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Relief pitchers to monitor for holds or as closer handcuffs for Week 5. Rick Graham analyzes under-the-radar RP as deep league targets or waiver wire adds.
Today and every Tuesday moving forward throughout the 2018 MLB season, we will take a deep dive into some of the lesser-owned relief pitchers on the market that are worth keeping tabs on.
This can be a good tool for those in deeper holds leagues, although any pitcher in a position to make a move on their respective team's closer job will get priority.
For week five we take a look at three current set up men not getting enough love, as well as a starter, turned reliever with significant upside.
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Under-the-Radar Relievers to Watch - Week 5
Juan Nicasio, Seattle Mariners - 13% owned
While Edwin Diaz is off to an extremely fast start to the season and is showing no signs of slowing down, it's important to remember who is getting the ball to him, the current MLB leader for holds, Juan Nicasio. Coming off a productive 2017 where he shuffled between three teams and even found himself closing out games for two of them, Nicasio seems to have settled in nicely as the top setup man in Seattle this year. While his .212 BABIP is surely favorable and his 4.21 FIP not promising, there are some reasons to think his current success is sustainable. His 2.75 SIERA is well below his career averages (3.89) and his SwStr% is currently sitting at a career-high 13.8%, even more, impressive when you consider he's only walked three batters in 13.2 innings. While Nicasio is already a must-own in most all but the shallowest of hold leagues, he makes for an interesting standard league stash as well. Edwin Diaz (on pace for 84 innings) has pitched more innings in March than in any other month during his MLB career so him breaking down over the second half of the season is not out of the question.
Yoshihisa Hirano, Arizona Diamondbacks - 7% owned
A popular sleeper pick for saves this offseason, Hirano has taken a backseat to Brad Boxberger and Archie Bradley on the depth chart, but he's still being used enough in hold situations to warrant a look in leagues that count them. He's come just as advertised, with almost a straight 50/50 fastball/splitter mix that keeps hitters off balance. He's missing more bats than figured (13.9 SwStr%, 8.76 K/9) which is nice for owners to see, but I wonder if that's more to do with hitters never seeing him before. With the Diamondbacks committed to using Bradley prior to the 9th inning, Hirano could very well be the next man up if Boxberger winds up on struggling (1.55 WHIP right now) or injured at some point. Not a bad bet to take considering he's had multiple injuries over the past few years that landed him on the DL.
Drew Steckenrider, Miami Marlins - 6% owned
Brad Ziegler's day's as the closer of the Marlins are numbered and now we are left to debate who will be next in line. Kyle Barraclough has been the name most mentioned, as he has a longer MLB track record, misses bats at a near-elite rate and just Saturday earned his first save. Barraclough's 5.51 BB%, however, is definitely less than ideal for a someone asked to protect a potential 1 run lead in the 9th, so the Marlins may want to consider Steckenrider. Basically all of Steckenrider's numbers have been better than Barraclough since the second half of last season with the exception of strikeouts, but he does currently have a K/BB three points higher, which I'd consider more important than say K/9. Despite deserving, Steckenrider may not get a chance to close out any games this season but that doesn't mean his low ratio's, solid K rate and hold potential isn't worth owning.
Amir Garrett, Cincinnati Reds - 3% owned
Garrett's time in the Reds bullpen may be shortlived, as interim manager Jim Riggleman has hinted at Garrett starting games at some point, but until that happens, he makes for a very intriguing relief option. His velocity is up three points across the board, his K/9 and BB/9 numbers are the lowest they've been in his professional career and he still has only allowed runs in one game this season despite an unlucky .342 BABIP. Outside of Raisel Iglesias, there isn't a whole lot to get excited for in the Reds bullpen these days and it seems like Garrett could easily work his way into some more high leverage situations late in games going forward. That is as long as they keep him as a reliever.
