Kyle Nicolas DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Kyle Nicolas (knee) faced live hitters on Tuesday and is expected to be a full-go during spring training. Nicolas ended the 2024 campaign on the injured list with a knee injury. However, seeing him face live hitters early in camp is a great sign of his status. Last season, the 25-year-old posted a 3.95 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP across 54 2/3 innings of work. He tallied strikeouts at a modest 22.5 percent rate and showed poor command of his pitches as he served up walks at a hefty 13.1 percent walk rate. In addition, he also generated a 4.40 xERA, which suggests he could face some regression during the upcoming season. Fantasy managers should expect the Ball State product to contend for a high-leverage role in the Pittsburgh bullpen.