Ryan Yarbrough DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Ryan Burr will serve as the team's opener on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Center, according to the team. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will likely be used in the bulk-relief role. This will be Burr's first "start" of the year. It's a great matchup against the light-hitting Halos, but Burr isn't going to go deep enough in this game to make him a realistic streaming candidate in fantasy. In 19 relief outings in 2024, he's posted a 5.40 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and eight walks in 18 1/3 innings in his first year in Toronto. Yarbrough, who came over in the trade that sent outfielder Kevin Kiermaier to the Los Angeles Dodgers, has allowed four earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out three in his four relief appearances for the Jays. Stay away from both Burr and Yarbrough on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are going with a bullpen game against the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will pitch in "bulk" but won't necessarily make the traditional start. Pitching prospect Kyle Hurt, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the team's No. 6 prospect, will also be added on Tuesday for more depth out of the bullpen. LA will call up a starter, potentially prospect Landon Knack, for Wednesday's contest. The Dodgers' rotation is a little short-handed right now with right-hander Bobby Miller (shoulder) on the injured list and Walker Buehler (elbow) still not quite ready to make his 2024 debut. The 32-year-old Yarbrough is the best bet to provide the most length for the Dodgers on Tuesday, and he's allowed six runs (five earned) while walking four and striking out six in 14 2/3 innings of relief so far in 2024.