Twins Kyle Gibson: Solid fantasy pitcher for the championship push

The Twins are quietly putting together a good season. One reason could be the surprising performance of Kyle Gibson. Pick him up while he’s hot.

While the Cleveland Indians are running away with the division, the Minnesota Twins are holding their own as the second AL Wild Card team. With consistent performances from Kyle Gibson, the team is still competing. If you’re still competing in fantasy, pick up Gibson.

For the season, Gibson’s numbers don’t look that great. He has a 4.97 ERA, 1.557 WHIP and 10-10 record. This isn’t a pitcher you would want on your team for the full season. However, as a streaming option or ride-him-while-he’s-hot type pitcher, Gibson gets the job done, especially recently.

Over his last five outings, Gibson has five quality starts. He went 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA, 1.041 WHIP, 26:3 K:BB ratio and a .256 opposing batting average. In that span, Gibson has faced the White Sox, Blue Jays, Royals twice and the Padres.

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It does help that he’s had some pretty easy matchups. That’s what a pitcher should do, though, take advantage of the weaker opponents. His next start will be on Sunday at home against the Blue Jays. He went 6.2 innings with two earned runs.

If you are looking for a pitcher that can get you significant innings, I would look elsewhere. Gibson hasn’t escaped the eighth inning and has just three starts with at least seven innings. He averages 5.4 innings per start, not good.

Gibson has made some improvements to his ratio stats from last year to this year but his strikeout and walk rates are exactly the same. He isn’t a big strikeout pitcher, 6.4 K/9, and walks a decent amount of batters, 3.4 BB/9.

Gibson relies heavily on the ground ball, 51.0 percent. While his fly ball rate is down three percent, his HR/FB rate is up two percent. Pitching in the American League can do that do a pitcher. Though, he has allowed just one home run in his last six starts.

Fantasy owners are adding Gibson at a decent rate. Whether it’s because no one else is available or because they’re buying into his performance, who knows, but they are taking notice. He’s been added in 16.1 percent of ESPN league. Gibson is still available in 65 percent of leagues.

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At this point in the season, you are just looking for anything to push you over the edge and continue on your path to the championship. Gibson has a favorable matchup against the Blue Jays coming up. I would add him for this start and think about dropping him after.