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  "description": "PJ Benasillo digs into the data and unearths some fantasy gold for your dynasty teams. ",
  "path": "/xpected-edge-8-whos-that-pokemon-its-misorowski/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-20T22:57:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.prospectslive.com",
  "tags": [
    "xPected Edge - Prospects LiveProspects LivePJ Benasillo",
    "George Kirby",
    "Bryan Woo",
    "Logan Gilbert",
    "Emerson Hancock",
    "Luis Castillo",
    "Bryce Miller",
    "Kade Anderson",
    "Ryan Sloan",
    "xPected Edge #4",
    "Jesus Luzardo",
    "Cooper Criswell",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "Welcome to the eighth edition of xPected Edge!\n\nFor those new to the program, the goal of this series is to isolate and examine the data points behind the slash line and the box score. All season long, I will be looking into the Data Darlings and Disasters to help expose edges for dynasty league players to either buy low on guys due for better days, or sell high on players who have been performing way above their true talent level.\n\nxPected Edge - Prospects LiveProspects LivePJ Benasillo\n\n### George Kirby, SP (SEA):\n\nGeorge Kirby Savant Sliders (2026)\n\nGeorge Kirby has become something of an afterthought in the stacked Mariners rotation. He lacks the incredible fastball of Bryan Woo. He does not have the ceiling of a clicking Logan Gilbert. Emerson Hancock is stealing headlines as one of the biggest breakouts of 2026. He is not paid as much as Luis Castillo. He does not generate the chatter of Bryce Miller. Down on the farm Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan are making waves as two of the highest upside pitching prospects in the game.\n\nAnd yet, quietly, George Kirby chugs along, making turn after turn through the rotation, consistently producing every fifth day for the Mariners. Kirby’s career ERA is a fantastic 3.57. I feel as though Kirby fell off some radars last year after producing to the tune of a 4.21 ERA with a 3.88 xERA. At present I am chalking up his 2025 to the right shoulder inflammation that delayed his start to last season, and a line drive that hit Kirby in the face, but somehow did not leave him concussed.\n\nWe as fans seem to underestimate the psychological impact of getting drilled in the face by a projectile coming back to you at almost 100 MPH or more. So, Kirby dealt with two significant issues and still looked better under the hood than many may have realized. For readers of xPected Edge #4, Kirby had a similar issued to Jesus Luzardo where his poor starts were really bad. A full 34% of Kirby’s allowed runs across his 23 starts were from three outings where he allowed a collective 20 runs. Those three meltdowns bloated his season line. Obviously, you cannot forget about the existence of those starts when evaluating a player, but Kirby’s ERA in his remaining 20 starts was a sterling 2.94, much more in line with his ERA estimators and expected stats.\n\nIn 2026, Kirby has seemingly regained his pre-2025 form. Even in his last start, when Kirby allowed six runs in five and 2/3 innings, two of those were runners that the relief pitcher who came in after Kirby allowed to score. Had Cooper Criswell been able to convert, Kirby would have finished with an entirely cromulent 4 earned runs.\n\nKirby’s evolution in 2026 is somewhat fascinating. He has a career worst walk rate (6.4%), albeit still a significantly better mark than league average, and while some may expect that to be offset with an increase in strikeouts, that has not happened, as he is still struggles to generate a high number of whiffs, despite his above-average chase percentage. Yet, he goes deep into games, failing to get into the sixth inning just once all year thus far. These longer outings keep his ERA tidy, as even in his worst starts he is mitigating the impact of his runs allowed.\n\nKirby has also been a bit of a chameleon, much like the rotund pink character with which he shares a name. It seems as though in 2026, he has put an increased emphasis on generating ground balls. This is far and away the highest ground ball rate of Kirby’s career. Kirby typically generated grounders at a mid-40% clip. That number has jumped to 55.2% this year, an elite rate. Kirby appears to have made a conscious decision to stop chasing strikeouts, while also sacrificing some of his elite command to pursue a dramatic uptick in weak grounders this year.\n\nAll of the ERA estimators seem to generally support his current performance: a 3.21 xERA, a 3.56 FIP, and 3.68 SIERA. I am interested in seeing if Kirby starts to find more strikeouts in 2026, as his current 20.7% strikeout rate would be a significant career low. If he can tap into that side of his game, while keeping his current batted ball profile, he could end the year with an ERA under 3.00 for the first time in his career.\n\n## Sign up for Prospects Live\n\nYour one stop shop for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball, MLB Draft, Baseball Card & MiLB Baseball content. Blending Data & Scouting into our Player Evaluation\n\nSubscribe\n\nEmail sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.\n\nNo spam. Unsubscribe anytime.\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "xPected Edge #8: Who's That Pokemon? It's Misorowski!",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-27T00:36:10.083Z"
}