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 21 of the fantasy baseball season.

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.

Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for relief pitchers, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.

 

Jake Diekman, Texas Rangers

10 holds, 4.50 ERA, 48 innings, 58 strikeouts, 1.50 WHIP

Acquired in the trade for Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman is pitching well for his new team as they intend to contend for one of the Wild Card spots. The 28-year-old Diekman is a strikeout pitcher, averaging more than a strikeout per inning pitched in his 48.0 innings this year. The left-handed Diekman has thrived in his short time with his new team, holding opponents to a .128 batting average. Left-handed batters are hitting slightly better than right-handed batters (.250 vs. .233) but a great number for Diekman lies in where batted balls go against him. When batters make contact with Diekman's two pitches, 55.8% are ground balls, a great rate for a pitcher in Globe Life Park, often considered a hitter's park. Diekman is a two-pitch power pitcher with his primary pitch, the fastball, exceeding 96 MPH and a slider that approaches 85 MPH. The Rangers are getting players back from the disabled list and remain a contender in a very deep American League Wild Card hunt. Expect Diekman to get good opportunities at holds as long as the Rangers remain in the hunt through the remainder of the season.

 

Oliver Perez, Houston Astros

8 holds, 2.78 ERA, 32.1 innings, 41 strikeouts, 1.30 WHIP

Acquired to fortify the Astros bullpen, Oliver Perez carries his good numbers from Arizona to Houston. Perez averages more than a strikeout per inning in his 32.1 innings of work. Once a starter, it looks like Oliver Perez found his best role, left-handed specialist. While opponents as a whole are hitting .240 against Perez, left-handed batters are being held down to a .188 batting average. Right-handed batters are hitting .300 against Perez so expect him to face the biggest and baddest left-handed bat the opposition has in the lineup. The fastball-slider pitcher will need to minimize the fly balls in the hitter-friendly ballpark. His veteran presence will be important as the last month of the season approaches.

 

Randy Choate, St. Louis Cardinals

8 holds, 3.80 ERA, 23.2 innings, 16 strikeouts, 1.10 WHIP

The veteran Randy Choate continues to contribute at the major league level for the best team in the league. Despite clearly being a left-handed specialist, 23.2 innings in 57 games, his splits are not as discernible as it is with relief pitchers you read about this week. As a whole, his opponents are hitting .261 against him but right-handed batters are hitting just slightly better than left-handed batters (.267 vs. .270). With a fastball that is approaching 84 MPH and a slider just over 74 MPH, he relies on his sidearm motion and keeping the ball low. With a 65.7% ground ball rate, it' is clear why the 39-year-old veteran has a role on the best team in the major league.

 

Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays

8 holds, 3.22 ERA, 78.1 innings, 53 strikeouts, 1.28 WHIP

Once a starter, the right-handed Aaron Sanchez has firmly placed himself as a crucial member of the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen. Opponents are hitting .222 against the 23-year-old Sanchez. The power pitcher with a fastball approaching 95 MPH and curveball sitting at 79 lets him get a quality amount of outs on the ground. Sanchez generates ground balls 58% of the time. A ground ball rate that high is great considering how small his offense makes the Rogers Centre look.

 

Jason Motte, Chicago Cubs

9 holds, 4.08 ERA, 46.1 innings, 33 strikeouts, 1.27 WHIP

Once a closer, Jason Motte is one of a few power relievers in the Chicago Cubs bullpen. The ERA is high but the power pitches from the 33-year-old Motte make him a quality reliever that can notch holds for this postseason-contending club. His primary pitch is a fastball a tick over 95 MPH and a cutter that approaches 89 MPH. Opponents are hitting .264 against him. As the season progresses, Wrigley Field can become more fly ball-friendly. A fly ball-friendly ballpark could be bad news for Motte, generating fly balls at 47.3% of the time. Motte will find the means to succeed like he has done in the past and the Cubs are in the thick of the race so his contributions will be huge.

 

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