Yusei Kikuchi DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington named left-hander Yusei Kikuchi as the team's Opening Day starter on March 27 against the Chicago White Sox. Washington said it was an "obvious" decision. The Angels signed Kikuchi to a three-year, $63 million deal this offseason after the Japanese lefty went a combined 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA (3.46 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with a career-high 206 strikeouts and 44 walks in 175 2/3 innings over 32 starts with the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros. The 33-year-old had career-bests in strikeout rate (28%) and walk rate (6.0%), and his FIP and 3.20 xFIP show that his ERA probably should have been under 4.00. His first start with the Halos in 2025 will be a great one for DFS purposes, but fantasy managers in redraft formats may want to expect a little regression in his age-34 campaign. RotoBaller has Kikuchi ranked as the No. 48 fantasy starting pitcher.

Free-agent left-hander Yusei Kikuchi signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. The Angels continue to be the most aggressive team early in free agency this offseason. Kikuchi gives the Halos a much-needed addition to their starting rotation for 2025 and beyond. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw went a combined 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA (3.46 FIP), a 1.20 WHIP and 206:44 K:BB in 175 2/3 innings over 32 starts with the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros in 2024. He was much better down the stretch in Houston after being acquired at the trade deadline, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 10 starts. The Japanese hurler had a career-best 31.8% strikeout rate and career-low 5.9% walk rate to help his cause and will look to continue that success in 2025 in his new digs in southern California.

Houston Astros left-hander Yusei Kikuchi said he was told "a few days ago" that he may be used in Game 2 of the wild-card series on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park in a relief role. Kikuchi will be available out of the bullpen on Wednesday, but he would start a deciding Game 3 on Thursday if it happens and he's not used in relief on Wednesday. The Astros aren't going to hold anything back on Wednesday to try and avoid elimination after losing Game 1 on Tuesday, so it's not a guarantee that the 33-year-old southpaw starts on Thursday. The Astros would be wise to use Kikuchi on Wednesday if the game is close, as he was great in 10 starts after joining Houston in a trade from Toronto, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, 76 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 60 innings pitched down the stretch.