Yuki Matsui

Active

San Diego Padres · RP

Age 305' 8" · 165 lbsThrows Left

#298 Current#582 Preseason

FBaseball Overview

The 30-year-old Japanese right-hander provides intriguing upside as a multi-inning reliever and spot starter for San Diego, offering strikeout potential with 33 K in just 29.1 innings to open the 2026 season while maintaining an impressive 1.53 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. His peripherals demonstrate excellent command and stuff, though his modest win-loss record (0-1) and limited save opportunities (0 SV) suggest he operates primarily in a setup or piggyback role rather than as a traditional closer. The main risk lies in durability and consistency, as his workload remains relatively light compared to full-time starters, while his 2025 campaign showed slightly elevated earned run average (3.98 ERA) that warrants monitoring. For fantasy purposes, Matsui offers streaming value in points leagues and potential depth in deeper formats, with his strikeout rate representing the most reliable source of production moving forward.

News Updates

Yuki Matsui Records First Save for Padres
San Diego Padres pitcher Yuki Matsui picked up his first career save Sunday against the Giants, working a scoreless inning while allowing just one hit. The appearance suggests Matsui could be seeing increased save opportunities in the Padres' closer situation moving forward.
Sep 14, 2026

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2024	San Diego Padres	64	4	2	0	3.73	1.16	69	62.2	27
2025	San Diego Padres	61	3	1	1	3.98	1.36	61	63.1	33
2026	San Diego Padres	54	5	1	1	1.83	1.14	68	64.0	36
Career	Totals	179	12	4	2	3.17	1.22	198	190	96

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2026	El Paso Chihuahuas	11	0	0	0	0	4.97	1.58	14	12.2	3
Career	Totals	11	0	0	0	0	4.97	1.58	14	12.2	3

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Last Week / Last Month

Current season · MLB only

7 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
7	0	5.3	2-0	1	0.00	1.33	6	4

30 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
30	0	31.2	5-0	1	1.42	0.95	33	16

Game Log2026 MLB

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Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo91.9 mph

Avg Spin2207 rpm

Whiff %33.1%

K %26.2%

BB %13.8%

Hard Hit %30.7%

Barrel %7.2%

xERA3.03

xBA Against0.170

xSLG Against0.300

BA Against0.171

SLG Against0.304

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

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Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2024

San Diego Padres

3.73

1.16

62.2

2025

San Diego Padres

3.98

1.36

63.1

2026

San Diego Padres

1.83

1.14

64.0

Career

Totals

179

3.17

1.22

198

190

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2026

El Paso Chihuahuas

4.97

1.58

12.2

Career

Totals

4.97

1.58

12.2

W-L

ERA

WHIP

5.3

2-0

0.00

1.33

W-L

ERA

WHIP

31.2

5-0

1.42

0.95