TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Holds Leagues: Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 27

While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men to target off the waiver wire for Week 27, the final days of the fantasy baseball season.

The more likely an MLB team is to win, the more likely these pitchers will be eligible to earn the holds that could be the difference between winning or losing in your fantasy league.

Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for relief pitchers, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.

 

Keone Kela, Texas Rangers

21 holds, 2.40 ERA, 60.0 innings, 68 strikeouts, 1.15 WHIP

The Texas Rangers have nearly achieved the race to the top and everyone needed to contribute. Reliever Keone Kela is having a great rookie season. The 22-year-old Kela is holding opponents to a .230 batting average and generates a great 50.0% ground ball rate. Keone Kela has a fastball that approaches 96.0 MPH and a curve around 84.0 MPH. He is primarily used in the back third of the game and the Texas Rangers have yet to clinch the division. The games they have remaining are as important so expect Kela to be used if the Rangers have a lead to hold onto.

 

Erik Goeddel, New York Mets

2 holds, 2.51 ERA, 32.1 innings, 31 strikeouts, 1.02 WHIP

The New York Mets look to have homefield locked up for the first round with the Los Angeles Dodgers but to ensure it, a pair of wins in their final home series will help. The Mets have their established relievers for the backend of the game but they are trying to get their rotation in order without burning them out. A reliever like Erik Goeddel could see more relief work with the final three games of the season. The 26-year-old has a very respectable ERA and WHIP in his limited work this year. He has held opponents to a .209 batting average and generates a good amount of ground balls even though he will have the advantage of pitching the remainder of this year in the pitcher-friendly Citi Field.

 

Steve Cishek, St. Louis Cardinals

3.54 ERA, 53.1 innings, 45 strikeouts, 1.44 WHIP

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired former Marlins closer Steve Cishek in hopes of fortifying their bullpen as they sit atop the league with the best record. While Cishek struggled in Miami; he has flourished as a Cardinal. In his 21.1 innings with the Cardinals, Cishek pitched to a 2.11 ERA. Overall, opponents are hitting .251 against the 29-year-old Cishek but with the Cardinals, opponents are only hitting .184. The Cardinals figured out what made Cishek successful in the past. In addition to the low batting average, opponents are generally hitting his fastball-slider combination for ground balls. The Cardinals are poised to finish the season strong and look to have another great showing in October.

 

Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays

8 holds, 2.55 ERA, 53.0 innings, 67 strikeouts, 0.98 WHIP

The Toronto Blue Jays have put together a great campaign in the 2015 season. While they added arms to their bullpen, reliever Brett Cecil started with the Jays and he is having a good year. While he holds opponents as a whole to a .201 batting average and appears to be used in a situational role, the splits between right- and left-handed batters is not tremendous. Right-handed batters are hitting .203 while left-handed batters have a .197 batting average. The 29-year-old Cecil relies primarily on a curveball that averages 84.0 MPH with a fastball around 92 MPH to complement it. He generates a great 52.0% ground ball rate. He is averaging more than a strikeout per inning as a good part of the American League East champions bullpen.

 

Luke Hochevar, Kansas City Royals

6 holds, 3.49 ERA, 49.0 innings, 48 strikeouts, 1.27 WHIP

The Kansas City Royals are Central division champions but homefield advantage remains at stake. With the raucous crowd they generated last October, playing games at home will give them a strong source of energy so they will play the remainder of this year's games with the intention of winning. Closer Greg Holland is sidelined for this year (and then some) so relievers like Luke Hochevar will step up into a bigger role. The 32-year-old Hochevar uses a fastball, cutter and curveball to generate his outs. With a very strong defensive outfield, Hochevar can live with a 47.1% fly ball rate. Opponents hit to a .246 batting average but he does average nearly a strikeout per inning. The Royals need to recover from the loss of their closer and Hochevar will be one of a few relievers that they can count on for that final series of the regular season.

 

 

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kyle Tucker

Offers Outstanding Consistency at the Plate
Max Fried

Brings Continued Stability to Yankees' Rotation
Will Smith

Remains a Top Catcher in Elite Dodgers Lineup
Taylor Ward

Bat Should Play in Baltimore
Robbie Ray

Looking to Build Off Healthy Season
Andrés Muñoz

Andres Munoz a Top-Five Fantasy Closer After Another Dominant Season
Ronald Acuña Jr.

The Reward is Worth the Risk With Ronald Acuna Jr.
Joel Embiid

Officially Active on Monday
Onyeka Okongwu

Not Ready to Return on Tuesday Evening
Kevin Durant

Rockets Hoping Kevin Durant Can Return After Missing One Game
Kristaps Porzingis

Might Return on Tuesday
Emerson Hancock

to Enter Spring Training as a Starter
Vinny Nittoli

Red Sox Agree to Minor-League Deal With Vinny Nittoli
Valente Bellozo

Signs Minor-League Deal With Rockies
Luke Raley

Should Start Regularly Against Right-Handed Pitchers
Victor Robles

Appears Headed for Short-Sided Platoon Role
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Considered Questionable for Tuesday
Colton Ledbetter

Traded From Rays to Cardinals
Tai Peete

Cardinals Acquire Tai Peete in Three-Team Deal on Monday
St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Land Pitching Prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje
P.J. Washington

Sidelined for Tuesday
Julius Randle

Available Against Grizzlies
Ben Williamson

Heading to Rays in Three-Team Deal
Brendan Donovan

Mariners Officially Acquire Brendan Donovan From Cardinals
Anthony Edwards

Cleared for Action Versus Memphis
Alexandre Sarr

Active for Tuesday
Kolby Allard

Guardians Re-Sign Kolby Allard to Minor-League Deal
Josh Giddey

Out Again on Tuesday Evening
Hurston Waldrep

Not Guaranteed Opening Day Rotation Spot
Brad Marchand

Anton Lundell Remain Out Monday
Morgan Rielly

Out Through Olympic Break
Avisaíl García

Avisail Garcia Announces his Retirement
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Resting Versus Indiana
Stephen Curry

Ruled Out for Tuesday's Matchup With Sixers
Keyonte George

Remains Out on Tuesday
Jonathan Drouin

Available Against Capitals
Logan Thompson

Expected to Return Thursday
Matthew Stafford

Doesn't Need Offseason Back Surgery
Matt Roy

Rejoins Capitals Lineup Monday
Devon Toews

Back for Avalanche Monday
Brendan Donovan

Mariners Nearing a Deal to Land Brendan Donovan
Martin Necas

Remains Out Monday
James Harden

Won't Play Monday
Jake Neighbours

Available Monday
CFB

Joey Aguilar Files New Lawsuit Against NCAA Seeking Sixth Year of Eligibility
Austin Reaves

Could Return Tuesday Against Nets
Davante Adams

Expected to Return to Rams in 2026
Los Angeles Rams

Rams Sign Sean McVay, Les Snead to Contract Extensions
Diego Lopes

Outclassed At UFC 325
Alexander Volkanovski

Dominates Diego Lopes
Dan Hooker

Stopped In The Second Round
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Extends His Win Streak
Rafael Fiziev

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
MMA

Maurício Ruffy Gets Back In The Win Column
Morgan Geekie

Extends Point Streak to Seven Games With Big Performance
Nikita Kucherov

Tallies Four Points in Stadium Series Win
Chris Kreider

Pots Two Goals in Sunday's Win
Brandon Bussi

Makes History With Another Win
Shayne Gostisbehere

Sets Up Two Goals Sunday
Terrence Shannon Jr.

Still Sidelined Without Timetable for Return
Mikey Anderson

Hurt Versus Hurricanes
Isaiah Hartenstein

Cason Wallace, Isaiah Hartenstein Rejoin Thunder Starters
Anthony Cirelli

Fails to Finish Stadium Series Matchup
Jarrett Allen

Explodes for Career Night vs. Portland
Scotty Pippen Jr.

Remains Out Monday vs. Minnesota
De'Andre Hunter

Poised for Kings Debut Wednesday
Dennis Schröder

Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder Could Debut Wednesday for Cavaliers
San Francisco 49ers

49ers Set to Name Raheem Morris Their Defensive Coordinator
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Close to Naming Klint Kubiak the Next Head Coach
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Finalizing Deal to Make Mike LaFleur the Next Head Coach
CFB

Gus Malzahn Retiring from Coaching
Breece Hall

Jets Want to Re-Sign Breece Hall, Could Use Franchise Tag
Troy Terry

Ready to Return Sunday
Victor Hedman

Set to Return Sunday
Connor McMichael

Out Week-to-Week
Kris Letang

Out for Four Weeks
Nico Hischier

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Jack Hughes

Won't Play Saturday
Diego Lopes

An Underdog At UFC 325
Alexander Volkanovski

Set For UFC 325 Main Event
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Dan Hooker

Set For UFC 325 Co-Main Event
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Rafael Fiziev

Returns At UFC 325
CFB

Texas Lands Wake Forest Transfer Sterling Berkhalter
Kirk Cousins

Falcons Expected to Release Kirk Cousins
Chase Brown

Working on Extension With Bengals
Michael Penix Jr.

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1
Dalton Kincaid

Doesn't Need Offseason Surgery
Josh Allen

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Josh Allen

on Crutches, Wearing Walking Boot
CFB

Michigan RB Bryson Kuzdzal Withdrawing from Transfer Portal
Bo Nix

Expected to Resume Training in 4-6 Weeks
Michael Penix Jr.

Thinks he'll be Ready by April
Cleveland Browns

Browns Hiring Todd Monken as Next Head Coach
Sahith Theegala

Off to Much Better 2026 Start
Gary Woodland

an Intriguing Option at Torrey Pines This Week
Andrew Putnam

Hopes to Keep Momentum Rolling This Week
Matthieu Pavon

Seeks to Return to 2024 Form at Torrey Pines
Luke List

Still Looking For Birdies at Torrey Pines
Jake Knapp

Faces Stiff Challenge at Farmers Insurance Open
Rasmus Hojgaard

Needs to Play Better at Torrey Pines
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Could Struggle at Farmers Insurance Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF