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Bullpen Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 20

With the trade deadline in the rear-view mirror, buyers and sellers have made the moves to thrust their team in their respective directions. 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 20 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: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including Draft Kit + DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through October. Premium DFS lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more - seven days a week. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

 

Week 20 Bullpen Targets

Tyler Thornburg, Milwaukee Brewers

4 Saves, 20 Holds, 2.03 ERA, 48.2 IP, 66 K, 0.90 WHIP

The Milwaukee Brewers closer is having a fantastic season. The ninth inning role was more than deserved. Opponents are hitting .163 against Thornburg and he is having a career year as his hits per nine innings (5.2) is considerably better than his career average (7.2) and his strikeouts per nine innings (12.2) is exceptionally high compared to his career average (8.8). Utilizing a 94.1 MPH fastball and 78.7 MPH curveball, Thornburg is becoming a great reliever that the Brewers can count on to close out games for them the rest of this year. His outstanding strikeout numbers give him a lot of value as a waiver wire pickup for any fantasy team.

Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners

8 Saves, 13 Holds, 1.85 ERA, 34.0 IP, 62 K, 1.15 WHIP

Since receiving the closer's role, rookie Edwin Diaz has been remarkable. Diaz has been efficient and effective in most of his save opportunities. He is perfect in eight opportunities and three of the save opportunities required less than 10 pitches. The power-pitching Diaz sports a 97.2 MPH fastball and and 86.7 MPH slider to hold opponents to a .229 batting average. In addition to calling the most pitcher-friendly ballpark home, Diaz generates batted balls at a 49.3% ground ball rate. It appears Diaz was made to be a closer and should be picked up off the waiver wire immediately.

Brandon Kintzler, Minnesota Twins

12 Saves, 1 Hold, 1.82 ERA, 39.2 IP, 24 K, 0.98 WHIP

Brandon Kintzler has established that he can close out games. Unlike most closers, Kintzler is not a strikeout pitcher. Kintzler utilizes a 92.7 MPH sinker to generate 63.5% ground balls on batted balls. Opponents are hitting .238 against him and he has blown one save since the beginning of June. His K/9 this year is at 5.4 so claim him off the waiver wire if you strictly need saves as strikeouts will be hard to find from the 31-year-old Kintzler.

Adam Ottavino, Colorado Rockies

1 Save, 4 Holds, 0.00 ERA, 15.0 IP, 17 K, 0.87 WHIP

One week ago, new Colorado Rockies closer Adam Ottavino secured his first save of the year in dominant fashion, striking out the Texas Rangers in order. Opponents are hitting .189 against Ottavino and his two-seam fastball. Ottavino reduced the speed on his fastball from 95.7 MPH to 93.5 and is generating ground balls at a great rate. In a normally very hitter-friendly ballpark like Coors Field, a 69.4% ground ball rate will work in the pitcher's favor everyday. Ottavino will likely not maintain this rate but strike when the iron is hot and pick up this reliever from the waiver wire.

Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati Reds

1 Save, 6 Holds, 2.16 ERA, 58.1 IP, 64 K, 1.15 WHIP

Current Cincinnati Reds closer Tony Cingrani is holding down the fort in the ninth inning, but has not been without his bumps and bruises. Cingrani has blown five saves this year and the Reds will (obviously) not be contending in the near future. With an opportunity presented, Raisel Iglesias may see more than the one audition as the closer for the Reds that he locked down last week. Primarily using a 92.2 MPH fastball and 82.4 MPH slider, Iglesias strikes out just over a batter per inning at a 9.9 K/9 rate. Generating more ground balls (39.5%) like in 2015 (47.2%) will work to his benefit as he closes out games for the rebuilding Reds. If Cingrani blows more saves, look for Iglesias to seize the opportunity.

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ketel Marte

Likely To Return This Weekend
A.J. Puk

Won't Need Surgery, Won't Throw For 2-3 Weeks
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Could Be Forced To Injured List With Oblique Injury
Jeimer Candelario

Placed On 10-Day Injured List With Spine Strain
Patrick Rodgers

A Solid Value Play At TPC Craig Ranch
Jamal Murray

Explodes For 43 Points In Game 5
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Looking To Recapture Form At CJ Cup
Jayson Tatum

Fires In 35 Points In Series-Clincher
Matt McCarty

An Intriguing Value Play At CJ Cup
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Logs Massive Triple-Double In Game 5
Maxi Kleber

Listed As Questionable For Game 5
Will Zalatoris

Searching For Putting Form At CJ Cup
Rob Dillingham

Out On Wednesday
Jae'Sean Tate

Still Out On Wednesday
Jimmy Butler III

Listed As Probable For Wednesday
Jack Eichel

Notches Two Assists In Game 5 Victory
Sam Stevens

A Risky Play With Upside At CJ Cup
PGA

Sungjae Im Riding Momentum Into CJ Cup
Sebastian Aho

Sends Hurricanes To Round 2
Ben Griffin

Looking To Stay Hot After First Career Win
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Looking For More Success At TPC Craig Ranch
Linus Ullmark

Records Shutout In Elimination Game
Brady Tkachuk

Extends Point Streak To Four Games
Mackenzie Hughes

Is An Interesting Option At CJ Cup
Pavel Dorofeyev

Doesn't Finish Game 5
Filip Gustavsson

Exits Early Due To Illness
Aaron Ekblad

Slapped With Two-Game Suspension
Aldrich Potgieter

Trending Downward For CJ Cup
Taylor Pendrith

Plays Well In Houston Recently
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Niklas Norgaard May Not Be Cut Out For Texas
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Smacks Two Homers To End Slump
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Hits Two More Homers, Drives In Five
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The Untouchable Favorite At CJ Cup
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A Popular Name To Avoid At TPC Craig Ranch
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Looking To Find Success Again At TPC Craig Ranch
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Exits With Leg Cramps
Ben Kohles

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Finishes Tied For 18th At the Valero Texas Open
Jordan Spieth

Finishes Tied For 18th At RBC Heritage
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"Feeling Great," Could Throw Again On Sunday
Tyler Fitzgerald

Returning To Starting Nine
Josh Lowe

Progressing Well, Could Play In Rehab Games On Saturday
Shane McClanahan

Begins "Throwing-Like" Activities
Patrik Laine

Remains Day-To-Day
Gabriel Vilardi

On Track To Return Wednesday
Brandon Hagel

Ruled Out For Game 5
Marcus Johansson

Returns To Action Tuesday
Cole Ragans

Won't Start On Wednesday
Dylan Moore

Placed On 10-Day Injured List With Hip Inflammation
Jonas Siegenthaler

Considered A Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Brett Pesce

A Game-Time Call Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Back In Tuesday's Lineup
Frederik Andersen

Unavailable Tuesday
Aaron Nesmith

Upgraded To Available
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Mason Taylor To Immediately Be Atop Jets Tight End Depth Chart
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Cleared For Game 5
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Dre Greenlaw Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp
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Sam Darnold To Take Over 90% Of The Snaps
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Titans In No Rush To Trade Will Levis
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Bengals Picking Up Fifth-Year Option On Dax Hill
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Chargers Apply Unrestricted Free-Agent Tender To J.K. Dobbins
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Pat Bryant Compared To Michael Thomas
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RJ Harvey Could Do It All For Broncos
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Tetairoa McMillan Likely To Man The X Spot For Panthers
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Packers, Jaire Alexander Continue To Discuss Potential Reunion
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Cowboys Discussed George Pickens With Steelers
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Chiefs To Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis
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Matt Gays Signs One-Year Deal With Commanders
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George Kittle Signs Four-Year Extension With 49ers
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Alperen Sengun Records Third Consecutive Double-Double
Brandin Podziemski

Hits Six Treys During 26-Point Performance
Jimmy Butler III

Leads Warriors In Scoring Monday Night
Jarrett Allen

Has Double-Double, Six Steals In Blowout Win
Brandon Boston Jr.

Recovering From Ankle Surgery
Kelly Olynyk

Undergoes Heel Procedure
Aaron Nesmith

Probable For Tuesday's Action
Nathan MacKinnon

Has Two Points In Losing Effort
Martin Necas

Records Two Assists In Game 5 Loss
Mikko Rantanen

Tallies Three Points In Monday's Win
Wyatt Johnston

Leads Stars To Game 5 Victory
Sergei Bobrovsky

Returns To Winning Ways
Anton Lundell

Earns Two Points Monday
Brandon Hagel

Departs Loss Early
Riley Greene

Homers Twice On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

Exits Monday's Win Early
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Tre Harris Expected To Fill X Role For Chargers
Jimmy Butler III

Officially Active For Game 4
Isaiah Stewart

Uncertain For Game 5
Michael Porter Jr.

Expected To Play In Game 5
Brandon Nimmo

Has Career Game
Russell Westbrook

Questionable For Tuesday Night
Tyler Glasnow

Going On The Injured List
Jaylen Brown

Back On The Injury Report
Luis Arraez

Expected To Return On Tuesday
William Byron

Ends With A Strong Top-Five Finish At Talladega
Ryan Blaney

Bad Luck Continues With Talladega Crash
Kyle Larson

Has A Career-Best Performance At Talladega
Ian Machado Garry

Gets Back On Track With UFC Kansas City Win
Brad Keselowski

Talladega Run Ends Early After Crashing
Carlos Prates

Suffers His First UFC Loss
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Takes Unanimous-Decision Loss
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Extends His Win Streak
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Gets Finished For The First Time
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Gets First-Round TKO Finish At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Gets TKO'd At UFC Kansas City
Chase Elliott

Recovers from Speeding Penalty to Finish Fifth
Joey Logano

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Loses Talladega Race First in Photo Finish Then in Post-Race Inspection
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Could Joey Logano Finish A Race With A Top Finish At Talladega?
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DFS Players Should Like Bubba Wallace For Talladega This Week
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Should DFS Players Roster Christopher Bell At Talladega?
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Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering For Talladega DFS Lineups?
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Austin Dillon

Is Austin Dillon A Viable DFS Play At Talladega This Week?
Josh Berry

Qualifies Too High At Talladega To Be Worth Rostering In DFS
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Should DFS Players Take A Shot On Michael McDowell At Talladega?
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Could Be A Sneaky DFS Play For Talladega
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Probably Qualified Too Well for DFS Consideration
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Increasingly Undervalued Due to His Crashing, but Still a Great DFS Option
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Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
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Scheduled For Co-Main Event
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Set For Featherweight Bout
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Looks To Bounce Back
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Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
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Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
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