Kaleb Ort DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Matt Kawahara reports that Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown does not think pitchers Forrest Whitley (knee) and Kaleb Ort (oblique) will be ready to go for the start of the season. However, Brown did note that both relievers could return "inside the month of April." The oft-injured Whitley sustained a bruised knee during his last spring training appearance, and although it appears minor, he's still working through it. While his major-league experience is capped at three innings, the 27-year-old was excellent to close out the 2024 season for Triple-A Sugar Land. On the other hand, Ort picked up an oblique injury early in camp and is behind in his build-up. The 33-year-old was superb for the Stros a season ago with a 2.55 ERA in 24.2 innings, though he compiled a 6.26 ERA or higher over the prior two seasons. They'll boost Houston's bullpen when both are healthy, and it appears their stays on the IL won't be for long.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Wednesday that right-hander Kaleb Ort (oblique) will throw a bullpen session in camp on Thursday. Ort is behind all the other pitchers in spring training after coming down with a left-oblique injury early in camp. Just based solely on the fact that the 33-year-old veteran isn't facing live hitters yet with just over a week to go until Opening Day means that he's likely to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list. However, Ort could be looking at a minimal IL stay to open the year if he can avoid any setbacks from here on out. He had a nice 2.55 ERA (5.23 FIP) and 0.81 WHIP with 26 strikeouts and only four walks in his first year with the Astros in 2024 in 24 2/3 relief innings. However, Ort sports a career 5.07 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, one save and a 77:29 K:BB in 76 1/3 innings in his four MLB seasons.

Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports that Houston Astros pitcher Kaleb Ort (oblique) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. Ort hurt his oblique in mid-February and has progressed nicely over recent weeks, as he only just began throwing on flat ground a few days ago. It's an essential milestone in his effort to get back to in-game action, and as long as he does not suffer any setbacks, there's still a shot for him to be ready for opening day. The hard-throwing righty was superb in 2024, posting a 0.81 WHIP and 2.55 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched while letting up a .180 average to opposing hitters in three months of work. However, he did falter a bit in September -- allowing five of his seven earned runs. Houston held the sixth-best mark in the league regarding team ERA last season, and if Ort can duplicate the success he found after his call-up from Sugar Land, they could be near the top of the list again in 2025.