While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men that have proven to be closer candidates to target off the waiver wire for Week 7 of the fantasy baseball season.

The more likely a team is to win, the more likely a pitcher will be eligible to earn the holds that could be the difference between winning or losing in your fantasy league. Bear in mind, an effective relief pitcher highlighted today could find himself in a closer's role if the everyday closer is unavailable or recently ineffective.

Editor’s Note: RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list is updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging starting pitchers, and also all other fantasy positions. You can also download our waiver wire iPhone app for free, and easily stay updated.

 

Relief Pitcher Waivers - Holds Leagues

Fernando Salas, Los Angeles Angels

2 Saves, 5 Holds, 2.29 ERA, 19.2 IP, 18 K, 0.81 WHIP

With Huston Street still sidelined, it seemed obvious that setup man Joe Smith was the placeholder in the closer's role. Lately, Smith has gotten two saves but Fernando Salas has seen his share of closing opportunities too, saving two games as well. While Smith is posting a good 3.60 ERA, Salas is also posting a great 2.29 ERA over his 19 games. Opponents are hitting .194 against Salas and his fastball, slider, changeup combination. Smith and Salas will split time during Street's absence. Salas will strike out more than Smith so he may have just slightly more fantasy value.

Jake Diekman, Texas Rangers

0 Saves, 10 Holds, 2.51 ERA, 14.1 IP, 19 K, 1.05 WHIP

While Shawn Tolleson looks to rediscover what made him a reliable closer for the Texas Rangers, Sam Dyson will step into the closer's role but another potential candidate for closing resides in the bullpen as well. Lefty Jake Diekman has been a strong part of the Rangers bullpen. Diekman has a reverse split, holding right-handed batters to a .190 batting average while left-handed batters are hitting .250 against him. Primarily a power two-seam fastball pitcher, Diekman generates 45.7% ground balls with his fastball at 95.3 MPH. Dyson will get his fair opportunity at seizing the ninth inning but should he find the new role difficult, look to Diekman to slide from the eighth inning to the ninth and notch his first (and more) career saves.

Carlos Estevez, Colorado Rockies

0 Saves, 6 Holds, 4.50 ERA, 12.0 IP, 12 K, 1.25 WHIP

For now, closer Jake McGee has secured the closer's role with the Colorado Rockies because veteran Jason Motte and rookie flamethrower Miguel Castro are sidelined with injury. While McGee has been perfect in eight of his last nine opportunities, when he is bad, he is very bad; as evident by his 2/3 of an inning blown save in which he surrendered five runs to the Dodgers on April 24. If McGee and his 3.78 ERA hiccups again before Motte or Castro returns, look for Carlos Estevez to see save opportunities. The 23-year-old rookie has been impressive in the 12 games he has appeared in. He has progressed from seeing regular appearances in the sixth or seventh inning to getting holds in his last five appearances, pitching in the eighth inning. He has opponents hitting .182 against his 96.2 MPH fastball. Averaging a strikeout per inning, Estevez will need to minimize the 5.3 walks per nine innings and establish a way to minimize the 46.9% fly ball rate, especially at home in Coors Field.

Will Harris, Houston Astros

0 Saves, 11 Holds, 0.46 ERA, 19.2 IP, 20 K, 0.66 WHIP

Houston Astros closer Luke Gregerson has pitched to a 3.86 ERA in 18 games and acquired potential closer Ken Giles has pitched to a horrific 6.61 ERA in 20 games. A pitcher that has shined in the dark start for the Houston Astros is reliever Will Harris. Opponents are hitting .157 against Harris. While he is averaging about a strikeout per inning (9.2), his real selling point for a potential opportunity at closing is a 72.5% ground ball rate. Utilizing a cutter and changeup, Harris does not overpower batters but keeps it off the sweet spot of the bat, generating soft contact and keeping the ball in the park. For most of the season, Harris has seen work in the eighth inning so his experience in high-leverage situations can give him more consideration for the closer's role instead of Giles should Gregerson struggle again.

Fernando Abad, Minnesota Twins

0 Saves, 2 Holds, 0.61 ERA, 14.2 IP, 14 K, 0.89 WHIP

In the absence of closer Glen Perkins, Kevin Jepsen stepped in as closer but his 5.28 ERA could make that role a little uncertain going forward. While two of the four runs Jepsen surrendered recently have been in non-save situations, he has also blown three saves this year. Fernando Abad looks destined to be a lefty specialist, allowing no hits in 19 plate appearances by left-handed batters, but Abad has not allowed an extra base hit in 35 plate appearances by right-handed batters. Mixing in his two-seam fastball with a knuckle-curve, Abad is generating 55.6% ground balls in an already pitcher-friendly Target Field. Generally left-handed relievers are used for single batters but if Jepsen struggles in Perkins' absence, look to Abad receiving an opportunity as his numbers justify the chance.

 

Live Expert Q&A Chats - Every Weekday @ 1 PM and 6 PM EST (DFS)

Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

 

 

Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!