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While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men, who can help out fantasy owners as we head toward Week 18 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 closers and relief pitchers, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Will Harris, Houston Astros
5 holds, 1.37 ERA, 46.0 innings, 44 strikeouts, 0.83 WHIP
The Houston Astros are continuing to fight for a possible postseason spot. Relief pitcher Will Harris has been a solid arm in the strong Astros bullpen. Relying on a low 90s fastball and low 80s curve, Harris is holding opponents to a .146 batting average. The Astros are making the most of their hitter-friendly home ballpark on the offense while the pitching is containing the opposition. At a 48.7 ground ball rate, Harris is not letting opponents make the most of the small ballpark dimensions. As long as he keeps the ball down and strikes out hitters at a good pace, Will Harris will get to enjoy the success that finds the Astros in the postseason for the first time in years.
Blaine Boyer, Minnesota Twins
15 holds, 2.74 ERA, 42.2 innings, 19 strikeouts, 1.31 WHIP
The Minnesota Twins continue shocking the world with a current hold on the second Wild Card spot. Veteran relief pitcher Blaine Boyer frequently found himself in the eighth inning despite struggling of late. The right-handed Boyer benefits from the very spacious Target Field but still gets the batted ball on the ground. Boyer generates 48.6 percent ground balls. The one statistic that will keep you away from Boyer is a dreadful strikeout rate. At 4.0 K/9, Boyer will not miss bats but if he can keep the ball down; he will continue to find success as the Twins make one of the more shocking pursuits of postseason baseball this year.
Hector Rondon, Chicago Cubs
8 holds, 1.80 ERA, 45.0 innings, 41 strikeouts, 1.00 WHIP
Once the closer on the Chicago Cubs, Hector Rondon looks to be shifting to an eighth inning setup role, or maybe not? With veteran Rafael Soriano in the Cubs' bullpen, the 27-year-old Rondon took the step back and may continue his good season in the eighth inning. With opponents hitting to a .211 batting average, Rondon is a strong contributor in the bullpen. At a 48.8 percent ground ball rate, Rondon is keeping the ball down though the 29.8 percent fly ball rate could be a problem potentially. Rondon is having a strong year and he may continue this behind Rafael Soriano. It's tough to say for sure, but he will either rack up holds, or get saves, when Joe Maddon finally makes up his mind for good.
Sam Tuivailala, St. Louis Cardinals
2 holds, 1.80 ERA, 10.0 innings, 9 strikeouts, 1.10 WHIP
The hard-throwing Sam Tuivailala is yet another success story in the St. Louis Cardinals year. The 22-year-old Tuivailala turns to a fastball that averages 97 mph and a slider approaching 88 mph. With this power, opponents are held to a .143 batting average. Keeping the ball down at a 53.8 percent ground ball rate will also work in the favor of Tuivailala. The Cardinals are well ahead of the Pirates in the Central and with good reason, finding gems to help fortify the bullpen for a strong run this year.
T.J. McFarland, Baltimore Orioles
3 holds, 2.70 ERA, 13.1 innings, 13 strikeouts, 2.03 WHIP
The Baltimore Orioles are doing their best to stay in the race for postseason baseball. T.J. McFarland is making an effort to be a solid contributor out of the Orioles bullpen. Despite a .328 opponent batting average, the 26-year-old McFarland is generating the type of batted balls that you want. At 66.7 percent, McFarland is generating ground balls at a great rate. He will not overpower batters with a fastball in the low 90s and a slider in the low 80s. The 17.8 percent fly ball rate and 15.6 percent line drive rate is cause for joy if you are an Orioles fan. The numbers should support success from McFarland and in the thick of a postseason race, his contributions will be critical so the holds will find him.
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