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
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Bullpen Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 20

With the trade deadline in the rear-view mirror, buyers and sellers have made the moves to thrust their team in their respective directions. While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men that have proven to be closer candidates to target off the Waiver Wire for Week 20 of the fantasy baseball season.

The more likely a team is to win, the more likely a pitcher will be eligible to earn the holds that could be the difference between winning or losing in your fantasy league. Bear in mind, an effective relief pitcher highlighted today could find himself in a closer's role if the everyday closer is unavailable or recently ineffective.

Editor's Note: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including Draft Kit + DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through October. Premium DFS lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more - seven days a week. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

 

Week 20 Bullpen Targets

Tyler Thornburg, Milwaukee Brewers

4 Saves, 20 Holds, 2.03 ERA, 48.2 IP, 66 K, 0.90 WHIP

The Milwaukee Brewers closer is having a fantastic season. The ninth inning role was more than deserved. Opponents are hitting .163 against Thornburg and he is having a career year as his hits per nine innings (5.2) is considerably better than his career average (7.2) and his strikeouts per nine innings (12.2) is exceptionally high compared to his career average (8.8). Utilizing a 94.1 MPH fastball and 78.7 MPH curveball, Thornburg is becoming a great reliever that the Brewers can count on to close out games for them the rest of this year. His outstanding strikeout numbers give him a lot of value as a waiver wire pickup for any fantasy team.

Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners

8 Saves, 13 Holds, 1.85 ERA, 34.0 IP, 62 K, 1.15 WHIP

Since receiving the closer's role, rookie Edwin Diaz has been remarkable. Diaz has been efficient and effective in most of his save opportunities. He is perfect in eight opportunities and three of the save opportunities required less than 10 pitches. The power-pitching Diaz sports a 97.2 MPH fastball and and 86.7 MPH slider to hold opponents to a .229 batting average. In addition to calling the most pitcher-friendly ballpark home, Diaz generates batted balls at a 49.3% ground ball rate. It appears Diaz was made to be a closer and should be picked up off the waiver wire immediately.

Brandon Kintzler, Minnesota Twins

12 Saves, 1 Hold, 1.82 ERA, 39.2 IP, 24 K, 0.98 WHIP

Brandon Kintzler has established that he can close out games. Unlike most closers, Kintzler is not a strikeout pitcher. Kintzler utilizes a 92.7 MPH sinker to generate 63.5% ground balls on batted balls. Opponents are hitting .238 against him and he has blown one save since the beginning of June. His K/9 this year is at 5.4 so claim him off the waiver wire if you strictly need saves as strikeouts will be hard to find from the 31-year-old Kintzler.

Adam Ottavino, Colorado Rockies

1 Save, 4 Holds, 0.00 ERA, 15.0 IP, 17 K, 0.87 WHIP

One week ago, new Colorado Rockies closer Adam Ottavino secured his first save of the year in dominant fashion, striking out the Texas Rangers in order. Opponents are hitting .189 against Ottavino and his two-seam fastball. Ottavino reduced the speed on his fastball from 95.7 MPH to 93.5 and is generating ground balls at a great rate. In a normally very hitter-friendly ballpark like Coors Field, a 69.4% ground ball rate will work in the pitcher's favor everyday. Ottavino will likely not maintain this rate but strike when the iron is hot and pick up this reliever from the waiver wire.

Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati Reds

1 Save, 6 Holds, 2.16 ERA, 58.1 IP, 64 K, 1.15 WHIP

Current Cincinnati Reds closer Tony Cingrani is holding down the fort in the ninth inning, but has not been without his bumps and bruises. Cingrani has blown five saves this year and the Reds will (obviously) not be contending in the near future. With an opportunity presented, Raisel Iglesias may see more than the one audition as the closer for the Reds that he locked down last week. Primarily using a 92.2 MPH fastball and 82.4 MPH slider, Iglesias strikes out just over a batter per inning at a 9.9 K/9 rate. Generating more ground balls (39.5%) like in 2015 (47.2%) will work to his benefit as he closes out games for the rebuilding Reds. If Cingrani blows more saves, look for Iglesias to seize the opportunity.

 

Live Expert Q&A Chats - Every Weekday @ 1 PM and 6 PM EST (DFS)

Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-55" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

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

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ladd McConkey5 hours ago

Has A Strong End To His Rookie Year
Justin Herbert5 hours ago

Has The Worst Game Of His Career On Saturday
Jerami Grant6 hours ago

Still Dealing With Jaw And Neck Soreness
Cameron Johnson6 hours ago

Still Out On Sunday
Andre Drummond6 hours ago

Won't Play On Sunday
D'Angelo Russell7 hours ago

Unavailable Sunday
Malcolm Brogdon7 hours ago

Not Ready To Return On Sunday
Alex Caruso7 hours ago

To Remain Out For 10th Consecutive Game
Ty Jerome7 hours ago

Unlikely To Play Sunday
Josh Richardson7 hours ago

Remains Out Saturday
Robert Williams III8 hours ago

Misses Saturday's Action Due To Illness
Deandre Ayton8 hours ago

Will Not Play Against Heat
Trey Murphy III8 hours ago

Returning To Action Sunday
Dejounte Murray8 hours ago

Questionable To Play Against Celtics
Patrick Williams8 hours ago

Labeled As Probable For Sunday
Kyle Lowry8 hours ago

Out For Fourth Straight Game
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope8 hours ago

Listed As Probable For Sunday
Nico Collins8 hours ago

Big Day For Nico Collins In Wild-Card Win
Houston Texans8 hours ago

Texans D/ST Hits Paydirt Against Bolts
Joe Mixon8 hours ago

Recovers To Help Houston Ice Victory
Jalen Suggs8 hours ago

To Remain Out Sunday
Paolo Banchero9 hours ago

Not Listed On Injury Report Ahead Of Sunday
Joel Embiid9 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Sunday's Game
Miles McBride9 hours ago

Probable For Sunday
Gary Trent Jr.9 hours ago

Questionable For Sunday's Action
Khris Middleton9 hours ago

Likely To Play Against Knicks
New England Patriots10 hours ago

Patriots Expected To Hire Mike Vrabel As Head Coach
Alexander Wennberg10 hours ago

Unavailable Saturday
Cole Sillinger10 hours ago

Back In Blue Jackets Lineup Saturday
Connor Zary11 hours ago

Out Indefinitely
Ivan Barbashev11 hours ago

On Track To Return Saturday
Ilya Sorokin11 hours ago

Out With An Illness
Patrik Laine11 hours ago

A Game-Time Call On Saturday
Steven Stamkos11 hours ago

Ready To Go Saturday
Hayden Hurst13 hours ago

Kimani Vidal Inactive
John Metchie III13 hours ago

Active On Saturday
Quentin Johnston13 hours ago

Active On Saturday
J.K. Dobbins13 hours ago

Active On Saturday
Zay Flowers14 hours ago

Could Miss Divisional Round If Baltimore Advances
J.K. Dobbins16 hours ago

Expected To Play In Wild-Card Round
Sandy Alcantara19 hours ago

Will Not Be Traded Before Opening Day
Patrick Kane21 hours ago

Dishes Out Three Helpers On Friday
Karel Vejmelka21 hours ago

Snaps Skid On Friday Night
Adrian Kempe21 hours ago

Leads The Way On Friday Night
Cole Caufield21 hours ago

Extends Goal Streak To Five Games
Charlie Lindgren21 hours ago

Exits Early On Friday
Dustin Tokarski21 hours ago

Posts Shutout On Friday
Jeff Hoffman1 day ago

Inks Three-Year Deal With Toronto
Evander Kane1 day ago

Recovering From Knee Surgery
Dylan Samberg1 day ago

Returns To Jets Lineup Friday
Alex Lyon1 day ago

Unavailable Friday
Thatcher Demko1 day ago

Expected To Return To Action Friday
Fabian Zetterlund1 day ago

Active On Friday
Dylan Guenther1 day ago

Ruled Out Indefinitely
Elias Pettersson1 day ago

Activated From Injured Reserve
Quentin Johnston1 day ago

"Good To Go" For Saturday
Jordan Love1 day ago

Malik Willis Off The Injury Report
Jayden Daniels1 day ago

Off The Injury Report, Set For First Playoff Start
DeVonta Smith2 days ago

Off The Injury Report
A.J. Brown2 days ago

Off The Injury Report Prior To Wild-Card Weekend
Amanda Ribas2 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mackenzie Dern2 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 101
Zac Gallen2 days ago

Diamondbacks Avoid Arbitration With Zac Gallen
Josh Jung2 days ago

Will Be Full-Go For Spring Training
Santiago Ponzinibbio2 days ago

Set For Co-Main Event
Tampa Bay Buccaneers2 days ago

Antoine Winfield Jr. Will Play On Sunday
Carlston Harris2 days ago

Set For Welterweight Matchup
Pete Alonso2 days ago

No Deal Close Between Pete Alonso And The Mets
Abdul Razak Alhassan2 days ago

Returns To Action At UFC Vegas 101
Cesar Almeida2 days ago

Looks For His Third UFC Win
DeVonta Smith2 days ago

Missing Practice, Still Expected To Play
Isiah Pacheco2 days ago

Returns To Practice On Friday
Jalen Hurts2 days ago

Clears Concussion Protocol, Ready To Go For Sunday
Uros Medic2 days ago

Opens Up UFC Vegas 101 Main Card
Punahele Soriano2 days ago

Remains At Welterweight At UFC Vegas 101
Christian Rodriguez2 days ago

Looks To Start Off 2025 On Right Note At UFC Vegas 101
Austin Bashi2 days ago

Makes UFC Debut At UFC Vegas 101
Roman Kopylov2 days ago

Looks to Extend Winning Streak At UFC Vegas 101
Chris Curtis2 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 101
Josh Naylor2 days ago

Diamondbacks Avoid Arbitration
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.2 days ago

Blue Jays Avoid Arbitration
Andrew Kittredge2 days ago

Inks One-Year Deal With Baltimore
Robert Thomas2 days ago

Nets Two Goals On Thursday
Framber Valdez2 days ago

Astros Avoid Arbitration
Randy Arozarena2 days ago

Mariners Avoid Arbitration
Jake Knapp3 days ago

Withdraws From Sony Open
Michael Thorbjornsen3 days ago

Withdraws From Sony Open
Luis Arraez3 days ago

Padres Settle On $14 Million Deal
Tarik Skubal3 days ago

Tigers Avoid Arbitration
Dylan Cease3 days ago

And Padres Avoid Arbitration
Logan Gilbert3 days ago

Mariners Avoid Arbitration
Garrett Crochet3 days ago

Boston Discussing Long-Term Deal
Davis Thompson3 days ago

Starts 2025 Season Well
PGA3 days ago

J.T. Poston A High-Upside Play At Sony Open
PGA3 days ago

J.T. Poston Disappoints At The Sentry
Chris Kirk3 days ago

Sputters At The Sentry
Billy Horschel3 days ago

Looks Forward To Sony Open
Brian Harman3 days ago

Gets 2025 Started With A Rough Start
PGA3 days ago

Cameron Davis Finishes Strong At The Sentry
Keegan Bradley4 days ago

Starts 2025 Season Well
Davis Thompson4 days ago

Looking For Consistency At Sony Open
Braxton Garrett4 days ago

To Miss 2025 Season Following Elbow Surgery
Taylor Pendrith4 days ago

Is A Dark-Horse Pick For Sony Open
Eric Cole4 days ago

Looking For Bounce-Back Performance At Sony Open
Sahith Theegala4 days ago

A Big Name To Stay Away From At Sony Open
Nick Dunlap4 days ago

Looks To Bounce Back At Sony Open
Tom Kim4 days ago

Making Season Debut At Sony Open
Hideki Matsuyama4 days ago

Looks To Make History At Waialae
Tanner Scott4 days ago

Mets Meet With Tanner Scott
Justin Verlander4 days ago

Signs One-Year Contract With San Francisco
Brandon Woodruff5 days ago

Hopes To Be Ready By Opening Day
Luke Clanton5 days ago

A Player To Watch At Sony Open
Thomas Detry5 days ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of Sony Open
Russell Henley5 days ago

A Course Horse At Sony Open
Stephan Jaeger5 days ago

A Risky Option At Sony Open
Brent Rooker5 days ago

Signs Five-Year Extension
Nolan Arenado5 days ago

Red Sox Emerge As Strong Candidate To Land Nolan Arenado

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP