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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.
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.
Brandon Maurer, San Diego Padres
12 holds, 3.06 ERA, 50.0 innings, 38 strikeouts, 1.06 WHIP
The San Diego Padres general manager has claimed that the team is still a contender. Despite a 3.06 ERA, reliever Brandon Maurer has had a quality season in the Padres' bullpen. Primarily seen in the seventh or eighth inning, Maurer is very effective. What Maurer lacks in strikeouts, under 7.0 per nine innings, he makes up with a good ground ball rate that explains how opponents have a .208 batting average against him. Using a fastball around 95.0 MPH and a cutter just over 88.0 MPH, Brandon Maurer generated 47.3 percent ground balls. A 30.1 percent fly ball rate could be alarming normally but the very pitcher-friendly Petco Park is to the benefit of Maurer and all the Padres pitchers.
Luis Garcia, Philadelphia Phillies
11 holds, 3.28 ERA, 46.2 innings, 43 strikeouts, 1.37 WHIP
The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best records since the All-Star break, it's too bad the team has been out of contention since well before the break. The Phillies' recent success is to the benefit of reliever Luis Garcia. The 28-year-old Garcia is having a good season despite the team he pitches for. Opponents are hitting .249 against Garcia and is generating ground balls at a 59.7 percent rate. The two-pitch pitcher relies on a fastball around 95.0 MPH and a slider approaching 85.0 MPH. With 11 holds, Garcia is making the most of the opportunities, especially with the departure of veterans, as they intended to rebuild.
Casey Janssen, Washington Nationals
7 holds, 2.63 ERA, 24.0 innings, 16 strikeouts, 0.83 WHIP
The Washington Nationals have hit a few bumps in the road recently but the bullpen received an addition to fortify them for the final push. Adding a high-quality closer puts good relievers in less stressful situations than they had previously. After spending a majority of the season as the eighth inning reliever, setting up for Drew Storen, Janssen continues to setup Storen but not as a closer. The 33-year-old Janssen moved into the seventh inning and continues to do a good job. In 24.0 innings this year, opponents have a .195 batting average despite a 40.0 percent fly ball rate. Janssen is not known for a high strikeout rate and he will not overpower opposing batters. His fastball averages just faster than his cutter, his two primary pitches, but he mixes in a curveball that is nearly 15 MPH slower than his fastball to generate weak contact and easy outs.
Sam Freeman, Texas Rangers
11 holds, 2.96 ERA, 27.1 innings, 26 strikeouts, 1.43 WHIP
The Texas Rangers made a trade deadline acquisition for the future but they are not done with this year. Despite being a clear specialist, 27.1 innings in 40 games, he holds left-handed batters to a .288 batting average and right-handed batters to a .146 batting average. Primarily a fastball pitcher, with a slider and changeup, Freeman keeps the ball down in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park. The 28-year-old Freeman is finding success in the situations he is put into as the Rangers continue to contend for a postseason spot.
Mark Lowe, Toronto Blue Jays
14 holds, 1.64 ERA, 38.1 innings, 48 strikeouts, 1.20 WHIP
Acquired for additional veteran presence in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen, Mark Lowe will build upon his good statistics from his time with the Seattle Mariners. Through the first few appearances with his new team, he has not looked like his normal self but the likelihood of his numbers returning to normalcy is likely. The 32-year-old Lowe has opponents hitting to a .248 batting average but strikes out more than a batter per inning. He primarily relies on fastballs and sliders and the batted balls are well balanced. He allows ground balls 36.2 percent of the time, fly balls 29.8 percent of the time and line drives 34.0 percent of the time. His new teammates know how to make their home ballpark to look small but if Lowe can keep the ball down, he will be a big part of the success the Toronto Blue Jays are looking for this year.
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