Kirby Yates Fantasy Stats

Fantasy managers speculating and scrounging for saves early in the 2026 season might want to consider taking a look at Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (knee), even though he's still on the 15-day injured list. Yates' numbers during his minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Salt Lake haven't been pretty, but he's nearing a return and could make his 2026 debut with the Angels before the calendar flips to May next week. In his two innings pitched on the farm, Yates has allowed four runs (three earned) while walking one and striking out three. Right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) remains on the IL, and right-hander Robert Stephenson (elbow) is done for the year. Righty Jordan Romano has been the Halos' closer in the first month of the season, but Yates, who has 98 career MLB saves in his 11 years in the big leagues, could quickly become an option for saves with the Angels when he rejoins the big-league roster. He's currently rostered in just 13% of Yahoo leagues.

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (knee) allowed three earned runs on two hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out one in an inning of work with Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday during a minor-league rehab outing. Yates threw 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes, but the velocity on his fastball was down a bit on Wednesday, and he's likely to need at least a few more appearances down on the farm before the Halos consider reinstating him from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut. The 39-year-old veteran is a stash candidate for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who are desperate for saves. Yates has 98 saves in his 11-year MLB career, and he's also a two-time All-Star, but he really struggled with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 and won't be guaranteed regular save opportunities with the Angels when he returns to the major-league roster. Right-hander Jordan Romano is currently the team's primary closer early in the year. Right now, Yates is rostered in just 14% of Yahoo leagues.

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (knee) began his minor-league rehab assignment on Friday with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and allowed an earned run on one hit while walking one and striking out two in his inning of work with the Quakes. Yates, who began the year on the 15-day injured list with left-knee inflammation, is nearing his 2026 season debut and could be thrown right into the mix for save chances with right-hander Jordan Romano blowing back-to-back save opportunities against the New York Yankees in the Bronx earlier this week. Fantasy managers should consider picking up the 39-year-old veteran with his return potentially coming next week. Yates had a rough year with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025, but he had 33 saves for the Texas Rangers in 2024, and he's racked up 98 saves over the course of his 11-year MLB career. At the very least, Yates could be a sleeper in holds leagues as a late-inning setup man for the Halos in 2026.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kirby Yates (knee) is working his way back from left knee inflammation and could be ready to step into a meaningful role in the bullpen soon. He threw to hitters last week but has not yet started a rehab assignment. He seems ready to start his rehab soon and could be set for his Halos' debut soon. Over the offseason, the 39-year-old veteran righty signed a one-year deal worth $5 million. He brings plenty of experience in high-leverage situations and could challenge Jordan Romano for the closer job when he's healthy. Romano blew his first save of the season against the Yankees on Monday, so Yates' return could be at the perfect time for him to take over the role if Romano has more issues. If you're seeking saves on the waiver wire and trying to get ahead of potential changes in a deep league, Yates is worth stashing since he's such a proven option when healthy.

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (knee) faced hitters on Tuesday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list with left-knee inflammation on March 22, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Yates said he threw 26 pitches on Tuesday, and the session went well. He's now hoping that the next step will be to start a minor-league rehab assignment, but he'll talk with the coaching and training staff on Wednesday. The 39-year-old veteran had a rough 2025 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he has a 3.36 career ERA and 98 saves in 11 big-league seasons, so his experience will be a big boost to the Angels' bullpen. Yates was a preseason candidate to close with both Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) sidelined, but Jordan Romano has fared well as the Halos' closer so far to begin the 2026 season with no runs allowed and four saves in five innings. At the very least, though, Yates could be a nice source of holds as a late-inning, high-leverage bullpen arm for the Angels when he makes his season debut.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kirby Yates (knee) completed a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to Jeff Fletcher of the SoCal News Group. Yates has been on the injured list with a knee injury since the beginning of the regular season, but appears to be making steady progress in his recovery. The veteran reliever was slated to be a favorite to earn save opportunities in the Los Angeles bullpen, but has since ceded the work to Jordan Romano while he has been on the shelf. In 2025, Yates logged just 41 1/3 innings and struggled, posting a 5.23 ERA. However, in the previous season, Yates was among the most dominant ninth-inning options in the sport, tallying 33 saves with a 1.17 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP with the Texas Rangers. Given that Romano has looked quite comfortable in the ninth-inning role, Yates may begin his season operating as the setup man once cleared for action.

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (knee) continues to play catch and said he will throw a bullpen session "sooner than later," according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Yates landed on the 15-day injured list to begin the 2026 season due to left-knee inflammation, but the 39-year-old veteran might not miss a ton of time early on. With Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) also on the shelf, right-hander Jordan Romano picked up his first save of the year in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Opening Day. Veteran left-hander Drew Pomeranz could also be in the mix for save opportunities with Yates, Joyce, and Stephenson out. Yates will probably be the first of the trio of injured relievers to return to the Halos, and when he does, it's anyone's guess as to how first-year manager Kurt Suzuki will divvy up save situations. Given the current climate of the Angels' bullpen, Romano deserves a waiver-wire pickup if he's available and you're scrounging for saves already.

The Los Angeles Angels placed right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (knee) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with left-knee inflammation, retroactive to March 22, according to the team. In addition to Yates, the Angels also placed right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) on the 15-day IL and right-hander Robert Stephenson (elbow) on the 60-day IL, leaving the back end of their bullpen very thin for the start of the 2026 regular season on Thursday against the division-rival Houston Astros. The Angels are hoping that Yates will be able to return when eligible on April 6, but in the meantime, expect the Halos to mix and match in the ninth inning with Jordan Romano and Drew Pomeranz. It's probably a situation to avoid for fantasy managers, unless you're desperate for saves in deeper leagues. When Yates returns, he could be the team's preferred saves option until Joyce can make his 2026 season debut. Romano might be the slight favorite over Pomeranz, with 133 career saves, and the fact that he looked much sharper in spring training.

When asked who might be the Los Angeles Angels' primary closer this year, The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher said, "probably" right-hander Kirby Yates. Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano are other options for saves in Anaheim to begin the 2026 season, but Yates feels like the favorite going into this week, with both Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (shoulder) sidelined by injuries. The 38-year-old veteran had a rough season with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, posting a 5.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 41 1/3 innings, but he had 33 saves as a second-time All-Star in 2024 as a member of the Texas Rangers. Yates also led the league with a career-high 41 saves back in 2019 with the San Diego Padres. Yates' fantasy appeal is rising for managers that need help with saves, but he will be on a short leash with the Angels in the closer's role, and he could quickly shift to a late-inning setup role once Joyce and Stephenson get healthy.

Los Angeles Angels reliever Kirby Yates should have an opportunity to earn saves in the Halos' wide-open bullpen this season. Yates inked a deal with the Angels during the offseason after a successful season in the Dodgers' bullpen. Through 50 appearances (41.1 innings) in 2025, he posted 11.32 K/9, 3.70 BB/9, and 1.96 HR/9. That staggering home run rate likely explains his 5.23 ERA, but it should be noted that his 3.90 xFIP indicates that he's due for a significant bounce-back campaign. Yates ultimately racked up three saves in a non-closer role with the Dodgers, but he has a much clearer path to save opportunities with the Angels. Los Angeles' closer competition currently consists of Jordan Romano, Robert Stephenson, Drew Pomeranz, and Yates, with all four arms seemingly still in the mix at this point in spring training. Yates isn't a lock for the closer role, but he could end up providing managers with low-cost saves at his current ADP of 367. The reward outweighs the risk here.