February 19, 2025
The Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold reports that Detroit Tigers right-hander
Kenta Maeda will start the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Maeda hit 92 mph during his live batting practice session on Tuesday in camp, which is significantly higher than where he was at a year ago. The Tigers would likely to get as many looks at the 36-year-old veteran in spring training before deciding what his role will be to start the 2025 season. It's unclear if he'll be a starter or reliever on Opening Day, but the injury to
Alex Cobb (hip) certainly increases Maeda's chances of sticking in a starting role, at least early on. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues will be avoiding the Japanese hurler, even if he wins a rotation spot, after an ugly 6.09 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with only 96 K's in 112 1/3 innings in 2024. His 7.69 K/9 mark was the worst of his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
February 17, 2025
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Kenta Maeda could have a path to opening the season in the starting rotation with
Alex Cobb (hip) set to miss a month of action. Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic noted that the team could give the veteran right-hander a look in spring training with the open spot in the rotation. Last season, Maeda appeared in 29 games but only started 17 of them. Across 112 1/3 total frames, the 36-year-old posted a disappointing 6.09 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. However, the right-hander worked on his mechanics during the offseason in hopes of returning to form. During the 2023 campaign, Maeda held a 4.23 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP across a similar 104 1/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress during spring training as he will likely compete alongside
Casey Mize and top prospect
Jackson Jobe for a starting role. If he does earn the job, he could be worth a look in deeper AL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Cody Stavenhagen
February 3, 2025
With Detroit Tigers pitchers
Casey Mize,
Keider Montero and
Brant Hurter each having cases to begin the year in the starting rotation in 2025, it has made veteran right-hander
Kenta Maeda's role less clear. The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen writes that the Tigers have talked about revamping Maeda's offseason plan to help him recapture what has made him successful after he had an ugly 6.09 ERA in 2024. Despite the fact that Maeda was better as a reliever (4.44 ERA) in 2024, the Tigers could take one more shot with him as a starter since they will be paying him $10 million. Another option for Detroit would be using the 36-year-old Japanese hurler as a swing man. That or Maeda being used strictly out of the bullpen is looking much more likely now after the Tigers reunited with right-hander
Jack Flaherty on Sunday. Maeda had a career-worst 7.69 K/9 last year and should be avoided in most fantasy drafts this spring.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
August 16, 2024
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Kenta Maeda had one of his best outings of the year on Thursday, going 5 ⅔ innings of shutout ball against the Seattle Mariners. Maeda came in after opener
Alex Faedo allowed a run in the first inning, but the veteran shut down the M's into the seventh, keeping his team in the game and eventually giving them a chance to grab a 2-1 win. Maeda looked very sharp in this one, allowing just one hit and one walk while punching out five. Although he's had some decent appearances recently, Maeda is tough to trust on a start-to-start basis because he often has an opener used in front of him and doesn't pitch deep into games. He will have to show more outings like this one to even be streamer-worthy in fantasy.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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