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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 17 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 17 Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds
Pat Neshek, Colorado Rockies
1 Save, 10 Holds, 1.12 ERA, 40.1 IP, 45 K, 0.82 WHIP
The Colorado Rockies have struggled of late but acquired reinforcements in the form of Pat Neshek will look to get them back in the right direction. The Rockies added a unorthodox pitcher that utilizes a 90.3 mph sinker and 83.5 mph slider. Despite the frequency at which he uses his sinker, Neshek will need to improve his 37.0 percent ground ball rate as he enters the hitter-friendly Coors Field. Along with opponents are hitting .199 against Neshek this year; he is also striking out over a batter per inning, better than his career average. Expect him to be used in the late innings for the Rockies and be a valuable holds league pickup.
Daniel Coulombe, Oakland Athletics
7 Holds, 2.65 ERA, 34.0 IP, 27 K, 1.15 WHIP
With Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson exiting, opportunities have presented for relievers like Daniel Coulombe. Relying on breaking balls, 85.9 mph slider, 80.5 mph curveball and a 90.7 mph fastball; Coulombe generates a ground ball on 53.6 percent of batted balls and is effective despite not striking out a batter per inning. He is more effective against righties than lefties and relies on contact out of the zone. The A's are in a rebuild but the wins they come by will be close ones. Expect Coulombe to see the mound if holding leads present themselves..
Brandon Maurer, Kansas City Royals
20 Saves, 2 Holds, 5.58 ERA, 40.1 IP, 41 K, 1.24 WHIP
Once the San Diego Padres closer, Brandon Maurer will take on a lesser role for a contending Kansas City Royals team. With a 96.8 mph fastball, 84.3 mph slider and 85.7 mph changeup, Maurer averages about a strikeout per inning and generates a ground ball on 42.2 percent of batted balls. Despite getting above league average swings, Maurer gets below league average contact. Maurer figures to be a part of winning games by securing holds in the late innings. While his value has dipped for most leagues, his value remains high in holds leagues and is worth a waiver wire claim.
Alex Claudio, Texas Rangers
4 Saves, 7 Holds, 2.42 ERA, 52.0 IP, 33 K, 1.02 WHIP
The Texas Rangers are teetering between buying or selling and the bullpen remains in a lot of chaos but Alex Claudio remains a player worth watching. Claudio has been used in a versatile way lately, as a specialist, multiple inning reliever and closer. With lefties hitting .131 against Claudio, his use may rely on the game situation. He may sneak in saves but his primary goal will be holding down the toughest lefty in a lineup with the lead. With a remarkable 70.6 percent ground ball rate on batted balls, Claudio is putting his 86.5 mph sinker to good use. What Claudio lacks in strikeouts, he makes up for in weak contact, giving him reliability for holds when called upon.
Ryan Madson, Washington Nationals
1 Save, 14 Holds, 1.87 ERA, 43.1 IP, 44 K, 0.81 WHIP
Acquired along with Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson is looking to bring some consistency to the Washington Nationals bullpen. The veteran Madson continues to rely on his 94.8 mph sinker to generate ground balls in 54.8 percent of batted balls. Exhibiting solid control, Madson does not walk many batters and throws most of his pitches in the strike zone. Madson will likely see the eighth inning during his tenure with the Nationals. With the strong contention of the Nationals, expect Madson to see a lot of opportunities for holds and make an immediate claim for him in holds leagues.
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