Getting A Grip: Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds (Week 11)

Ryan Nakada reviews fantasy baseball relief pitchers (RP) & setup men that are waiver wire pickups and sleepers for holds in week 11. Some may emerge as closers.

Waiver Wire Sleepers for Holds in Week 11

While the holds statistic is hard to play for since it is difficult to determine if a pitcher will enter the game in the right situation to earn a hold, the players I've featured in today's article include some overlooked players and some who are looking to reclaim their former glory. The more likely the team is to win, the more likely these following players will be eligible to earn the holds that could be the difference between winning or losing in your fantasy league.

This week, a couple of Chi-town pitchers get acknowledged and a starter returns to his more successful bullpen role on a team looking to make up for their medical problems.

Brian Schlitter, Chicago Cubs

28 years old, RHP

A majority of the appearances by Brian Schlitter were in the sixth inning so he is usually the first man up in the bullpen. His stuff is not outstanding and his numbers will not be dominant. What Brian Schlitter does do is get the job done. He has entered nine games with a lead of three runs maximum and has gotten eight holds.

Jake Petricka, Chicago Sox

26 years old, RHP

5 holds, 1.42 ERA, 31.2 innings, 21 strikeouts

Jake Petricka has slowly moved up the pecking order and earned an important role in the White Sox bullpen. The 26-year-old Petricka started the season as the mop-up reliever, just getting the work in. Slowly as his ERA approached 2.00, Petricka found himself in higher leverage situations. The righty would notch four of his five holds in the month of May. The White Sox are by no means out of the race for the central division. Pitchers like Jake Petricka may be overlooked but he and the rest of the White Sox bullpen will playing an important part in passing on a strong lead to interim closer Ronald Belisario until Matt Lindstrom returns.

J.P. Howell, Los Angeles Dodgers

31 years old, LHP

11 holds, 1.80 ERA, 20.0 innings, 25 strikeouts

The veteran lefty will never be mistaken for a power pitcher. Topping out the gun around 86 mph, his fastball will not blow away anyone but the league is aware J.P. Howell can succeed with the stuff he brings to the mound. Over half of his appearances this season have come with the lead and he has been successful, evident by the 11 holds. Howell’s career-high of 14 holds came in 64 games with the Rays in 2008. It is safe to say he should set a new career-high.

Aaron Barrett, Washington Nationals

26 years old, RHP

2 holds, 0.87 ERA, 20.2 innings, 26 strikeouts

With an 11.3 K/9 and an ERA below 1.00, rookie Aaron Barrett may be moving up in the world of the Nationals’ bullpen. He brings a fastball near the mid 90s and has been impressive so far this season. He has only been given the ball with the lead six times but he has managed to earn two holds. If he continues to pitch with this level of success, expect Barrett to move into more high leverage roles where he can help the Washington Nationals succeed.

Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers

27 years old, RHP

1 hold, 9.78 ERA, 19.1 innings, 13 strikeouts

Why would there be a pickup worth the time of day with a 9.78 ERA? Tanner Scheppers was recently activated off of the disabled list and his ERA is a product of a failed starting pitcher experiment. For those that don’t remember what he did as a reliever, in 116 games and over 110 innings, Scheppers posted a 2.70 ERA. He was one of the key members of the bullpen last season and his return from the disabled list has found him back in a more successful and comfortable spot in the bullpen. The Rangers have been mired with injuries but Scheppers return should bridge winning games over to closer Joakim Soria.