Here’s a sentence you never like to see three weeks out from Opening Day.
Though we do not currently have a timeline on George Kirby’s expected absence, a pitcher being shut down at this point in Spring Training is a massive red flag. The right-hander will almost assuredly begin the regular season on the IL.
Kirby has been a picture of consistency since making his debut with the Mariners back in 2022. In fact, he’s posted a 3.39 ERA, a 3.35 ERA and a 3.53 ERA in his first three seasons, respectively. Those figures are backed up by a career 3.22 FIP and a slightly-above league average 23.3% strikeout rate. Still, despite his lack of swing and miss upside, Kirby was going off the board in NFBC drafts as SP8 with an ADP of 47.4.
His loss is massive for Seattle and fantasy owners alike. Keep an eye on the news the next few days for an update on the severity of the ailment.
