2024 Stats
W-L
7-11
ERA
4.91
WHIP
1.26
K
133
SV
0
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
After tossing 41.1 innings in his first major-league cup of coffee in 2023, Waldron got a much longer look in 2024 with 146.2 frames covering 27 appearances (26 starts). The right-hander struggled out the gate but then turned things around with a 1.95 ERA over nine outings from mid-May to late June. That span turned out to be a mirage, however, as Waldron struggled in the latter part of summer to the point that he spent most of September in the minors. Waldron went to his knuckleball 38.2% of the time last season, and his metrics mostly fits what you'd expect from a pitcher who specializes in that offering, including a low strikeout rate (21.3%) and a hard-hit rate that ranked in 79th percentile leaguewide. He does issue fewer free passes (6.5% career walk rate) than most knuckleballers, which could be critical in helping him maintain a role in the majors, but it's hard to envision Waldron as more than a back-end starter with an unappealing fantasy profile. Read Past Outlooks
Intends to lean more on knuckleball
Waldron said Wednesday that he is planning to throw his knuckleball more frequently during the upcoming season, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The knuckler was Waldron's most-used pitch last year, as he threw it 38.2 percent of the time over 146.2 regular-season innings, per Statcast. The right-hander registered a 27.5 percent whiff rate on the offering, and opponents had a .227 xBA against it, rendering it a relatively effective pitch, especially in comparison to his four-seamer (19.1 percent usage rate, 22.4 percent whiff rate, .247 xBA) and his sinker (14.3 percent usage rate, 6.7 percent whiff rate, .316 xBA). Waldron is battling for a spot at the back of San Diego's rotation, and how he -- and his knuckleball -- perform during Cactus League play could go a long way toward determining what his role will be at the start of the season.
The knuckler was Waldron's most-used pitch last year, as he threw it 38.2 percent of the time over 146.2 regular-season innings, per Statcast. The right-hander registered a 27.5 percent whiff rate on the offering, and opponents had a .227 xBA against it, rendering it a relatively effective pitch, especially in comparison to his four-seamer (19.1 percent usage rate, 22.4 percent whiff rate, .247 xBA) and his sinker (14.3 percent usage rate, 6.7 percent whiff rate, .316 xBA). Waldron is battling for a spot at the back of San Diego's rotation, and how he -- and his knuckleball -- perform during Cactus League play could go a long way toward determining what his role will be at the start of the season.
Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
91
Last 10 Games
91
Last 5 Games
90
How many pitches does Matt Waldron generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Matt Waldron generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-6%
BAA vs RHP
2024
-3%
BAA vs RHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022vs Left | .261 | 79 | 35 | 95 | 14 | |||
| Since 2022vs Right | .245 | 85 | 17 | 89 | 16 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .260 | 67 | 26 | 75 | 11 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .251 | 66 | 14 | 70 | 10 | |||
| 2023vs Left | .267 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 3 | |||
| 2023vs Right | .224 | 19 | 3 | 19 | 6 | |||
| 2022vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-17%
ERA on Road
2024
-22%
ERA on Road
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022Home | 5.24 | 1.24 | 91.0 | 8.4 | 2.2 | ||||
| Since 2022Away | 4.36 | 1.27 | 97.0 | 7.3 | 2.8 | ||||
| 2024Home | 5.59 | 1.26 | 66.0 | 8.5 | 2.0 | ||||
| 2024Away | 4.35 | 1.26 | 80.2 | 7.9 | 2.8 | ||||
| 2023Home | 4.32 | 1.20 | 25.0 | 8.3 | 2.5 | ||||
| 2023Away | 4.41 | 1.29 | 16.1 | 4.4 | 2.8 | ||||
| 2022Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Matt Waldron compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
3.33K/9
8.2BB/9
2.5HR/9
1.3Fastball
90.4 mphERA
4.91WHIP
1.26BABIP
.306GB/FB
1.01Left On Base
64.9%Exit Velocity
79.8 mphBarrels/BBE
5.0%Spin Rate
1490 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
21.7%Swinging Strike
9.0%Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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2024 Fantasy Outlook
Waldron, who is a rare knuckleballer, had a solid showing in his first taste of the majors last season with a 4.35 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB across 41.1 innings. The Juan Soto trade significantly boosted San Diego's rotation depth with the additions of Michael King, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito, but the group's inexperience, especially Vasquez and Brito, mean the Opening Day rotation is hardly settled. Waldron struggled at Triple-A in 2023 with a 7.31 ERA, and he'll likely need more consistency in 2024 if he's to win and maintain a starting spot.
More Fantasy News
Recalled from Triple-A
Waldron was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Sent to minors
The Padres optioned Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Continues rough stretch
Waldron (7-11) took the loss against Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing 10 runs on 12 hits and one walk while striking out three batters over 4.1 innings.
ANALYSIS
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Hit hard in Colorado
Waldron (7-10) allowed seven runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out six over 5.2 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Rockies.
ANALYSIS
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Slips against Fish
Waldron came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 9-8 extra-inning win over the Marlins, surrendering five runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Possibility to start this weekend?
The Padres have yet to announce a starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Mets, and Waldron could get the nod if the club decides to give Joe Musgrove some extra rest heading into the All-Star break, according to Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
ANALYSIS
Waldron is already up with the big-league club after being called up from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday. The 26-year-old made his MLB debut in late June and gave up two runs across 4.2 innings, though he's struggled at Triple-A this season with a 7.02 ERA and 75:24 K:BB across 66.2 innings. The right-hander's minor-league numbers make him a risky streaming option should Musgrove have his turn skipped.
Waldron is already up with the big-league club after being called up from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday. The 26-year-old made his MLB debut in late June and gave up two runs across 4.2 innings, though he's struggled at Triple-A this season with a 7.02 ERA and 75:24 K:BB across 66.2 innings. The right-hander's minor-league numbers make him a risky streaming option should Musgrove have his turn skipped.