Getting A Grip: Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds (Week 12)

June 16, 2014

Ryan Nakada analyzes some top MLB relief pitcher (RP) sleepers for holds that are available as waiver wire pickups in your fantasy baseball leagues.

While the holds statistic is hard to determine who will enter the game in the right situation, the sleepers noted today feature some overlooked relief pitchers and some looking to reclaim glory they once had. The more likely their team is to win, the more likely the following players will be eligible to earn the holds that could be the difference between winning or losing in your fantasy league.

A few proven veterans and a few unproven up-and-comers get the spotlight this week. Some of these players may be available in your fantasy leagues, including AL-Only and NL-Only formats, depending on your league format and depth. There are many relievers that will make both positive and negative impacts, but these relievers will be more on the positive side for their respective teams.

Editor's Note: This piece is part of a weekly series on relief pitcher targets for holds. You can follow the entire series of holds analysis and sleepers to stay ahead of your competition.

Sam LeCure, Cincinnati Reds

8 holds, 2.45 ERA, 25.2 innings, 23 strikeouts

Reliever Sam LeCure on the Cincinnati Reds is the definition of “fireman.” So far this season, LeCure has inherited 15 runners and just two have scored. That is 13% of the runners inherited scoring.

For most pitchers, they can have a unique season where everything goes their way. But for LeCure, this is his career. He has never allowed more than 18% of his inherited runners to score since becoming a full-time reliever.

In 11 of his appearances, LeCure has come in with the lead and the eight holds indicate that he’s getting his job done and handing over the game to the next man. If the Reds’ offense can return to form, expect LeCure to get many more opportunities to put the fires out.

Zach Putnam, Chicago White Sox

8 holds, 1.48 ERA, 24.1 innings, 19 strikeouts

After a pair of rough appearances to start the season, Zach Putnam has stepped his game up. The Chicago White Sox reliever slowly moved into more positive roles as he succeeded. Injuries have forced the White Sox to entrust more situations to relatively unproven relievers but Putnam is making this look like a good choice. In his three appearances for the month of June, Putnam has gotten three holds, showing up in the seventh or eighth inning each time. He has succeeded so far and it is possible he could continue to do so.

Evan Marshall, Arizona Dbacks

6 holds, 1.80 ERA, 15.0 innings, 16 strikeouts

Rookie reliever Evan Marshall has quickly justified using him at important times in the game. Half of Marshall’s appearances have come with the Diamondbacks in the lead and with six holds, Evan Marshall gets the job done when called upon. Sporting a mid 90s fastball with a mid 80s changeup, Marshall is one of the few bright spots in a mostly difficult season for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Jason Frasor, Texas Rangers

10 holds, 1.59 ERA, 22.2 innings, 24 strikeouts

The veteran of this week, Jason Frasor is having himself another solid season in the bullpen. Amidst injuries upon injuries, the bullpen led by Joakim Soria as the closer has been very solid. In 14 of his 26 appearances, Jason Frasor entered with the lead. The Rangers have a big hole to climb out of with a lesser team than they expected but if they do, expect Frasor to be a presence.

Jeurys Familia, New York Mets

4 holds, 2.78 ERA, 33.2 innings, 30 strikeouts (9 with the lead, 9 tied, 9 trailing)

After filtering out the ineffective veterans Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth, some homegrown talent has emerged in the New York Mets bullpen. While it looks like reliever Jenrry Mejia has a strong grasp on the closer role, Jeurys Familia has finally solidified his role in the bullpen. Over the last two years, the 24-year-old Familia has dialed up his pitches and found extra velocity for all of his pitches. As a result, he is having his best season of his career and he has cut down his BB/9 in half. Entering nine games with the lead, Familia got four holds and if Mejia stumbles or faces injury woes, Familia may be the first one to step in the closer role.