April 30, 2025
The Chicago Cubs called up right-hander
Chris Flexen from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers. The 30-year-old veteran gets the call to the big leagues after going 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and eight walks in 23 1/3 frames over five starts at Iowa to begin the year. Flexen's solid results on the farm have come after he made a change to his arm slot. It remains to be seen if he can continue to be that successful in the big leagues with the Cubs, where he's expected to work in a long-relief role out of the bullpen, at least initially. Flexen won't have much fantasy appeal, even in deep leagues, unless he eventually earns a starting-rotation spot. In his seven big-league seasons, Flexen has a 4.95 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with a weak 16.4% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate in 153 outings (110 starts), so not much will be expected of him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
February 17, 2025
The Chicago Cubs signed free-agent right-hander
Chris Flexen to a minor-league deal on Monday that is pending a physical, sources tell The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma. Flexen will stay in Chicago in 2025 after going 3-15 for the White Sox with a 4.95 ERA (4.80 FIP) and 1.52 WHIP with 123 strikeouts and 63 walks over 160 innings in 33 appearances (30 starts) in 2024. He was even worse the prior season with the Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies, going a combined 208 with a 6.86 ERA (6.22 FIP) and 1.67 WHIP with 74 strikeouts and 38 walks in 102 1/3 frames over 29 outings (16 starts). The 30-year-old veteran has a career 4.95 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with a well below-average 16.4 percent strikeout rate in his seven MLB seasons. Flexen will enter spring training with the Cubs as pitching depth and should be avoided in all fantasy leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Sahadev Sharma
September 27, 2024
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher
Chris Flexen was on his game in Thursday's 7-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, tossing 6 ⅓ frames of shutout ball and earning his third victory. Flexen limited the Angels to five hits and a walk while notching seven strikeouts. While the 30-year-old has been good in three of his last four starts, it doesn't do much to salvage a season where he went 3-15 with a 4.95 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. Hopefully next year Flexen won't be on the White Sox and can be a viable streamer in the right matchups, but he has a long way to go.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 9, 2024
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher
Chris Flexen threw six innings of one-run ball in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over the Rays. Flexen allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out eight. The 29-year-old's previous high-water mark for strikeouts this season was four. The win brings his record to 2-3 with a 4.29 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Over his last five appearances (three starts), Flexen has pitched well, posting a 1.61 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 7:18 BB:K over 22 1/3 IP. While that is commendable, you likely aren't trusting him for fantasy with a career ERA of 4.90 and 1.47 while pitching for the second-worst team in baseball.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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