Cole Irvin

Cole Irvin

29-Year-Old PitcherSP
Baltimore Orioles
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Irvin produced an ERA below 4.00 for the first time last year, but that's mostly thanks to the fact that league-wide scoring dropped. By park-adjusted ERA-, he actually got slightly worse, going from 103 in that category in 2021 to 108 in 2022 despite improving his actual ERA by 26 points. A pitcher who can produce a below-average but passable performance across 30 starts certainly has value, both in MLB and in deeper fantasy leagues, but nothing in Irvin's record suggests he's on the verge of becoming anything more than that. He has excellent control, as his 4.9 BB% was even better than his career mark of 5.4%, but he doesn't have much more than that. The lefty's fastball averaged a mere 90.9 mph, and his 17.3 K% was poor as usual. Much of his appeal came from the fact that he was with Oakland, which meant a safe rotation spot and half of his starts at one of the league's most pitcher-friendly parks, but he was traded to Baltimore during the offseason. Camden Yards became more pitcher friendly last season with the fence in left field being pushed back, but it's still a clear downgrade from the Coliseum. His rotation spot, however, should be similarly secure with the Orioles. Read Past Outlooks
RANKSFrom Preseason
#493
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $705,000 contract with the Athletics in March of 2022. Traded to the Orioles in January of 2023.
Could be in line to start Saturday
PBaltimore Orioles  AAA
June 8, 2023
Irvin looks to be the "most likely option" to start for the Orioles on Saturday versus the Royals, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
ANALYSIS
Manager Brandon Hyde has professed a desire to use a traditional starter rather than employ a bullpen game, and Irvin seems to line up best given the recent usage of all potential options. The left-hander has struggled mightily in the majors this season (10.38 ERA) but holds a 3.21 ERA with just four walks in seven starts with Triple-A Norfolk.
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Pitching Stats
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2023 MLB Game Log
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2022 MLB Game Log
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2021 MLB Game Log
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2020 MLB Game Log
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2019 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
69
Last 10 Games
69
Last 5 Games
69
How many pitches does Cole Irvin generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Cole Irvin generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2021
 
 
-1%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-30%
BAA vs RHP
2022
 
 
-11%
BAA vs LHP
2021
 
 
-7%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2021vs Left .267 361 56 21 89 14 0 10
Since 2021vs Right .265 1213 210 65 298 57 5 40
2023vs Left .444 11 1 2 4 0 0 0
2023vs Right .311 54 12 6 14 3 1 2
2022vs Left .229 156 20 8 33 3 0 5
2022vs Right .257 585 108 28 141 30 3 20
2021vs Left .289 194 35 11 52 11 0 5
2021vs Right .270 574 90 31 143 24 1 18
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2021
 
 
-27%
ERA at Home
2023
 
 
-25%
ERA at Home
2022
 
 
-42%
ERA at Home
2021
 
 
-15%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2021Home 3.70 1.16 202.0 9 13 0 6.4 2.1 0.8
Since 2021Away 5.07 1.40 170.1 10 17 0 6.4 2.1 1.7
2023Home 9.35 1.73 8.2 0 1 0 9.3 6.2 1.0
2023Away 12.46 2.54 4.1 0 1 0 8.3 4.2 2.1
2022Home 3.07 1.02 105.2 5 5 0 6.6 1.9 0.5
2022Away 5.26 1.35 75.1 4 8 0 6.0 1.7 2.3
2021Home 3.90 1.28 87.2 4 7 0 5.9 2.0 1.0
2021Away 4.57 1.38 90.2 6 8 0 6.8 2.3 1.3
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Cole Irvin compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
1.63
 
K/9
9.0
 
BB/9
5.5
 
HR/9
1.4
 
Fastball
91.5 mph
 
ERA
10.38
 
WHIP
2.00
 
BABIP
.403
 
GB/FB
0.67
 
Left On Base
47.4%
 
Exit Velocity
81.2 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
4.7%
 
Spin Rate
1960 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
20.6%
 
Swinging Strike
8.0%
 
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Cole Irvin See More
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18 days ago
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62 days ago
Chris Morgan is loading up on Rockies at home versus the Nationals.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2020
Irvin wasn't expected to take on much more than a swingman role after the A's acquired him from the Phillies last January, but the southpaw's strong performance in spring training earned him a spot in the starting rotation to begin the season. With modest off-speed offerings to go along with a four seamer and sinker that both sat in the low 90s, Irvin struck batters out at an uninspiring 16.3% clip. His other peripherals weren't much better either, as he posted a 24.4 LD%, 37.9 FB% and 10.4 HR/FB%. Despite those numbers working against him, an excellent 5.5 BB% helped him post a 4.24 ERA and 4.30 FIP across a career-high 178.1 innings. Irving's inability to overpower hitters suggests that he likely performed close to his ceiling in 2021. That being said, even if takes a step back next season, the lefty still profiles as a passable fourth or fifth starter in most big-league rotations.
With a number of the Phillies' primary rotation options underperforming, Irvin got his chance to prove that his 2.57 ERA for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2018 would translate to the big leagues despite mediocre stuff. In 41.2 innings, the stuff concerns won out, as the lefty stumbled to a 5.83 ERA. He couldn't strike out enough batters (17.1%) or keep the ball on the ground (34.4% groundball rate). His 7.2% walk rate was good, but not at the elite level necessary to make up for those deficiencies. With a fastball that averaged less than 90 mph and no above-average secondary weapons, it's hard to see Irvin making a particularly strong push for the fifth starter spot this season, as good control can only get a pitcher so far on its own. Lefties managed a .935 OPS off of him, so if he does move to the bullpen, it may only be in a mop-up role. There's not much here barring a sudden repertoire change.
More Fantasy News
Optioned to Triple-A
PBaltimore Orioles  AAA
May 21, 2023
Irvin was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Recalled to work in bullpen
PBaltimore Orioles  AAA
May 16, 2023
Irvin was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Optioned after poor start
PBaltimore Orioles  AAA
April 13, 2023
Irvin was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
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Hit hard by former team
PBaltimore Orioles  AAA
April 13, 2023
Irvin allowed six runs on five hits and a walk over 4.0 innings in Thursday's 8-7 win over the A's. He struck out four and didn't factor in the decision.
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Another shaky outing Saturday
PBaltimore Orioles  AAA
April 9, 2023
Irvin (0-2) took the loss Saturday as the Orioles fell 4-1 to the Yankees. He gave up three runs on four hits and four walks over 4.2 innings and struck out five.
ANALYSIS
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