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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 19 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 19 Bullpen Targets
Fernando Rodney, Miami Marlins
19 Saves, 5 Holds, 2.30 ERA, 47.0 IP, 52 K, 1.09 WHIP
With A.J. Ramos injured, Fernando Rodney takes on the closer's role for his second team this year. While with the Padres, Rodney pitched to an astounding 0.31 ERA over 28.2 innings where he accumulated 17 saves. Since joining the Marlins, the numbers have not been as good but he continues to pitch well in a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Rodney generates 57.3% ground balls with his 94.5 MPH fastball and 82.6 MPH changeup. Rodney has succeeded with successful teams in the past and the Marlins remain in contention for the postseason so each win will be crucial for Rodney to lock down.
Adam Ottavino, Colorado Rockies
0 Saves, 4 Holds, 0.00, 12.0 IP, 12 K, 1.00 WHIP
Carlos Estevez hit the wall of his rookie success. His last two appearances resulted in losses as he surrendered four runs and three runs while recording just one out. The two disastrous outings unseated him from the closer's role. Adam Ottavino has swapped his four-seam fastball for a two-seam fastball and the 93.5 MPH speed is paying off. With the two-seam fastball, Ottavino generates 71.0% ground balls. Ottavino is not very experienced as a closer but the Rockies are going to give him the first try at closing games.
Fernando Salas, Los Angeles Angels
2 Saves, 13 Holds, 4.66 ERA, 48.1 IP, 37 K, 1.32 WHIP
With Huston Street sidelined, Cam Bedrosian had a chance but the seemingly infectious injury bug caught him too so the next in line is Fernando Salas. This waiver wire pickup is functional and has no threat for the job as long as he stays healthy. His fastball sits just over 90.0 at 91.1 so he does not blow batters away nor does he strikeout batters at a dominant pace. Until the more prominent relievers make it back to health, Salas is the most likely candidate for the few save opportunities that the Halos may see.
Jim Johnson, Atlanta Braves
9 Saves, 8 Holds, 3.61 ERA, 42.1 IP, 41 K, 1.25 WHIP
Is this 2013? Jim Johnson is a reliable closer for a major league team. With the Braves, Johnson is striking out just under one batter per inning but the staple of his game, ground balls, is at a great pace this year. Using his 93.0 MPH two-seam fastball, Johnson generates 55.4% ground balls. He keeps opponents to a .237 batting average this year. As long as he stays on the Braves, look to him for saves but if he is traded to a contender, drop him as he will no longer find himself in closing situations.
Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates
3 Saves, 23 Holds, 2.79 ERA, 48.1 IP, 42 K, 1.03 WHIP
Tony Watson has made trading away Mark Melancon tolerable. Watson relies on a fastball at 93.2 MPH and a changeup at 85.1 MPH. Righties are hitting .191 against Watson and lefties are hitting .208 so he is not at a disadvantage in any situation. He does not strikeout at an eye-popping rate but he gets the job done. The Pirates have struggled to be in the division but the wild card is within reach if they can string together wins that Watson can lock down.
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