Castillo, for all his abilities, has been rather inconsistent in recent seasons. He has made 30 or more starts in three of the past four seasons and in five of the last six full seasons, but he has just twice won 12 or more games and his ERA has had a 1.3 run variance. 2024 was not his best effort as a hamstring injury shut him down for good in mid September. 16 of his 25 home runs were of the solo shot variety, yet he still pitched to his his highest ERA of the past three seasons. The related issue was a decline in strikeouts as the 24.3% strikeout rate was three full percentage points down from his 2022 and 2023 efforts and his lowest since that troublesome 2021 season with Cincinatti. A look at the numbers show the changeup, once his signature pitch, was arguable his worst pitch. Castillo is now primarily a fastball and slider guy, and while the four-seamer and slider duo has served him well the past two seasons, he needs a third pitch to re-emerge as lefties were entirely too comfortable against him in 2024. This is not the making of a fantasy ace. Read Past Outlooks