for Iowa, allowing 10 earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings. He's attempting to return from a Grade 2 right-oblique strain that he suffered in the middle of June. The Cubs will probably want to see Wicks make another start or two in the minors before they feel comfortable activating him from the injured list. And when Wicks does return to the big leagues, there's a good chance he'll be tasked with a long-relief role out of the bullpen. Wicks has a 4.18 ERA and 1.46 WHIP this year with 32 strikeouts in only 28 innings of work with the Cubs.