April 29, 2016

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 4 of the MLB season.

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 4 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.

Editor’s Note: RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list is updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging starting pitchers, and also all other fantasy positions. You can also download our waiver wire iPhone app for free, and easily stay updated.

Fernando Salas, Los Angeles Angels
4 Holds, 2.92 ERA, 12.1 IP, 10 K, 0.89 WHIP

The Los Angeles Angels will be without Huston Street for at least 15 days after straining his oblique. Setup man Joe Smith will likely slot into the closer's role during his absence. Salas was seen in the sixth or seventh inning so expect him to slot into the eighth inning to take the spot Smith vacated. Despite striking out less than a batter per inning and generating a fly ball 51.5% of the time, Salas has held opponents to a .190 batting average. With a fastball averaging at 91.4 MPH and a slider and changeup with little speed difference (84.3 and 85.9, respectively), Salas will gather some holds in his new role and gather more even when Street returns.

Nick Vincent, Seattle Mariners
2 Holds, 1.93 ERA, 9.1 IP, 12 K, 0.43 WHIP

With setup man Joaquin Benoit sidelined with shoulder inflammation, veteran Nick Vincent stands a chance at earning more opportunities for holds. In addition to pitching in a pitcher's park, Vincent generates 55.0% ground balls when the ball is put in play. Despite relying on fastballs, a cutter that averages 87.9 MPH and a regular four-seam that averages 90.2 MPH, Nick Vincent strikes out more than a batter per inning and that is likely aided by an 81.3% first-pitch strike rate. Look for Vincent to grab the eighth inning role until Benoit returns.

Heath Hembree, Boston Red Sox
1 Hold, 0.00 ERA, 7.2 IP, 11 K, 0.65 WHIP

Despite a small sample size (just three appearances) Hembree has pitched well so far. He can give more than one inning of work and strikes out more than a batter per inning. Hembree does pitch in a hitter-friendly park so his 47.1% fly ball rate is not ideal. He primarily relies on a 93.8 MPH fastball and sprinkles in a slider at 87.5 MPH and curveball at 78.1 MPH. In addition to getting holds here and there, he stands to be the reliever that could also snatch up wins in tie games.

Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
0 Holds, 5.40 ERA, 3.1 IP, 3 K, 1.50 WHIP

After finishing last season as a reliever, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Urena will need to adapt to the role and it looks like he will be given the opportunity. The 24-year-old Urena sports a fastball at 94.5 MPH on average with a slider at 86.6 MPH and a changeup at 88.9 MPH on average. Urena pitches in a very pitcher-friendly Marlins Park so the 50.0% fly ball rate is not alarming. A.J. Ramos has shown hints of inconsistency but injuries in the bridge could make Urena valuable in locking down wins.

Hansel Robles, New York Mets
3 Holds, 1.80 ERA, 10.0 IP, 15 K, 1.40 WHIP

The New York Mets are looking to finish what they came close to doing last year and reliever Hansel Robles will improve and be valuable in their bullpen. The power-pitching Robles approaches 95 MPH with his fastball averaging 94.3 MPH and his sharp slider has a 10 MPH drop-off at 84.5 MPH on average. Hansel Robles benefits from pitching in the pitcher-friendly Citi Field, generating fly balls 46.2% of the time. The .268 opponent batting average is high but the ballpark is helping him keep it from going over the wall.

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