PHOENIX _ The Padres on Saturday placed Kirby Yates on the 10-day injured list with the hope that is all that will be needed.
A person close to Yates asserted Saturday "something minor" was causing the irritation in the back of his right (throwing) elbow. Another source explained the location of the irritation suggests tendinitis or impingement rather than a UCL tear and need for Tommy John surgery.
The Padres won't know for sure until they have test results. Yates, who left Friday night's game after throwing just six pitches, was scheduled to undergo an MRI and examination Saturday.
The decision to put Yates on the IL without waiting for tests, manager Jayce Tingler said, was based on needing coverage in the bullpen. The team recalled right-hander David Bednar, who was already in Arizona as a member of the taxi squad.
"Hopefully, we get good news," Tingler said. "But he's not going to be able to pitch in the next couple days."
Yates, 33, has gone from waiver wire claim in 2017 to one of the major leagues' most dependable relievers over the past three-plus seasons. He led MLB with 41 saves in 2019.
"He's crushed," Tingler said. "On his end, it's been a rough 2020, going into your free agency year. His career path has been ... a late bloomer, a journeyman who has turned himself into one of the top closers in the game. Going into free agency and then having your year cut to 60 games, and now the injury happens. You obviously feel for him. He's a very tough guy. He's a tough man. But he's obviously hurt, and we're hurt a little bit. We're hoping for the best."
Yates struggled with command early this season and endured a couple periods of extended rest, first due to arm soreness and then earlier this month due to what the team initially said was back tightness. He made just two August appearances before Friday night, earning the save in both (Aug. 3 and 7).
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz has pitched much of the time in place of Yates and leads the Padres with four saves. He is expected to take over the closer role, but the Padres will also rely on their depth at the back end and could try to match up with opponents based on which hitters are due up in certain situations. Emilio Pagan saved 20 games for the Rays in 2019, 15 of those coming after the All-Star break.
"We'll stay pretty open-ended and see how the game is presented to us," Tingler said. "... We've got guys back there that have had some save opportunities and had some success."
