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Yusei Kikuchi 2025 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: Looking To Emerge As Ace On New Team
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels this offseason. Over the past two years, Kikuchi has been terrific, really showing off his full repertoire of skills on the mound. In 2024, in particular, he was one of the most productive left-handed starters in all of baseball, ranking 14th in ERA (4.05), ninth in WHIP (1.20), seventh in FIP (3.46), and fourth in K% (28.0) amongst qualified pitchers. The most impressive number here is his K%, as it is rare these days for a southpaw to have longevity and swing-and-miss stuff in their arsenal. Kikuchi joins one of the worst teams in baseball and could end up the team's Opening Day starter. He has a genuine opportunity to solidify himself as a reliable, top-of-the-rotation pitcher for years as the Halos continue to rebuild. It is also worth noting that Kikuchi has consistently been healthy, making 32 starts each of the last two seasons. Kikuchi currently has an NFBC ADP of 151.16, which aligns with RotoBaller's overall ranking of 142. Despite the switch from the Astros to the Angels in 2025, Kikuchi might be hard-pressed to hit double-digit wins, but he should make up for it in strikeouts, making him a solid fourth or fifth option on most fantasy rotations.
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