Michael Wacha
33-Year-Old
2024 Stats
W-L
13-8
ERA
3.35
WHIP
1.19
K
145
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Wacha recorded near-elite ratios for the second straight season, but for they again come with a couple of red flags. Wacha's ERA estimators pegged his actual ERA around over a run too low. In addition, a .266 BABIP artificially deflated his WHIP. Since he did almost the same thing in 2022, it may be perceived this is a skill Wacha owns, but the better explanation is he was blessed by Lady Luck two consecutive years. To his credit, Wacha doesn't beat himself with walks, and he keeps the ball in the yards, but his strikeout rate is pedestrian and his Stuff+ metrics are all below average for all his pitches except his changeup which checks in as neutral. Durability is also a concern as Wacha hasn't logged more than 24 starts since 2017. Despite stellar ratios the previous two seasons, Wacha is best considered in the streaming class, best suited to be deployed in pitching venues, and against lesser lineups. Read Past Outlooks
Inks new deal with Royals
Wacha agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with the Royals on Sunday that includes a $14 million club option for 2028, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The right-hander was expected to decline his $16 million player option for 2025, but Kansas City utilized the exclusive five-day negotiating window after the World Series to secure a new deal. Wacha was a key rotation piece for the Royals during their 2024 resurgence with a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB over 166.2 innings.
The right-hander was expected to decline his $16 million player option for 2025, but Kansas City utilized the exclusive five-day negotiating window after the World Series to secure a new deal. Wacha was a key rotation piece for the Royals during their 2024 resurgence with a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB over 166.2 innings.
Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
88
Last 10 Games
86
Last 5 Games
81
How many pitches does Michael Wacha 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 Michael Wacha 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
-7%
BAA vs LHP
2024
Even Split
BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022vs Left | .227 | 188 | 59 | 172 | 23 | |||
Since 2022vs Right | .243 | 185 | 60 | 206 | 27 | |||
2024vs Left | .247 | 78 | 21 | 80 | 9 | |||
2024vs Right | .246 | 67 | 24 | 74 | 8 | |||
2023vs Left | .233 | 60 | 23 | 55 | 6 | |||
2023vs Right | .216 | 64 | 20 | 58 | 9 | |||
2022vs Left | .188 | 50 | 15 | 37 | 8 | |||
2022vs Right | .265 | 54 | 16 | 74 | 10 | |||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-30%
ERA at Home
2024
-24%
ERA at Home
ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022Home | 2.71 | 1.11 | 215.2 | 8.1 | 2.3 | ||||
Since 2022Away | 3.89 | 1.21 | 212.2 | 7.6 | 2.7 | ||||
2024Home | 2.89 | 1.16 | 81.0 | 7.6 | 2.1 | ||||
2024Away | 3.78 | 1.23 | 85.2 | 8.1 | 2.7 | ||||
2023Home | 2.62 | 1.14 | 79.0 | 9.0 | 2.7 | ||||
2023Away | 4.07 | 1.19 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 3.1 | ||||
2022Home | 2.59 | 1.01 | 55.2 | 7.6 | 1.9 | ||||
2022Away | 3.89 | 1.20 | 71.2 | 7.2 | 2.4 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Stat Review
How does Michael Wacha 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
3.22K/9
7.8BB/9
2.4HR/9
0.9Fastball
93.6 mphERA
3.35WHIP
1.19BABIP
.297GB/FB
1.06Left On Base
76.5%Exit Velocity
80.5 mphBarrels/BBE
4.9%Spin Rate
1917 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
19.9%Swinging Strike
10.8%Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Wacha joined Boston on a one-year, $7 million deal for 2022, and he delivered a 2.70 ERA before he surrendered 11 runs in his final two starts of the campaign. He was limited to 23 starts (127 innings) due to a shoulder injury but still compiled an 11-2 record, and it was a major bounce-back effort after he posted a 5.11 ERA across the previous three seasons. He cut his HR/FB rate nearly six percentage points to 12.4 percent from that three-year stretch, and he also reduced his hard-hit rate (35.4 percent) more than four percentage points. However, Wacha also had a 4.56 xERA in 2022, so there's reason to be worried about some regression. He'll turn 32 years old in July and should be able to secure a rotation spot somewhere in free agency, but his fantasy potential could vary significantly depending on where he lands. Wacha's season-to-season inconsistency through his career also provides pause on whether to expect a repeat performance in 2023.
More Fantasy News
Named Game 4 starter
Wacha will start Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Named ALDS Game 1 starter
Wacha will start Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Goes five innings vs. Nats
Wacha didn't factor into the decision Thursday versus Washington, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out two.
ANALYSIS
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Saddled with eighth loss
Wacha (9-3) took the loss Friday against the Giants, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.
ANALYSIS
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Fans eight in 13th win
Wacha (13-7) picked up the win in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out eight.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Likely hitting open market
Jim Bowden of The Athletic expects Wacha to decline his $16 million club option with the Royals for 2025.
ANALYSIS
Wacha inked a one-year deal with Kansas City last winter and should be able to get well over $16 million this offseason after he posted a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB across 166.2 innings during the 2024 regular season. The right-hander topped 150 frames for the first time since 2017, which combined with his 3.30 ERA over the past three years, should help him secure a multi-year deal in free agency.
Wacha inked a one-year deal with Kansas City last winter and should be able to get well over $16 million this offseason after he posted a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB across 166.2 innings during the 2024 regular season. The right-hander topped 150 frames for the first time since 2017, which combined with his 3.30 ERA over the past three years, should help him secure a multi-year deal in free agency.