Ryan Yarbrough DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

New York Yankees left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough will get the starting nod on Sunday when the Yankees conclude a series against the Athletics. Through the early part of the season, the southpaw has been deployed typically out of the bullpen but has been given one start. In his lone start, Yarbrough tossed four innings of one-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays. In this start, Yarbrough allowed one hit and held a 2:3 K:BB. Through 19 1/3 total innings of work this season, Yarbrough has posted a 3.72 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP. He has struck out 18 batters but has shown weak command, serving up nine free passes. As a result, this will set Clarke Schmidt, Max Fried, and Will Warren to pitch their upcoming series against the Seattle Mariners. Given his minimal strikeout upside, Yarbrough is best to fade in DFS this afternoon.

Free-agent left-handed reliever Ryan Yarbrough signed a one-year deal for $2 million with $500,000 in incentives with the New York Yankees on Monday, a source tells ESPN's Jorge Castillo. Yarbrough was in spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays but decided to opt out of his minor-league deal on Sunday to become a free agent. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw spent 2024 with the Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, going 5-2 with a career-best 3.19 ERA (4.64 FIP), a 1.03 WHIP, one save, 65 strikeouts and 32 walks in 98 2/3 relief innings. With veteran Carlos Carrasco and pitching prospect Will Warren starting in the rotation for the Yankees due to injuries to Gerrit Cole (elbow), Lui Gil (lat) and Clarke Schmidt (shoulder), Yarbrough should operate in a bulk-relief role for the Yankees to begin the season. Yarbrough was fortunate to pitch as well as he did last year, and the soft-tosser won't have much fantasy value in 2025.

Left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough signed a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Yarbrough will also be invited to spring training. Yarbrough spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Blue Jays during the 2024 campaign. With the Dodgers, Yarbrough posted a 3.74 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP across 67 1/3 innings. However, the southpaw held a strong 2.01 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP across 31 1/3 innings with Toronto. He generated an elite 29.4 percent hard-hit rate, which placed him in the 99th percentile among qualified pitchers. However, Yarbrough only generated strikeouts at a 16.3 percent rate. Given his success with Toronto last season, Yarbrough could have a good opportunity to earn a spot in the bullpen. Fantasy managers should expect Yarbrough to operate as a long relief option if he were to crack the Opening Day roster. However, given his low strikeout upside, he will only have value in deeper AL-only formats if given occasional starts.