Kevin Kelly

Active

Tampa Bay Rays · Pitcher

Age 286' 2" · 195 lbsThrows Right

FBaseball Overview

The 28-year-old right-hander has made a dramatic turnaround in 2026, slashing his ERA from 5.90 to 2.61 while improving his WHIP from 1.36 to 0.92, signaling a significant step forward in command and consistency. Kelly operates in a relief capacity for Tampa Bay, accumulating three saves early in the season while striking out 30 batters over 38 innings, making him a solid depth option for ERA and WHIP in fantasy leagues. His modest win total (4-3) and lack of a clear closer role limit his ceiling in fantasy, though the improved control and strikeout rate suggest he's become a more reliable contributor than his rough 2025 campaign indicated. Fantasy managers should view Kelly as a speculative middle-relief pickup with real upside if he maintains his 2026 form, but a cautious approach is warranted given his volatility across consecutive seasons.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2023	Tampa Bay Rays	57	5	2	1	3.09	1.01	56	67.0	15
2024	Tampa Bay Rays	68	5	2	1	2.67	0.96	63	70.2	9
2025	Tampa Bay Rays	41	2	5	0	5.90	1.36	35	39.2	9
2026	Tampa Bay Rays	38	5	3	4	2.41	0.88	30	41.0	7
Career	Totals	204	17	12	6	3.34	1.04	184	218.1	40

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
2019	2 teams▼	14	0	1	0	2	2.08	1.15	25	17.1	2
2021	Lake County Captains	40	0	5	5	7	4.66	1.14	81	56.0	8
2022	2 teams▼	48	1	5	2	4	2.04	1.12	75	57.1	22
2024	Durham Bulls	5	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.86	8	4.2	0
2025	2 teams▼	12	1	1	1	0	2.25	1.17	18	12	1
Career	Totals	119	2	12	8	13	2.99	1.13	207	147.1	33

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

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo91.5 mph

Avg Spin2053 rpm

Whiff %17.8%

K %19.5%

BB %4.5%

Hard Hit %48.7%

Barrel %8.0%

xERA4.13

xBA Against0.274

xSLG Against0.405

BA Against0.200

SLG Against0.310

GB%61.7%

FB%13.0%

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.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2023

Tampa Bay Rays

3.09

1.01

67.0

2024

Tampa Bay Rays

2.67

0.96

70.2

2025

Tampa Bay Rays

5.90

1.36

39.2

2026

Tampa Bay Rays

2.41

0.88

41.0

Career

Totals

204

3.34

1.04

184

218.1

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2019

2 teams▼

2.08

1.15

17.1

2021

Lake County Captains

4.66

1.14

56.0

2022

2 teams▼

2.04

1.12

57.1

2024

Durham Bulls

0.00

0.86

4.2

2025

2 teams▼

2.25

1.17

Career

Totals

119

2.99

1.13

207

147.1