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Ryan Nakada analyzes some top MLB relief pitcher (RP) sleepers for holds that are available as waiver wire pickups in Week 16 for your fantasy baseball leagues.
While the holds statistic is a harder category to predict for than the save category for closers, the players we highlight today feature some setup men and some guys who are looking to reclaim the glory they once had. The more likely an MLB team is to win, the more likely these following relief pitcher sleepers will be eligible to earn the holds that could be the difference between you winning or losing in your fantasy league.
This week, a pair of relievers that are in new places get the spotlight. There are relievers that are contending for their respective divisions and there are some that are not. What they are all capable of is getting the holds that are valuable to your fantasy baseball 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.
Also be sure to check out our famous fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list, which is broken down by every position with hot/trending players, and is updated every single day.
Jordan Walden, Atlanta Braves
10 holds, 2.45 ERA, 25.2 innings, 37 strikeouts, 1.25 WHIP
Creating the bridge to Craig Kimbrel is an important task and Jordan Walden is an important piece. In the 30 games that Jordan Walden has appeared in, 19 of them have been games in which the Braves have had the lead - and he has gotten the hold in 10 of them.
Once a closer, Walden has shown he is capable of striking out batters (13.0 K/9) to near his career-high (13.5 K/9) and finds himself used in the any of the last three innings, but mostly in the eighth inning. The Atlanta Braves have been able to find the starting pitching they needed to stay relevant in the race for the division, and the bullpen has featured some effective relievers over the years and Jordan Walden is certainly one of them.
Bryan Morris, Miami Marlins
7 holds, 2.00 ERA, 45.0 innings, 32 strikeouts, 1.31 WHIP
(with the Marlins - 3 holds, 0.00 ERA, 21.1 innings, 1.03 WHIP)
Once a valuable part of the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen, Bryan Morris finds himself on the Miami Marlins roster where he might have found and pushed himself into a second gear. Overall, Bryan Morris has put up great numbers through 45 innings this season but he has been great with the Marlins. Since making his first appearance with the Miami Marlins on June 4, Morris has pitched 21.1 scoreless innings. He has allowed three unearned runs but that is through no fault of his own. Nearly 65% of the balls put in play against Morris are on the ground and with the spacious Marlins home stadium, it is no surprise that Morris is finding success in his new home.
Joe Thatcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
5 holds, 2.49 ERA, 25.1 innings, 26 strikeouts, 1.11 WHIP
Once a member of the Arizona Dbacks Notebook" href="http://www.rotoballer.com/mlb-fantasy-news/?team=ARI">Diamondbacks, Joe Thatcher was thrust into postseason contention when he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Thatcher was traded to the Angels on July 5 so he has not seen a lot of playing time with his new team (3 games, 1.1 innings). The Angels needed a dependable lefty in their bullpen and Thatcher will surely fill the bill. With time, he will move into the important role of pitching with the lead as he gets the call to face feared bats like the Mariners’ Robinson Cano and the Athletics’ Brandon Moss.
Oliver Perez, Arizona Diamondbacks
9 holds, 2.12 ERA, 34.0 innings, 37 strikeouts, 1.18 WHIP
With Joe Thatcher traded to the Angels, Oliver Perez is the veteran lefty of the bullpen. After experiencing success in the bullpen over his two years in Seattle, Perez finds himself in the Diamondback bullpen and has a good reverse split (.171 vs. RHB, .268 vs. LHB). In 13 of his 38 appearances, he has pitched with the lead and came away with nine holds. There is no telling how much success the Diamondbacks will see in this difficult season but Perez should be the beneficiary when the starting pitcher hands over a lead.
Justin De Fratus, Philadelphia Phillies
2 holds, 2.49 ERA, 25.1 innings, 20 strikeouts, 1.11 WHIP
Despite the Philadelphia Phillies finding themselves in the bottom of the National League East, reliever Justin De Fratus is having another good season. The opportunity to get holds has not presented itself like it has in the past for De Fratus and the Phillies but it has not stopped him from doing his job. He has only pitched in five games with the lead but he was able to get two holds. When De Fratus gets the opportunity, he has done well. It is really just a question of how many opportunities he will get this year.
