Texas Rangers relief pitcher Kirby Yates closed out the Detroit Tigers on Thursday in a 9-7 win. Yates got the final four outs of this one, allowing just a hit while striking out one. It was the 37-year-old's second save of the season, with his first coming on Monday. He has been used as Texas' highest-leverage pitcher for the past few weeks and is likely to continue in that role, which will presumably give him the best chance at saves in the Rangers bullpen. He should be added in any leagues where saves matter.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that the team will still keep things open in the closer role, but with the way right-hander Kirby Yates is throwing the ball right now, "we kind of like where it's at." In the 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday, Yates tossed a perfect inning with no hits allowed, no walks and no strikeouts to pick up his first save of the season. The 37-year-old veteran hasn't allowed a run yet in 2024 in six relief appearances while walking one and striking out five in six innings of work. Meanwhile, Jose Leclerc has surrendered eight earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking seven and fanning six in six innings. Nothing is official yet, but fantasy managers that are chasing saves should run to the waiver wire to pick up Yates right away.

Free-agent relief pitcher Kirby Yates agreed with the Texas Rangers on an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, pending a physical, according to a source. The Rangers had a clear plan to upgrade their bullpen this offseason after winning the first World Series title in franchise history this past season. Yates became a free agent this winter when the Atlanta Braves declined his $5.75 million option for 2024. The 36-year-old veteran right-hander was strong for Atlanta and had a 3.28 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 60 1/3 relief innings in 2023. Texas is an excellent landing spot for Yates now that he's completely back from Tommy John surgery, and he could be a late-round target for saves and potentially even holds in his new home in the back end of Texas' bullpen.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kirby Yates earned his first save of the season in Monday's 4-1 win over the Twins. Yates came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first out on a fly-out, allowed a single, but then got back-to-back strikeouts to end the game. Raisel Iglesias had pitched in each of the last two days, so the veteran got the call to close the game. The 36-year-old has pitched pretty well this season with a 3.00 ERA, 12.30 K/9 rate, and 5.10 BB/9 rate in 30 innings. However, his fantasy value will remain very limited as long as Iglesias continues to convert save opportunities.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kirby Yates picked up his first win of the 2023 season in the team's 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Yates pitched a scoreless and hitless eighth inning while walking one and striking out one to pick up the victory. Left-hander A.J. Minter followed with his second save of the young season for Atlanta. The 36-year-old Yates has only thrown 11 1/3 innings in the last three years due to injuries, so it's nice to see him get rewarded with his first relief win since 2018. He'll be a volatile option in deep holds leagues, though, and he's allowed three runs on three hits (one homer allowed) while walking six and striking out four in 4 2/3 innings over his first five appearances in 2023.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kirby Yates (elbow) is not expected to have any restrictions heading into spring training. The right-hander was left off the NLDS roster after experiencing right elbow inflammation. Yates is working his way back from his second Tommy John surgery. The 35-year-old threw seven innings for the Braves this season. It's unlikely that he'll be used as a closer in Atlanta. However, he will certainly boost the bullpen next season, assuming he can stay healthy.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kirby Yates (elbow) threw a bullpen session before the start of the three-game series against the New York Mets on Friday, Sept. 30, and he felt fine after the session. It's too early to know whether Yates might pitch again this year, but he continues to make progress to help him feel confident that his elbow won't be a lingering issue this offseason as he distances himself from his second Tommy John surgery. He felt discomfort after tossing a scoreless inning against the Mariners on Sept. 10 and was placed on the 15-day injured list after his elbow continued to bother him when he played catch on Sept. 16. The 35-year-old shouldn't be expected to contribute out of the Braves bullpen in the postseason.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kirby Yates (elbow) was placed on the 15-day IL on Friday with right elbow inflammation. Tough news for the righty, who just came back from his second Tommy John surgery in August. In his nine appearances since his return, Yates has a 5.14 ERA and 1.57 WHIP with six strikeouts in seven innings. Yates has certainly gone through the ringer in regards to injuries, and it's hard to believe that he was a top end fantasy reliever just a few years ago.

The Atlanta Braves activated relief pitcher Kirby Yates (elbow) from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday. Yates had Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery on his right arm in March of last year and hasn't pitched at all in the big leagues since 2020. On his minor league rehab assignment, he posted a nice 1.08 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 10 strikeouts and two walks in 8 1/3 innings pitched between the Florida Complex League, Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. The 35-year-old had 41 saves with the San Diego Padres back in 2019, but with Raisel Iglesias and Kenley Jansen already at the back end of the team's bullpen, it's unlikely that Yates will see many save chances to close out the year, if any at all.

Atlanta Braves reliever Kirby Yates (elbow) is set to make another rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A Gwinnett, according to manager Brian Snitker. The 35-year-old righty made back-to-back hitless appearances earlier this week and didn't sustain any setbacks. He'll likely need a few more rehab outings before joining the Braves' bullpen later this month. Once he arrives with the club he figures to work in a setup/high-leverage role for Atlanta.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kirby Yates (elbow) worked a scoreless inning of relief for Double-A Mississippi on Friday. He allowed a pair of hits but whiffed two batters as well. The 35-year-old reliever was making his first rehab appearance as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Barring any type of setback, Yates should join the Braves' bullpen at some point in early-to-mid August.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kirby Yates (elbow) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Friday. The 34-year-old continues working his way back from Tommy John surgery. Yates has been throwing off a mound for three weeks. All of his pitches were fastballs, but the plan is for Yates to mix in breaking pitches soon. The hope is that Yates can return around August, so we'll see how much of an impact he brings to the Braves bullpen.

Relief pitcher Kirby Yates is the newest member of the Atlanta Braves, joining the defending champions on a two-year deal worth $8.25 million dollars in guaranteed money. The contract includes a $5.75 million dollar club option for 2024 with a $1.25 million dollar buyout. Yates has been a top fantasy closer in the past, but he's coming off Tommy John surgery and won't be ready to pitch until midway through 2022. He only managed a total of 4 1/3 innings between the 2020 and 2021 seasons. With 57 saves and 400 strikeouts in 291 career games, Yates could challenge for the closer role if he stays on track with his rehab, but that's a significant if.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are being connected to free agent reliever Kirby Yates, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 34-year old signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays last offseason but didn't pitch at all after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. That was after only pitching 4.1 innings in 2020 due to injury. Before his health troubles, he was an effective reliever from 2017 until 2019, posting a 2.40 ERA, 38.5 K%, and 0.97 WHIP along with 54 saves. The Diamondbacks don't have a clear shutdown reliever, so he may get the chance to save some games if he signs. However, he shouldn't be drafted as a closer right now, as most teams don't want a closer who's appeared in only six games the past two seasons.

June 27 1917 — Catcher Hank Gowdy of the Braves became the first major league player to enter military service in World War I. 1939 — The Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves played a 23-inning, 2-2 tie. Whit Wyatt pitched the first 16 innings for the Dodgers. Both clubs played a 26-inning tie in 1920 at the same Braves Field. 1958 — Billy Pierce of the Chicago White Sox retired 26 straight Washington batters before pinch-hitter Ed Fitzgerald hit a double just inside the right-field line for the only hit. Pierce then struck out Albie Pearson on three pitches and beat the Senators 3-0. 1973 — David Clyde, a $125,000, 18-year-old bonus baby with the Rangers, pitched five innings, struck out eight and allowed one hit in his first major league start. Texas beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 before 35,698 fans — the Rangers’ first home sellout at Arlington Stadium. 1980 — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Jerry Reuss pitched a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants in an 8-0 victory at Candlestick Park.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Infielder Joe Panik was put on the Toronto Blue Jays' major league roster and George Springer went on the 10-day injured list, among a dozen roster moves ahead of Thursday’s opener at the New York Yankees. The 30-year-old Panik, a seven-year major league veteran, had agreed to a minor league contract ahead of spring training and was selected from Triple-A Buffalo. He gets a one-year contract paying $1.85 million while in the major leagues and $150,000 while in the minors. He also can earn $400,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $100,000 each for 325, 400, 475 and 500. Springer was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left oblique muscle that will delay his debut with the Blue Jays, who signed him as a free agent to a $150 million, six-year contract. The 2017 World Series MVP with Houston was scratched from a game on March 9 because of tightness in his abdominal muscles and did not play in any exhibitions after March 21. The 31-year-old hit .240... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays reliever Kirby Yates is expected to have season-ending surgery on his right elbow, general manager Ross Atkins said Tuesday. The Blue Jays also reported two other injuries: Outfielder George Springer will miss the next four or five days because of a strained oblique muscle and left-hander Robbie Ray will skip at least one spring training start after slipping on a staircase and bruising his elbow. Yates was expected to be Toronto’s closer after signing a $5.5 million, one-year deal in the offseason. On Monday, the team said Yates would miss several weeks because of a strained muscle in his forearm. Yates last pitched Saturday against Philadelphia, striking out two in one scoreless inning. It was his second outing of the spring and his first since March 11. The 33-year-old Yates was an All-Star with San Diego in 2019, when he posted a 1.19 ERA and led the NL with 41 saves. He pitched in six games for the Padres last season and had a 12.46 ERA before surgery... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays say right-hander Kirby Yates will miss several weeks because of a strained muscle in his forearm. Yates was expected to be Toronto’s closer after signing a $5.5 million, one-year deal in the offseason. Yates last pitched Saturday against Philadelphia, striking out two in one scoreless inning. It was his second outing of the spring and his first since March 11. Yates was an All-Star with San Diego in 2019, when he posted a 1.19 ERA and led the NL with 41 saves. He pitched in six games for the Padres last season before surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said he’ll use different pitchers to finish games while Yates is sidelined. Right-handers Jordan Romano and Rafael Dolis both saved games for Toronto last season, filling in when closer Ken Giles was injured. “I don’t see the need to have just one closer,” Montoyo said. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TORONTO (AP) — Shortstop Bo Bichette has big expectations for the upgraded Toronto Blue Jays. “I believe in the team, just like I did last year,” Bichette said Monday as the Blue Jays held their first full-squad workout in Dunedin, Florida. “Obviously we added some new names." “I think this year, if we go home without a trophy, that’ll be disappointing,” he said. Toronto was among the busiest teams on the free-agent market, agreeing to a $150 million, six-year contract with outfielder George Springer; an $18 million, one-year contract with shortstop Marcus Semien; a $5.5 million, one-year deal with right-hander Kirby Yates; a $3 million, one-year contract with right-hander Tyler Chatwood and a $1.75 million, one-year contract with right-hander David Phelps. “We’re very excited, we all believe in ourselves, and we believe that we can play with the best teams,” Bichette said. Semien said he’s already impressed by the winning attitude at camp. “There’s a level of confidence I’m excited about,”... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Blue Jays expect to split the home portion of this year's regular-schedule among their spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida, their Triple-A ballpark in Buffalo, New York, and the Rogers Center in Toronto. Toronto announced Thursday it will play the first two homestands of the season in Dunedin because of Canadian government restrictions during the pandemic. Team president Mark Shapiro said a return to Buffalo is a likely option in June because of the heat and humidity in Florida. He hopes for games in Toronto at some point during the summer. “The alternatives for our season lie with some combination of Dunedin, Buffalo and Toronto," Shapiro said. The Blue Jays played home games during the shortened 2020 season in Buffalo and were 17-9 at Sahlen Field, home of their Buffalo Bisons Triple-A farm team. The Canadian government didn’t allow the team to play at home because of the risk of spreading COVID-19, citing frequent travel required in the U.S. during a baseball... [More]