RADIO
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 13 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 has the best Premium MLB Subscription for only $1.99 per week. We have all the tools to help win your seasonal and daily leagues: Hitter & Pitcher Streamers, Matchup Ratings for every player, Sleeper Surgers for AVG, HR, Ks, PLUS Daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids.
Week 13 Bullpen Targets
Seung Hwan Oh, St. Louis Cardinals
0 Saves, 14 Holds, 1.58 ERA, 40.0 IP, 53 K, 0.88 WHIP
Once the closer, Trevor Rosenthal has been informed the St. Louis Cardinals will use him in a different role. With the closer role up for grabs between Seung Hwan Oh, Kevin Siegrist and Jonathan Broxton. While Siegrist and Broxton do have closing experience at the major league level, Oh and his 1.58 ERA should give him the first shot at closing potential Cardinals wins. Opponents are hitting .164 against Oh in his rookie campaign. Relying on a fastball and slider, Oh generates 46.7% ground balls but also generates 40.0% fly balls. With the closer role bestowed on him, Oh has significant fantasy value as he averages well over a strikeout per inning. Expect the Cardinals to notch wins and for Oh to get opportunities at closing them out and in dominant fashion.
Xavier Cedeno, Tampa Bay Rays
0 Saves, 14 Holds, 3.76 ERA, 26.1 IP, 26 K, 1.18 WHIP
With Brad Boxberger and Alex Colome on the disabled list, closing duties fall to reliever Xavier Cedeno. The lefty Cedeno has been effective this year but his experience with closing is limited. With two career saves, Cedeno will take on more responsibilities. The lefty is keeping the ball down, generating 47.9% ground balls. With his 87.7 MPH cutter and 79.5 MPH curveball, Cedeno nearly averages a strikeout per inning. The opportunity for Cedeno is his and his alone so fantasy managers in need of a closer should watch him and pounce on the opportunity when he shows he is capable or when the Tampa Bay Rays are in ideal match-ups for wins.
Blake Treinen, Washington Nationals
0 Saves, 9 Holds, 2.25 ERA, 32.0 IP, 31 K, 1.31 WHIP
Until Jonathan Papelbon returns, Shawn Kelley is the Washington Nationals closer but he has hit a few bumps in the road lately. Another candidate for saves is reliever Blake Treinen. With his power sinker, at 95.0 MPH, Treinen generates 63.3% ground balls. Opponents are hitting .236 against Treinen but he is averaging nearly a strikeout per inning. Papelbon and Kelley are likely secure in their job but Treinen certainly could garner attention in leagues that count holds and get the occasional save too.
Jake Diekman, Texas Rangers
2 Saves, 18 Holds, 3.03 ERA, 29.2 IP, 34 K, 0.94 WHIP
The Texas Rangers bullpen has struggled to find consistency. Former closer Shawn Tolleson has not shown any improvement to justify his return to the role and current closer Sam Dyson has hit a few bumps lately but a potential closer candidate is power-pitching Jake Diekman. Sporting a 95.5 MPH fastball and 84.9 MPH slider, Diekman holds opponents to a .173 batting average. As a lefty, he has reverse splits as right-handed batters are hitting .162 and left-handed batters are hitting .200 so he can go full innings effectively. The power two-seam fastball helps him generate 43.7% ground balls in a batter-friendly home ballpark. If Dyson struggles again, look to Diekman for more closing opportunities.
1 Save, 12 Holds, 4.91 ERA, 33.0 IP, 42 K, 1.46 WHIP
After coming out of the gate with a 9.00 ERA, Ken Giles has turned his first season with the Astros around. After a 3.97 ERA in May, Giles pitched to a 2.31 ERA in June. While Will Harris has remarkable numbers, the Astros have let it out that they intend to go with a closer-by-committee setup. Harris will likely see the majority of the opportunities but if Giles is returning to the form that made him so desired from Philadelphia, he will see his share of closing opportunities. Giles has over a strikeout per inning and good experience as a closer. Giles will get occasional saves but will be an absolute pickup for leagues that count holds.
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!
