San Diego Padres: The Untouchable Kirby Yates
By Ben Fadden
San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates picked up his MLB leading 20th save of the season and continues to be untouchable. How remarkable really is it?
Brad Hand got traded to the Cleveland Indians after the All-Star Game in Miami in 2017, and Kirby Yates slid into the closer role for the San Diego Padres.
Ever since then he has been remarkable.
In 2019, he has had 20 save opportunities, and he has saved every single one of them in addition to owning a 1.17 ERA.
He has only faltered twice. They were in two non-save situations vs the Los Angeles Dodgers. He only gave up an earned run in both outings.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
He does not and probably will not get the recognition he deserves because he plays on the West Coast, but he is on his way to his first All-Star Game.
He is completely dominating his opponents. He has four more saves than the next best closer in Kenley Jansen (16) and nine more than Josh Hader in Milwaukee.
He is second in strikeouts for closers behind Hader but is more efficient than he is because throws more than a fastball.
Yates is very dangerous if you are the opposing team if he is locked like he is currently.
He was huge for the Padres in all three games of their sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks this week.
Before Monday’s game, the San Diego Padres were a game under .500 but they head to Toronto two over and are in second place, in large part to Kirby Yates.
On Monday, Yates struck out two to get his 18th save. Tuesday was more of the same, as he struck out the side including a nasty splitter to Blake Swihart and then finished off Christian Walker with a fastball.
Andy Green did not want to see Kirby Yates take the mound on Wednesday afternoon after he pitched two consecutive days, but Adam Warren gave up a double and a single, so Yates was needed to get all three outs.
He still shut down Arizona in ten pitches while striking out Christian Walker.
dark. Next. Orioles taking a gamble on Keon Broxton
Start paying attention to future 2019 All-Star Kirby Yates, as he might be making history this season.