Skip to Main Content
player headshot

Chi. Cubs • #45 • RP

Caleb Kilian

player headshot
EyePartInnerEyePartCorner

Schedule

Preseason
vs
MIL
Tue, Mar 11
L 9-7
vs
SD
Fri, Mar 21
L 5-1
vs
COL
Sat, Mar 22
L 7-3
vs
ATH
Sun, Mar 23
L 8-1
vs
ATL
Mon, Mar 24
4:05 pm
MLBN
vs
ATL
Tue, Mar 25
4:05 pm
MLBN
Regular season
vs
LAD
Tue, Mar 18
L 4-1
vs
LAD
Wed, Mar 19
L 6-3
@
ARI
Thu, Mar 27
10:10 pm
DBTV
Full Schedule
Now Playing

Share Video

Link copied!
Player Outlook
Caleb Kilian has mostly pitched in the minors the past few seasons and is still waiting to take off at the MLB level. Last year, he pitched in only two games for the Cubs after logging exactly three games for the team in each of the two prior seasons. Kilian has a rough 9.22 ERA and 2.01 WHIP in his big-league career across 27.1 innings, though it's hard to draw too many conclusions from that small sample. For Triple-A Iowa last season, the righty was more effective with a 3.22 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 44.2 innings. After almost exclusively working as a starter in 2022 and 2023 at that level, Kilian made seven starts and six relief appearances in Iowa last season. That could hint at more of a full-time shift to the bullpen for Kilian, which makes sense as Chicago appears ready to move forward with Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks in the rotation. Assad and Wicks don't have lengthy MLB track records, so Kilian in theory could replace one of them if they struggle, but for now the latter is largely off the fantasy radar as a bullpen depth piece.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2025 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
2024 8.54.3 10.7 — 1 — 7 6 4.22 1.59
2023 -15.5-5.2 5.3 — 1 — 5 2 16.88 2.81
3y Avg. -4.5-1.5 9.0 — 1 — 7 7 9.00 2.11
Full Career Stats

Fantasy News

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Sent down to Iowa

    Rotowire
    The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports. Kilian gave up eight hits and a walk over 3.2 innings during spring training. The 27-year-old righty owns a career 9.22 ERA and 2.01 WHIP across 27.1 MLB frames, and his 40-man spot could be in jeopardy soon.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Likely on outside of rotation

    Rotowire
    While Kilian figures to compete for a starting job in spring training, he currently projects to fall short of earning a spot in the Cubs' rotation, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. Holdovers Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad all seem positioned for rotation spots. The same is true for veteran addition Matthew Boyd. That would leave Kilian, who is out of minor-league options, looking at a long-relief role if he sticks with the team. Assad is the least experienced of those starters and could get pushed in camp, but he pitched well enough in 2024 across 29 starts and figures to have the inside track at this point. Kilian won't have a ton of fantasy value if he's stuck in Chicago's bullpen.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Takes loss in 2024 debut

    Rotowire
    Kilian (0-1) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and four walks over 5.2 innings against the Phillies. He struck out three. Kilian was called up earlier in the day and then tossed 5.2 innings in a bulk-relief role. It was his first major-league appearance of 2024 after having appeared in six big-league contests over the previous two seasons. Kilian has now allowed 28 earned runs across 22.1 career big-league innings.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Receives promotion

    Rotowire
    The Cubs recalled Kilian from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Right-hander Nate Pearson is serving as the Cubs' opening pitcher for Monday's game in Philadelphia, but he's likely to cover only an inning or two before turning the contest over to the bullpen. Kilian will be available out of the bullpen and may end up taking on a bulk-relief role for the Cubs, as his final start with Iowa came six days earlier. Kilian made three appearances (one start) for the Cubs in 2023 but has pitched exclusively in the minors in 2024, turning in a 3.22 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB over 44.2 innings with Iowa.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Beginning rehab assignment

    Rotowire
    Kilian (shoulder) is starting a rehab assignment Tuesday at High-A South Bend, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. Kilian will start up a rehab assignment Tuesday, pitching in game conditions for the first time since straining his shoulder in spring training. The 27-year-old has been progressing well, getting up to 32 pitches in a bullpen session in mid-June before facing live hitters June 25. He could be cleared for activation before August.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Throws off mound

    Rotowire
    Kilian (shoulder) threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. It would appear to be the first time he's thrown off a mound since being diagnosed in early March with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Kilian, who is on the 60-day injured list, figures to need a lengthy rehab assignment once he's deemed ready. Further, it isn't a given that he will be added to the big-league roster once he's off the IL.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Diagnosed with teres major strain

    Rotowire
    Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Kilian will be sidelined until around the All-Star break after an MRI revealed a teres major strain in his right shoulder, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. Counsell noted that it's the type of injury which can have varying timelines, but Kilian isn't expected to be pitching anytime soon. The loss of Kilian is a hit to the team's starting pitching depth, as he was likely slated to open the season in the Triple-A Iowa rotation.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Looks sharp in spring opener

    Rotowire
    Kilian logged two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox. Kilian was the third pitcher to appear in the contest for the Cubs and he looked sharp. The righty has appeared in six games (four starts) for Chicago over the past two years and could be in the running for a bullpen role this spring if he pitches well. Kilian doesn't seem like a realistic option for a rotation spot at this point, though he could be on the radar for spot starts when needed.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Optioned back to Iowa

    Rotowire
    The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. Kilian has surrendered 10 earned runs in just 5.1 innings of work this season at the major-league level. Michael Rucker will join Chicago's bullpen Tuesday in a corresponding roster move.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Promoted Sunday

    Rotowire
    Kilian was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. The 26-year-old made a spot start for the Cubs in late April but was sent back to Triple-A after he surrendered seven runs across 3.1 innings. Kilian has continued to work as a starter at Iowa and has a 3.97 ERA over 88.1 innings, but he'll likely work out of the bullpen for Chicago.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Lined up for spot start

    Rotowire
    Kilian threw a bullpen session Thursday and isn't listed among Triple-A Iowa probable starting pitchers this weekend, suggesting he could be called up to make a spot start for the Cubs on Saturday in Miami, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports. The Cubs require a new fifth starter this week with Jameson Taillon (groin) recently moving to the injured list, and all signs point to Kilian getting the first chance to replace him. After being lit up for eight earned runs in his 2023 debut for Iowa on April 2, Kilian rebounded nicely over his most recent two outings, logging a 1.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across nine innings. In lieu of a start, Kilian threw a simulated game at Iowa a few days ago to stay sharp, so he should be able to provide the Cubs with a decent amount of length if he does in fact get the call to the big leagues Saturday.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Optioned to minors

    Rotowire
    Kilian was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. He allowed one run on two hits while striking out two over four innings in two appearances this spring. Kilian will work on putting the finishing touches on his development at Triple-A while he awaits another opportunity in the big-league rotation at some point this summer.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Mixed results back in Triple-A

    Rotowire
    Kilian has put up a 4.72 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 48:19 K:BB across 34.1 innings (eight starts) since returning to Triple-A. That's not exactly the stat line you want to see from your most advanced pitching prospect after his first taste of the majors, but Kilian has never been a super-high-upside arm. The 25-year-old's season-long WHIP in Triple-A is a poor 1.40, and while Kilian has shown notable strikeout ability, he hasn't pitched deep into games very often and is walking far too many batters. The Cubs are still treating him as a potential starter in the long run, but there's relief risk here.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Returns to Triple-A

    Rotowire
    Kilian was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The 25-year-old surrendered seven runs (five earned) over 2.1 innings Monday and will now make his way back to the minors. Kilian is Chicago's top pitching prospect, but he struggled across his first three starts in the majors with a 10.32 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 9:12 K:BB in 11.1 innings.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Remains in rotation

    Rotowire
    Kilian is listed as the Cubs' starting pitcher for Monday's game in Pittsburgh. Even though the rookie has been roughed up for eight earned runs while issuing seven walks in nine innings between his first two big-league starts, manager David Ross intimated after Kilian's most recent outing June 15 against the Padres that the right-hander would be part of the rotation moving forward. Whether Kilian sticks around as a starter once the likes of Marcus Stroman (shoulder), Wade Miley (shoulder) and Drew Smyly (oblique) return from the 15-day injured list is still undetermined, but the 25-year-old should get at least two more starts to prove he belongs in the big leagues.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Called up ahead of start

    Rotowire
    Kilian's contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa ahead of his start in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports. Kilian is a top prospect in the organization and will make his major-league debut during Saturday's nightcap. The right-hander has been effective in Iowa early in 2022, posting a 2.06 ERA, 41:15 K:BB and 1.28 WHIP in 39.1 innings. Although the 25-year-old needed some time to establish his mid-90s fastball velocity this year, he'll now get a chance to prove himself with the big-league club. If he impresses during Saturday's start, it wouldn't be surprising to see him remain in the rotation.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Opening at Triple-A

    Rotowire
    Kilian, the Cubs' top pitching prospect, will open the year at Triple-A Iowa, Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register reports. The headliner in the return from San Francisco for Kris Bryant and the MVP of the Arizona Fall League championship game, Kilian hadn't pitched in big-league spring training, so it's good to hear that he's healthy and ready for the minor-league season. The Cubs' rotation lacks viable depth, so Kilian could get the call to the majors sometime this summer.
    ... See More ... See Less
Show more Fantasy news

Recent Tweets