Kikuchi (0-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Cubs, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Although Kikuchi managed to keep the ball in the yard, the four free passes he piled up came back to haunt him a bit. Two of which came in the third inning, when the Cubs strung together five hits and tagged the left-hander for each of his five runs allowed. Kikuchi's next start is scheduled for next week at home against Atlanta, and he'll be aiming to get back on track after yielding seven runs across his first 9.2 innings of 2026.

Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-2 win over the Astros, giving up two runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

The Angels grabbed a 4-1 lead in the top of the second inning and never trailed the rest of the way, but Kikuchi couldn't last long enough to qualify for the win, getting lifted after 86 pitches (53 strikes) after Yordan Alvarez led off the Houston half of the fifth with a solo homer, following by a one-out Jose Altuve single. Kikuchi has become a reliable innings-eater over the last few years, making at least 32 starts in each of the last three seasons split between the Blue Jays, Astros and Halos with a 3.97 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9, so better days should be ahead for the left-hander. Kikuchi is set to make his next start on the road next week against the Cubs.

Kikuchi is slated to start the Angels' second game of the regular season -- which will take place Friday, March 27 in Houston -- and is expected to be "full-go" for that outing, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kikuchi spent much of his time this spring with Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, but he had a small workload, tossing just four innings across two appearances and giving up three runs on seven hits with a 5:0 K:BB. The southpaw recently returned to the Angels and started against the Royals on Thursday, tossing 4.2 innings during which he allowed one run on two hits and three walks while fanning two batters. Kikuchi worked up to just 64 pitches in the start, but even with Opening Day just a week away, it sounds like the club feels that Kikuchi will be able to handle a full workload right away.

Kikuchi (forearm) faced live hitters Wednesday in his first throwing session of spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kikuchi exited his final start of 2025 on Sept. 24 due to what the Angels called a left forearm cramp. The veteran southpaw looks to have had a normal offseason and appears to be ahead of most of the rest of the pitching staff, as Kikuchi is set to leave the team in the coming days to join Team Japan ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Per Bollinger, first-year manager Kurt Suzuki said Tuesday that Kikuchi is one of three pitchers locked into rotation spots, and the 34-year-old could get the nod for Opening Day versus the Astros.

Kikuchi was removed from Wednesday's game against the Royals due to a left forearm cramp.

EDGE Analysis

Kikuchi made it through five innings of one-run ball and struck out six batters before leaving the game alongside one of the Angels' trainers. Regardless of the severity of his injury, Wednesday will be the final start that Kikuchi makes in 2025, and he'll conclude the season with a 3.99 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 174:74 K:BB over 178.1 innings spanning 33 starts.

Kikuchi allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Kikuchi has walked at least three batters in four of his last seven starts. He's at least gotten the rest of his work under control, allowing just three runs over his last 11.2 innings across two starts, but his winless stretch reached seven games Thursday. For the season, Kikuchi has a 4.05 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 168:73 K:BB through 173.1 innings across 32 starts. The southpaw is tentatively projected for his last start of the season at home against the Royals next week.

Kikuchi allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings in a no-decision Friday versus the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Kikuchi did his part, throwing 63 of 98 pitches for strikes in a quality start. He had allowed 18 runs over 11.2 innings across his previous three appearances, so this was a strong bounce-back effort, though the veteran southpaw has been quite shaky throughout the second half. Overall, he has a 4.08 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 166:70 K:BB through 167.2 innings over 31 starts. Kikuchi's next outing is tentatively projected to be at Milwaukee, which is a matchup fantasy managers may want to avoid.

Kikuchi (6-11) allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one over two innings to take the loss versus the Athletics on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Kikuchi was hit hard, as four of the six hits he allowed went for extra bases. A home run and two doubles accounted for the season-high seven runs he allowed. Kikuchi has gone 0-4 over his last five starts, surrendering 23 runs over 22.2 innings in that span to unravel what had been a promising season -- albeit with plenty of warning signs -- prior to August. Overall, he's now at a 4.18 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 163:69 K:BB through 161.2 innings over 30 starts. The southpaw is projected to make his next start against one of his former teams when the Angels visit Seattle next week.

Kikuchi (6-10) coughed up five runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings to take the loss Monday at Houston. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Despite generating a solid 13 whiffs out of 97 total pitches, the Japanese southpaw reached double-digit losses for the second straight season. Kikuchi allowed five or more hits of the seventh time out of his nine post-All-Star break appearances, as he's struggled with a 5.59 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over 46.2 innings in the second half. Overall, the 34-year-old now sports a 3.83 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 162:66 K:BB in 159.2 total frames. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is currently scheduled to come at home against the Athletics this weekend.

Kikuchi allowed one run on seven hits and no walks while striking out four batters over seven innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Kikuchi's efficiency was particularly notable Wednesday; he needed just 88 pitches to complete seven frames, throwing 58 strikes and issuing zero walks. That's a dramatic improvement after he had walked multiple batters seven times in his previous nine outings and had completed six innings just once during that span. Kikuchi didn't miss many bats with only six whiffs and four punchouts, but the tradeoff of being able to go deep into the contest is something that the Angels almost certainly prefer. Kikuchi lowered his season ERA to 3.42 with the strong outing, and he's next lined up to face the Rangers on the road.