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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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Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tee Higgins

Suffers Concussion, Won't Return in Week 12
Kevin Durant

Will Miss the Next Two Games
Alvin Kamara

Suiting Up Against Falcons in Week 12
Kristaps Porzingis

Taking the Night off on Sunday
Kawhi Leonard

Off the Injury Report, Cleared to Suit Up on Sunday
Brandon Miller

Sitting Out on Sunday Evening
DK Metcalf

D.K. Metcalf Cleared to Return in Week 12 After Injury Scare
DK Metcalf

D.K. Metcalf Questionable to Return With Ankle Injury
LaMelo Ball

Resting Against Atlanta
Jalen Suggs

Won't Play Against Boston
Drake London

Falcons Could be Cautious With Drake London
Jordan Love

Playing Through Shoulder Injury
Brian Thomas Jr.

Likely to be Back in Week 13?
Brandon Aiyuk

Close to Being Cleared for Return
Xavier Worthy

Active Versus Colts
Kenneth Walker III

Will Play Against Titans in Week 12
Rhamondre Stevenson

Officially Active on Sunday
Emanuel Wilson

Set to Start for Packers in Week 12
George Pickens

Franchise Tag the More Likely Option for George Pickens
Josh Jacobs

Inactive for Week 12 Against Vikings
Mason Rudolph

Earns the Start in Week 12
Aaron Rodgers

Inactive for Week 12 Against Bears
Deshaun Watson

Travels for Week 12, Will Watch from Browns' Sideline
Lonzo Ball

Sitting Sunday for Knee Management
Shaedon Sharpe

Ruled Out for Third Straight Game
Jrue Holiday

Out at Least 1-2 Weeks
Donovan Clingan

Faces Uncertain Status Against Thunder
Jarrett Allen

Sidelined Again With Finger Strain
Jakob Poeltl

Out Sunday for Back Injury Management
VJ Edgecombe

Lands on Injury Report With Calf Issue
Joel Embiid

Out Again as Sixers Manage Knee Issue
Andrew Wiggins

to Miss Sunday's Contest with Hip Injury
Rhamondre Stevenson

Expected to Play in Week 12
Norman Powell

Carrying Probable Tag for Sunday
Aaron Rodgers

Pushing to Play Against Bears
Sidney Crosby

Records 500th Multi-Point Game
Mackenzie Blackwood

Posts 35-Save Shutout
Aaron Ekblad

Battling an Illness
Jake McCabe

Suffers Upper-Body Injury
Brayden Point

Makes Early Exit Versus Capitals
Nikita Kucherov

Hurt on Saturday
Xavier Worthy

Expected to Play in Week 12
Alvin Kamara

to Suit Up for Clash with Falcons
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Out Against Lightning
Jake Evans

Good to Go Saturday
Gavin Brindley

to Sit Out at Least Two Games
Thomas Chabot

Available Against Sharks
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Returns From 12-Game Absence
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Out Saturday
Kawhi Leonard

Expected to Return on Sunday
J.T. Miller

Won't Play Against Mammoth
Kawhi Leonard

Sidelined for Saturday's Game Against Hornets
Tre Mann

Dealing With Ankle Soreness
Jaden Ivey

Could Make Season Debut Soon
Tobias Harris

Listed as Questionable for Saturday
Gabriel Vilardi

Has Two Goals in Losing Effort
Jordan Staal

Provides Two Goals in Friday's Win
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Amasses Three Points in Impressive Road Win
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Shuts Out Penguins Friday
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Pots Two Goals Friday Night
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Tallies Four Assists in Big Win
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Suffers Serious Injury Friday
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Rangers Non-Tender Adolis Garcia on Friday
Auston Matthews

Doubtful for Saturday
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Beau Pribula Expected to Start Against Oklahoma
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Looks To Extend His Win Streak
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Looks To Bounce Back
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Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
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Played Through Partially Torn Quad to End 2025
Tarik Skubal

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Returning to the Braves on One-Year Deal
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Looking to Continue Fall Run at RSM Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Looking to Bounce Back at RSM Classic
Tom Hoge

Looking to Regain Form at RSM Classic
Joe Highsmith

Searching for Turnaround at RSM Classic
Adam Hadwin

Looking to Build on T11 Finish in Bermuda
Austin Eckroat

Searching for Momentum at RSM Classic
Joel Dahmen

Trying to Find Form at the RSM Classic
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful to Play Against Western Kentucky
Michael Thorbjornsen

Hopes to End 2025 Campaign With Another Solid Finish
Andrew Novak

Looks to End 2025 Season on High Note at RSM Classic
Harry Higgs

Teetering for PGA Tour Card in 2026
PGA

Nico Echavarria has the Potential to Contend at the RSM Classic
Sam Stevens

Finishing Out Year in Georgia
Seamus Power

Playing Better at the Right Time
Beau Hossler

Roller Coaster Comes to Saint Simons Island
Quade Cummins

The Time is Now for Quade Cummins in Georgia
Austin Cook

Needs a Win at the RSM Classic
Cameron Champ

on the PGA Tour Card Bubble
Grayson Rodriguez

Shipped to Angels
Taylor Ward

Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward From Angels
Shota Imanaga

Accepts Cubs Qualifying Offer
Brandon Woodruff

Returning to Milwaukee in 2026
Denny McCarthy

Looking For Another Solid Finish at RSM Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looking To Use Current Momentum to Flip Script at RSM Classic
Mackenzie Hughes

a Good Bounce-Back Candidate at RSM Classic
Harris English

Making 14th Start at This Week's RSM Classic
Konnor Griffin

Could Compete for Starting Shortstop Job in 2026
Gleyber Torres

Accepts Tigers Qualifying Offer
CFB

Sam Leavitt Set to Enter Transfer Portal?
Jose Altuve

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Alex Bregman

Red Sox Going for Either Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso?

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