Yusei Kikuchi
32-Year-Old
2023 Stats
W-L
11-6
ERA
3.86
WHIP
1.27
K
181
SV
0
2024 Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Kikuchi enjoyed a career year in 2023 and finished with a 3.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 181:48 K:BB over 167.2 innings. He nearly cut his walk rate in half to 6.9 percent and had a solid 25.9 percent strikeout rate. A 3.77 xFIP also indicates his results were mostly earned, though a 42.4 percent hard-hit rate and 1.45 HR/9 were both bottom-10 among qualified starters despite being significant improvements from his 2022 marks. The left-hander, who will turn 33 years old in June, continues to average about 95 mph with his fastball and still generates plenty of whiffs, but those swing-and-misses have never really translated to equitable run prevention. Kikuchi's 2023 numbers certainly weren't a fluke, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be able to replicate them. A regression in 2024 shouldn't be the expectation but certainly wouldn't be surprising given the 5.02 ERA across his first four MLB seasons after coming over from Japan. Read Past Outlooks
Roughed up Sunday
Kikuchi gave up six runs on seven hits and two walks over 2.1 innings in a split-squad game against the Orioles on Sunday. He struck out five.
ANALYSIS
The southpaw tossed 38 of 60 pitches for strikes and settled down after a shaky first inning that saw him serve up a solo shot to Anthony Santander and a grand slam to Jackson Holliday. Kikuchi has an 8:2 K:BB through 4.1 spring frames, numbers that are more reassuring to potential fantasy investors than his 12.46 ERA in Grapefruit League play, and one bad outing in the spring isn't a major cause for concern.
The southpaw tossed 38 of 60 pitches for strikes and settled down after a shaky first inning that saw him serve up a solo shot to Anthony Santander and a grand slam to Jackson Holliday. Kikuchi has an 8:2 K:BB through 4.1 spring frames, numbers that are more reassuring to potential fantasy investors than his 12.46 ERA in Grapefruit League play, and one bad outing in the spring isn't a major cause for concern.
Pitching Stats
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2023 MLB Game Log
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Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
86
Last 10 Games
79
Last 5 Games
68
How many pitches does Yusei Kikuchi generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Yusei Kikuchi generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2021
-31%
BAA vs LHP
2023
-20%
BAA vs LHP
BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2021vs Left | .184 | 104 | 27 | 65 | 13 | |||
Since 2021vs Right | .266 | 364 | 141 | 338 | 64 | |||
2023vs Left | .214 | 39 | 8 | 28 | 6 | |||
2023vs Right | .266 | 142 | 40 | 137 | 21 | |||
2022vs Left | .198 | 25 | 9 | 17 | 2 | |||
2022vs Right | .256 | 99 | 49 | 76 | 21 | |||
2021vs Left | .147 | 40 | 10 | 20 | 5 | |||
2021vs Right | .271 | 123 | 52 | 125 | 22 | |||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2021
-7%
ERA at Home
2023
-5%
ERA on Road
ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2021Home | 4.22 | 1.19 | 211.1 | 10.3 | 3.3 | ||||
Since 2021Away | 4.54 | 1.49 | 214.0 | 9.5 | 3.8 | ||||
2023Home | 3.97 | 1.18 | 79.1 | 9.9 | 3.1 | ||||
2023Away | 3.77 | 1.35 | 88.1 | 9.6 | 2.1 | ||||
2022Home | 4.58 | 1.16 | 55.0 | 11.8 | 3.8 | ||||
2022Away | 5.91 | 1.91 | 45.2 | 10.2 | 6.9 | ||||
2021Home | 4.21 | 1.22 | 77.0 | 9.7 | 3.2 | ||||
2021Away | 4.61 | 1.41 | 80.0 | 9.0 | 3.9 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Stat Review
How does Yusei Kikuchi compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
3.77K/9
9.7BB/9
2.6HR/9
1.4Fastball
95.1 mphERA
3.86WHIP
1.27BABIP
.321GB/FB
1.17Left On Base
77.1%Exit Velocity
83.3 mphBarrels/BBE
5.1%Spin Rate
2345 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
25.8%Swinging Strike
12.6%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2016
Kikuchi is at a career crossroads as his non COVID-shortened seasons look terrible by most measures. His ERA and ERA estimators have been messy in each of those seasons, and then he further compounded problems in 2022 with a noticeable spike in his walk rate with a healthy dose of homers. Just six pitchers have ever thrown at least 100 innings with walk rates of at least 12% while allowing 2 homers per nine innings as Kikuchi did and those names include Oliver Perez, Andy Benes, and Derek Holland and each of their ERAs were over a full run higher than what Kikuchi somehow pulled off last season at 5.19. The strikeout rate was am impressive as he ran away from his cutter and threw more fastballs, but only his changeup was tough to hit for the league. It is perplexing to see someone with such poor overall numbers to have four pitches with Whiff rates above 25%, but that is what Kikuchi pulled off last season. Perhaps there is a brighter future for him in relief where he can pump up the velocity in shorter stints because he has had issues sustaining that over the course of a season. Funny data point: did you know Kikuchi's four-seam fastball generated more swings and misses in 2022 than four-seamers thrown by Justin Verlander and Alek Manoah? Now you do.
More Fantasy News
Sharp beginning to spring
Kikuchi gave up one hit and struck out three batters over two scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.
ANALYSIS
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Cruises to 11th win
Kikuchi (11-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over five-plus innings in an 11-4 victory over the Rays. He struck out four.
ANALYSIS
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Goes four innings vs. Tampa
Kikuchi did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on nine hits over four innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out seven.
ANALYSIS
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Lined up for Sunday
Kikuchi (neck) is scheduled to start Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
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Removed due to cramp
Kikuchi was removed from Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Yankees with a left upper trap muscle cramp, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
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