Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Logan Gilbert led all of MLB in innings pitched with 208 2/3 in 2024. He struck out 220 batters on his way to a 3.23 ERA and a microscopic 0.89 WHIP. His xERA and xFIP suggest these numbers could have been even better. Gilbert simply doesn't walk people, evidenced by his 4.6% walk rate. He pitches in a pitcher-friendly ballpark and averaged over six innings per appearance last season, making him even more valuable in leagues that feature Quality Starts over wins. Gilbert should be one of the top five or six pitchers off the board in 2025 and is an excellent choice for a fantasy team's SP1.

George Kirby has a fascinating fantasy player profile insofar as the good is REALLY good, but it's not necessarily the thing you want a player to be the best at. Kirby led the league in walk percentage again (3.0), giving up a paltry 23 free passes in 191 innings. This makes your WHIP happy in the vast majority of outings. However, Kirby's strikeout percentage sits in the 50th percentile at 23% and has not improved in his three years in the league. His ERA (3.53) was nothing special, but he did provide 20 quality starts. Essentially, Kirby's value depends on your league and if he's serving as your SP1 or SP2. He is a ratio protector, but you're going to need a strikeout artist elsewhere.

Luis Castillo is trending the wrong way. Now 32, the righty saw his ERA and WHIP climb for the third straight season, and his 24.3% strikeout rate was the lowest since his last full season in Cincinnati. Castillo stopped throwing his changeup with as much efficacy as he has throughout his career, and he suffered a 41.9% hard-hit percentage while giving up 25 home runs. Seattle's offense does not offer much in the way of run support, so the win equity also isn't there. Red flags abound for Castillo; plenty of pitchers being drafted around him are much safer options.