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Ryan Nakada analyzes five MLB relief pitchers (RP) and setup men to target for holds as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and adds for Week Nine of the MLB season.
While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men to target off the waiver wire for Week Nine 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.
Let's get to it.
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Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds
Matt Albers, Washington Nationals
2 Saves, 4 Holds, 1.29 ERA, 21.0 IP, 21 K, 0.81 WHIP
While the Washington Nationals bullpen has been mired with a stint of injuries; reliever Matt Albers has stayed durable and reliable. Generally pitching in the late third of the game, Albers has held opponents to a .173 batting average this year, well under his career .265 opponent batting average. Equipped with a 92.6 MPH sinker and a 86.4 MPH slider, Albers generates ground balls on 52.9 percent of batted balls. He averages a strikeout per inning and has been keeping batters off the bases. The veteran is proving to be a viable waiver wire acquisition for holds leagues.
Joe Kelly, Boston Red Sox
3 Holds, 1.54 ERA, 23.1 IP, 17 K, 1.07 WHIP
Power-pitcher Joe Kelly of the Boston Red Sox has become a force for the division contenders. Primarily using a 98.7 MPH two-seam fastball, 88.8 MPH slider and 82.7 MPH curveball; Kelly strikes out under a batter per inning but he needs to keep the walk (5.1 BB/9) total down. Utilizing the two-seam fastball, Kelly also keeps the ball down 58.5 percent of the time in a very hitter-friendly ballpark. Kelly generates above average swings in the zone but also produces below average contact in the zone too. With the power pitches, Kelly looks to be a mainstay in the back part of the game.
Josh Fields, Los Angeles Dodgers
3 Holds, 0.84 ERA, 21.1 IP, 26 K, 0.84 WHIP
Relying primarily on his 94.8 MPH fastball, Josh Fields has become a strong presence in the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen. While Fields continues to strikeout more than a batter per inning, like his career average (11.0 K/9) indicates, he has also cut down on the batters that reach base, both by walks and by hits. Fields gets above league-average swinging strikes and many swings, but below league-average contact. As Fields continues to succeed, expect him to see more time in the late innings as the bridge from the starter to the closer as he tallies more holds.
Felipe Rivero, Pittsburgh Pirates
12 Holds, 0.65 ERA, 27.2 IP, 29 K, 0.83 WHIP
Acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates last season in the Mark Melancon deal with Washington, reliever Felipe Rivero has been a force in the bullpen this year. With a 97.7 MPH fastball and an 87.7 MPH changeup, Rivero strikes out over a batter per inning. In addition, Rivero also generates batted balls on the ground 64.3 percent of the time. He also generates the ideal swings from the opposition. The swings are above league average but the contact made by batters is below league average. His success this year has allowed the Pirates to call upon him frequently and in games with the lead, providing encouraging signs that he is a worthwhile waiver wire pickup in holds leagues.
Shane Greene, Detroit Tigers
8 Holds, 1.82 ERA, 24.2 IP, 28 K, 1.18 WHIP
The Detroit Tigers have found Shane Greene to be an effective reliever for them this season. Averaging over a strikeout per inning, opponents are hitting just .200 against Greene. Utilizing a starter's repertoire, Greene uses a 94.7 MPH two-seam fastball, 83.1 MPH slider and 89.1 MPH cutter. With all the downward movement of his pitches, Greene generates ground balls on 50.8 percent of balls put in play. Greene finds himself frequently pitching in the seventh inning so he figures to be a consistent part of the bridge to the end of the game. He is a very viable waiver wire pickup in holds leagues.
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