Richard Lovelady

Active

Rochester Red Wings · Pitcher

Age 316' 0" · 185 lbsThrows Left

FBaseball Overview

At 30 years old, this veteran left-hander operates as a multi-inning reliever in Washington's bullpen, offering modest wins and strikeout depth rather than save opportunities. His 2026 season shows meaningful improvement over a rough 2025 campaign, with a 3.86 ERA and 27 strikeouts across 30 innings, though the 1.81 WHIP suggests continued control issues that will limit ceiling upside. With four wins and four saves on the year, he profiles as a back-end reliever valuable primarily for accumulating strikeouts in deeper leagues, but the elevated ERA and inconsistent recent track record make him a wait-and-see option for standard formats. Fantasy managers should monitor whether he can sustain 2026's uptick in performance or if regression toward his 2025 struggles resumes.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2019	Kansas City Royals	25	0	0	3	0	7.65	1.90	17	20.0	8
2020	Kansas City Royals	1	0	0	0	0	9.00	2.00	0	1.0	1
2021	Kansas City Royals	20	0	2	0	1	3.48	1.06	23	20.2	6
2023	Oakland Athletics	27	0	0	3	0	4.63	1.07	24	23.1	10
2024	2 teams▼	35	0	3	6	2	4.46	1.31	26	34.1	11
2025	2 teams▼	10	0	0	1	0	8.49	1.54	12	11.2	6
2026	2 teams▼	33	5	2	4	4	3.86	1.81	27	30.1	21
Career	Totals	151	5	7	17	7	5.03	1.45	129	141.1	63

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2016	2 teams▼	21	0	2	1	9	1.80	0.92	30	25.0	9
2017	2 teams▼	42	0	4	2	10	1.62	0.94	77	66.2	17
2018	Omaha Storm Chasers	46	0	3	3	9	2.47	1.01	71	73.0	21
2019	Omaha Storm Chasers	24	0	1	2	4	3.08	1.25	29	26.1	7
2021	Omaha Storm Chasers	7	0	0	0	0	1.08	1.08	9	8.1	4
2022	2 teams▼	4	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.50	9	4	1
2023	2 teams▼	5	0	0	1	0	7.50	1.17	5	6	2
2024	3 teams▼	20	0	2	2	0	4.09	1.32	32	22.0	2
2025	2 teams▼	35	1	0	1	8	1.66	1.05	40	38.0	13
2026	2 teams▼	2	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.00	2	2.0	0
Career	Totals	207	2	13	12	40	2.51	1.06	304	272.1	78

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 MLB

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Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo91.3 mph

Avg Spin2399 rpm

Whiff %22.9%

K %18.5%

BB %14.4%

Hard Hit %33.3%

Barrel %6.5%

xERA5.76

xBA Against0.285

xSLG Against0.426

BA Against0.286

SLG Against0.445

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

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Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2019

Kansas City Royals

7.65

1.90

20.0

2020

Kansas City Royals

9.00

2.00

1.0

2021

Kansas City Royals

3.48

1.06

20.2

2023

Oakland Athletics

4.63

1.07

23.1

2024

2 teams▼

4.46

1.31

34.1

2025

2 teams▼

8.49

1.54

11.2

2026

2 teams▼

3.86

1.81

30.1

Career

Totals

151

5.03

1.45

129

141.1

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2016

2 teams▼

1.80

0.92

25.0

2017

2 teams▼

1.62

0.94

66.2

2018

Omaha Storm Chasers

2.47

1.01

73.0

2019

Omaha Storm Chasers

3.08

1.25

26.1

2021

Omaha Storm Chasers

1.08

8.1

2022

2 teams▼

0.00

0.50

2023

2 teams▼

7.50

1.17

2024

3 teams▼

4.09

1.32

22.0

2025

2 teams▼

1.66

1.05

38.0

2026

2 teams▼

0.00

2.0

Career

Totals

207

2.51

1.06

304

272.1