Who Should I Draft? Aaron Nola vs. George Kirby (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

In the high-stakes world of fantasy baseball, every draft pick counts, and choosing between players with similar average draft positions (ADP) can make or break your season. Welcome to our expert series, where we delve deep into the stats, performance trends, and potential of closely ranked players to guide you through these tough decisions. Leveraging insights and the Who Should I Draft tool from FantasyPros, we compare two or three players at a time, dissecting their strengths, weaknesses, and overall fantasy value to determine who deserves a spot on your roster.

Whether you’re torn between promising rookies, seasoned veterans, or players coming off a breakout year, our detailed analysis will empower you with the knowledge to draft with confidence. Stay ahead of the slurve and dominate your league by making informed choices when it matters most.

Who Should I Draft? Aaron Nola vs. George Kirby?

Aaron Nola (SP – PHI): ECR 47.2

Aaron Nola had a mixed bag of results for fantasy teams in 2023. He threw 193 2/3 innings across 32 starts, so durability was not an issue. He struck out 202 batters and maintained his excellent BB% (5.7) for a WHIP of 1.15. His ERA, however, was an unseemly 4.46, and he gave up a career-high 1.49 HR/9. Nola’s xERA and xFIP suggest improvement in ERA for 2024, and he has started precisely 32 games each of the last three seasons. In the offseason, he signed a seven-year, $172 million contract with the Phillies, a significant deal for a guy who will turn 31 in June. The perception of Nola is that he is an SP1, but his stats suggest grabbing someone to anchor your staff in 2024 and slot him in as an SP2.

George Kirby (SP – SEA): ECR 42.2

George Kirby has a lot of stats to love, but the one that jumps off the page is that he walked 19 batters in 190 2/3 innings. He struck out 172 batters and carried a 3.35 ERA with 1.04 WHIP. Both his xERA and xFIP were higher than his actual numbers, but he started 31 games, and there is nothing overtly alarming in his underlying metrics. Kirby will cost you a fourth or fifth-round pick in 2024, but there is no better anchor for your ratios.