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BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 42% of leagues
ANALYSIS: Yusei Kikuchi got some late-round love in drafts this spring after flashing huge velocity gains in the shortened 2020 season. What kept that increased speed from maximum effectiveness was a lack of command. Judging by his 2021 debut on Friday night, when he gave up two home runs on fastballs grooved over the heart of the plate, he still has some work to do in that area. Still, those were his only mistakes of the evening, as he logged six innings and struck out 10 batters while walking only one.
The 29-year-old won't make his next start until April 10 against Minnesota due to the Mariners utilizing a six-man rotation. When he does pitch, though, Kikuchi is a good bet for plenty of strikeouts.
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