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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 6 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 he 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.
Week 6 Bullpen Waiver Wire Pickups
Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies
1 Save, 8 Holds, 1.71 ERA, 21.0 IP, 28 K, 0.81 WHIP
The Philadelphia Phillies have come out of the gate far stronger than any projections envisioned. With victories come opportunities for a strong bullpen to show what they have. The closer role for the Phillies looks to be firmly in the grasp of Jeanmar Gomez. With that said, Hector Neris is a viable candidate for not only holds, but saves as well. On May 1, Neris recorded his first career save with a scoreless ninth inning. If Gomez works four of five games like he did entering May 1, Neris will find himself in the ninth inning for the save. On the power of a splitter used 58.7% of the time, Neris is averaging more than a strikeout per inning and opponents are hitting to a .141 batting average. The breakout year for Neris could see him in the ninth inning sooner rather than later.
Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds
2 Saves, 6 Holds, 2.93 ERA, 15.1 IP, 13 K, 1.37 WHIP
In the last three save opportunities, the Cincinnati Reds have used Tony Cingrani. After the likely candidate for saves, J.J. Hoover, pitched to a hideous 14.34 ERA, lefty Tony Cingrani grabbed the closer role, which he appears to have embraced. Despite blowing his first save in three opportunities, he is pitching well. Opponents are hitting .211 against him and its understandable as he not only added to his fastball, (91.8 MPH in 2015 to 93.4 in 2016) but also he took just a bit off his slider. Complementing the fastball is a 13.7 speed differential as his slider averages at 79.7 MPH, making for a quality combination from the new Reds closer.
1 Save, 9 Holds, 2.12 ERA, 17.0 IP, 13 K, 1.24 WHIP
For the Texas Rangers, the bullpen has been a weakness as a whole. Closer Shawn Tolleson pitched to an early 5.40 ERA and has blown two saves but has worked to reduce it lately. With opponents hitting .298 against Tolleson, having a strong backup in Sam Dyson is not a bad idea. When Tolleson is given the day off, setup reliever Sam Dyson will tag in as the Rangers closer. Sporting a two-seam fastball around 95.7 MPH, Dyson generates ground balls on 66.7% of balls put in play. Tolleson is not a high candidate for losing his job but he does have a history of injury. If Tolleson struggles or gets hurt, Dyson will step in, but he is also a viable source of holds.
Alex Wilson, Detroit Tigers
0 Saves, 2 Holds, 2.38 ERA, 11.1 IP, 9 K, 0.97 WHIP
The Tigers' Francisco Rodriguez is by far the most experienced closer in Detroit, but a 4.63 ERA with more than a hit per inning has not made it easy to watch save opportunities. The Tigers revamped bullpen starts with Rodriguez but also features a veteran tandem in the acquired Mark Lowe and Justin Wilson. But, Lowe has pitched to a 7.50 ERA and Wilson to a 3.38 ERA, putting in doubt their viability as a candidate for saves should a situation call for it. Enter Alex Wilson. The right-handed Wilson managed two successful saves in 2015. He uses a fastball at 90.7 MPH, a cutter at 85.9 MPH and a slider at 84.2 MPH to keep the 46.9% fly balls inside the pitcher-friendly Comerica Park.
Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox
1 Save, 9 Holds, 1.84 ERA, 14.2 IP, 14 K, 0.61 WHIP
Even though the first career save for Nate Jones was a two inning variety, he is still a viable candidate for saves if closer David Robertson is unavailable. Holding opponents to a .118 batting average, Jones is a strong part of a great Chicago White Sox bullpen. Sporting a fastball at 96.4 MPH and a slider around 88.3, Jones has been having a great season. He is walking nearly half the batters (1.8) as his career average (3.4). As long as Jones can stay healthy, expect him to be a regular candidate for holds and saves when Robertson is unavailable from a heavy workload as the White Sox continue competing this season.
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