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Ryan Nakada analyzes five MLB relief pitchers (RP) and setup men to target for holds as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and adds for Week 5.
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 in Week 4.
Bottom line: 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 5 Waiver Wire RP Pickups for Holds
Danny Barnes, Toronto Blue Jays
4 Holds, 2.25 ERA, 12.0 IP, 14 K, 1.33 WHIP
Until yesterday, Toronto Blue Jays reliever Danny Barnes had not given up an earned run since his season debut on March 29. Barnes does not overpower opponents with his 91.8 mph fastball, 79,7 mph changeup, and 82.4 mph slider. Opponents are hitting .277 against Barnes, yet they are swinging at above average rates outside the zone with below average rates of contact. Barnes has pitched in the later third of the game in half of his outings. His last outing is not an indicator of where he will go for the remainder of the season. He is a worthwhile pickup for holds while the Blue Jays are hot.
Shane Carle, Atlanta Braves
3 Holds, 1.06 ERA, 17.0 IP, 16 K, 1.00 WHIP
Shane Carle has moved up in the pecking order for the Atlanta Braves after a rough start to the season. His ERA was reduced tremendously by 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and he has not had a significant bump in the road since his first appearance. Carle is averaging nearly a strikeout per inning and is keeping the baserunners at the same rate. With the Braves, Carle has found increased velocity and its made him a strong holds candidate.
Adam Ottavino, Colorado Rockies
5 Holds, 0.66 ERA, 13.2 IP, 26 K, 0.37 WHIP
The Colorado Rockies invested in their bullpen heavily but Adam Ottavino is showing them the best reliever in the bullpen was already on the team. Ottavino was initially used in the seventh inning but he easily proved to be the eighth inning reliever. Striking out nearly two batters per inning pitched, Ottavino has also allowed just five baserunners in his 13 2/3 innings of work. Armed with an 81.2 mph slider and 94.4 mph fastball, opponents are hitting an astounding .050 to this point. Ottavino has shown success in the past so, if he is not claimed already, make an immediate pickup of him in any league.
Seth Lugo, New York Mets
2 Holds, 2.45 ERA, 11.0 IP, 8 K, 1.36 WHIP
In another successful instance of starter-turned-reliever for the New York Mets, Seth Lugo is having a strong start to the season. As most starters do when taking on a bullpen role, Lugo has added some velocity and prioritized two pitches of his four-pitch repertoire. Relying on his 93.4 mph fastball and 78.6 mph curveball, opponents are hitting to a .227 batting average this year. He will occasionally get a call for multiple innings of relief, which he is fully capable of after spending spring training stretching out as a starter but he is very effective in all the roles handed to him this year.
Joe Jimenez, Detroit Tigers
2 Holds, 2.53 ERA, 10.2 IP, 8 K, 1.22 WHIP
With the Detroit Tigers in a rebuild mode, rookie Joe Jimenez has had a strong rookie campaign. Entering yesterday's doubleheader, Jimenez had 10 scoreless consecutive appearances. Yesterday was his first bump in the road, surrendering three runs in his inning of work. Jimenez is not striking out a batter per inning but he is stranding runners. Opponents are hitting .220 against his 94.5 mph fastball and 83.4 mph slider. The Tigers have time to determine what they have in the 23-year-old Jimenez and if he continues to prove himself, he could find himself in potential save situations too.
