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Kirby Yates 2019 Outlook: Stock On The Rise With Closing Role In His Grasp
6 years agoSan Diego Padres relief pitcher Kirby Yates quietly had one of the better overall seasons for a reliever in 2018 and finished the year as the Friars ninth-inning man after they traded lefty Brad Hand to the Indians. Yates, in his first full season in San Diego, posted a dominating 2.14 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 90 strikeouts and just 17 walks in 63 innings over 65 outings. He was also successful on 12 of 13 save chances. His fortunate 87.7 percent strand rate and 2.64 xFIP show that Yates may have been a little fortunate, so he may not be as great in the run-prevention department in 2019. But his stuff certainly plays in the ninth inning and he won't have much competition in the closer's role from the likes of Craig Stammen and Matt Strahm. Pitching at Petco Park is another plus, although closing for a team that perennially sits at the bottom of the National League West has its limitations from a fantasy perspective, even if SD improves a little in 2019. Opportunity alone for more save chances is what will make Yates a low-end fantasy closing option in the later rounds of drafts. Yates lands as RotoBaller's No. 17 ranked fantasy reliever heading into next year's drafts.
