PLAYER · PROFILE · #16 · Data updated: 2026-07-19

#16

Yusei Kikuchi

Q: What are Yusei Kikuchi's 2026 MLB stats?

Kikuchi's latest 2026 stats are updated daily in the stats box at the top of this page. ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched are all tracked. Through April 27 (6 starts), he is 0-3 with a 6.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP — a command issue, as his K/9 of about 9.93 shows the strikeout stuff remains fully intact.

Q: How is Yusei Kikuchi performing in 2026?

Through April 27, Kikuchi is off to a difficult start — 0-3 with a 6.21 ERA across 6 starts (29.0 IP), driven by 13 walks and a 1.59 WHIP. The strikeout numbers remain elite (32 K, K/9 ~9.93), confirming the fastball-slider arsenal that earned him the 2025 All-Star nod is still working. The path back is tightening his BB/9 — a May/June correction is well within his historical range.

Q: What is Yusei Kikuchi's ERA and K/9 rate this season?

Kikuchi's 2026 ERA sits at 6.21 with a K/9 of approximately 9.93 (32 strikeouts in 29.0 innings) through 6 starts as of April 27. The K/9 is comfortably above the MLB starter average of about 8.5, but the 1.59 WHIP and 13 walks (BB/9 ~4.0) are inflating run-scoring opportunities. In 2025 he posted a career-best workload — 33 starts, second straight Opening Day assignment, second All-Star selection — and the underlying stuff suggests that level is recoverable.

Q: What position does Yusei Kikuchi play?

Kikuchi is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. He is the Angels' Opening Day starter and pitches every five days as the anchor of their rotation. Now in his 8th MLB season, he is the most experienced active Japanese pitcher in the American League.

Q: How old is Yusei Kikuchi?

Yusei Kikuchi was born on September 27, 1991, making him 34 years old during the 2026 MLB season. He debuted with the Mariners in 2019 and is now in his second year of a three-year deal with the Angels, having earned All-Star selection in both 2023 and 2025.

Q: How does Kikuchi perform against left-handed batters?

As a left-handed pitcher, Kikuchi has a natural advantage against left-handed hitters — his slider slides away from them, generating weak contact and strikeouts. Historically in MLB, left-handed batters have posted a lower batting average and OPS against him compared to right-handers. His 2026 K/9 of about 9.93 confirms the bat-missing stuff is working against both sides.

Q: What pitches does Yusei Kikuchi throw?

Kikuchi works primarily with a four-seam fastball (mid-90s mph) and a sharp, sweeping slider as his two main weapons. He also mixes in a changeup and occasional curveball. The fastball-slider combination is what generates his high strikeout totals — the slider in particular has been his best pitch in recent seasons, generating elite swing-and-miss against batters of both handedness.

Q: When is Yusei Kikuchi's next start?

Kikuchi's next scheduled start is reflected in the schedule section on this page. As the Angels' rotation anchor, he pitches approximately every five days. Check the stats box above for the latest start log and upcoming dates.

Q: What was Yusei Kikuchi's most recent start?

Kikuchi's most recent start (IP, K, ER, pitch count, win/loss) is updated in the stats box at the top of this page and on the dedicated "Today" page. The Today page also includes pitch usage by type (fastball, slider, changeup), swing-and-miss rates, splits vs RHB/LHB, and a Unico AI breakdown. Live in-play updates run during the game; final results are posted by 18:00 JST.

Q: What team does Yusei Kikuchi play for?

Yusei Kikuchi plays for the Los Angeles Angels as a left-handed starting pitcher. He is in the second year of his three-year deal in 2026, having served as the Angels' Opening Day starter and earned All-Star selection in 2025. With his 8th MLB season underway, he is the most experienced active Japanese pitcher in the American League.

JPNIL

菊池雄星

Los Angeles Angels · P · Bats L, Throws L

Last Start2026-04-30 (86 days ago)

Seibu Lions AceJoined Mariners in 201950+ MLB Career Wins

2026 Season

ERA

5.81

WHIP

1.58

31.0

Recent Start Highlight

He made a number of starts for the club this season but struggled to convert them into wins before landing on the injured list.

Early season — stats accumulating (7 starts)

Quick AnswerYusei Kikuchi 2026: 5.81 ERA, 33 strikeouts, 1.58 WHIP across 31.0 innings (0-3 record) for the Los Angeles Angels.

Age 35Ht 6'0"Wt 210 lbBorn Morioka, JapanMLB Debut Mar 21, 2019

60-Day ILYusei Kikuchi is currently on the 60-Day Injured List.

Last 5 Games

4/30

@CWS

2.0 IP

K 1 · ER 0

4/25

@KC

5.0 IP

K 5 · ER 5

4/19

vsSD

6.0 IP

K 8 · ER 0

4/14

@NYY

3.1 IP

K 3 · ER 4

4/8

vsATL

5.0 IP

K 8 · ER 4

2026 Season Summary

ERA

5.81

0W 3L

33K

31.0 IP

WHIP

1.58

7 GS

0QS

7 GS

Next Game

Sat, Jul 25 @ San Francisco Giants11:15 AM JST

Check broadcast schedule and probable starters

→

2026 Season Highlights

As of July 15, Kikuchi remains with the Los Angeles Angels but is currently sidelined on the injured list. He had been making regular starts for the club this season, though he struggled to turn those outings into wins before landing on the IL. After starring as the ace of the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan, he joined the Mariners in 2019 and has since built one of the more accomplished careers among Japanese pitchers in MLB. How he works his way back into the rotation once healthy will be worth watching.

Yusei Kikuchi has built a solid MLB career since debuting with the Mariners in 2019, accumulating 50+ wins as a starter. His powerful fastball and sharp slider anchor a durable repertoire — in 2025 with the Angels, he served as Opening Day starter, made a league-high-tying 33 starts, and earned his second All-Star selection. Now in year two of a three-year deal, Kikuchi remains the anchor of the Angels' rotation in 2026.

1He made a number of starts for the club this season but struggled to convert them into wins before landing on the injured list.
2After starring as the ace of the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan, he joined the Mariners in 2019 and has since built one of the more accomplished careers among Japanese pitchers in MLB.
3The key storyline going forward is how he works his way back into the rotation and rights his form once healthy.

Stats by Year

ERA

↓ Lower is better

2.70

WHIP

↓ Lower is better

0.93

K

206

W

Shohei Ohtani Career Pitching Stats
Year	Team	APP	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	K	WHIP	SV
2019	-	32	32	6	11	5.46	161.2	116	1.52	0
2020	-	9	9	2	4	5.17	47.0	47	1.30	0
2021	-	29	29	7	9	4.41	157.0	163	1.32	0
2022	-	32	20	6	7	5.19	100.2	124	1.50	1
2023	-	32	32	11	6	3.86	167.2	181	1.27	0
2024	-	22	22	4	9	4.75	115.2	130	1.34	0
2024BEST	-	10	10	5	1	2.70	60.0	76	0.93	0
2024BEST	-	32	32	9	10	4.05	175.2	206	1.20	0
2025	-	33	33	7	11	3.99	178.1	174	1.42	0
2026	-	7	7	0	3	5.81	31.0	33	1.58	0
Career	-	206	194	48	61	4.50	1019.0	1044	1.37	1

2019- · 32APP

ERA

5.46

116

2020- · 9APP

ERA

5.17

2021- · 29APP

ERA

4.41

163

2022- · 32APP

ERA

5.19

124

2023- · 32APP

ERA

3.86

181

2024- · 22APP

ERA

4.75

130

2024BEST- · 10APP

ERA

2.70

2024BEST- · 32APP

ERA

4.05

206

2025- · 33APP

ERA

3.99

174

2026- · 7APP

ERA

5.81

Career Wins 50 W: 2 W to go!now 48 WAll milestones →

PITCHER · FIP

What is Yusei Kikuchi's FIP? 3.68 in 2026

FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) measures a pitcher's true skill using only home runs, walks, hit-by-pitches and strikeouts — outcomes the pitcher controls. By stripping out defense and luck, it tracks real ability more closely than ERA.

Yusei Kikuchi's 2026 FIP is 3.68, rated as "MLB average". That's 0.32 below the MLB average of about 4.00 — better than league-average run prevention.

Compare with other Japanese pitchers in the FIP ranking

DETAIL · ANALYSIS

Detailed Analysis

In-depth metrics aggregated from every at-bat and pitch. Collapsed by default.

Data as of: 2026-07-19

Expand detailed analysis ▾

Recent Form (Last 10 Starts)

Older games on the left, most recent on the right. Color shows how they played.

Best: 6IP+ / ≤1ER · Good: 5IP+ / ≤2ER · OK: 4IP+ / ≤3ER · 4ER · ≥5ER (blowup)

Pitching: Where They Rank

Percentile rank against all MLB players (P25/P50/P75/P90). Triangle = player, line = MLB avg.

ERA

5.81

Bottom (<P25)

MLB avg 3.59 · diff -2.22worse

WHIP

1.58

Bottom (<P25)

MLB avg 1.19 · diff -0.39worse

K/9

9.58

Above avg (P50+)

MLB avg 8.74 · diff +0.84better

BB/9

4.06

Bottom (<P25)

MLB avg 2.77 · diff -1.29worse

Bottom (<P25)

MLB avg 98 · diff -65worse

Pitch Arsenal

Current season pitch data by type. Velocity, spin rate, movement, whiff rate, and CSW% at a glance.

Pitch	Usage	Velo (mph)	Spin	H-Mvmt	V-Mvmt	Whiff%	CSW%
Four-Seam Fastball	32.8%	95.5	2,260	+4.5"	+10.0"	12.5%	16.7%
Splitter	22.0%	86.7	1,609	+6.1"	+5.4"	25.9%	25.6%
Slider	19.2%	86.1	2,424	-1.6"	+0.2"	26.7%	35.8%
Cutter	16.6%	90.1	2,323	-0.4"	+4.7"	25.0%	27.7%
Curveball	8.6%	78.6	2,595	-3.6"	-5.4"	25.0%	32.7%
Sinker	0.7%	96.3	2,233	+4.3"	+8.5"	—	0.0%

H-Mvmt/V-Mvmt (inch): movement vs. a spinless ball. + = toward 3B / up, − = toward 1B / down. Whiff% = whiffs / swings, CSW% = (called strikes + whiffs) / pitches.

Pitch Type K% & BA Against

K% / BA-against / Whiff% by pitch type this season. K% is based on at-bats where each type was the strikeout pitch.

Pitch	Usage	K%	BAA	Whiff%
Four-Seam Fastball	32.8%	20.5%	.441	12.5%
Splitter	22.0%	32.1%	.211	25.9%
Slider	19.2%	22.6%	.450	26.7%
Cutter	16.6%	25.0%	.500	25.0%
Curveball	8.6%	10.0%	.333	25.0%

K%: rate of strikeouts among plate appearances where this pitch type was the final pitch. Whiff%: whiffs per swing. Types with fewer than 10 pitches excluded.

Splits by Batter Handedness

BA / OPS against and WHIP vs right-handed and left-handed batters this season. Spot weaknesses by batter type.

Split	BAA	OPS	WHIP	K	IP
vs RHB	.284	.791	1.61	25	23.2
vs LHB	.276	.812	1.57	8	7.0

Handedness & Home/Away Splits

Situational splits for the current season. See strengths and weaknesses by scenario.

vs Handedness

Split	OAVG	OOPS	HR	K	BB
vs RHB	.284	.791	2	25	11
vs LHB	.276	.812	1	8	3

Home / Away

Split	OAVG	OOPS	HR	K	BB
Home	.250	.645	0	16	2
Away	.298	.866	3	17	12

Year-over-Year Performance Trend

Career-long performance trends for every key stat. How does this year compare to history?

Season	G	IP	ERA	WHIP	K/9	BB/9	K
2021	29	157.0	4.41	1.32	9.34	3.55	163
2022	32	100.2	5.19	1.50	11.09	5.19	124
2023	32	167.2	3.86	1.27	9.72	2.58	181
2024	32	175.2	4.05	1.20	10.55	2.25	206
2025	33	178.1	3.99	1.42	8.78	3.73	174
2026Now	7	31.0	5.81	1.58	9.58	4.06	33

Full Game Log (Pitching)

All 7 games of the 2026 season. Showing latest 10; click to expand.

Date	Opp	IP	H	ER	BB	K	ER/9
04/30	@ CWS	2.0	2	0	1	1	0.00
04/25	@ KC	5.0	5	5	2	5	9.00
04/19	vs SD	6.0	4	0	1	8	0.00
04/14	@ NYY	3.1	4	4	4	3	10.80
04/08	vs ATL	5.0	6	4	1	8	7.20
04/02	@ CHC	5.1	6	5	4	5	8.44
03/28	@ HOU	4.1	8	2	1	3	4.15

Year-over-Year (2026 vs 2025)

Green = improvement, red = decline. "—" means no data in the same month last year.

Pitching

	Mar	Apr
ERA	-0.35	+1.82
K	-2	+7
WHIP	+1.25	-0.28

AI · SEASON ANALYSIS

Yusei Kikuchi 2026 Season AI Analysis

Comprehensive 2026 season analysis generated by Claude AI from stats data (as of Jul 20, 2026).

Overview

Through 7 starts and 31 IP, Kikuchi's 5.81 ERA sits well below the MLB average (3.59) and outside the bottom half of starters (P50 3.61), landing closer to replacement-level output than to the P75 mark (2.92). WHIP (1.58) tells the same story, trailing the average (1.19) by a wide margin. The strikeout rate (9.58 K/9) is actually a bright spot, sitting above the league average (8.74) and near the P50-P75 band (8.84-10.16), which points to a run-prevention problem rather than a stuff problem.

Strengths

The swing-and-miss ability remains intact and is arguably his best marker of the season. At 9.58 K/9, he is striking out batters at a higher clip than in 2021, 2023, 2024, or 2025, trailing only his 2022 peak (11.09 K/9). This suggests his raw stuff has not eroded — the 33 strikeouts in 31 IP confirm the swing-and-miss shows up consistently even in a short sample, and it gives him a real path back if the control issues stabilize.

Areas to Improve

Command is the clear outlier versus his own track record and the league. His 4.06 BB/9 is well above the MLB average (2.77) and far outside the better tiers (P75 2.10, P90 1.83), and it is also his highest walk rate across the five seasons listed (2021-2025 ranged roughly 2.7-3.5). That added traffic on the bases is compounding into the elevated WHIP and ERA — the run-prevention numbers look like a byproduct of one specific, identifiable issue rather than broad decline.

Looking Ahead

The gap between his strikeout ability and his walk/ERA numbers suggests volatility rather than a fixed skill decline this early in the sample (31 IP). If the command trends back toward his 2023-2025 range (sub-3.0 BB/9), the ERA and WHIP have room to correct meaningfully given the strikeout foundation is already above average. Continued elevated walk rates over the next several starts would be the more concerning signal to watch, since it would point to a mechanical or health-related issue rather than early-season variance.

AI-generated content (Claude) · Based on stats as of Jul 20, 2026

Detailed Analysis

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2026 Season Appearance Log

7 starts · 33 total strikeouts

Season Best K

Sun, Apr 19 vs SD

Season Debut

Sat, Mar 28 @ HOU

4.1IP · 3K

Date	Opp	IP	K	HR	BB	Dec
4/30	@CWS	2.0	1	-	1	-
4/25	@KC	5.0	5	-	2	L
4/19	vsSD	6.0	8	-	1	-
4/14	@NYY	3.1	3	2	4	-
4/8	vsATL	5.0	8	-	1	L
4/2	@CHC	5.1	5	-	4	L
3/28	@HOU	4.1	3	1	1	-

Season Analysis

Season Progress

ERA

↓ Lower is better

WHIP

↓ Lower is better

Strikeouts

Wins

Monthly Stats

ERA

vs MLB Monthly Avg↓ Lower is better

WHIP

vs MLB Monthly Avg↓ Lower is better

Strikeouts

Wins

Season Analysis

Loading season chart…

2026 Season at a Glance

ERA

5.81

0W 3L

Strikeouts

33K

31.0 IP

WHIP

1.58

7 GS

Quality Starts

0QS

7 GS

Yusei Kikuchi — angels 2026 Pitching Performance

FAQ — Yusei Kikuchi

What are Yusei Kikuchi's 2026 MLB stats?

Kikuchi's latest 2026 stats are updated daily in the stats box at the top of this page. ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched are all tracked. Through April 27 (6 starts), he is 0-3 with a 6.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP — a command issue, as his K/9 of about 9.93 shows the strikeout stuff remains fully intact.

How is Yusei Kikuchi performing in 2026?

Through April 27, Kikuchi is off to a difficult start — 0-3 with a 6.21 ERA across 6 starts (29.0 IP), driven by 13 walks and a 1.59 WHIP. The strikeout numbers remain elite (32 K, K/9 ~9.93), confirming the fastball-slider arsenal that earned him the 2025 All-Star nod is still working. The path back is tightening his BB/9 — a May/June correction is well within his historical range.

What is Yusei Kikuchi's ERA and K/9 rate this season?

Kikuchi's 2026 ERA sits at 6.21 with a K/9 of approximately 9.93 (32 strikeouts in 29.0 innings) through 6 starts as of April 27. The K/9 is comfortably above the MLB starter average of about 8.5, but the 1.59 WHIP and 13 walks (BB/9 ~4.0) are inflating run-scoring opportunities. In 2025 he posted a career-best workload — 33 starts, second straight Opening Day assignment, second All-Star selection — and the underlying stuff suggests that level is recoverable.

What position does Yusei Kikuchi play?

Kikuchi is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. He is the Angels' Opening Day starter and pitches every five days as the anchor of their rotation. Now in his 8th MLB season, he is the most experienced active Japanese pitcher in the American League.

How old is Yusei Kikuchi?

Yusei Kikuchi was born on September 27, 1991, making him 34 years old during the 2026 MLB season. He debuted with the Mariners in 2019 and is now in his second year of a three-year deal with the Angels, having earned All-Star selection in both 2023 and 2025.

How does Kikuchi perform against left-handed batters?

As a left-handed pitcher, Kikuchi has a natural advantage against left-handed hitters — his slider slides away from them, generating weak contact and strikeouts. Historically in MLB, left-handed batters have posted a lower batting average and OPS against him compared to right-handers. His 2026 K/9 of about 9.93 confirms the bat-missing stuff is working against both sides.

What pitches does Yusei Kikuchi throw?

Kikuchi works primarily with a four-seam fastball (mid-90s mph) and a sharp, sweeping slider as his two main weapons. He also mixes in a changeup and occasional curveball. The fastball-slider combination is what generates his high strikeout totals — the slider in particular has been his best pitch in recent seasons, generating elite swing-and-miss against batters of both handedness.

When is Yusei Kikuchi's next start?

Kikuchi's next scheduled start is reflected in the schedule section on this page. As the Angels' rotation anchor, he pitches approximately every five days. Check the stats box above for the latest start log and upcoming dates.

What was Yusei Kikuchi's most recent start?

Kikuchi's most recent start (IP, K, ER, pitch count, win/loss) is updated in the stats box at the top of this page and on the dedicated "Today" page. The Today page also includes pitch usage by type (fastball, slider, changeup), swing-and-miss rates, splits vs RHB/LHB, and a Unico AI breakdown. Live in-play updates run during the game; final results are posted by 18:00 JST.

View Yusei Kikuchi's today start details

What team does Yusei Kikuchi play for?

Yusei Kikuchi plays for the Los Angeles Angels as a left-handed starting pitcher. He is in the second year of his three-year deal in 2026, having served as the Angels' Opening Day starter and earned All-Star selection in 2025. With his 8th MLB season underway, he is the most experienced active Japanese pitcher in the American League.