RADIO
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 25 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.
Blake Treinen, Washington Nationals
7 holds, 3.79 ERA, 59.1 innings, 58 strikeouts, 1.37 WHIP
The Washington Nationals are on the outside looking in but the door has not closed yet. Reliever Drew Storen is gone for the rest of the season so a reliever like Blake Treinen will step up into an important role during the most important part of the season. The 27-year-old Treinen has had a good season and will see more opportunities for holds as long as he pitches well. Sporting a fastball around 96 MPH and a slider around 86 MPH, Treinen is generating ground balls at a great rate. The right-handed reliever generates 64.1% ground balls while restricting batted balls to a 14.1% fly ball rate. The Nationals have a steep mountain to climb and time is running out but Treinen and the rest of the Nationals will continue making the effort for as long as they can.
Mark Lowe, Toronto Blue Jays
15 holds, 1.60 ERA, 50.2 innings, 57 strikeouts, 1.05 WHIP
Since joining the Toronto Blue Jays, Mark Lowe has not quite lived up to the numbers he was posting in Seattle but he is a reliable part of the Blue Jays much improved bullpen. Despite the increase in his ERA during his tenure north of the border, there is a positive in opponent batting averages. Overall, opponents are hitting .225 against him, but just .200 during his time in Toronto. The 32-year-old veteran is primarily used in the seventh inning and spreads the batted ball evenly across the board. He generates 39.7% ground balls and 31.0% fly balls. With his fastball-slider combination, Mark Lowe is averaging more than a strikeout per inning and is a valuable member of the Blue Jays bullpen that has helped them lead in the East to this point.
Addison Reed, New York Mets
11 holds, 3.44 ERA, 49.2 innings, 45 strikeouts, 1.39 WHIP
The New York Mets are leading the East and they revamped their bullpen with a pair of experienced former closers. Reliever Addison Reed is not an option for closing but in his nine innings with the Mets, he has been a shut down setup pitcher. He hasn't allowed a run during his brief tenure with the Mets and is striking out more than a batter per inning. Overall, opponents are hitting .266 against Reed but since he joined the Mets, opponents have a .182 batting average. The Mets have a sizable lead in the East and when they have an opportunity to win, Addison Reed has proven to be a reliable reliever to hold leads and pass it along the line to its finish.
Trevor May, Minnesota Twins
6 holds, 4.14 ERA, 111.0 innings, 104 strikeouts, 1.35 WHIP
The Minnesota Twins are right on the border of the Wild Card and the pitching they have is not lights out, but they are getting the job done. Starter turned reliever Trevor May has been very strong out of the Twins' bullpen. The innings are primarily from his time as a starting pitcher (83.1 innings) with 27.2 as a relief pitcher. As a reliever, opponents have a slightly lower batting average and he averages a little more than a strikeout per inning. Lucky for May that he is on the Twins because he has a tendency to give up fly balls at 40.1%, his highest batted ball rate. Being a former starting pitcher, the 25-year-old May will throw three pitches, fastball, curve and changeup, with effectiveness. In the long-term, he will be a starter but for this year, and potentially your team, he is a strong part of the Twins' bullpen.
Tony Sipp, Houston Astros
10 holds, 2.08 ERA, 47.2 innings, 52 strikeouts, 1.01 WHIP
The Houston Astros have just been knocked into the Wild Card. While they are still in the postseason, the division title is well within reach. The Astros will rely on many players on the roster, reliever Tony Sipp has been effective and vital to the Astros' success. Despite being a left-handed reliever that has shown up in games primarily for the tough lefty in the lineup, Sipp has a strong reverse split but both are very strong. Left-handed batters are hitting to a .235 batting average while right-handed batters are hitting to a measly .170 batting average. Sipp doesn't blow it by batters, sitting steadily around 91 MPH with his fastball while he adds in a slider and changeup. However, he does strikeout nearly one batter per appearance. He has proven to be an effective reliever, regardless of right or left so his value in a bullpen increases. The Astros will rely on relievers like Sipp down this stretch run as they continue competing for the West division title.
