Fantasy News

• Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Sharp in no-decision

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  Maeda came away with a no-decision Tuesday, scattering three hits over five scoreless innings while striking out five in a 4-2 win over the Rays. Tampa Bay couldn't get a runner past second base against Maeda, who fired 59 of 88 pitches for strikes in his best performance of the season to date. The veteran right-hander exited the game in line for his first win of the season, but Alex Faedo coughed up a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. Maeda still carries a 5.96 ERA through 22.2 innings after serving up three homers in two different starts, but his 1.37 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB offer some hope that he can continue to chip away at the bloated figure. He lines up for a home outing early next week against the Cardinals.

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• Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Short outing vs. Rangers

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2024

  Maeda did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Rangers, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out two. It was a tough day for Maeda against a potent Texas offense -- the right-hander gave up five runs, including three homers, before departing in the third inning. Maeda's ERA is up to 7.64 while allowing an AL-worst seven home runs across his first four starts (17.2 innings). He'll look to get on track in his next outing, currently slated for early next week in Tampa Bay.

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• Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Allows one earned run

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2024

  Maeda didn't factor in the decision during Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins after he gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out five. Maeda surrendered four homers in his first two outings, but he kept the ball in the yard Saturday and delivered his first quality start of the campaign. The right-hander wasn't exactly dominant as he generated just six swinging strikeouts on 87 pitches, but he was able to hold Minnesota at bay despite giving up three doubles. Through three starts Maeda now has a 6.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 10:5: K:BB across 14 innings.

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• Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Falls short of quality start

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Maeda (0-1) took the loss Saturday as the Tigers were downed 4-0 by the A's, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out three. The veteran right-hander got tagged for a two-run homer by Brent Rooker in the first inning, and Detroit's offense never responded. Maeda still came close to producing a quality start, but he got the hook after 87 pitches (47 strikes). He sports a 5:5 K:BB through 9.0 innings to go along with a 9.00 ERA, and Maeda lines up to make his next start at home against the Twins next weekend.

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• Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Hit hard in Detroit debut

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2024

  Maeda didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the White Sox, surrendering six runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk over 3.1 innings. He struck out two. The Tigers eventually rallied to win the game 7-6 in 10 innings, but Maeda was long gone by then. The veteran right-hander tossed 46 of 71 pitches for strikes and generated only 15 called or swinging strikes, getting tagged for at least one run in every frame in which he worked. Much of the damage came on a pair of two-run homers by Luis Robert. Maeda served up 33 long balls in 210.2 innings over the prior two years for the Twins, leading to a 4.44 ERA, so issues keeping the ball in the park are nothing new for him. He should fare better in his second start of the season, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the A's.

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• Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Logs best spring outing

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2024

  Maeda tossed four scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, allowing just one hit and two walks. He struck out seven. Facing his former team, Maeda had his best outing of the spring, lowering his Grapefruit League ERA to a stellar 2.00 across nine innings of work. The righty had some ups and downs last year in his return from Tommy John surgery, but he finished the season strong. If he can stay healthy, Maeda figures to post solid numbers and give the Tigers a much-needed veteran presence in the rotation in 2024.

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• Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Ramping up workload

  Rotowire Mar 7, 2024

  Maeda threw 50 pitches across three innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports. The outing marked Maeda's second of spring training and it featured both positives and negatives. Positively, he increased his pitch count from 30 to 53, which should allow him plenty of time to ramp up to a full workload before the regular season. On the other hand, Maeda's velocity and spin rates were both down. While it would be reassuring to see him throwing closer to his peak, there's still plenty of time for him to improve his form before meaningful games begin.

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• Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Heading to Detroit

  Rotowire Nov 26, 2023

  Maeda agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with the Tigers on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Maeda spent the last four years in Minnesota and will remain in the AL Central on a two-year deal with the Tigers. After posting a career-best 2.70 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 66.2 innings during his first year with the Twins in the COVID-shortened season, the right-hander regressed over the past two years. He recorded a career-worst 4.66 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 106.1 innings during the 2021 campaign before undergoing Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the 2022 campaign. He wasn't particularly dominant in his return to the mound last season, logging a 4.23 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 104.1 innings. However, the Tigers will hope that he can bounce back during his age-36 season in his second year removed from his procedure.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Will not make another start

  Rotowire Sep 28, 2023

  Maeda is not scheduled for another start this season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Maeda last pitched Sept. 19, when he struck out eight over five scoreless innings in Cincinnati. He projects to be used as a reliever in the postseason, and the Twins look to be shifting him to that role now. Maeda figures to see some bullpen work this weekend in Colorado so he doesn't go into the playoffs following such a long layoff. A scheduled bullpen game Saturday would seem to be a prime opportunity.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Shuts down Cincinnati

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2023

  Maeda (6-7) earned the win Tuesday, allowing one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings in a 7-0 win over the Reds. He struck out eight. Maeda was masterful Tuesday, setting down the first 11 batters in order and finishing with his second consecutive eight-strikeout performance. Despite allowing just two baserunners and throwing only 83 pitches, he was removed after five frames, which isn't all that surprising considering he tossed a season-high 105 pitches in his last outing. The veteran righty has earned a win in three straight starts, posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB across 17.1 innings during that stretch. Maeda currently lines up for a favorable matchup with Oakland, which is tentatively scheduled for early next week at home.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Punches out eight in victory

  Rotowire Sep 15, 2023

  Maeda (5-7) earned the win over the White Sox on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight batters over seven innings. Maeda rattled off six scoreless frames before Andrew Vaughn tagged him for a two-run homer in the seventh. The veteran hurler nonetheless finished off that inning and exited with his first quality start since Aug. 10. Maeda was impressive with 14 whiffs and eight strikeouts, with the latter mark tying for his second-highest total of the campaign. Though the right-hander has just five wins over 19 starts on the season, he's now notched consecutive victories for the first time in 2023.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Settles in for fourth win

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Maeda (4-7) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Mets while striking out two. Maeda got off to a rough start, surrendering a leadoff home run to Brandon Nimmo in the first at-bat of the game followed by an RBI single to Daniel Vogelbach four batters later. The veteran right-hander settled in after that, however, allowing just two more singles over the next four frames to earn his fourth win of the season and first since Aug. 5. Maeda had allowed at least three runs in four consecutive starts coming in, and he's now given up at least one homer in 10 straight outings.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Allows three runs in five innings

  Rotowire Sep 3, 2023

  Maeda did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings against the Rangers. He struck out three. Maeda was working around trouble throughout his outing, but a three-run homer in the first by Mitch Garver was the only damage to his final line. Sunday marked the fourth consecutive start by Maeda in which he failed to go deeper than five innings, and he's allowed 15 runs in 18 innings over that time frame. He'll look to rebound in his next start, likely to take place next weekend at home against the Mets.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Tagged with six runs

  Rotowire Aug 28, 2023

  Maeda allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk over four innings in Monday's win against Cleveland. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision. Most of the damage against Maeda came during Cleveland's four-run second inning, but Minnesota's offense prevented him from taking a loss. He had allowed three or fewer runs in 11 straight outings prior to Monday's hiccup. During that stretch, he posted a 2.91 ERA but now owns a 4.69 ERA on the year. Maeda is currently lined up to start in Texas this weekend.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Allows two homers in no-decision

  Rotowire Aug 17, 2023

  Maeda did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk over four innings against the Tigers. He struck out six. Maeda struck out four batters over the first two innings and appeared to be on track for his third quality start in a row. However, the right-hander ran into trouble in the top of the third after allowing a leadoff single to Akil Baddoo, which would be followed by home runs from Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson in two of the next three at-bats. Maeda had gone at least five innings in each of his previous five starts coming in, and the seven hits allowed Wednesday were the most he's given up since April 26. Despite the poor outing, he still holds a 2.81 ERA to go along with a healthy 17:2 K:BB through three starts this month.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Takes tough-luck loss

  Rotowire Aug 10, 2023

  Maeda (3-7) took the loss Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over six innings in a 3-0 loss to the Tigers. He struck out four. The veteran righty induced just eight swinging strikes on 89 pitches, but he was able to keep Detroit off the board until Riley Greene obliterated a hanging slider in the sixth inning, sending it 453 feet to right field for a solo home run. That bomb proved to be the difference, as Minnesota's offense was shut out for the second time in three days. After a brutal start to the season, Maeda has been steady in his nine outings since returning from injury June 23, posting a 2.38 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 11.23 K/9 across 49.2 innings during that stretch. He is projected to face the Tigers again next week.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Breezes to victory Saturday

  Rotowire Aug 6, 2023

  Maeda (3-6) earned the win over Arizona on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and no walks while striking out seven batters over six innings. Maeda fell behind 1-0 in the second inning, but the Twins responded with an offensive outburst to go ahead 10-1 by the end of the sixth. The veteran hurler kept the Diamondbacks from countering, as he retired the final 14 batters he faced. Maeda struggled in his first start following the All-Star break, giving up three runs in three innings against Oakland. Since then, he's allowed two or fewer runs in each of his subsequent four outings, posting a 2.28 ERA and 31:4 over 23.2 frames during that span.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Receives little support in loss

  Rotowire Jul 31, 2023

  Maeda (2-6) was hit with the loss Sunday against the Royals after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven in five innings. Maeda put together another solid outing and has now registered at least seven strikeouts in four of his last five starts. He wound up with the loss after the Twins managed just one run and let in runs of his own on a homer in the second and a pair of hits in the third. Maeda has had the fortune of facing some of the league's weaker offenses over the last month, but he's certainly provided mixed-league value and will look to get back in the win column (he hasn't won since July 4) in a home start against the Diamondbacks next weekend.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Strikes out eight in quality start

  Rotowire Jul 25, 2023

  Maeda pitched 6.1 innings against Seattle on Monday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks while striking out eight batters in a no-decision. Maeda got through four scoreless frames before Sean Murphy hit a solo shot off him in the fifth. That was the only run the right-hander allowed, and he departed in line for the win with one out in the sixth only to see Minnesota's bullpen give up the lead in the ninth. Maeda finished with his third quality start over his past four outings, and he's now allowed three or fewer runs in each of his six starts since returning from the injured list June 23. During that span, the veteran hurler has posted very solid numbers, including a 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 44:11 K:BB over 32.2 innings.

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• Twins' Kenta Maeda: Possible waiver wire pickups

  Rotowire Jul 20, 2023

  It's true that Maeda missed some time earlier this year with a triceps injury, but it's becoming more and more clear that his overall state of health is much better than during his 2021 campaign, which ultimately ended with Tommy John surgery. "This is 2020 Kenta," said catcher Ryan Jeffers after Wednesday's game, referring to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in which Maeda placed second in AL Cy Young voting with a 2.70 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 10.8 K/9. Wednesday's outing saw Maeda strike out nine while allowing two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings, and he turned in a similar effort two starts ago. If you take away the 10-run disaster that immediately preceded his IL stint, he has a 3.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 11.0 K/9.

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