Kirby Yates Fantasy Stats

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kirby Yates is quietly putting together a strong season in 2026. Through 25 appearances, Yates owns a 3.74 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 28/8 K/BB ratio. His fantasy value has been limited because he has had only three saves on the season. The 39-year-old is likely to be on the move at the trade deadline. The Angels aren't contending and figure to flip Yates, who is a free agent after the season. A move elsewhere could provide Yates with increased save chances. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on what happens to Yates over the next few weeks.

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Kirby Yates racked up his third blown save and fifth loss of the season on Friday, allowing two earned runs in the ninth inning of his team's 2-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Across 21 2/3 innings in 2026, Yates has recorded a 0-5 record with a 3.74 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 28 strikeouts, and three saves. The veteran's underlying metrics are strong, as he's logged an impressive 30.8% strikeout rate with just an 8.8% walk rate. However, Yates' average fastball velocity is down to a career-worst 91.0 miles per hour. He's also run into some struggles in recent outings, allowing three earned runs over his last two innings pitched (three appearances). Yates remains the current closer to roster from the Angels. Still, fantasy managers may want to explore adding Angels right-handers Ryan Zeferjahn and/or Ben Joyce (shoulder) as potential replacement options.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kirby Yates pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Friday to earn the save against the Minnesota Twins. The 39-year-old surrendered a one-out double to Trevor Larnach before retiring the final two batters of the game. The save was Yates' third of the season, and he has provided a stable presence in an otherwise unsettled Angels bullpen. On the year, he owns a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP while posting a 32.6% strikeout rate and an 8.1% walk rate across 21 innings. Fantasy managers are encouraged to add Yates in all formats, as he is currently the Angels' most trusted option at the back end of the bullpen.

Los Angeles Angels reliever Kirby Yates picked up his fourth loss of the season on Thursday, entering the contest with the game tied in the ninth inning and allowing two hits and one earned run in one-third of an inning. Yates now owns a solid 3.15 ERA and 1.00 WHIP on the season with two saves in four opportunities. Considering Yates has been sharp overall this season, and this was his first run allowed since June 8, he should remain the leader in the reliever room to pick up saves. Angels manager Kurt Suzuki appears to be committed to a closer for the most part, as evidenced by his selection of Jordan Romano as the closer earlier this season, even as Romano posted a 10.13 ERA in six save opportunities. At 39 years old, Yates may not be as sharp as he once was, but he appears to be the clear closer for the Angels at this time, as Ryan Zeferjahn appears to be his biggest competition, and he hasn't picked up a save since June 12, while Yates picked up his most recent save on June 27. The biggest downfall for Yates here is that the Angels have had only 27 save opportunities this season and are 37-57.

Los Angeles Angels reliever Kirby Yates is still worth a look for saves, but this is not a clean closer situation. The 39-year-old has a 2.75 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, two saves, 28 strikeouts, and seven walks over 19 2/3 innings. His recent work has been sharp, with seven straight scoreless appearances, 11 strikeouts, and just three baserunners allowed over his last 6 1/3 innings. That gives him enough skills-based appeal to matter, even if the role is messy. The problem is the Angels are still treating the ninth inning like a committee. RotoBaller lists Yates as the team's current closer, but Sam Bachman and Ryan Zeferjahn remain direct threats, and Samy Natera Jr. logged the team's most recent save. Available in 94% of Yahoo leagues, Yates is a deeper-league add for managers chasing saves, not a safe closer.

The Los Angeles Angels are near the bottom of the league in the standings and aren't the ideal place to search for saves, but veteran right-handed reliever Kirby Yates remains in the mix for saves in Anaheim and is an option off the waiver wire for desperate fantasy managers. The struggling Angels are currently employing a closer-by-committee that involves Yates, Sam Bachman, and Ryan Zeferjahn. Left-hander Samy Natera Jr. picked up the team's most recent save on Sunday, but Yates had his second save of the year before that on Saturday, June 27. The 39-year-old is a two-time All-Star and is by far the Angels' most experienced reliever when it comes to saves, with an even 100 saves in his 11-plus years in the big leagues. He's gone 0-3 in 2026 with a 3.06 ERA (3.28 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, two saves, 25 strikeouts, and seven walks in 17 2/3 innings. Yates' numbers are pretty solid, but save opportunities in Anaheim have been few and far between. In 10 1/3 innings in June, Yates allowed just four runs (three earned) while walking three and fanning 15 with three losses, a save, and a blown save. He's rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available if you're scrounging for saves near the halfway point in 2026.

Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates remains a speculative waiver-wire option for fantasy managers chasing saves, but the role is not completely stable. Over 13 1/3 innings, the 39-year-old has one save, a 4.05 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts. The season-long ratios are not ideal, but Yates has settled down recently with three straight scoreless appearances, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out four over three innings. The main issue is role clarity. Ryan Zeferjahn and Sam Bachman remain part of the late-inning picture, and Zeferjahn recently earned his second save of the season on June 12. Still, Yates has the most closing experience in the group and remains firmly in the mix if Los Angeles continues rotating ninth-inning chances. At 28% rostered on Yahoo, he is a reasonable short-term pickup for fantasy managers who need saves and can tolerate some bullpen uncertainty.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kirby Yates couldn't hold on to a one-run lead against the Astros on Monday night, and his team went on to lose in extra innings. To start the inning, Yates walked Jeremy Pena, who stole second and scored on a single by Christian Walker. While he didn't take the loss on Monday, Yates' ERA climbed to 5.23 on the season, and he has allowed a run in three of his last four appearances. The Angels don't have many proven options in the bullpen, or Yates may have already been in a committee, but if they do look to go a different direction, Sam Bachman has been very effective as a setup man. Yates still will likely get save chances for the Angels, but he'll need to turn things around soon if he doesn't want to lose his job. It's hard to have much confidence in him at this point, and better options may be available on your league's waiver wire.

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Kirby Yates was tagged for his second loss of the season on Friday night, entering a 0-0 game in the bottom of the ninth and allowing a walk-off solo home run to Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. The veteran Yates has been the Angels' preferred option in the ninth inning in recent weeks after recording his first save of the year on May 23. However, Yates has posted a 4.82 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 9 1/3 innings (11 games) this year. He also owns a 1.93 HR/9 after being tagged for a 1.96 HR/9 across 41 1/3 innings in 2025, and his average fastball velocity has dipped to a career-worst 90.6 miles per hour. Yates has 99 career saves, and the Angels don't exactly have an obvious replacement for him in the closer role. Still, fantasy managers should proceed with caution if relying on Yates for saves.

Los Angeles Angels veteran closer Kirby Yates is starting to look like a sneaky waiver wire priority for managers chasing saves. The 39-year-old has a track record of closing (98 career saves entering 2026) and has already picked up his 99th save in limited action this season. With Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce dealing with injuries early on, Yates has a clear path to high-leverage work and save chances under manager Kurt Suzuki, who has been vocal about his trust in the veteran. The right-hander opened the season on the shelf with a knee injury, which allowed Ryan Zeferjahn and Jordan Romano (who was designated for assignment in late April) to operate as the primary ninth-inning options. With limited competition in this current bullpen, Yates has a clear path to quickly claim this role. During the 2024 season, Yates showed promise in the closer role for the Rangers, tallying 33 saves with a 1.17 ERA. Even though he has endured some growing pains since returning from injury (4.32 ERA over 8 1/3 frames), his high-leverage experience gives him the edge to emerge as the ninth-inning option in this bullpen.