Kirby Yates Fantasy Stats

Veteran right-handed reliever Kirby Yates signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2026 season, and he could be a favorite for save chances to begin the year. Yates will have to earn it this spring, but there is a potential opening at the back end of the Halos' bullpen with both right-handers Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) recovering from injuries. The two-time All-Star has 98 saves in his 11-year big-league career. He was an All-Star as recently as 2024 with the Texas Rangers, when he had a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves in 61 2/3 innings pitched. Yates had a career-high 41 saves for the San Diego Padres in 2019 as well, so he has plenty of experience being the guy in the ninth inning. It makes him a sleeper target for saves speculators, but he's coming off a 5.23 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and only three saves with the Dodgers last year, and once Joyce and Stephenson are ready, manager Kurt Suzuki will potentially be looking at a four-reliever committee for saves.

Free-agent right-handed reliever Kirby Yates and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, pending a physical, a source told Ari Alexander. Yates will stay in L.A. after spending the 2025 campaign with the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, where he went 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA (4.76 FIP), 1.33 WHIP, three saves, 52 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 41 1/3 innings out of the bullpen during the regular season. It was a disappointing year for the 38-year-old veteran after he recorded a 1.17 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 33 saves the year prior with the Texas Rangers. Yates is no spring chicken, but he could bounce back to better results in 2026 and will be in the mix for more saves next season in an Angels bullpen that lost Kenley Jansen in free agency. Yates' primary competition for saves next season will come from the oft-injured Robert Stephenson and veteran lefty Drew Pomeranz.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they have activated reliever Kirby Yates (back) from the 15-day injured list and placed left-hander Blake Snell (personal) on the paternity list. Yates is returning after missing nearly a month with pain in his lower back. He went 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, 44:12 K:BB, 13 holds, and three saves in 31 1/3 innings before hitting the IL on July 29. The 38-year-old right-hander should step back into a setup role now that he's rejoining the Dodgers' bullpen. Snell, meanwhile, will not miss any starts while on paternity leave, as he'll only be away for up to three days. He threw seven innings of two-run ball in a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday. The two-time Cy Young winner has gone 3-2 with a 1.97 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and 30:15 K:BB over 32 innings in his first season with the Dodgers. He's scheduled to make his next start on Aug. 29 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Kirby Yates (back) is expected to be activated from the injured list on Saturday. He has been out since the end of July with a lower back issue and is now on a rehab assignment. The 38-year-old is expected to make one more rehab appearance prior to his activation. With Tanner Scott (elbow) also on the way back, Yates may land in only a setup role when he returns. The veteran right-hander has three saves this year in 39 appearances, along with 13 holds, and a K/9 of 12.64 this year. He may vulture some saves down the stretch for the Dodgers and is mainly an option in leagues that reward saves and holds.

Los Angeles Dodgers relievers Tanner Scott (elbow) and Kirby Yates (back) each threw an inning during their rehab stints at Triple-A on Tuesday and could already be on the verge of returning to the majors. Asked if Scott or Yates would make another rehab appearance, manager Dave Roberts said, "probably not." That could set the pair up to return from the 15-day injured list during this weekend's series against the San Diego Padres, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. The Dodgers have gone without Scott, their closer, since July 22 because of elbow inflammation. Yates, one of the Dodgers' top setup men, has been on the IL with lower-back pain since July 29.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitchers Tanner Scott (elbow) and Kirby Yates (back) are both expected to begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Scott last pitched on July 21 before being placed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation, and Yates was also placed on the injured list with lower back pain after last pitching on July 26. The good news for both of them is that rehab assignments are typically much quicker for relievers, and both of them should see themselves back into high-leverage situations for the big league club before the end of the month. Scott is likely to be the one more in the mix for saves, as he has tallied 19 this year compared to Yates' three.

Los Angeles Dodgers relievers Tanner Scott (elbow) and Kirby Yates (back) will begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Scott has been on the 15-day injured list since July 22 with inflammation in his left elbow, while Yates has been on the shelf since July 29 with pain in his lower back. The Dodgers expect the two to return later this month, and they'll be glad to get both high-leverage relievers back for the last few weeks of the season as they battle the San Diego Padres for an NL West title. Fantasy managers should expect Scott to resume his role as the Dodgers' closer when he returns. Although Scott has had a relatively disappointing season, the Dodgers haven't found a better answer for the closer job in his absence. They have the majors' third-most blown saves (six) since the All-Star break.

Injured Los Angeles Dodgers relievers Michael Kopech (knee) and Kirby Yates (back) will throw live batting practice during the upcoming week, manager Dave Roberts announced. Kopech will face hitters on Monday, and Yates will follow him on Wednesday. The Dodgers have gone without Kopech since late June as a result of right-knee surgery. Yates, on the 15-day IL with pain in his lower back since July 29, seems closer to returning than Kopech. While Kopech will likely need to throw batting practice multiple times, Yates could go on a rehab assignment immediately if he gets through Wednesday without any issues. The reigning World Series champion Dodgers are hoping to get Kopech and Yates back later this month as they head toward another playoff berth.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kirby Yates (back) is expected to return from the injured list in late August, according to manager Dave Roberts. Yates has been sidelined since last Saturday due to lower back pain. Right now there is no word of any bullpen sessions or a rehab assignment on the horizon. Despite that, it sounds like Yates could be back in a few weeks. The Dodgers will certainly welcome his return given their health problems in the bullpen right now. Yates could be worth a stash in deep leagues, but isn't someone that needs to be rostered.

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (back) on the 15-day injured list with lower back pain on Friday. The team added a pair of right-handers, Brock Stewart and Paul Gervase, as well as outfielder Alex Call to its roster in corresponding moves. This continues a brutal run of injuries for LA's bullpen, which is also without closer Tanner Scott (elbow), Michael Kopech (knee), Evan Phillips, and Brusdar Graterol (shoulder). Yates previously spent time on the IL with a hamstring strain and has endured a disappointing season overall after joining the Dodgers on a one-year, $13 million contract in free agency. The 38-year-old has posted a middling 4.31 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP with 44:12 K:BB, 13 holds, and three saves in 31 1/3 innings. With a handful of LA's high-leverage relievers down, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, and the just-acquired Stewart are candidates for saves. Lefty Justin Wrobleski got a rare three-inning save in a 5-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.