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 11 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.

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Week 11 Bullpen Targets

Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals

1 Save, 5 Holds, 2.52 ERA, 25.0 IP, 35 K, 0.84 WHIP

With Jonathan Papelbon on the disabled list, Shawn Kelley easily slides from eighth inning setup reliever to ninth inning closer. The fastball, slider pitcher has been effective this year, holding opponents to a .172 batting average. Kelley has pitched well in his first year with the Washington Nationals, arguably more effective than Papelbon. With all this taken into account, Kelley is likely holding the role until Papelbon returns from his injury. He may deserve the job outright.

Carlos Estevez, Colorado Rockies

3 Saves, 9 Holds, 4.03 ERA, 22.1 IP, 23 K, 1.17 WHIP

Jake McGee is on the disabled list and veteran Jason Motte could contend for save opportunities but Carlos Estevez has proven to be a reliable selection for the ninth inning. He's averaging about a strikeout per inning with a fastball at 96.8 MPH and a slider at 84.6 MPH. Pitching in the hitter-friendly Coors Field is usually bad, but opponents are hitting .200 against Estevez in his 13.2 innings at home. McGee will claim the closer role when he returns but Estevez is a valuable waiver wire pickup for the time being.

Brandon Kintzler, Minnesota Twins

1 Save, 1 Hold, 2.65 ERA, 17.0 IP, 11 K, 1.12 WHIP

Last week, Brandon Kintzler and Fernando Abad were appointed closer duties by the manager of the Minnesota Twins. Kintzler is a ground ball pitcher with a 92.4 MPH sinker. Already pitching in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, Kintzler generates 68.5% ground balls so he keeps the ball low. While the .258 opponent batting average and averaging less than a strikeout per inning is not eye-popping, Kintzler is the more likely candidate for saves between him and Abad because he is the right-handed of the two.

Fernando Abad, Minnesota Twins

0 Save, 4 Holds, 0.79 ERA, 22.2 IP, 22 K, 1.02 WHIP

Rarely do relief pitchers from the same team make it on this article but Abad will see the share of opportunities that Kintzler does not. Like Kintzler, Abad is generating ground balls at a good 53.6% rate in an already advantageous ballpark. Abad relies on a two-seam fastball at 90.5 MPH and a curveball at 76.0 MPH. The difference between Abad and Kintzler lies in the opponents batting average. Opponents are hitting .218 against Abad, with lefties (.100) hitting worse than righties (.292) but Abad also strikes out a batter per inning. Situations will dictate who sees the ninth inning of a particular game but both are serviceable waiver wire pickups in your fantasy league. With news that Glen Perkins is out for the season, both Kintzler and Abad are viable pickups.

Will Harris, Houston Astros

5 Saves, 15 Holds, 0.59 ERA, 30.2 IP, 31 K, 0.78 WHIP

Will Harris could have been the closer for the Houston Astros a long time ago. As of two weeks ago, Luke Gregerson was relieved of his closer duties and the Astros manager claimed it would be a “closer by committee” decision. The committee is back, Harris is the man. While Gregerson tries to bring his 4.13 ERA down and Ken Giles tries to figure out why his ERA is 5.27, Will Harris has pitched to a remarkable 0.59 ERA. He is a perfect 5-for-5 in his save opportunities. In addition to striking out a batter per inning, Harris produces 65.8% ground balls. If the Astros intend to contend, locking up wins is a must and Harris will do that.

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