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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 22 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 22 Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds
Luis Garcia, Philadelphia Phillies
2 Saves, 7 Holds, 2.84 ERA, 57.0 IP, 46 K, 1.23 WHIP
The Philadelphia Phillies are spending the remainder of the season determining who will be a part of their long-term future and Luis Garcia is making a good case to stay. With a 97.1 mph fastball, 84.7 mph slider, and 87.6 mph split-finger; opponents are hitting .235 against Garcia. He is also keeping the ball down with 55.6 percent ground balls on batted balls. Garcia has been pitching in the eighth inning a lot and a strong showing lately by the Phillies has given him more hold opportunities in the month of August. The Phillies have not been a strong run-scoring team so wins will be close, giving Luis Garcia hold opportunities and making him consideration for a waiver wire claim in holds leagues.
Chad Green, New York Yankees
5 Holds, 2.05 ERA, 57.0 IP, 86 K, 0.74 WHIP
The New York Yankees have been scuffling on offense lately so relievers will see a lot of work and Chad Green has justified hold opportunities. With 30 games in relief, the starter-turned-reliever has been dominant. Opponents are hitting .142 against Green this year. Cutting down his repertoire, Green calls on his 95.5 mph fastball and 85.6 mph slider to give him a 13.6 strikeout per nine innings. With a deep, but interchangeable, bullpen; the Yankees can call upon Green in any inning from the fifth to the eighth. He is capable of being dominant for multiple innings as well, striking out seven of eight batters faced in his last appearance. While uncertainty with when he will enter the game can lower his value for holds, his numbers across the board give him strong consideration for a waiver wire claim in holds leagues.
Yusmeiro Petit, Los Angeles Angels
2 Saves, 13 Holds, 2.37 ERA, 76.0 IP, 82 K, 0.97 WHIP
The Los Angeles Angels have been making a surge into the very deep postseason picture and reliever Yusmeiro Petit has been a stable force in their bullpen. In August alone, Petit secured seven of his 13 holds and one of his two saves this year. Employing a deep, but common, repertoire of an 89.6 mph fastball, 77.2 mph curveball, 81.8 mph changeup, and 85.5 mph slider; Petit has opponents hitting to a .209 batting average. Averaging more than a strikeout per inning, look to the Angels to stay a strong candidate for a wild card spot while Petit secures holds. The Angels have shown they have postseason aspirations, strongly consider Petit for a waiver wire claim in holds leagues.
Mychal Givens, Baltimore Orioles
21 Holds, 2.37 ERA, 64.2 IP, 73 K, 1.02 WHIP
The Baltimore Orioles have been making a strong push for a spot in the postseason lately and reliever Mychal Givens will be a strong part of continuing it. Armed with a 95.6 mph fastball and 87.6 mph slider, Givens is striking out well over a batter per inning and holding opponents to a .201 batting average this year. In addition, Givens is keeping the ball low as 44.1 percent of batted balls on the ground. A consistent presence in the seventh or eighth inning, Givens has had a fantastic season and will continue notching holds. He is a worthwhile waiver wire acquisition that will put strong numbers across major fantasy statistics.
Trevor Hildenberger, Minnesota Twins
1 Save, 6 Holds, 2.73 ERA, 29.2 IP, 34 K, 1.08 WHIP
Moving his way up like a wild card team, Trevor Hildenberger has seen many more hold opportunities for the Minnesota Twins lately. Armed with an 88.6 mph sinker and 76.0 mph changeup, Hildenberger generates a ground ball on 60.0 percent of batted balls. Hildenberger entices swings out of the zone with below league average contact. He averages over a strikeout per inning and keeps the ball low. The Twins remain relevant in the postseason picture and Hildenberger has progressed his way into holds opportunities, debuting in the fifth or sixth inning but pitching in the seventh or eighth inning of August. He is a worthwhile candidate for holds leagues.
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