While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men that have proven to be closer candidates to target off the waiver wire for Week 16 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. Bear in mind, an effective relief pitcher highlighted today could find himself in a closer's role if the everyday closer is unavailable or recently ineffective.

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Week 16 Bullpen Targets

Brad Ziegler, Boston Red Sox

18 Saves, 1 Hold, 2.55 ERA, 42.1 IP, 29 K, 1.35 WHIP

Next man up. With Craig Kimbrel down, Koji Uehara slid into the ninth inning role but he caught the injury bug too so the acquisition of Ziegler looks to have been strong premonition by the Red Sox front office. His 18 saves were all during his time in Arizona but the injuries in Boston will thrust him into a more potent hitting league where his .264 opponent batting average is expected to elevate. However, in addition to his unorthodox delivery, Ziegler boasts a 63.1% ground ball rate that will be crucial to any success he has in the hitter-friendly Fenway Park. He will need his 83.6 MPH sinker to keep batters from elevating the ball. The Red Sox are in the thick of a postseason push so Ziegler will find himself in numerous save opportunities. His strikeout numbers will not be high but the opportunities will be there for him and for your fantasy team if he becomes a waiver wire pickup.

Jim Johnson, Atlanta Braves

2 Saves, 8 Holds, 4.59 ERA, 33.1 IP, 28 K, 1.38 WHIP

Another team bitten by the injury bug; the Atlanta Braves will be without closer Arodys Vizcaino. In his place, former closer Jim Johnson will try to hold the ninth inning fort down. Relying on a 92.8 MPH fastball 70.9% of the time, Johnson seeks ground ball contact and he is succeeding at a 56.8% ground ball rate. The problem in being a contact reliever is the balls put in play that get through. Opponents are hitting .270 against Johnson which is not ideal. If your fantasy team needs a reliever that has no challenging candidates until Vizcaino returns, Johnson will be the go-to guy.

Tyler Clippard, Arizona Diamondbacks

1 Save, 13 Holds, 3.53 ERA, 35.2 IP, 42 K, 1.23 WHIP

Brad Ziegler has been shipped out so Tyler Clippard is cemented in the closer's role for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Opponets are hitting .244 against Clippard this year. He has experience as the closer and if the Diamondbacks manage to approach the expectations of them this year, he will see his share of closing opportunities. The fastball/changeup pitcher is striking out more than a batter per inning. He struggled against the Dodgers lately but one hiccup in the road is acceptable as he progresses through the season as the closer for the Diamondbacks.

Carlos Estevez, Colorado Rockies

6 Saves, 9 Holds, 4.24 ERA, 34.0 IP, 39 K, 1.21 WHIP

When Jake McGee returned from the disabled list on July 2, the instant speculation was that Carlos Estevez was going to lose his job. Two saves since McGee's return should put fantasy owners of Estevez at ease. The power pitching Estevez generates 44.8% ground balls in the very hitter-friendly Coors Field. In addition to generating ground balls, Estevez and his 97.3 MPH fastball average over a strikeout per inning so his fantasy value is strong. McGee is a good reliever and he retains the team-lead of saves but Estevez continues giving management a reason to have faith in him as their closer.

Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds

10 Saves, 8 Holds, 3.43 ERA, 42.0 IP, 29 K, 1.31 WHIP

The Cincinnat Reds may have found reliability for the ninth inning in Tony Cingrani. The team leader in saves; Cingrani has pitched to a respectable 2.29 ERA since June 1. Over that time, he blew one save while locking down six. The fastball, slider pitcher generates about an even share of fly balls (41.2%) and ground balls (45.4%) and does not strikeout many batters in his appearances. On a last place team, wins will be hard to come by but when they do, they will not be high scoring easy success stories. When the Reds are on the path to a win, look for Cingrani to get the ninth inning save opportunity.

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