George Kirby (SP-SEA) is slated to start against the visiting Astros on Wednesday as he looks to finish a disappointing season strong. The 28 year-old RHP currently owns a career-high 4.24 ERA, career-worst 2.3 BB/9, career-low 7.6 K/9, and career-high 3.93 xFIP across 169.2 IP. Although Kirby gets hitters to chase (34%), their overall contact rate is healthy at 79% while they've posted a career-high 88% in-zone contact rate against him while their swinging-strike rate comes in at 11%, Kirby's lowest since 2023. If there's anything encouraging here, it's that Kirby's Statcast profile is improved from a season ago and right around his career norms with a 40% hard-hit rate, 6.5% barrel rate, and average EV of 89.5 mph. Once an SP2 with upside, Kirby is a mid-rotation arm heading into 2027.
Trey Yesavage (SP-TOR) returned from IL (knee) after being sidelined for nearly two months to fire 40 pitches at Baltimore, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and no walks while fanning 3 over 2 IP. The 23 year-old RHP did yield a solo blast in the brief outing. Yesavage has logged a 3.67 ERA in his 95.2 IP in the majors this season, but his 8.8 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, and 4.58 xFIP raise some red flags as he;'s benefited from a .213 BABIP. Underneath the hood, however, there are a lot of encouraging numbers, including a 13.5% swinging-strike rate, 71.5% overall contact rate, and 84% in-zone contact rate. Yesavage has also generally done a good job of limiting loud contact as Statcast shows a 34% hard-hit rate, 6% barrel rate, and average exit velocity of 88.5 mph. For 2027, then, there's reason to think that Yesavage can be a mid-rotation arm with upside.
DJ Herz (SP-WSH) was reinstated from the 60-day IL (elbow) to make his season debut against the Tigers on Monday. The 25 year-old southpaw missed all of the 2025 campaign and most of the current season while recovering from April 2025 Tommy John surgery. He threw 63 pitches (39 strikes) in his return to big-league action, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 over 4 IP. Herz sat at 93-95 with his fastball against the Tigers, which compares well with the 93.5 mph that he averaged over his 88.2 IP in the majors back in 2024. That, unfortunately, offers the best window into what fantasy owners might expect in 2027 as Herz compiled a 4.16 ERA, 10.8 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, and 3.85 xFIP in those 19 starts two years ago. In doing so, he limited loud contact (34.5% hard-hit, 8% barrel, average EV of 89.5 mph) while posting a robust 13% swinging-strike rate to go with healthy overall (73.5%) and in-zone (79%) contact rates. He's certainly a name of interest for 2027.
River Ryan (SP-DET) was solid in his season debut against the Nationals on Monday, as he tossed 3 shutout IP in which he scattered 2 hits and a walk while fanning 3 on 43 pitches (26 strikes). The 28 year-old was part of the return in the deal that sent Tarik Skubal to LA, and he's seen limited MLB action as he made his debut in 2024 (20.1 IP) and missed all of the 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Injuries limited his work in Triple-A this season to just 41 IP in which he recorded a 4.39 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 2 BB/9, and 3.50 xFIP at the Triple-A level. A bit old to be called a prospect, Ryan is interesting for fantasy in 2027 as he should secure a spot in the Tigers rotation and has shown the ability to miss bats throughout his minor-league career. View him as a late-round flyer in 2027 fantasy drafts.
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (1B-TOR) did not start against the Orioles on Monday after tightness in his lower back forced him out of Sunday's contest against the Rangers. The 27 year-old is wrapping up a disappointing 2026 campaign in which he's registered a .263 average to go with 9 HR, 56 RBI, 71 R, and 7 SB across 596 PA. This is the first season in which he's registered a elbow-average wRC+ as it currently stands at 97. Vlad has registered contact overall (82%) and in the zone (88.5%) at career high clips, but he's chased more often than usual (30.5%) while his quality of contact metrics are down across the board, with a 44.5% hard-hit rate, average EV of 90.5 mph, and 7% barrel rate all among the lowest of his career. Still, those figures aren't THAT bad. While Guerrero has smoked liners (47% hard-hit) and hit grounders reasonably hard (38.5% hard-hit), the problem has been flyballs, for which he's registered just a 32% hard-hit rate. Given his MLB track record and age, one has to view Guerrero as a rebound candidate in 2027; one should be able to draft him at a discount.
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