Michael Fulmer

Michael Fulmer

30-Year-Old PitcherRP
Chicago Cubs
2023 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Michael Fulmer in 2023. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKSFrom Preseason
#434
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Cubs in February of 2023.
Takes loss in relief Saturday
PChicago Cubs
May 27, 2023
Fulmer (0-4) allowed two runs while retiring only two batters to take the loss Saturday against the Reds. He gave up a hit and two walks while striking out two.
ANALYSIS
Fulmer was tagged for a two-run home run by Jonathan India in the fifth inning to ultimately get saddled with the loss in the 8-5 defeat, The veteran has struggled with his new team, as he now has a 7.84 ERA and has allowed two earned runs or more six times in 23 outings this year. Fulmer has lost his grip on a high-leverage role and has little fantasy appeal at the moment.
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Pitching Stats
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
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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2018 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
15
Last 10 Games
16
Last 5 Games
16
How many pitches does Michael Fulmer 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 Michael Fulmer 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
 
 
-7%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-29%
BAA vs RHP
2022
 
 
-44%
BAA vs RHP
2021
 
 
-39%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2021vs Left .264 286 76 23 67 18 1 7
Since 2021vs Right .245 397 89 38 86 13 1 8
2023vs Left .316 44 14 6 12 4 0 2
2023vs Right .224 66 17 7 13 3 0 2
2022vs Left .337 109 23 10 32 10 1 2
2022vs Right .188 167 38 18 27 4 0 2
2021vs Left .190 133 39 7 23 4 0 3
2021vs Right .309 164 34 13 46 6 1 4
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2021
 
 
-36%
ERA at Home
2023
Even Split
2022
 
 
-61%
ERA at Home
2021
 
 
-29%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2021Home 2.90 1.15 83.2 8 6 5 10.4 3.0 0.9
Since 2021Away 4.50 1.55 76.0 2 10 13 8.1 3.9 0.8
2023Home 6.14 1.57 14.2 0 2 1 11.0 4.9 1.8
2023Away 6.17 1.29 11.2 0 2 0 10.0 3.9 0.8
2022Home 1.93 0.95 32.2 4 1 0 9.4 3.0 0.3
2022Away 4.94 1.81 31.0 1 5 3 7.8 4.9 0.9
2021Home 2.48 1.16 36.1 4 3 4 11.1 2.2 1.0
2021Away 3.51 1.41 33.1 1 3 10 7.6 3.0 0.8
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Michael Fulmer compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 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 30 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
2.38
 
K/9
10.6
 
BB/9
4.4
 
HR/9
1.4
 
Fastball
94.4 mph
 
ERA
6.15
 
WHIP
1.44
 
BABIP
.327
 
GB/FB
1.29
 
Left On Base
61.7%
 
Exit Velocity
83.1 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
6.7%
 
Spin Rate
2452 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
22.7%
 
Swinging Strike
13.2%
 
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2013
After a forgettable 10 starts with Detroit in 2020, Fulmer opened last season as a reliever. He quickly returned to the Tigers' rotation in mid-April to replace an injured starter, but only four of his career-high 52 appearances ended up being starts. Fulmer proved to be much better in relief anyway, logging a 2.53 ERA versus 4.97 otherwise. From the bullpen, he regained his mid-90s velocity and was Detroit's highest-leveraged reliever with a 1.72 gmLI. His 24.6% strikeout rate was merely around league average, but it was a career high for Fulmer. He finished second on the team with 14 saves behind Gregory Soto. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch already named Soto the closer heading into 2022, so Fulmer appears ticketed for the seventh and eighth innings. He will be arbitration eligible for the final time before becoming a free agent in 2023, so he could become a trade candidate as the year progresses.
Fulmer had a rough go of it in 2020, closing out the year with an 8.78 ERA and 2.06 WHIP with a 20:12 K:BB over 27.2 innings. He failed to secure a victory over 10 starts, finishing with an 0-2 record. The 27-year-old was understandably handled with caution throughout the 2020 season, coming off 2019 Tommy John surgery. As a result, the Tigers didn't allow him to hurl more than three frames in any of his 10 appearances. Fulmer's fastball velocity was also noticeably down during the 60-game sprint, averaging 93.1mph compared to 95.8mph in 2018. With a disappointing return now in the rearview mirror, Fulmer will now set his sights on building up his arm strength for the 2021 season, with the hope of regaining some of his velocity and working deeper into ballgames. He'll be considered a risky selection by fantasy owners until he proves otherwise.
Fulmer signed a contract on Feb. 15, 2019 to avoid arbitration with Detroit, and that is essentially the last thing his right arm did in 2019. He came up with elbow pain in a late bullpen session in Lakeland, and by the end of March, had Tommy John surgery. It is not worth the roster spot to add the reclamation project to your roster in 2020. Even if Fulmer pitches this season, it will not be until late summer, and his statistics will almost certainly be unrosterable. If you are in a keeper league with a deep reserve bench, consider this: are the Tigers going to be any better in 2021?
Fulmer could have been moved at the deadline as part of the Tigers' rebuild had he not hurt his oblique before his first start after the All-Star break. Though, at that point, he was sporting a subpar 4.50 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with just 93 whiffs in 112 innings. He returned during the last week in August, starting five games before being shut down and undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus. After dipping in 2017, Fulmer's swinging-strike rate rebounded, buoying a 19.7 K%, in line with his rookie campaign but still below average. His walk rate was a career worst along with a bloated 14.5% HR/FB in tandem with a 5% increase in flyballs, explaining the high ratios. Fulmer's fastball was its usual 96 mph, though his slider dropped three mph. If he can fix his command and control, Fulmer will again be a candidate to be dealt to a contender. He's worth a speculative pick as a reserve/streamer but realize his strikeout rate and low wins potential limit his upside.
After a visit to Dr. James Andrews, Fulmer underwent ulnar transposition surgery on his throwing elbow in September. Barring setbacks, the right-hander is expected to be ready for spring training. The Tigers hope the procedure will correct the finger numbness and hand weakness Fulmer experienced, which probably hindered his shortened sophomore season. Following his 2016 Rookie of the Year win, he endured notable dips in ERA (3.06 to 3.83), K/9 (6.2, after 7.5 in his first season) and left-on-base percentage (79.0 to 65.6 percent). Fulmer, who turns 25 in March, owns an alluring combination of top-end velocity and a career 2.3 BB/9, which could become even more valuable if health brings back at least his 2016 K/9 (7.5) and possibly pushes it higher. Still, if he impresses in March, his price might climb to where the reward won’t match the risk. Fulmer may not round into peak form until later in the season.
Fulmer won the AL Rookie of the Year award after an impressive season where he would have finished second in the AL in ERA (3.09) had he enough innings to qualify. The big righty exceeded expectations with a top-30 SP finish. It's more impressive when one considers he was facing a potential demotion after four starts (6.52 ERA). His fifth start was when the team's catchers and pitching coach told him to start throwing his changeup more. It was a total game-changer. He had a 2.58 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 3.3 K/BB ratio in 139.2 frames from that point on while using his changeup 19 percent of the time. His ceiling has been raised, and while he could fall back a little bit in 2017, the future is bright.
Fulmer began 2015 as something of an afterthought among Mets pitching prospects. However, after a stellar 16-start run his value had risen to the point where he was worthy of being the top returning piece for Detroit in the Mets’ fortuitous deadline acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes. All told, the 22-year-old righty put up a 2.24 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 125 strikeouts in 124.2 innings, primarily with the two organization’s Double-A affiliates. Now, while those numbers are fairly eye-popping, Fulmer is still more of mid-rotation starter than a frontline arm, but his polish and pitchability are clearly evident. It would not be surprising to see him begin his age-23 season at Triple-A Toledo with a chance to join the big league rotation sometime this summer. While he probably won’t ever be a top-20 fantasy starter, this is the profile of a pitcher whose combination of stuff and command could transition fairly seamlessly against big league hitters.
Fulmer, drafted 44th overall in 2011 from an Oklahoma high school, had an excellent first full professional season, posting a 2.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 101:38 K:BB 138 innings for Low-A Savannah. He mixes a late-moving, mid-90s fastball with mid-80s hard slider and is working on a changeup. Fulmer should open 2012 at High-A St. Lucie and projects to be a No. 2 starter in the majors.
More Fantasy News
Struggles again Monday
PChicago Cubs
May 15, 2023
Fulmer (0-3) allowed two runs on two hits while retiring two batters to take the loss Monday against the Astros. He walked one and struck out one.
ANALYSIS
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Pitching better lately
PChicago Cubs
May 6, 2023
Fulmer worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless inning and record a hold in Friday's win over the Marlins.
ANALYSIS
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Gets hit hard Thursday
PChicago Cubs
April 20, 2023
Fulmer (0-2) allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while retiring only one batter to take the loss Thursday against the Dodgers.
ANALYSIS
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Earns first hold
PChicago Cubs
April 16, 2023
Fulmer pitched a scoreless inning of relief with one strikeout in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers.
ANALYSIS
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Blows another save
PChicago Cubs
April 16, 2023
Fulmer (0-1) took the loss and blew the save against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning.
ANALYSIS
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