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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 14 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.
Let's get to it.
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Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds
Blake Parker, Los Angeles Angels
1 Save, 8 Holds, 2.17 ERA, 37.1 IP, 52 K, 0.94 WHIP
The Los Angeles Angels have a steep mountain to climb in their division but the Wild Card remains well within range so reliever Blake Parker will need to continue his breakout campaign in the bullpen. This year, Blake Parker is putting up career-best numbers in every category. While many of the relievers have spent time on the disabled list, Parker has been a reliable constant, noted by his 41 appearances this year. Using a 93.9 mph sinker, 83.1 mph split-finger fastball, and a 79.8 mph curveball; Parker generates ground balls on 51.2 percent of batted balls. Opponents are hitting .193 against Parker. Blake Parker brings a lot to the table as a very reliable candidate for a waiver wire pickup in holds leagues.
Bryan Shaw, Cleveland Indians
2 Saves, 11 Holds, 2.95 ERA, 39.2 IP, 35 K, 1.29 WHIP
The Cleveland Indians are doing their best to hold onto their Central division lead and Bryan Shaw. Relying on movement, Shaw utilizes a 93.9 mph cutter primarily with an 82.1 mph slider as his secondary pitch. With all the movement, Shaw generates ground balls on 57.7 percent of batted balls. While he does not strike out a batter per inning and generating a lot of swings in the zone, he produces a lot of swing and misses in the zone too. Shaw goes under the radar with Andrew Miller and Cody Allen handling the last two innings of the game. Shaw will continue being a quality reliever over the course of the season.
Matt Bowman, St. Louis Cardinals
1 Save, 14 Holds, 3.93 ERA, 36.2 IP, 31 K, 1.09 WHIP
The St. Louis Cardinals are still competing for the Central division so reliever Matt Bowman is a strong waiver wire candidate for holds leagues. Bowman pitches a 91.0 mph sinker, 80.7 mph changeup, and 86.0 mph slider. Bowman generates a ground ball on 56.7 percent of batted balls. As expected with a ground ball rate like his, Bowman also generates more swings out of the strike zone than inside the strike zone. Bowman has shown up in the seventh inning for all of his appearances this year so expect more holds for this reliever.
Tony Zych, Seattle Mariners
1 Save, 4 Holds, 2.42 ERA, 26.0 IP, 22 K, 1.19 WHIP
The Seattle Mariners are trying to stay in the Wild Card race so securing wins is important. Reliever Tony Zych has been important in moving a win along from the starter to the closer. Exhibiting more control, Zych does not strike out a batter per inning but also walks less batters this year. Relying on a 94.9 mph fastball and 80.9 mph slider, Zych generates a ground ball on 50 percent of batted balls. Zych generates more swings out of the zone than league average with less swings in the zone than league average. Zych works in the seventh and eighth inning so look to him to get more holds as the season progresses.
Tommy Kahnle, Chicago White Sox
7 Holds, 2.45 ERA, 33.0 IP, 56 K, 0.94 WHIP
The Chicago White Sox are toiling away at the bottom of their division but Tommy Kahnle has emerged as a strong setup reliever. Kahnle is averaging well over a strikeout per inning this year. Utilizing a 97.9 mph fastball and a 90.2 mph changeup, Kahnle gets above league average swings on pitches in and out of the zone but contact is below league average. In addition, Kahnle also gets ahead of the count often as he throws a first-pitch strike more often than the league average too. Kahnle regularly sees work in the eighth inning so he gets the high leverage hold opportunities. He is proven value as a holds candidate or potentially as a saves candidate if David Robertson is traded away.
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