
Drew Smyly Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 2" / 188 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 6/13/1989 (34)
- Experience
- 6
- College
- Arkansas
Drew Smyly Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Drew Smyly News
Chicago Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly exercised his $8.5 million player option for the 2024 season on Monday. Smyly was a swingman for the Cubs in his second year in Chicago in 2023, making 41 total appearances (23 starts). The 34-year-old veteran southpaw wasn't very effective, though, going 11-11 with a 5.00 ERA (4.96 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP with 56 walks and 141 strikeouts in his 142 1/3 innings pitched. He was much more effective in a relief role, as he had a 2.51 ERA and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 28 2/3 innings out of the bullpen compared to a 5.62 ERA and 8.1 K/9 in 113 2/3 innings as a starter. Smyly is going to have to be better in a starting role in spring training next year if he wants to win a rotation spot for the Cubbies to begin the 2024 regular season.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly is scheduled to rejoin the starting rotation for Tuesday's game against the Detroit Tigers. The left-hander has been working out of the bullpen since his last start on August 7. The Cubs ultimately decided to bring Smyly back to the rotation with Marcus Stroman (ribs) still on the injured list. Smyly has registered a 4.92 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and a 112/40 K/BB ratio over 26 appearances (21 starts) with the Cubs this season. He's normally not a favorable streaming option, but could be worth a look against the struggling Tigers' lineup.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly is likely to rejoin the starting rotation, according to manager David Ross. The Cubs are expected to be without Marcus Stroman (ribs) for the foreseeable future. That being said, the Cubs have a void to fill, so they will likely go with Smyly until Stroman is ready. This season, Smyly holds a 5.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 109/40 K/BB across 24 games (21 starts) with the Cubs this season. He didn't have much fantasy value during his last stint in the rotation, so it's hard to imagine Smyly doing much better this time around.
Batting Order
1 | Pete Crow-Armstrong |
2 | Christopher Morel |
3 | Jeimer Candelario |
4 | Alexander Canario |
5 | Mike Tauchman |
6 | Patrick Wisdom |
7 | Jared Young |
8 | Miguel Amaya |
9 | Miles Mastrobuoni |
Drew Smyly Stats
Last 10 Games
Batting Order
1 | Pete Crow-Armstrong |
2 | Christopher Morel |
3 | Jeimer Candelario |
4 | Alexander Canario |
5 | Mike Tauchman |
6 | Patrick Wisdom |
7 | Jared Young |
8 | Miguel Amaya |
9 | Miles Mastrobuoni |
Atlanta Braves starter Drew Smyly was dominant in seven appearances for San Francisco last season, posting a 3.42 ERA and a monster 37.8% strikeout rate in 2020. It was the first time Smyly finished with an ERA lower than 4.88 since 2015, and after a long, treacherous journey recovering from Tommy John, Smyly looks ready to produce at the big league level again. The southpaw rediscovered his killer curveball in 2020, a pitch that generated a 40.8% chase rate and 22.4% swinging strike rate last season. Opposing batters flailed hopelessly at Smyly's bender, posting just a .184 BA and a 55 wRC+ against the pitch in 2020. Smyly also used his curveball 36.5% of the time, which was a career high by far. As a fragile lefty with a strong curveball and big upside, the best comparison for Smyly seems to be Rich Hill. That could be either a good thing or bad thing depending on how you look at it, but Smyly certainly has the potential and pedigree to be dominant in short bursts. It would be a miracle to see Smyly top 150 innings pitched in a 162-game season, but he's capable of providing an incredible 50-125 innings between IL stints. He's also capable of making two starts and spending the rest of the year on the shelf, or imploding completely and posting an ERA north of five. When considering whether to draft Smyly (ADP ~228) one should consider their risk appetite and willingness to stream replacement starters. There's a spot for Smyly on someone's fantasy team, but that manager must be willing to roll with the punches. The reward may very well be worth it for those who draft Smyly.