PHILADELPHIA -- As if their success stories didn't already run parallel enough: Kirby Yates is the new Brad Hand in the Padres' bullpen.
In the wake of Thursday's trade that sent Hand to Cleveland, Yates is expected to step in and fill the highest-leverage relief spots. Generally, that means he'll serve as closer. But the Padres also plan to use Yates in the seventh and eighth innings if the matchups dictate as much, like they did with Hand.
"I try and treat it the same," Yates said of pitching the ninth.