Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

Closer Kirby Yates picked up his Major League-leading 18th save in 18 chances Monday night in the Padres’ 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks at Petco Park.

But that is far from Yates’ only astounding number this season – during which he has a 1.23 earned run average with a 1.05 WHIP.

Yates has 40 strikeouts in 22 innings this season against eight walks. That is a rate of 16.4 strikeouts per nine innings with a 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

And 15 of the last 18 outs recorded by Yates have come by the strikeout. Further, 20 of his last 24 outs have come via the strikeout. Plus, he has a Major League-leading 29 strikeouts in one-run games this season. Eleven of his 18 save have come while protecting one-run leads.

Yes, Yates suffered back-to-back losses against the Dodgers in non-save situations on May 3-4 – giving up two runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts over two innings.

In Yates’ 18 save opportunities, Yates has allowed no runs on nine hits and six hits with 31 strikeouts in 18 innings – for a perfect 0.00 ERA and 0.833 WHIP.

NOTEBOOK

--RHP Chris Paddack’s 1.93 ERA is the lowest ever by a Padres rookie after nine Major League starts. The old record was 1.94 by Joey Hamilton in 1994. Paddack has 56 strikeouts against 11 walks in 51 1/3 innings – 9.82 strikeouts per nine innings with a 5.1-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has a 0.76 WHIP.

--RHP Craig Stammen has worked four straight scoreless appearances after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 14 hits and three walks over 12 innings in his previous 10 outings for a 5.25 ERA. Over his last four outings, Stammen’s ERA has dropped from 3.88 to 2.88.

--RF Franmil Reyes’ gsame-winning, two-run homer Monday night was his fifth in his last eight games and 28 at-bats. He has seven homers and 12 RBIs in 14 games and 52 at-bats. His 15 homers on the season ranks third in the National League.

--SS Manny Machado was 1-for-4 Monday night after seeing his 11-game hitting streak end Sunday.

--OF Wil Myers batting average dipped to a season-low .228 with Monday night’s 0-for-3. Myers has one hit in his last 16 at-bats and is 9-for-65 since April 24 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBIs and nine walks with 32 strikeouts for a slash line of .138/.243/.262/.505. He now has 60 strikeouts in 145 at-bats on the season with a .296 on-base percentage.