Yusei Kikuchi

Active

Los Angeles Angels · SP

Age 356' 0" · 210 lbsThrows Left

#345 Preseason

FBaseball Overview

At 35 years old, this veteran left-hander returns to the Angels rotation seeking to rebound from a rough 2026 start marked by a 5.81 ERA and 1.58 WHIP through 31 innings. His 2025 season as an AL All-Star showcased his strikeout prowess with 174 K across 178 innings, though the 7-11 record underscored inconsistency in run support and decision-making. Fantasy managers should view him as a depth rotation piece dependent on ERA recovery and strikeout volume rather than wins, with the early-season struggles raising durability concerns for a pitcher at his age. He offers streaming potential if metrics stabilize, but the current trajectory and recent performance trends suggest cautious optimism at best for 2026 fantasy value.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2019	Seattle Mariners	32	32	6	11	0	5.46	1.52	116	161.2	50
2020	Seattle Mariners	9	9	2	4	0	5.17	1.30	47	47.0	20
2021	Seattle Mariners	29	29	7	9	0	4.41	1.32	163	157.0	62
2022	Toronto Blue Jays	32	20	6	7	1	5.19	1.50	124	100.2	58
2023	Toronto Blue Jays	32	32	11	6	0	3.86	1.27	181	167.2	48
2024	2 teams▼	32	32	9	10	0	4.05	1.20	206	175.2	44
2025	Los Angeles Angels	33	33	7	11	0	3.99	1.42	174	178.1	74
2026	Los Angeles Angels	14	14	1	7	0	4.92	1.54	67	67.2	30
Career	Totals	213	201	49	65	1	4.49	1.37	1078	1055.2	386

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

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2022	Buffalo Bisons	1	1	1	0	0.00	1.00	4	5.0	3
2026	2 teams▼	4	4	0	2	15.63	2.37	24	12.2	8
Career	Totals	5	5	1	2	11.21	1.98	28	17.2	11

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

Last Week / Last Month

Current season · MLB only

7 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
7	7	36.2	1-4	0	4.17	1.50	34	16

30 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
14	14	67.2	1-7	0	4.92	1.54	67	30

Game Log2026 MLB

Loading game log…

Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo95.5 mph

Avg Spin2207 rpm

Whiff %23.5%

K %22.0%

BB %9.8%

Hard Hit %44.4%

Barrel %8.3%

xERA4.76

xBA Against0.257

xSLG Against0.417

BA Against0.278

SLG Against0.447

GB%43.9%

FB%21.0%

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

2019

Seattle Mariners

5.46

1.52

116

161.2

2020

Seattle Mariners

5.17

1.30

47.0

2021

Seattle Mariners

4.41

1.32

163

157.0

2022

Toronto Blue Jays

5.19

1.50

124

100.2

2023

Toronto Blue Jays

3.86

1.27

181

167.2

2024

2 teams▼

4.05

1.20

206

175.2

2025

Los Angeles Angels

3.99

1.42

174

178.1

2026

Los Angeles Angels

4.92

1.54

67.2

Career

Totals

213

201

4.49

1.37

1078

1055.2

386

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2022

Buffalo Bisons

0.00

1.00

5.0

2026

2 teams▼

15.63

2.37

12.2

Career

Totals

11.21

1.98

17.2

W-L

ERA

WHIP

36.2

1-4

4.17

1.50

W-L

ERA

WHIP

67.2

1-7

4.92

1.54