Chris Paddack is laser-focused on throwing first-pitch strikes, a habit he has sharpened since joining the Tigers. In three starts after the deadline deal, he’s posted an 83.1% first-pitch strike rate, anchoring Detroit’s plan to chase 0-1 counts and widen the two-strike window. His 76-pitch, one-run gem against Chicago illustrated the upside when he hits the zone with authority and executes with two strikes. Yet the profile also carries risk: high exit velocities on balls in play suggest occasional hard contact as aggressiveness invites loud contact.

Paddack’s 2025 line sits at a 4.76 ERA with 28 walks and 92 strikeouts over 126⅔ innings across 24 starts ( Twins and Tigers ). While eight starts have featured zero walks and a 3.74 ERA, 16 starts with at least one walk temper expectations. Tigers ESPN-favored approach centers on being ahead 0-1, then expanding the zone to pressure hitters. The blend of contact-orientation and strike-zone attack defines his fantasy trajectory: steady innings with favorable ratios when the command holds, tempered by the volatility of contact-heavy outings.