RADIO
While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men. 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.
Bryan Shaw, Cleveland Indians
9 holds, 2.03 ERA, 26.2 innings, 24 strikeouts, 1.20 WHIP
Reliever Bryan Shaw is having another solid season for the Cleveland Indians. After a year with an ERA in the 2.50 range, the 27-year-old Shaw currently has an ERA approaching 2.00 and he is doing it with his usual two-pitch repertoire. Relying on movement, Shaw turns to a cutter 75 percent of the time and a slider 24 percent of the time. Opponents are held to a .222 batting average by Shaw and he has not been getting outs at the same ground ball rate that he had last year. After generating 45.8 percent ground balls, Shaw has generated 36 percent ground balls. His fly ball rate is about the same, 38.7 this year, 36.0 last year. Regardless, he is finding success and will be a good addition to teams seeking out holds. That is, when the Indians starting pitchers aren't teasing perfection.
Adam Warren, New York Yankees
2013 statistics: 23 holds, 2.97 ERA, 78.2 innings, 76 strikeouts, 1.18 WHIP
After starting the season in the rotation, Adam Warren is returning to a scene he had success in. Bear in mind, this is not a demotion but a matter of too much of a good thing for the New York Yankees. Adam Warren was great in the bullpen in 2013, as reflected by the numbers. As a member of the bullpen, Warren held opponents to a .219 batting average. He will be able to add some speed to his fastball, slider and changeup with his return to the bullpen. With Andrew Miller out and Dellin Betances in the closer's role, Adam Warren will step into the seventh and eighth inning as a pivotal part of the bridge in the bullpen.
Trevor Gott, Los Angeles Angels
3 holds, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 innings, 4 strikeouts, 0.63 WHIP
The rookie Trevor Gott has a small sample size in the majors but for the Angels, Gott is getting it done. In eight scoreless innings to start his career, Trevor Gott is keeping opponents to a .143 batting average. With a fastball exceeding 96 mph, Gott is supplying the power to 41.7 percent fly balls but it has not come to haunt him. The 22-year-old Gott already finds himself pitching in the last third of the game. The Angels will let the hot hand in the bullpen handle important situations and keep wins moving along.
Daniel Hudson, Arizona Dbacks
8 holds, 3.60 ERA, 35.0 innings, 33 strikeouts, 1.23 WHIP
Once a starting pitcher, Daniel Hudson found success in the bullpen after going through Tommy John surgery. Like any starting pitcher turned relief pitcher, Hudson rears back and adds speed to his pitches. His fastball went from 94 to 96 mph in his conversion and his slider went from 83 to 86 with his move to the bullpen. Hudson is keeping opponents to a .225 batting average. He is keeping the ball down with a 44.9 percent ground ball rate. Daniel Hudson already finds himself pitching in the eighth inning of most ballgames so he will have plenty of opportunities for holds.
Ryan Mattheus, Cincinnati Reds
4 holds, 2.75 ERA, 19.2 innings, 12 strikeouts, 1.12 WHIP
After starting the season in Los Angeles, Ryan Mattheus found stability in the bullpen of the Cincinnati Reds. The 31-year-old righty worked his way up the pecking order of the Reds bullpen on the strength of poorly batted balls. Mattheus started the season as a mop-up pitcher that found himself in games well out of hand. By the start of June, Mattheus finds himself in the last third of the game and with good reason. While he does not strike out a lot, he gets ground balls at a remarkable 66 percent of the time. Relying on a fastball in the low 90s, Mattheus is finding success on a struggling team. He will find his share of holds when the Reds are in line to win.
