JUNE 25, 2023 • TORONTOSUN.COM
YUSEI KIKUCHI #16 - PITCHER - HOUSTON ASTROS
9-10 W-L •
1.20 WHIP •
4.05 ERA
9-10 W-L
1.20 WHIP
4.05 ERA
Blue Jays left-handed lifeline Yusei Kikuchi delivers again in big win over A's Blue Jays southpaw Yusei Kikuchi delivers his deepest start since 2021.
GDB 79.0: Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound for rubber match with A's The Toron...
JUNE 25, 2023 • BLUEJAYSNATION.COM
Yusei Kikuchi's sixth strikeout | 06/20/2023 The Official Site of Major League Baseball
JUNE 21, 2023 • MLB.COM
Yusei Kikuchi's six strikeouts | 06/20/2023 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out six batters over six scoreless innings in his start vs. the Marlins
JUNE 21, 2023 • MLB.COM
Fires six shutout frames Kikuchi didn't factor in the decision Tuesday in Miami after he allowed just two hits across six scoreless innings. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter.
Impact The left-hander surrendered only a pair of singles but missed out on a victory since Toronto wasn't able to break a scoreless tie until the eighth inning. The dominant outing ends a streak of seven straight starts in which Kikuchi failed to pitch beyond the fifth frame. He had a 5.40 ERA and gave up 11 home runs during that stretch. The 32-year-old tentatively lines up to next take the mound this weekend versus Oakland, which is a favorable matchup to build on Tuesday's performance.
JUNE 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Strikes out seven over 4.2 innings Kikuchi did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings against the Orioles. He struck out seven.
Impact Aside from allowing an RBI single to Gunnar Henderson in the first, Kikuchi was able to pitch his way out of trouble through the first four innings while striking out six. However, he would go on to cough up the game-tying run on a leadoff homer from Adley Rutschman to start the fifth after leaving a four-seamer over the middle of the plate. The lefty has now allowed two earned runs in four consecutive starts while posting 19 strikeouts to only four walks in the month of June.
JUNE 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yusei Kikuchi's seven strikeouts | 06/15/2023 Yusei Kikuchi has a strong outing in his 14th start of the season, striking out seven batters while letting up just two runs in 4 2/3 inning...
JUNE 15, 2023 • MLB.COM
Breaking down Yusei Kikuchi's pitches | 06/15/2023 Pitch diagrams, the data behind Yusei Kikuchi's pitches
JUNE 15, 2023 • MLB.COM
One mistake in no-decision Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Twins, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.
Impact Once again, the southpaw's inability to keep the ball in the park kept him from dominating -- Michael Taylor's two-run blast in the fifth inning put the Jays in a 2-0 hole, and Kikuchi exited the game in line for his third loss before his offense got him off the hook. The 31-year-old has served up 18 homers on the year -- tied with the Royals' Jordan Lyles for the most in the league -- and things have only gotten worse for Kikuchi as the weather has warmed up, as he's been taken deep 10 times in 28.2 innings over his last six starts. His fortunes may not improve in his next outing either, as he lines up for a road start next week against Baltimore and noted Jays-killer Ryan Mountcastle -- who has three homers in nine career at-bats against Kikuchi.
JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yusei Kikuchi's outing against the Twins | 06/09/2023 The data behind Yusei Kikuchi's outing
JUNE 10, 2023 • MLB.COM
Yusei Kikuchi's outing against the Mets | 06/04/2023 The data behind Yusei Kikuchi's outing
JUNE 5, 2023 • MLB.COM
Sharp against Mets Kikuchi did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings against the Mets. He struck out eight.
Impact Kikuchi has allowed two runs in each of his last two starts after pitching to a 7.90 ERA in his previous three outings. Tommy Pham was responsible for both of the runs against Kikuchi on Sunday, with a pair of solo homers. The 31-year-old left-hander is 6-2 with a 4.40 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 60:20 K:BB through 12 starts (61.1 innings) this season. He's tentatively lined up to face the Twins at home in his next outing.
JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yusei Kikuchi strikes out Canha | 06/04/2023 The Official Site of Major League Baseball
JUNE 4, 2023 • MLB.COM
Yusei Kikuchi's quality outing | 06/04/2023 Yusei Kikuchi fans eight batters and allows two runs in five strong innings against the Mets
JUNE 4, 2023 • MLB.COM
Snags sixth win Kikuchi (6-2) picked up the win Tuesday, giving up two runs on three hits and five walks over five innings in a 7-2 victory over the Brewers. He struck out four.
Impact The southpaw had trouble finding the plate consistently, tossing only 55 of 98 pitches for strikes and issuing a season-high five free passes, but aside from a first-inning homer by William Contreras, he was able to come away unscathed. Kikuchi also continues to have trouble keeping the ball in the park -- he's served up seven home runs in his last four starts, and 15 in 56.1 innings on the season. He'll take a 4.47 ERA and 52:19 K:BB into his next outing, likely to come this weekend on the road against the Mets.
MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yusei Kikuchi's four strikeouts | 05/30/2023 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out four batters through five innings of work in his start vs. the Brewers
MAY 31, 2023 • MLB.COM
Yusei Kikuchi's 500th strikeout | 05/30/2023 Yusei Kikuchi strikes out Joey Weimar swinging, recording the 500th strikeout of his career in the top of the 4th inning
MAY 31, 2023 • MLB.COM
Blue Jays look for lift from Yusei Kikuchi against Brewers The Toronto Blue Jays hope left-hander Yusei Kikuchi can regain his early-season form Tuesday night against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers i...
MAY 29, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM
Struggles versus Tampa Bay Kikuchi (5-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings in a 7-3 loss against Tampa Bay. He struck out five.
Impact Kikuchi allowed one run in the first and a pair of runs in the second and fourth but was able to submit a scoreless fifth before getting pulled. His five earned runs tied his second-highest mark of the season, and it was the fourth time he's surrendered multiple home runs. The left-hander has lost back-to-back starts and holds a 4.56 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 48:14 K:BB across 10 outings (51.1 innings). He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for the opener of a three-game set versus Milwaukee.
MAY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yusei Kikuchi's outing against the Rays | 05/24/2023 The data behind Yusei Kikuchi's outing
MAY 25, 2023 • MLB.COM
Rays do damage against Yusei Kikuchi, hold off Blue Jays The Tampa Bay Rays solved the mystery of Yusei Kikuchi on Wednesday night, finally beating the Japanese left-hander en route to a 7-3 victor...
MAY 25, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM
Stuck with first loss Kikuchi (5-1) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays fell 6-2 to the Orioles, giving up three runs on three hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out three.
Impact All three runs came on a Ryan Mountcastle long ball in the third inning, but Kikuchi was somewhat lucky to escape without more damage. The 31-year-old southpaw has been taken deep six times in his last four starts, and on the season he carries a 4.08 ERA that hides an ominous 5.64 FIP, along with a 1.32 WHIP and 43:12 K:BB through 46.1 innings. Kikuchi's next start will likely come on the road next week in Tampa Bay.
MAY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Breaking down Yusei Kikuchi's pitches | 05/19/2023 Pitch diagrams, the data behind Yusei Kikuchi's pitches
MAY 20, 2023 • MLB.COM
Struggles versus Atlanta Kikuchi did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and zero walks across four innings during a 6-5 win over Atlanta. He struck out seven...
Impact Kikuchi surrendered at least one run in each of his four innings, but he was let off the hook as the Blue Jays walked off Atlanta in the ninth. The left-hander has been a hit-or-miss player this season, allowing one or fewer earned runs in five of his eight starts while surrendering four or more in the other three outings. He'll look to get back on track during his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for a three-game weekend set versus the Orioles.
MAY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Grabs fifth win Kikuchi (5-0) earned the win Sunday, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks over 6.1 innings against the Pirates. He struck out three.
Impact Kikuchi returned to form Sunday after allowing five runs in his last start in Boston. The 31-year-old lefthander has allowed one run or fewer in five of his seven starts this season. Kikuchi lowered his ERA to 3.35 with a 1.19 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB through 37.2 innings. Improved command has been vital to Kikuchi's early-season success. His walk rate is down to 4.7 percent from 12.8 percent last year
MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
