Kikuchi was removed from Wednesday's game against the Royals due to a left forearm cramp.
Kikuchi made it through five innings of one-run ball and struck out six batters before leaving the game alongside one of the Angels' trainers. Regardless of the severity of his injury, Wednesday will be the final start that Kikuchi makes in 2025, and he'll conclude the season with a 3.99 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 174:74 K:BB over 178.1 innings spanning 33 starts.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Decent in no-decision
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Kikuchi allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Thursday.
Kikuchi has walked at least three batters in four of his last seven starts. He's at least gotten the rest of his work under control, allowing just three runs over his last 11.2 innings, but his winless stretch reached seven games Thursday. For the season, Kikuchi has a 4.05 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 168:73 K:BB through 173.1 innings. The southpaw is tentatively projected for his last start of the season at home against the Royals next week.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Rebounds with quality start
Rotowire
Kikuchi allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings in a no-decision Friday versus the Mariners.
Kikuchi did his part, throwing 63 of 98 pitches for strikes in a quality start. He had allowed 18 runs over 11.2 innings across his previous three appearances, so this was a strong bounce-back effort, though the veteran southpaw has been quite shaky throughout the second half. Overall, he has a 4.08 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 166:70 K:BB through 167.2 innings over 31 starts. Kikuchi's next outing is tentatively projected to be at Milwaukee, which is a matchup fantasy managers may want to avoid.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Pummeled again Saturday
Rotowire
Kikuchi (6-11) allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one over two innings to take the loss versus the Athletics on Saturday.
Kikuchi was hit hard, as four of the six hits he gave up went for extra bases, leading to a season-high seven runs allowed. Kikuchi has gone 0-4 over his last five starts, surrendering 23 runs over 22.2 innings in that span to unravel what had been a promising season -- albeit with plenty of warning signs -- prior to August. Overall, he's now at a 4.18 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 163:69 K:BB through 161.2 innings over 30 starts. The southpaw is projected to make his next start against one of his former teams when the Angels visit Seattle next week.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Suffers 10th loss
Rotowire
Kikuchi (6-10) coughed up five runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings to take the loss Monday at Houston. He struck out six.
Despite generating a solid 13 whiffs out of 97 total pitches, the Japanese southpaw reached double-digit losses for the second straight season. Kikuchi allowed five or more hits of the seventh time out of his nine post-All-Star break appearances, as he's struggled with a 5.59 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over 46.2 innings in the second half. Overall, the 34-year-old now sports a 3.83 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 162:66 K:BB in 159.2 total frames. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is currently scheduled to come at home against the Athletics this weekend.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Gives up season-high six runs
Rotowire
Kikuchi (6-9) took the loss Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing six runs on four hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out three.
Kikuchi has been quite dependable overall for the Angels and fantasy managers in 2025, but he conceded more than four runs for the first time this year Tuesday. The Japanese left-hander has also struggled with consistency since the beginning of July, posting a 5.18 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 57:20 K:BB over his last 57.1 innings. Kikuchi will try to regain his footing next week against the division-rival Astros, who have a weak .667 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the All-Star break.
Kikuchi allowed one run on seven hits and no walks while striking out four batters over seven innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Wednesday.
Kikuchi's efficiency was particularly notable Wednesday; he needed just 88 pitches to complete seven frames, throwing 58 strikes and issuing zero walks. That's a dramatic improvement after he had walked multiple batters seven times in his previous nine outings and had completed six innings just once during that span. Kikuchi didn't miss many bats with only six whiffs and four punchouts, but the tradeoff of being able to go deep into the contest is something that the Angels almost certainly prefer. Kikuchi lowered his season ERA to 3.42 with the strong outing, and he's next lined up to face the Rangers on the road.
Kikuchi (6-8) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings to take the loss versus the Athletics on Friday.
Kikuchi gave up a solo shot to leadoff hitter Shea Langeliers in the first inning and then surrendered a three-run blast in the third to Colby Thomas. Over his last eight starts, Kikuchi has been tagged for four runs on four occasions. This was his shortest outing since a two-inning start April 26 in Minnesota, and he's completed six frames just once since the start of July. Overall, Kikuchi still has a decent 3.52 ERA through 143 innings on the year, but his 1.44 WHIP and 149:61 K:BB tell a less pleasant story. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Reds.
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Plenty of support in sixth win
Rotowire
Kikuchi (6-7) picked up the win in Saturday's 7-4 victory over the Tigers, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
The southpaw wasn't at his sharpest, but he generated 30 called or swinging strikes on his 102 pitches (64 total strikes) and got backed by three homers from the Angels. Kikuchi has completed six innings only once since the beginning of July, compiling a 4.68 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB through 42.1 innings over that stretch. He'll try to tighten things up in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the A's.
Kikuchi (5-7) earned the win over Tampa Bay on Monday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.
Kikuchi gave up a run in the first inning but kept the Rays from scoring over the remainder of his six frames. The southpaw surrendered just one extra-base hit (a double) and racked up 11 whiffs en route to seven punchouts. While Kikuchi's 5-7 record isn't impressive, he's quietly put together a solid first season in Los Angeles. The team's lone All-Star owns a 3.22 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 139:56 K:BB over 134 frames spanning 24 starts. His numbers could be even better if not for a .317 BABIP against him, which ranks seventh-highest among qualified starters.
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Peppered by Rangers in no-decision
Rotowire
Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and no walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
While Kikuchi didn't issue a walk for the first time in his last seven starts, he did concede a season-high 10 knocks. The 34-year-old southpaw failed to throw a single spotless inning, though just one of his hits allowed traveled for extra bases. Kikuchi will bring a 3.30 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 132:54 K:BB across 128 frames into next week's scheduled home outing versus the struggling Rays, who carry a .580 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the start of July.
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